What happened after someone with depression studied psychology?

Hello. This is Smileka.

About a year and a half ago, I took a leave of absence due to depression (adjustment disorder). After thinking about how to spend my time during my leave, I decided to study psychology. Although they are private certifications, I am currently working on three: the Kokoro Kentei, the Psychology Kentei, and the Mental Health Management Kentei, and I am still in the middle of the journey.
However, since more than a year has passed, I have started the process of returning to work, so I wrote this article to look back on how I have changed. I hope this will be helpful to everyone.

Things that changed after studying psychology

Gained the composure to look at things objectively

First of all, when I am thinking about something or encountering the thoughts of others, I have become able to vaguely understand what kind of principles are at work to make it that way.
For example, when anger wells up, I think, 'Oh, I judged that something similar happened in the past via the amygdala.' In extreme cases, I might think, 'The development of the amygdala is weak...' (including in my own case...).
Thinking this way doesn't necessarily make the other person's anger subside, but whether it's my own anger or someone else's, I can think about unnecessary things and become a little calmer. In the case of someone else's anger, I might sometimes put an unnecessary label on them (like, 'Oh, this person has a weak amygdala'), but...
Besides that, when I talk to someone with good short-term memory, I think, 'This person has a strong hippocampus,' or when I see someone with good athletic ability, I think, 'This person has a strong cerebellum,' and I can vaguely see that person's characteristics.
I can't read people's minds, but by thinking about the mechanisms, I can become calmer or make inferences. This was one thing I was glad I studied.

My ability to speak up has improved just a little

Since people around me know that I studied psychology, they have started to refrain a little from speaking as they please. They are probably wary. That they might be labeled or seen through. I can't do such things, though...
There are times when a slight rift is created, but because I have knowledge that those around me do not, I am expected to do more, and I think it was a harvest that communication became easier.

My ability to judge people has improved just a little

In psychology, you also learn about personality. You also learn criminal psychology. When you study this kind of psychology, you can see what changes and what does not change in people.
Therefore, you can tell from a person's behavior better than before whether they are someone you can get along with or not.
Of course, prejudice is not good, but I feel that roughly assessing a person's characteristics is very effective for smooth communication.

I have said only good things, but even so, I am still halfway there. It is just to the extent that I feel I have begun to see such effects. I will continue to study hard so that I can make the knowledge in the textbooks my own.

Future applications

I am scheduled to return to work in a few months. From now on, I hope to spread the psychological knowledge I gained here to people around me. I think there are many people in the company who are dissatisfied with management. Psychology can teach us why that is the case. Besides that, there is quite a bit of knowledge that can be used for work, such as knowledge about communication and how to use stress to demonstrate ability. I am thinking that by spreading such knowledge, I can make the workplace a more comfortable place to work.
Also, although I am not a professional counselor, I hope I can also help with consultations and the like. Colleagues in the department are relatively approachable as people to consult with. As one of them, and as someone who has dabbled a little in psychology and counseling, I hope I can be even a little better at listening to consultations.

In closing

That is all for this time.
I think that the fact that I developed adjustment disorder might have been unfortunate, but I think it was a happy thing that I was able to turn it into an opportunity like this. If I were working, I wouldn't be able to study psychology this intensively...
I think psychology is useful not only for work but also in life. If there is anyone who is suffering in the same way, I recommend it. Psychology.

Thank you for reading to the end!