How to fight depression?

Sept. 28, 2019

Introduction

It is a serious topic. How to fight depression? I am turning 53 years old in less than a month. I should write something serious to help young people to learn mental health, and how to build a good community in my life, and keep working hard to stay positive, stay away from negative people, keep busy working on basic things.

Talk about depression

I read the news about a Chinese Facebook engineer story in Sept. 2019 who was in PIP and committed suicide, jumped from top of building 27. I think that depression is a serious issue in highly competitive jobs. How I handle those issues and how to play best as I can?

My motto is to adopt frugal leadership principle. Cut all expenses except needs. Keep minimum wants, build enough wealth until I am confident to make a living first, put other people next and work on my own financial goal first.

I spend time outdoor to meet people, and learn culture, learn business and how it works, work on my personal finance hard. I felt depressed short time in Dec. 2018, I did not know how to solve my personal finance problem. How to build wealth and grow rich? I still could not afford a one-bedroom condo in Canada after working full time 10 years. 

I went to Facebook onsite interview on August 20, 2019, I visited building 27 in MPK, and I met eight engineers and I could tell engineers working there smart and hard working. They are young, and also I think that I may be a great fit for the teams over there. Since I am more open and have tough experience in my life from 2001 to 2018.

My own story

I worked full time from 1998 Dec to 2001 Sept. 17. I made over $110,000 dollar net income beside putting aside 401 K $11,000 US dollars. I purchased a condo at lowest price in history, and a brand new car. I spent most of cash away, only has less than $20,000 US dollars saving when I got laidoff in 2001 Sept. 17.

I had first layoff in 2001, just after Sept. 11, 2001. I was laidoff in Sept. 17, 2001. I stayed at home for one year, and then I went back to Florida Atlantic University to attend computer science PH.D. program.

I got laidoff in 2007. And then I went back to China, got F1 visa, continued to work on my Ph.D. study.

I tried to make things work, I got an offer letter in June 2008 but the offer was rescinded. I went to Microsoft onsite in Sept. 2008, and then I should reply immigration letter about missing bank statement with my Canada skilled worker application. But I did not know at all. The application was denied in Nov. 2008, and I was notified by the consultant until Jan. 2009.

I had 45 days to file appeal for leave case. But I had doubts on myself, I did not have confidence on myself and USA economy. I did not know how to regulate my thoughts and feelings. I knew the life was tough for me since I did not have a lot of skills to make a living. It was in 2009, I was 43 years old. My net asset is very low, and a lot of homes in Florida were under water.

How to fight depression? 

I do believe that most important is to push myself hard, learn personal finance, learn how to build wealth and grow rich. And also I like to learn tennis sports, I always find myself so good at sports since I have strong muscle and healthy body.

Every time I feel not so good, hold grudges, I always know that I fall for wishful thinking. I have to push myself to go out to do exercise, try to lose a few more pounds to stay fit. I have to work on a few more algorithms, if I fail one of them, I will be humble right away. I play Leetcode weekly contest, I will be humble right away, since I still am lazy to test my own code, examine my own code.

Another thing is to live a simple life, enjoy things free, and also try something new. A new project, a new idea to work on, ideas to help make the country and community better.

Actionable Items

I need to look into depression as a science, and then look into detail how to measure depression, how to spot personality weakness, prevent negative people and situation, protect my own interest very carefully and hard working to protect myself financially.

Do not play emotions. It is better to play more sports. Be a responsible person, and find those people in my life as well, keep good relationship with them.

Follow up

Oct. 9, 2019

I start to do research about life, wealth and health. I recently visited one of my classmates back in Florida and he had brain cancer found two months ago. Suddenly I learned that my time is running out, at most I can live another 30 or 40 years.

I also warned him that he should be careful about depression since he could not move left side of body, and tumor is not pressing on his nerve system related to memory. He still has perfect memory about his life experience.

I just started to do research about rich people and difference from middle class. How to find stocks ten bagger, or hundred bagger? I start to read financial report of USA business, such as dollars store business, benefit, how they operate. I start to read a lot of business report from the stores opened, and I have strong interest to figure out ways to double the money through investment.