Araujo was granted leave by Barca after admitting suffering from "anxiety". Spending some time in Israel, the Uruguay international was able to refresh himself and return last month.
He told Mundo Deportivo: "I'd been dealing with anxiety for a year and a half, which turned into depression, and I was playing like that.
"I've changed quite a bit because I've learned so much during this time. I think it was the right thing to do after that decision I made.
"I feel different and I'm happy about that, because I'm more comfortable, happier. I can enjoy what I love to do, which is playing football, and that helps a lot."
He added, "You see things from a different perspective. I felt that the worst of the worst was over, and now I see things differently.
"The time I took off was for a reason, because in the end I was able to work through it with professionals, with my family, and spiritually, which is what I needed. So I think that did me a lot of good, and today I feel like a completely different person."