My friends and family would freak out if I tell them that I'm currently seeing a shrink. No one would think this cheerful-happy-go-lucky girl has demons lurking behind the broad smile. My father would tell me that I need to pray more and I don't need to see an over-charged professional to help me decide whether I want strawberry or chocolate flavored ice cream. I don't have a problem (that already sounds like I do, according to the shrink) that cannot be solved. My problem is I think I have a problem. I feel normal, I laugh, I smile, I still have all the emotions that I had yesterday and the year before.
The thing about psychological problems is that they creep up on you and before you know it you start hurling objects off the building or start talking to yourself in the crowded trains. I believe all of us, especially those residing in mega cities or running hectic lives to see a shrink once in a while. There is no shame in seeking help, sometimes its not even help you are seeking but the assurance that you wont curl up in a ball and just ball your eyes out one night.
I recently read this article on Glamour. Oh let me just throw it in there that I'm a huge Glamour fan, the British edition. Anyway last months publication carries an article on Frankie. A very depressed woman who urge people like her to come out and seek help. The stigma attached to that illness is still massive. A good number of us don't understand what these people are going through. Which kind of reminds me of this Japanese movie; Norwegian wood. Its based on depression which eventually lead to suicide. Its so Japanese , if you think about it.
So I use to date this guy a few years back. Among his friends and people who doesn't know him well, he seems like the perfect guy. The guy who had it all, looks, good job in Tokyo (which is rare unless you are an expat) and a high rise apartment over-looking Tokyo's metropolitan. Some nights I would sit there listen to him and think but! how hard is it to be happy? to see the joy in life? Especially for someone who can live comfortably without worrying about food and other necessities. He would remain depressed for days, take trips to some remote places alone. In his depression he decides to isolate himself and just worry about nothing. At first I thought it was an early case of mid life crisis. Little did I know that he was actually sick, what he is suffering from is an illness.
A few months of dealing with what I term as Bullshit back then, I left. I just decided that I cannot be around people who bring me down. That is rather selfish but I was at the prime of my life, 20 years old, I don't want to be stuck with a guy whose life seemed rather empty. Today I would have done things differently, I finally understood that it is an illness that they have no control over.
Last week after an incident and massive memory loss I decided its time to call in the white coats. I don't have any specific issue that I would like to talk about except being addicted to coffee ;). But an acquaintance has been seeing a shrink every now and then and shared with me that its actually helpful. You don't need to have a problem to start seeing one. Its good to talk to someone who is not directly related to your life and you know they are not judgmental and everything is confidential. Apparently it helped her even-though shes psychologically stable and all. Personally I think she really needed it. But that's just my opinion.
I know it sounds a bit too pose spice...an expensive practice. But there are some organizations near you that provided these services free. Yap! that's where our taxes go.
I rather start seeing one every now and then to help me through this tough economy and my fast approaching menopause (lol) than wait till I start pulling at my hair and wearing ripped stockings (i.e Britney Spears) to start seeing one. Or start thinking about seeing one.
There are tonnes of different issues we are dealing with everyday. Some are momentarily others are things we've been obsessing over for years. Sometimes we have issues that are buried inside and it takes a particular situation to unleash our personal demons. For some it cost them everything in their life. Often we think its because of the circumstances we are facing and once that's over we are good. Sometimes it doesn't go away and you become emotionally numb and start formulating plans to kill yourself. If that happens its time to start seeing a shrink, you wont regret it unless you end up having an affair with one....lol.
So I use to date this guy a few years back. Among his friends and people who doesn't know him well, he seems like the perfect guy. The guy who had it all, looks, good job in Tokyo (which is rare unless you are an expat) and a high rise apartment over-looking Tokyo's metropolitan. Some nights I would sit there listen to him and think but! how hard is it to be happy? to see the joy in life? Especially for someone who can live comfortably without worrying about food and other necessities. He would remain depressed for days, take trips to some remote places alone. In his depression he decides to isolate himself and just worry about nothing. At first I thought it was an early case of mid life crisis. Little did I know that he was actually sick, what he is suffering from is an illness.
A few months of dealing with what I term as Bullshit back then, I left. I just decided that I cannot be around people who bring me down. That is rather selfish but I was at the prime of my life, 20 years old, I don't want to be stuck with a guy whose life seemed rather empty. Today I would have done things differently, I finally understood that it is an illness that they have no control over.
Last week after an incident and massive memory loss I decided its time to call in the white coats. I don't have any specific issue that I would like to talk about except being addicted to coffee ;). But an acquaintance has been seeing a shrink every now and then and shared with me that its actually helpful. You don't need to have a problem to start seeing one. Its good to talk to someone who is not directly related to your life and you know they are not judgmental and everything is confidential. Apparently it helped her even-though shes psychologically stable and all. Personally I think she really needed it. But that's just my opinion.
I know it sounds a bit too pose spice...an expensive practice. But there are some organizations near you that provided these services free. Yap! that's where our taxes go.
I rather start seeing one every now and then to help me through this tough economy and my fast approaching menopause (lol) than wait till I start pulling at my hair and wearing ripped stockings (i.e Britney Spears) to start seeing one. Or start thinking about seeing one.
There are tonnes of different issues we are dealing with everyday. Some are momentarily others are things we've been obsessing over for years. Sometimes we have issues that are buried inside and it takes a particular situation to unleash our personal demons. For some it cost them everything in their life. Often we think its because of the circumstances we are facing and once that's over we are good. Sometimes it doesn't go away and you become emotionally numb and start formulating plans to kill yourself. If that happens its time to start seeing a shrink, you wont regret it unless you end up having an affair with one....lol.
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