Dear Life: Mental Health and wellbeing as an ALT

take your mental health just as seriously as your physical health if not more so.

I realize this video was very "American" heavy and I apologize for that. There are JETs from all over the world here and it's just important to find someone you can connect with. But beware of clinging to people. I see sometimes that JETs will come in together and then never leave each others side. Don't do that! You have to branch out and be independant. Don't cling to what you are familiar with so tightly that you let opportunities pass you by. There are quite a few ALTs that all they do is hang out with each other.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• dear life japan
• mental health
• depression
• culture shock

[blutres]

Your insight and intelligence is amazing! Stay strong sista!

[avernikas]

the best way for me to deal is read the bible. That helps, I don't depend on people for anything even if I'm suffering three or four weeks of depression. i don't trust people that much, not even my family. As a man, I'm a firm believer in sink or swim; either you fight for stability or you fall into apotheosis. Though I feel crazy don't necessarily mean I should act crazy; I feel tired, yet i don't sleep behind the wheel, i feel hungry, yet I don't eat the soap while bathing.

[wellnesswithdeb]

Excellent advise. Five stars.

[kikee332]

hey ur awesome ;D

[ThatGurlTara]

You are sooo inspiring..... How do you get around if you don't know Japanese? Like I'm learning it now, and I bought a dvd, and it's all in japanese and I still get lost trying to understand word from word? lol my hats off to you girl you are soooo inspiring....I would probably be stressed everyday as soon as I leave my apartment lol

[NagoyaGA]

I'm all about having my personal days!

Thanks for the helping hand, Alafia! You are definitely inspiring me during my stay here in Japan with your videos and kind words!

~A-chan

[JamConcerned]

I start to wonder if due to the appearance of a closed society we aren't let in to know how they deal with each other since they don't share with others outside of their society.

I guess suicide is an option if you can't act out, probably drinking, drugs. I have lived where I was the outsider and also where I was the majority. It was strange seeing someone so totally different, you wonder why they are there and as a child you look and stare. I have a lot of respect for you it can be very lonely

[sailorxxc]

o dear youn girl dont turn into an alki am glad your doing well

[GrapplerJMo]

thank goodness jet has that hotline. the companies don't officially have a separate support system, but they are free to help you out in any way for emotional support. but yeah, i feel that by occupying yourself with something you can be passionate at, i think you'll be fine in japan. when i worked in tsuchiura, i had my jiujitsu friends there for me and one of the guys there spoke perfect english and they were always there for me

[fomiz]

great video!

[avernikas]

let me add; I don't expect the same from others, especially women. Women are beings with odd sensibilities, and this is fine, that's how a woman is made. But even if it was a man; my method is for me, i don't expect that method to work for others. Had I a wife or girlfriend, if she suffered from such, i'd do all within my power to lighten her mental chafing, after all; depression assaults us all. Though I'd do my best, as I do now, to cover my mental feelings. Anything less would be weak.