Being an aspie or mentally ill must be hell in Japan

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God, I'm so grateful I'm in the US. No wonder the suicide rate is through the roof in Japan, despite being industrialized. Perfect, perfect, perfect all the time, that's what you're supposed to be. People are NOT meant to be that way. Not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer, or some brilliant computer engineer, or the corporate executive. People have to be permitted to fail at least a little. God, I can't imagine.

Land of the Rising Suicide.
It really is, unfortunately.

Not all Japanese parents expect their offspring to be a doctor/lawyer/computer engineer/corporate executive in Japan. They seem to be more strict about their expectations regarding job choice when in a country like America. "We moved here so our family could have a better life," is what they think. "Our children had better make the most of it."

I went through a period of failure at one time, and had to repeat a number of community college courses. Japan isn't as forgiving as the US. I'm grateful to be here.

From what I've heard (and I could be wrong), in Japan mental illnesses are thought to be the parent's/family's problem/responsibility, not society's, so many mentally ill Japanese people do not seek professional help out of fear of embarrassing their families. It's probably a big contributing factor to the hikikomori (basically extreme recluses) problem, as well as the aforementioned skyrocketing suicide rates.

Really? Thanks for the insight. And God, it's just horrible.

I think they're too strict when it comes to society, sure they have great technology and stuff, but i think it all fails if society suffers :/ I don't think its right if you have to be ashamed because your child is different, mental disorders exist so they just need to learn how to deal with that as a whole country >:o Sorry bit of a rant.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7NHqB_X_OY[/youtube] as an Aspie I do not think it is too bad since I dont think they notice much of a difference due to mannerisms similar to an aspie based on tradition and culture and such. The Japanese tend to revolve on routine but also strict discipline and being critical on everything. I think however its the lower funtioning autistics that seem to suffer though.

When I was in Japan I was always half brain dead. Humidity was high, everything was warm, people all dressed the same/had the same phones. Last train was packed so much all you could see was the top of peoples heads, and when the train turned you'd just be shifted side to side because you were touching people all around you. Quite odd, quite cramped, quite fast, quite busy. Corruption all around, liquor in coke machines.... gambling half legal, half not. It was simply a odd, unquiet, busy place.

I just couldn't handle it, I spent my time indoors mostly.

Yeah so I hear, though I can't say it makes me happy that I'm in the U.S there are a lot of things going on here that bring me down and the general society even seems to have that effect. But yeah naturally when you are pushing people too hard either they will push back, or simply not be able to handle it.....which will certainly contribute to mental health issues.

Still i think in every country in the world there is a stigma. Even with all the understanding and support services available in the US,UK etc, it doesn't change the ignorant views of Nt's.

Congratulations on your 10,000th post.

I agree- if you push people too fuc*ing hard, and force them to do what they're just not meant to do, something has GOT to give. At least in the US, people with problems can actually admit it, and if you mess up grade wise, you usually either get a few more chances, or there are other avenues of pursuit. God, there's just no room to be human over there.

I'm glad that I live in Canada and not Japan.

Um, to put in perspective. Japan ranks #7 in the world for suicide. The US ranks #41. So there are worse places then Japan and better places then the US. As for being industrialized, that seems to be the problem. If you want to be some with a low suicide rate, go live in a third world country. Most of them have a suicide rate a fraction of that of the US.

Having spent a fair amount of time in Japan myself, I'd say Japan is not a terribly bad place to be for someone with Asperger's. The vast majority of Japanese NTs are not particularly socially out going anyway. Many people in Japan have some pretty weird interests, hobbies, and they don't make eye contacts, or touch each other much. I think most people with Asperger's would fit right into Japanese society. Nobody would probably even know a Japanese had Asperger's, unless the person said so. Who do you think makes all of these Japanese video games and anime programs?

What the hell does that have to do with anything?

And I've heard stories about what happens to people who don't fit in in Japan. They may not be hyper social, but you still have to follow neurotypical norms, right? And forget dealing with being mentally ill and successful.

I haven't been there, and I know you have, but I understand some things about their culture, and it would be tough not to be able to match social cues.

You'd understand it, if you had been there.

Isn't it true that if your foreign you are treated as if you are a second class person?