[Living Abroad] When You Feel Like Your Mental Health Is Suffering

As we get older, we experience things. Responsibilities increase, and
there are bound to be times when you feel like your mental health is suffering.
This is true not just when you move abroad, but even when you are in Japan.
I think we are all doing a great job.

The hardships of being in America

When I was in America, I didn't even know English. I only had my youth and momentum.
I had spent my life studying grammar for entrance exams and pre-study abroad tests, and I had even taken remedial classes for vocabulary. But the words just wouldn't come out of my throat. I could hear them and understand them in my head, but I couldn't speak them. I was mentally drained until I became able to speak English fluently.

At the end of the day, you can make friends even if you can't speak English. Local kids and French people helped me a lot. The people I always had trouble with—or rather, fought with—no matter what country I was in, were the Germans. I was bullied, but now I am very curious about what kind of country Germany is. Someday, I will visit.

When you are mentally drained by English, there is nothing you can do but get used to it, so don't overthink it. That is all there is to it.

Mental health suffering in relationships

Once you get used to English, the next thing you want to do is international dating. I had plenty of relationships before meeting my current partner. Relationships are hard enough even between Japanese people who can't always understand each other, so it is obviously difficult for two people who speak different languages, come from different cultures, and have different family backgrounds to build a relationship. "Why would they do something like this?"And a common one is
"Why don't they keep their promises (time)?"
Plansandpromiseshave a different sense for them than they do for us. It took me a long time to understand this.
Don't aim for perfection.
This might be the number one keyword.

The devilish year of 2023

2023 was a mentally tough year for me. But I'm sure I wasn't the only one. Anxiety about my visa, zero days off, no money, the city collapsing due to a cyclone, and living in a hotel for three months because I couldn't find a house. I did my best. I couldn't even wake up until the last minute for work, and I didn't feel like showering or cooking. I would put a spoonful of unsweetened peanut butter in my mouth, grab my protein, and head to work at the last second. Fix things from the outside. If you want to fix your inner self, it might be faster to fix things from the outside.
That is what an acquaintance in Tokyo told me. I didn't want to see anyone outside of work. For someone like me who finds it a hassle to go to the gym and meet people, online lessons were a godsend. Also, doing Pilates or yoga for even 10 minutes helps. I was helped a lot by my acquaintance Akane-chan's lessons!

When I can't sleep, I play healing music. I don't touch my phone, I just play the music and keep my eyes closed. Before I know it, I'm asleep.

If you think, "My mental health is in a bad place," then without thinking, just close Instagram and TikTok first. Open YouTube and try moving lightly for 10 minutes. If you start little by little, the world in front of you and your consciousness will change.

Try hard not to try too hard. It might be a good sign to stop for a moment!