Ms. Y, 30s: A very harsh family environment—alcoholic father, high school dropout, illness

Ms. Y, a woman in her 30s

Her father, who worked as a photographer, was an alcoholic, and her parents did not fulfill their roles as parents. Unable to pay tuition, she dropped out of high school, left her home in Tokyo, and began living alone in Kanagawa while delivering newspapers. She continued this for about two years and changed jobs several times after that. At 25, she fell ill to the point where she could not leave the house.

Hearing stories like this makes me realize how blessed I was to have been able to go to graduate school. I suppose I should feel that way. That said, there is also a kind of suffering that comes precisely because one's life is not being pushed to the brink. It might be a luxury of a problem, though.

Because she herself had such a difficult background, she wants to support others by being there for them and helping them solve their problems together. She currently works at a hospital as a temporary employee and interacts with patients. Starting this spring, she plans to move to Ishikawa Prefecture to work at a nursing care facility.

Her current partner was a customer when she worked at an organic shop about five years ago. She says he is involved in political activities and has a tendency to blurt out his opinions to people... She says this with a wry smile, but he is a pillar of support in her life. She advises that it is better not to look at his social media.

She says that ever since she fell ill, she has been thinking about how human beings should be.