InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Orange is the new blue."

Robyn Summers (robynsummers) wrote in depression,
@ 2008-06-06 12:04:00

Current mood:

hot

Checking Up
Hey! Just wondering how everybody's doing.

For some of us, June brings a lot of changes - summer/winter vacation, no more loneliness at school/uni, but perhaps more loneliness by ourselves at home, or our friends leave on vacation - or maybe for the people who work year-long there is no change except the weather. :(

But wondering how's everybody's coping. For myself, it's a big changing visiting family again in Asia after being in the US for college. Heh. Talk about culture and weather shock! Having to "conservatize" myself for family is something I'm starting to regret more as I grow older.

*hugs to everybody!!!*

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robynsummers
2008-06-10 08:21 am UTC (link)

Thanks. :)

Mmmm, is there a scale upon which these pangs of conscience should be judged upon? I mean, I know I don't want to live in my home country for the rest of my life, or ever again, but sometimes I feel guilty for not being the perfect Malaysian daughter for my parents and relatives. But I don't think I'm running away from it. (I'm probably running away from my language problems, though.) I don't think the Malaysian culture suits me as I've grown very liberal compared to it.

I don't have a license either. :D Don't want one.

I agree stopping to take risks can lead to stopped learning. I've played it safe most of my life so...yeah. But I also think I don't take risks/try new things because I also don't want to fail and look like a failure/dumb-ass/moron in front of others who get it perfectly. (Ah, perfectionism.)

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13
2008-06-11 01:31 am UTC (link)

I'd suggest basing it on how much one's avoidance interferences with functioning and the ability to maintain a reasonably normal existence. Moving away from one's parents is common and often necessary--it's an uncomfortable part of growing up. But the pangs of conscience brought upon by sins of omission - avoiding friends, avoiding jobs, avoiding responsibility, avoiding dealing with things - are damaging, I think. Much better to make a mistake and learn from it than to continue to avoid anomalies. Oftentimes what we learn from a mistake are the things we really need to know.

I don't particularly want to drive, but I'd like my license just because not having one is so damn limiting--better to have the option. My psychiatrist mentioned that, in his experience, not having a license is usually a good indication of some sort of pathology, like an anxiety or depressive disorder. I think he's probably right about that.

I feel that way, too. But one thing I noticed when I started to take risks is that I can, in fact, survive them, and each time I do, I become much stronger as a result. And it gets easier.

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