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DJames
Joined: 22 Jul 2004
Posts: 11
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 Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 8:46 pm Post subject: Bipolar |
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| A few years ago I was diagnosed with manic-depressive disorder. I take some meds and do fine. I can be a little moody, but overall I'm pretty easy to get along with. In March I'm on my way to start a contract in Japan and was wondering how the Japanese tolerate this kind of stuff. Will it be difficult to get meds? I wasn't planning on telling anyone, but my boss seems cool. Would he rather not know. |
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Quibby84
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:38 am Post subject: |
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Seems to me it might be hard to get meds...but you could always bring them with you or get them mailed to you.
I have noticed that many disorders like yours go unlabeled. So for example I will be like, "why doesnt he talk?" and they are like "oh, he just doesnt talk." and I will say "but WHY?" and they have no clue..where as in America (where I am) from if the kid didnt talk then he would be "labeled and given things (medicine, therapy) to help him..."
so outside of getting medicine I think you may be fine.
What kind of job are you going to be doing? |
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markle
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 1316
Location: Out of Japan
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 1:58 am Post subject: |
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Without insulting your intelligence, you know that moving to and living and working in a foreign country is quite stressful, don't you? So on top of your meds I suggest you look into access to mental health providers and insurance coverage for that.
I'm in two minds about whether you should tell your employer. On one hand it is the responsible thing to do, on the other I may make them overly concerned and worry needlessly. There will be consequences either way, so I think you have to make up your own mind and deal with it if something arises. |
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southofreality
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Posts: 579
Location: Tokyo
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 2:02 am Post subject: Re: Bipolar |
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| DJames wrote: |
| A few years ago I was diagnosed with manic-depressive disorder. I take some meds and do fine. I can be a little moody, but overall I'm pretty easy to get along with. In March I'm on my way to start a contract in Japan and was wondering how the Japanese tolerate this kind of stuff. Will it be difficult to get meds? I wasn't planning on telling anyone, but my boss seems cool. Would he rather not know. |
I can only comment based on what I've seen on TV discussion programs and a Japanese ex-girlfriend's experience, but it does seem that people with disorders like the one you have (may by unrelated, but Borderline Personality Disorder gets talked about a lot around here) are quite numerous. One problem here is that many people are old fashioned and refuse to buy into the idea of medicating people to help them deal with mental problems. Actually, a lot of people refuse to acknowledge the existence of such mental problems at all.
There have been plenty of news reports about people who have been diagnosed with such disorders not receiving the so-called proper meds or being left in volatile situations until they snap and attack others. It's becoming more and more common here (or at least more reported in the news). A young person with mental problems recently knifed 4 or 5 people in a crowded shopping area in Shinagawa. A lot of doctors are saying that the overwheming refusal to acknowledge and deal with these kinds of mental problems will only cause the problems to increase.
Long story short, you should be able to find a doctor to prescribe you what you need, but other than to the doctor, I wouldn't say anything to anyone else if I were suffering from such a disorder. |
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Grasshopper
Joined: 01 Nov 2005
Posts: 62
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:39 am Post subject: |
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My advice is not to mention it unless it comes up. And if it comes up, or if you see a reason, then sure, bring it up--I mean if you`ve already got the job, then you don`t need to mention it now. Then if you bring it up later, then they`ll see that you are functional and it should be okay.
The other thing you might want to check on is whether or not you can get your medicine in Japan. There are some medicines that are in the US that are not allowed in Japan. Just something to keep in mind.
Good Luck.
G. |
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mimimimi
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:51 am Post subject: |
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| Based on my experience, it's not a good idea to inform your employer, co-workers or students (assuming you'll be teaching). My friend in Japan was bipolar. She kept it to herself for almost two years and everything was fine. Then she confided in a couple of co-workers when she was feeling a bit depressed and lonely. Within two days, the Japanese owner, most of the staff and some of the parents knew about it. Things went completely downhill from there and she ended up leaving her company apartment literally in the middle of the night, then returning to her home country a few days after that. The co-worker who told the boss, claimed he was just trying to help her get help, not realizing the snowball effect it would have. After she left, the owner distributed a written statement to all the parents, publicizing her disorder and blaming it for all the inconvenience. |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:09 am Post subject: |
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| Quibby84 wrote: |
| Seems to me it might be hard to get meds...? |
It won't be hard to get meds, Japanese people are bipolar too. What might be more problematic is finding an English speaking doctor. Also your meds may have a different name in Japan. Best to find out all those things before you come. The OP can PM me as I have some experience dealing with this in Japan. |
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Quibby84
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:00 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, but do Japanese people take medicine for their problem? |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Quibby84 wrote: |
| Yeah, but do Japanese people take medicine for their problem? |
No, they just drink extra strong cups of green tea. 
Of course they take medicine. |
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Quibby84
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:06 am Post subject: |
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