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laguna
Joined: 27 Jun 2010
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 Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:30 am Post subject: Re: Mental illness |
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| Taryn1 wrote: |
I have a friend who wants to come with me to teach in South Korea. Is there any advice you could give her. She functions very well and has always been able to work full time since I've known her.
Please advise.
T |
It might be too much for her, but it might also be what she needs to take control of her life.
If she's hell bent on coming, make sure she doesn't mention anything about it until she gets here (or until someone asks her). Better to ask forgiveness than permission. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:32 am Post subject: Re: Mental illness |
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Am I the only one who sees the pattern?
| Taryn1 wrote: |
I have a friend who wants to come with me to teach in South Korea. Is there any advice you could give her. She functions very well and has always been able to work full time since I've known her.
Please advise.
T |
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| This friend of mine is schizophrenic |
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| plus she would have me. |
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| this friend of mine |
I'm not being cynical, but having some schizophrenia in my family alarms have gone off. The OP's posts hint at two things: this is either the patient OR someone trying desperately hard to sound like one. There are so many red flags, but let's just look at the obvious ones. First, she is desperate for approval of this plan, which either means she's trying to rationalize her already insane (and I mean that medically) decision or is trying to rope you all into approving it as a fake for other reasons. Second, the number and frequency of posts indicates obsession with the topic. Third, the constant referal to 'my friend'. I would laugh at it's obviousness except I know from experience that this is how schizophrenics often refer to, er, other parts of their existance.
I'm really, really, really not one to call 'fake' at other posters, and I think this is a serious issue. However, I don't believe a mentally healthy person would post these sorts of thoughts honestly on behalf of an ill person. So either this is a fraud trying to get some quotes from foreigners saying we should encourage mentally unhealthy people to come here, or it is actually the person trying to create acceptance of her decision. Unfortunately, we'll likely never know because if it's a fake they'll never admit to it, and if it's not, depending on the severity of her disorder, she probably doesn't realize the seperation, or lack there of.
I will end by saying that schizophrenics can lead healthy lives, depending on the level of the disease, but there are limitations. No mentally healthy friend would ever even think for a second that they could move to a new continent and start a new life and not suffer. |
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laguna
Joined: 27 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:36 am Post subject: Re: Mental illness |
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| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
Am I the only one who sees the pattern?
| Taryn1 wrote: |
I have a friend who wants to come with me to teach in South Korea. Is there any advice you could give her. She functions very well and has always been able to work full time since I've known her.
Please advise.
T |
| Quote: |
| This friend of mine is schizophrenic |
| Quote: |
| plus she would have me. |
| Quote: |
| this friend of mine |
I'm not being cynical, but having some schizophrenia in my family alarms have gone off. The OP's posts hint at two things: this is either the patient OR someone trying desperately hard to sound like one. There are so many red flags, but let's just look at the obvious ones. First, she is desperate for approval of this plan, which either means she's trying to rationalize her already insane (and I mean that medically) decision or is trying to rope you all into approving it as a fake for other reasons. Second, the number and frequency of posts indicates obsession with the topic. Third, the constant referal to 'my friend'. I would laugh at it's obviousness except I know from experience that this is how schizophrenics often refer to, er, other parts of their existance.
I'm really, really, really not one to call 'fake' at other posters, and I think this is a serious issue. However, I don't believe a mentally healthy person would post these sorts of thoughts honestly on behalf of an ill person. So either this is a fraud trying to get some quotes from foreigners saying we should encourage mentally unhealthy people to come here, or it is actually the person trying to create acceptance of her decision. Unfortunately, we'll likely never know because if it's a fake they'll never admit to it, and if it's not, depending on the severity of her disorder, she probably doesn't realize the seperation, or lack there of.
I will end by saying that schizophrenics can lead healthy lives, depending on the level of the disease, but there are limitations. No mentally healthy friend would ever even think for a second that they could move to a new continent and start a new life and not suffer. |
Yep, I see the pattern after going over things. Looks like typical escapism, someone trying to run from their problems by leaving everything and everyone they know.
I've changed my opinion about this, it's better for her mental health to stay home and deal with things instead of coming over here and blowing up metaphorically. |
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peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:49 am Post subject: |
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| Korea is incredibly unenlightened when it comes to mental illness of any stripe, and I shudder to think what their psychiatric wards might be like. Part of the reason they have one of the highest suicide rates in the OECD is because the stigma attached to seeking help is so great. Would you really want to risk exposing your friend to that? |
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Louis VI
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Location: In my Kingdom
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:50 am Post subject: Re: Mental illness |
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| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
| I'm not being cynical, but having some schizophrenia in my family alarms have gone off. The OP's posts hint at two things: this is either the patient OR someone trying desperately hard to sound like one. |
So either the op is delusional or you are justifiably paranoid about having one put over on you. Mr. BlackCat, schizo is hereditary, isn't it? |
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laguna
Joined: 27 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 4:21 am Post subject: |
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| peppermint wrote: |
| Korea is incredibly unenlightened when it comes to mental illness of any stripe, and I shudder to think what their psychiatric wards might be like. Part of the reason they have one of the highest suicide rates in the OECD is because the stigma attached to seeking help is so great. Would you really want to risk exposing your friend to that? |
This is why educated people think fan death is a real thing.
I think of the mental asylums that got closed down when I think of mental illness in Korea.
Better to just fake being normal than be institutionalized here... |
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PeteJB
Joined: 06 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 4:47 am Post subject: |
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| I've seen what happens to schizophrenic's when a new, unfamiliar and foreign environment is introduced to them. The result isn't pretty. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 5:44 am Post subject: |
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Would your friend be able to handle the Principle and co-teachers constant contradictory and sometimes ambigous instructions about what they would want her to do? Petty criticism from the co-teacher? Would she be able to piece together a lesson without any clear cut instructions from the lesson book on what to do? And can she come up with plenty of different games when the children get bored? There are many things she would have to put up with. Possible isolation at a rural setting. Coldness from the co-teacher etc.
I think I would advise her to try a month of TEFL classes. If she can do the instructing in the TEFL classes, there is a better chance that she would be able to teach in Korea. I would recommend the TEFL institute in Bangkok, Thailand. |
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recessiontime
Joined: 21 Jun 2010
Location: Got avatar privileges nyahahaha
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 6:00 am Post subject: |
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I have a whole different concern. When she comes to Korea and gets meds from a doctor will this type of thing be reported to schools and if so will she be fired over this?
I have heard of people getting fired over things like depression. Like the doctor actually telling the schools.. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 7:22 am Post subject: Re: Mental illness |
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| Louis VI wrote: |
| Mr. BlackCat wrote: |
| I'm not being cynical, but having some schizophrenia in my family alarms have gone off. The OP's posts hint at two things: this is either the patient OR someone trying desperately hard to sound like one. |
So either the op is delusional or you are justifiably paranoid about having one put over on you. Mr. BlackCat, schizo is hereditary, isn't it? |
No, based on the information given me here and the experience I have I've come to this conclusion. But I see your joke. Funny. I mean that. I'm crazy in many ways, but not this one. Usually. |
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Steve_Rogers2008
Joined: 22 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 11:27 am Post subject: |
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It would also depend on what subtype of Schizophrenia she had. Paranoid type would NOT do well in any new environment, this one especially....
I had a friend my first year, who planned on going to Tokyo for a vacation... but then later I hear that he had a complete breakdown in the city next to mine, was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and long story short, sent back to his home nation of Canada, and had his passport revoked... sad, as he planned on staying in korea for some time.... 
of course, he also talked about some woman he met in town, and how wonderful their relationship was.... no one we knew had actually met her. So I was left wondering if he had a Beautiful Mind type situation...  |
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Paddycakes
Joined: 05 May 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Half the ESL teachers / lecturers / visiting professors in Korea are "whacked" in some way shape or form.
She'd probably fit right in... |
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Louis VI
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
Location: In my Kingdom
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 4:27 am Post subject: |
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| Paddycakes wrote: |
Half the ESL teachers / lecturers / visiting professors in Korea are "whacked" in some way shape or form.
She'd probably fit right in... |
That comment is soooo 2003.
(which is probably why I like it so much!) |
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NovaKart
Joined: 18 Nov 2009
Location: Iraq
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 11:51 am Post subject: |
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To the OP, your friend should talk to her doctor because no one here is qualified to give her an opinion except with the difficulties of working in Korea and adjusting to life there. We don't know your friend and the specifics of her condition.
For the person who thinks the OP is actually the friend, the thought also occurred to me but we don't really know that so we should give her the benefit of the doubt.
To the OP again, if you would like, PM me and I can give you the address of an online forum which deals with mental illness and also has a chatroom. |
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le-paul
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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i agree with the poster who commented that the stress will more than likely trigger an episode.
I worked as a psychiatric nurse before coming to korea and I would say that I 'observed' (ie in my 'opinion' ) that people tend to function highly due to support networks (ie home, family freinds, security, comfort etc) or whatever form they may take.
Most people relieve stress (the stress of teaching, living away from home, new culture etc etc) here by drinking. Is this conducive to keeping your medication straight? Or would you just get a hobby?
plus youd have to lie on the form that asks have you a mental illness. They would find out cos your meds need to be issued and monitored so youd have to register with a doctor at some point - you cant just bring a years worth of meds through customs.
The truth is, its effing stressful here at times - if you suffer from depression - your going to feel black here from time to time - bottom line. Same for schizophrenia.
You cant just have a week/month off in korea. If your legs get blown off they might let you take 2 days. Youre sick - youre fired, thats often how it goes unless you have a very understanding boss....
thats my 2 pennies worth |
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