Hi All
I happened to have lost my mother the last year and living in Japan for 9 years now mostly with my Japanese girlfriend who speaks English. I do not intend to go back to my home country because it is not a very developed one, a place where my GF will face multiple issues and I will face financial issues as well. On top of that I have zero motivation to do something new or a big change like changing place of residence. As it stands I like living in Japan. I can speak Japanese well with N2 but since COVID I have lost friends mostly due to the fact that they moved to another country. I tried connecting with people from my country in Japan but since they are a few we do not have much in common and at present I even feel meeting people a big burden.
I really do not know who to consult, as I do not have many family members left in home country, and almost no friends in Japan. I am in early 30s never married.
Does anyone know of some English speaking therapists in Japan? Or some suggestions to move out of this rut?
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/168nsp5/depression_treatment_and_finding_some_friendshope/
5 comments
https://www.nananokicounseling.com/english-about/
Good luck
Hello,
I hope you will soon get better.
Perhaps you could consider picking up some group hobby, if your schedule allow it, it could help you find people with shared interest no matter the nationality.
In the meantime, here you are :
[Free counseling and therapy available in Japan](https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/free-counseling-and-therapy-available-online-in-japan)
I hope everything is still available.
Being an expat over the long term is to live in transience, most people who move to other countries are not planning to stay there and they eventually head back home. Either because the shine wears off, family changes, or just because it was their plan all along.
You will have to find things to do on your own or chase some long term activities you can do with others at a specific place outside your home.
Arts/craft, sports, electronics, tt role play – anything qualifies as the point is to get yourself out and about and you will eventually find a few people you can hang out with. Since you speak japanese, your options are far more varied so bite the bullet and get out and try some things.
Most of the people I met when I moved ( not to japan ) were gone within the first few years. And over time more and more have dropped off, having kids is what usually starts the countdown clock to their inevitable exit. it changes the focus of life and forces a sort of clarity, asking the question ‘where do I want to raise my children?’
its sounds dumb to say don’t be down, everybody goes through it at some point, just make moves and try.
Grolia to Soviet Union! Thank you for demilitarisation of Japan!
If you’re N2 you might want to try a Japanese therapist. I did and it was quite good. I’m probably less than N2. It was eye opening.