mindfungus

Depression, mental illness, therapy, psychiatric issues, and emotional issues — it’s not just in Japan where it’s not talked about or addressed, but practically all of Asia, including China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, etc. There is a long history of just ignoring mental health issues in that region of the world.

I think the fear of dying alone, or aging alone, is dreadful. There are caregivers and parents who are older and are likely not going to survive the reclusive hikikomori. That must be a terrifying idea.

I saw a documentary on that too. Aged Japanese with no living relatives (or estranged ones) that pass away. The documentary I saw had an old retired man with no kids who passed away naturally and his niece living far away was the only living relative. Quite sad.

Can you recall the general time, or even pinpoint the exact moment, when you started withdrawing from the outside world? I know you stated that you had a traumatic experience with a past relationship and her family. Did you experience the same kind of apathy before, or only after?

I have watched a few documentaries on hikikomori recently and I know there are support groups in Japan. At least from the shows, there seems to be surprising success for a lot of people. Have you considered seeking out these support groups? I know it seems daunting, but it’s worth a try.