Comments on: 40 before 30 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/ A weblog by Ernie Hsiung Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:02:22 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: 8 Asians » Asian-Americans and the Mental Illness Stigma http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/comment-page-1/#comment-7181 8 Asians » Asian-Americans and the Mental Illness Stigma Thu, 19 Apr 2007 21:58:21 +0000 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/#comment-7181 [...] To me, it just brings up the issue of Asian immigrants, Asian Americans and the stigma of mental illness. Of course, most people who are mentally ill do not commit violent acts, but it’s a subject that hits close to home because I have a sister that has been diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia. While I’m not going to speak on behalf on all Asian-Americans (Christ, when have I ever?) I can tell you that the idea of mental illness is something difficult for my family to accept, even to this day; the “public face” is a big deal in Chinese culture, and the concept of psychologists and psychiatrists are relatively unfamiliar at best, and “weird” and “foreign” at worst. Only when the situation is dire (In my case, its when my sister ran away from home at 23 to meet someone she met in her mind) does the situation get the attention it deserves; by then, it might be too little, too late. [...] [...] To me, it just brings up the issue of Asian immigrants, Asian Americans and the stigma of mental illness. Of course, most people who are mentally ill do not commit violent acts, but it’s a subject that hits close to home because I have a sister that has been diagnosed with bipolar schizophrenia. While I’m not going to speak on behalf on all Asian-Americans (Christ, when have I ever?) I can tell you that the idea of mental illness is something difficult for my family to accept, even to this day; the “public face” is a big deal in Chinese culture, and the concept of psychologists and psychiatrists are relatively unfamiliar at best, and “weird” and “foreign” at worst. Only when the situation is dire (In my case, its when my sister ran away from home at 23 to meet someone she met in her mind) does the situation get the attention it deserves; by then, it might be too little, too late. [...]

]]> By: Leslie http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/comment-page-1/#comment-2872 Leslie Sun, 21 Jan 2007 12:12:13 +0000 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/#comment-2872 I am currently at that juncture that you fear and I always have. My ill brother has lived with my Mom and now my Mom is 77 and unable to remain in her home. My back is so tight and my face has broken out like I'm 13 again but I haven't dropped dead of anxiety YET. My biggest fear is that my brother goes off his meds or really acts out when he finds out he has to go into a group home situation. I just wanted to let you know that looking back, I can see that I spent a lot of energy worrying about the situation . While it's not something I would choose for myself, I am getting through it. We all have a strength inside that surprises us. My plan for tomorrow is to start slowly cleaning out my Moms house without my brother figuring it all out too soon. Wish me luck. Life is a roller coaster. Enjoy the ride. I am currently at that juncture that you fear and I always have. My ill brother has lived with my Mom and now my Mom is 77 and unable to remain in her home. My back is so tight and my face has broken out like I’m 13 again but I haven’t dropped dead of anxiety YET. My biggest fear is that my brother goes off his meds or really acts out when he finds out he has to go into a group home situation. I just wanted to let you know that looking back, I can see that I spent a lot of energy worrying about the situation . While it’s not something I would choose for myself, I am getting through it. We all have a strength inside that surprises us. My plan for tomorrow is to start slowly cleaning out my Moms house without my brother figuring it all out too soon. Wish me luck. Life is a roller coaster. Enjoy the ride.

]]> By: word association | little. yellow. different. http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/comment-page-1/#comment-1811 word association | little. yellow. different. Wed, 27 Dec 2006 06:04:47 +0000 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/#comment-1811 [...] My sister has phases; she has her depressive phase, her psychotic destructive phase, her manic phase. When she’s in her manic phase, it’s like a game of word association: idea A leads to thought pattern B, which naturally goes to ideas C and D. She naturally brings up idea D, and I try to rationalize to myself that ideas B and C exists; it convinces me that there is a method to her madness instead of her “just being crazy.” [...] [...] My sister has phases; she has her depressive phase, her psychotic destructive phase, her manic phase. When she’s in her manic phase, it’s like a game of word association: idea A leads to thought pattern B, which naturally goes to ideas C and D. She naturally brings up idea D, and I try to rationalize to myself that ideas B and C exists; it convinces me that there is a method to her madness instead of her “just being crazy.” [...]

]]> By: Daez http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/comment-page-1/#comment-220 Daez Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:49:27 +0000 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/#comment-220 I just had this conversation myself with both my family andsome friends. I face something similar myself. It's like this weight pushing on the back of my brain. I know it's coming, and like you I hope I have the energy to get through it when it hits 10-20 years from now. I just had this conversation myself with both my family andsome friends. I face something similar myself. It’s like this weight pushing on the back of my brain. I know it’s coming, and like you I hope I have the energy to get through it when it hits 10-20 years from now.

]]> By: Me http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/comment-page-1/#comment-218 Me Sun, 05 Nov 2006 18:21:11 +0000 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/#comment-218 Hang in there, Ernie. I've been there, so I can relate. It's not an easy thing to live through, and you're going to worry (and going to be terrified -whether it's justified or not) because you don't know when the ball is going to drop or if it's going to drop in the near future. And it can wreck a lot of havoc in a short period of time. Keep the faith and my thoughts are with you. Hang in there, Ernie. I’ve been there, so I can relate. It’s not an easy thing to live through, and you’re going to worry (and going to be terrified -whether it’s justified or not) because you don’t know when the ball is going to drop or if it’s going to drop in the near future. And it can wreck a lot of havoc in a short period of time.

Keep the faith and my thoughts are with you.

]]> By: Khem http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/comment-page-1/#comment-216 Khem Sun, 05 Nov 2006 15:41:13 +0000 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/#comment-216 Your courage and opennes is very moving. I have nothing but the best to wish for you in your time of struggle. Your courage and opennes is very moving.

I have nothing but the best to wish for you in your time of struggle.

]]> By: beth http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/comment-page-1/#comment-190 beth Sat, 04 Nov 2006 03:39:59 +0000 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/#comment-190 hey ernie, i dont know anything about your sister's mental health history or your family's coping strategies, but have you guys looked into community mental health teams? they deal with people and families with chronic mental health issues in terms of support and referrals- support during crises and referrals for counselling, support groups, social groups- anything so that the burden is not all on the family. it sounds like she's functional while on meds so it might be worthwhile to look into? all the best xx hey ernie, i dont know anything about your sister’s mental health history or your family’s coping strategies, but have you guys looked into community mental health teams? they deal with people and families with chronic mental health issues in terms of support and referrals- support during crises and referrals for counselling, support groups, social groups- anything so that the burden is not all on the family. it sounds like she’s functional while on meds so it might be worthwhile to look into? all the best xx

]]> By: Chris http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/comment-page-1/#comment-175 Chris Fri, 03 Nov 2006 02:00:24 +0000 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/#comment-175 I'm in the same situation with my Mom and Brother. My mom being stuck alone, my brother being metally handicapped (and from the sounds of it, taking the same type of drugs). What helped my brother a lot is going to community theatre group setup specifically for people with special needs. They put on several productions a year, and it helps my brother out a lot. I'm not sure if you have something like that where you live (i'm in Vancouver), but I'd definitely recommend it a lot. I’m in the same situation with my Mom and Brother. My mom being stuck alone, my brother being metally handicapped (and from the sounds of it, taking the same type of drugs). What helped my brother a lot is going to community theatre group setup specifically for people with special needs. They put on several productions a year, and it helps my brother out a lot. I’m not sure if you have something like that where you live (i’m in Vancouver), but I’d definitely recommend it a lot.

]]> By: michael craig http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/comment-page-1/#comment-130 michael craig Sun, 29 Oct 2006 07:45:11 +0000 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/#comment-130 what courage ernie, i don't have the balls to use the internet to share on the wounding folly of those close and it's effects on me. a sort of open secret that those about me share but everyone believes 'you just have to live with' :( what courage ernie, i don’t have the balls to use the internet to share on the wounding folly of those close and it’s effects on me. a sort of open secret that those about me share but everyone believes ‘you just have to live with’ :(

]]> By: Charles http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Charles Sat, 28 Oct 2006 19:18:00 +0000 http://www.littleyellowdifferent.com/40-before-30/#comment-126 Gosh, this is sad. I'm dealing with my mom getting older. I'm dealing with me getting older. Life is hard, but it's what we have. Hope you have a good support network for yourself. Take care. Gosh, this is sad. I’m dealing with my mom getting older. I’m dealing with me getting older. Life is hard, but it’s what we have. Hope you have a good support network for yourself. Take care.

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