w.i.p. again
march 05, 2007
nearly a year ago, i wrote an entry entitled work in progress. although i didn't exactly blatantly yell it out but i hope most of you were keen enough to understand that underneath all the poetic *cough* descriptions, i was writing about seeing a therapist. yes, i said it...the "T" word. in the asian culture, i don't think it's viewed as something you should declare to the world or admit to because for the most part, it's looked down upon. the older generations will never understand this concept of going to see a psychotherapist to talk about things and to sort out the issues in your life. lay them on the table to a perfect stranger if you will. they think that it's pretty much an embarassment to admit your faults/weaknesses. one should persevere and deal with them on their own or find support within the family. never air out your dirty laundry they say. never put your family to shame they add.
coincidentally, i think it's asians that really need it. especially with things like culture gaps and generation gaps and having to deal with parents who grew up in a completely different world than your own. also dealing with things like stereotypes, racism, prejudice in school and work all somehow take their toll over time. but i personally only know of 3 other asians who go to therapy. i'm sure there are a lot of people in the closet about this...those who probably can't come forward because god forbid their friends or family know about it but i'm here to say that it's really ok as a person to seek therapy.
i made the conscious decision about 2 months ago to return back to therapy after taking a good 10 months leave away from it. armed with things i've learned about myself, my life, my thinking, my interpretation of things, i wanted to try out life without therapy for awhile. for the most part, i think i did ok but there are times when you have to just remind yourself of what you've learned and how to go about things from now on. sometimes it's a daily struggle. other times, you just wanna smack your head and say "dont fall back into that rut again!!"
what can i say about therapy except that it's great and that everyone should go. there are people i meet sometimes and i wish i could say to them "you should go to therapy" but not in a way where i think they are disturbed or twisted but more in the fact that they have such internal struggles with themselves that talking to someone objective and who is a professional would help immensely. or there are things about each and every one of us that we cannot explain or know the reasoning behind it that leaves us in a lot of turmoil. from what i've learned, there's so much to be said about putting faith in yourself to let go and seek someone to talk to. i think the misconception that you see a therapist because "something is wrong with you" is incorrect. it's more like you're being proactive about talking to someone to create an even healthier you. a more balanced you shall we say?
although i don't think there's anything inherently wrong with me (hold the wisecracks please ahem), i know i have internal strife....things that i need to resolve. and before therapy, i thought they stemmed from something but to later find out there's lots of other things affecting me. i think that only when are are acknowledging that you need improvement and admitting that you could be an even better person that you are on your way to enhancing oneself.
but i'm officially back being a work in progress...in fact, i'm sure i'll always will be. i just occasionally may need these refresher "courses". ;)
currently listening to: bic runga, if i had you
