Does anyone on here have OCD on here?

[cjake22]

Hello I am planning a gap year to study Chinese, and I am really excited, but I have OCD as well as Depression and anxiety. I had to go to the hospital last year, and I am currently seeing a psychiatrist and therapist, and we are working on getting it under control. I have a few questions. Will I be able to get my medicine? I take Prozac, Xanax, and Risperdal. I know china is still a developing country and their mental health system has a ways to go. What are the best ways to cope with a different culture and to minimize culture shock? Also is their anyone else on here who has dealt with OCD or other mental health issues. If you have any questions about OCD feel free to ask me.

[Mr John]

Hey there,

 

I can't offer any really useful advice with respect to medicine. However, if you've got your heart set on going to China, I'd recommend restricting your choices to first-tier cities (e.g Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou). Adjusting to life in another country - particularly China - is hard enough without the additional stuff you'll need to deal with.

 

The main reason I suggest those places is because they are more likely to have the stuff you need, and the culture shock will be reduced somewhat. Apart from that, as you're probably already doing, read as much as you can before you go. Some things you can prepare for psychologically in advance, others things you just have to experience first hand before you fully understand.

[Johnny20270]

Good luck whatever you decide cjake!

 

My friend back in UK sounds exactly like you. I have know her 15 years She has a lot of mental issues. Its tough I know and many people don't understand what ts like

 

I think you really should give it a go. You can always leave any time you want and it will help your in later life in terms of confidence and mental stability. If you really hate it, just pack up and fly home

 

You may it like it and you may not like it at all. To be frank there is far too much crap talk going around about how great china is. The reality is:  a lot of the places / experiences are sh#t, end of! Just bought some strawberries this afternoon, and the prick had placed a heavy wad of compact cardboard in the bottom of the tray. (You pay per weight) Things like that f#ck me right off.  It can get to you if you let it. So mentally it will be a challenge  But its a life experience no question, and in your case I reckon it will have a long lasting positive effect .

 

But then some things like travelling to Yunnan are fantastic and you will remember for life.

 

Shanghai is the easiest place to live 

(avoid shenzhen, its a total hole)

[Sinofaze]

I really don't think you should go, sorry to say.

 

I have somebody in my family who suffers the exact conditions and I am wondering how you will cope with the extremes of the culture.

 

For example, how are you with crowds? China is extremely noisy, over-populated, especially in the large cities prescribed by others here. Say you had to travel somewhere and had to use the bus. Public transport in China cities is always over-capacitated and in generally poor condition, where you are packed in tight with other people.

 

Then there are cultural extremes, such as being stared at constantly. There are some other examples but I am reluctant to give here to avoid offence. Such cultural differences can challenge even the healthiest of foreigners there, trust me. China can be a very rewarding experience but the mutual cultural-differences are a constant pressure to both the guest and the host.

 

As for the issue with medication, I'm sure these meds are not available anywhere in China. If they are, they are likely to be fake. There may be Chinese-equivilant but can you read Hanzi-writing? You will almost certainly need a native-friend to translate the package instructions, services of such should not be taken for granted. Feel free to prove me wrong but I am also sure that you will not be able to bring in a supply of your meds through customs.

 

Despite what Johnny20270 says, it is not so easy to just pack up and leave. It can be an emotional and stressful event, especially if you're leaving under a cloud. Your Chinese-host will have gone to great effort and some expense to attain your study-visa and for the exchange not to work out, this will sour their tolerence of you and your condition.

 

To my mind, you will benefit more from learning the language and culture from home. I dare-say there will be adequate resources, such as a Chinese community based locally and more solid foundation of study.

[Demonic_Duck]

I know china is still a developing country and their mental health system has a ways to go.

As far as I understand that's an understatement. The mental health system is next-to nonexistent. Certainly every Chinese person I've spoken to about mental health seems unaware of any system in place in China whatsoever.

 

There are some foreigners who are psychiatrists living and operating privately in China, at least in major cities, and I assume their clients are predominantly other foreigners. It might be a good idea to take a look online, scout out some contact details and get in contact with one or two of them in your target city, if you do indeed decide to go.

[889]

I can't answer your questions, but I think I can say that if your situation reaches a low point again, you will not find the professional resources you'll need in China. You'll have to return home, and the pressure of making a decision to return home will probably make a bad situation worse.

Further, in China there's little public understanding of the many gradations of psychological health issues. To avoid being ostracised or such, you'll need to keep your problems to yourself. That may also put more pressure on you.

(By the way, Shenzhen is a perfectly fine place to live.)

[Johnny20270]

Despite what Johnny20270 says, it is not so easy to just pack up and leave. It can be an emotional and stressful event, especially if you're leaving under a cloud. Your Chinese-host will have gone to great effort and some expense to attain your study-visa and for the exchange not to work out, this will sour their tolerence of you and your condition.

 

 

Sorry Sinofaze, your totally wrong on that!! You get on a plane and go in a day or two. Its as simple as that! Yes its emotional and stressful but it may be one of the reason he/she is coming here. Its a life changing event for some. Before I came here everybody told me, "ahh you can't just quit our job and leave", especially at your age and having a lot of ties to the UK. You can! I did it in and just walked out of my job that day. Rented my apartment in UK out, packed a bag and basically f#cked off. When your 80 you won't be regretting about not taking these decisions in life. You will regret having done nothing, sat in the same job your whole life, thinking about all the things you should have done but now too late!

 

I have no idea where your getting your that bit in bold! You pay them upfront. Host families are not doing you favors. This idea that somehow you are upsetting everyone else is untrue and not important. People come and go all the time in china. There were foreigners before you in host families and there will be foreigners after you. Same in the language school. They organise with Visa, you pay for the visa upfront. Thousands come to Chinese very year.. What is this great effort anyway. The school get you the visa. Fill in a few forms and that's it. Its not a big deal. The point is, if you want to, you can, its not that hard. 

 

I do agree on the culture shock comment, hence I'd suggest, come for a holiday first and see what you think. If you move to shanghai or Beijing, you won't be getting too many stares. Place has a lot of foreigners anyway 

 

Many people look for reasons why they can't do something rather reason why they can. I have done this myself. Realistically for my career, moving to china is a disaster. I spend a lot of my savings, out of a job, economy is bad in UK and will be hard to get a job when I go back. Learning Chinese is useless for my career but this is all about material gain. What about the emotional well being, broadening your mind, lifestyle? etc. I don't particularly like it here. I don't hate it but I have no regrets. 

 

I do understand that if you come and fail (for want of a better word) you will feel like you like people back home down yourself a bar and in your mind failed. I do understand the issues and no question it will be hard. My friend has these issues. I do understand them and no question it will be hard. You will need friends and support around but its a chance I think he/she should take. 

 

Regard shenzhen: sure the OP should take a range of opinions, not base it on mine solely. i don't like shanghai but many do. Just like London, NYC, Paris, but a lot of Chinese people. 

[gato]

Another factor to keep in mind is that English-speaking doctors are extremely expensive in China, more expensive than doctors in the US (which has among the most expensive healthcare system in the world).

[Sinofaze]

 

I have no idea where your getting your that bit in bold!

By "host", I was referring to the school in China. Yes, the school DOES get the visa. This involves some expense in purchasing government lisences and flight reimbursements and other costs. One such cost is student accommodation, not always a "host family" of which is paid by the school. If not a host family, then most certainly an apartment on campus where the school is likely to foot the fuel bills.

 

 

You get on a plane and go in a day or two. Its as simple as that!

No. No, it's not. It invovles notifying the school, explaining to them why you want to leave and possibly having to negotiate your way around potential loss of face. A commitment is made and Chinese school will want to have something to show for it. Then there's booking the flight, traveling to the airport, canceling your visa and so on. Tell me what's Chinese for "Cheers, I'm offskie!" Don't know? Then how you going to book train tickets to the airport and such???

 

 

Its a life changing event for some. Before I came here everybody told me, "ahh you can't just quit our job and leave", especially at your age and having a lot of ties to the UK. You can! I did it in and just walked out of my job that day. Rented my apartment in UK out, packed a bag and basically f#cked off. When your 80 you won't be regretting about not taking these decisions in life. You will regret having done nothing, sat in the same job your whole life, thinking about all the things you should have done but now too late!

Yes, well done, you. Just one thing- did you come to China with a condition similar OPs? Do you have OCD? Depression......? No? Ah, well then.

 

It's one thing to make a life-changing decision, it's another to wrench yourself away from your support-base at a time of extreme vulnerability.

 

OP is in the middle of long-term treatment, from what he posted. Such treatment and medication are just not avaliable in China.

[bokane]

For what it's worth, the international clinics in Beijing do offer English-speaking doctors and access (via prescription) to (probably) the same medications you're currently taking. These are expensive, as other people have said, and even if you do have insurance that covers you in China, you'll probably be stuck paying for visits (~RMB 1500-2000 per hour, I think) and medication (less; often generic brands) out of pocket and then applying to your insurance company for reimbursement. Not the end of the world, and your insurance company probably will reimburse you, but if money's tight or you don't have insurance -- as was the case for me for most of my time in China -- then it's not necessarily the most attractive option.

A friend of a friend recently posted on Facebook (with permission to share with other people who could use the information) about their experience getting medication through the Chinese hospital system: 

 

"First, you need to make a reservation to see a doctor. If you speak Chinese, this should be pretty easy. Otherwise, find a Chinese-speaker you trust to help you out. (That disclaimer holds true for everything I say from here on out.)

Call 114 -- that's Beijing's central hotline for doctor's appointments reservations -- and tell the person you speak with that you'd like to make a reservation to see a doctor at Peking University No. 6 Hospital (北大第六醫院; No. 6 is a hospital that specializes in treating psychological disorders. I found the doctors there to be professional and understanding.) They'll then ask you which department. You should say psychiatry. They'll then give you a choice of doctors to see, with prices going up based on seniority. You should be fine with any of them, and none are expensive; iirc, making an appointment cost me about 30 kuai. You give them your information (name, phone number, passport #), and they'll reserve the appointment for you. I had a little bit of a kerfuffle with my name -- for some reason the reservations system would only accept it when it was entered with no spaces -- but that didn't ultimately affect my ability to see a doctor.

Pro trip: Don't wait until the last minute minute when your meds are running out. The wait for an appointment is usually at least a day or two.

The hospital visit is pretty easy if you know how to handle it, although Chinese hospitals can be really confusing/intimidating for people who've never been to one. If you've never been to PKU No. 6 before, your first step when you enter will be to get a hospital card and medical records book. The former is where the hospital keeps the electronic records of your visit and payment. The latter is where the doctor records the details of your treatment. When you walk in the door, the window for getting these is down a hallway to your right. Give the person behind the window your passport and a nominal fee (15 kuai, if I remember right), and they'll give you your card and booklet.

Pro tip: If you plan on returning to the hospital, hang on to both of these; it will make your next visit faster because you won't have to get them again.

Once you have your card and booklet, proceed to the registration window (掛號窗口). Give them your card and your passport and tell them about your appointment. They'll then give you a slip of paper and tell you to go upstairs to the nurse. This means you need to go upstairs to the psychiatry department on the second floor (just follow the signs) and give the slip of paper to the nurse on duty. The nurse then gives you a number and slots you into the queue to see a doctor. When I went (about 1:30pm on a weekday) the wait wasn't too bad, about a half hour. That might vary depending on the day.

The conversation with the doctor was the fastest and easiest part of the visit. He listened to why I take medication and asked me a few questions about my condition. He was sympathetic, understanding, and professional. After I finished, he wrote down a prescription and sent me on my way. The whole thing took no more than five minutes, start to finish.

Pro tips: If you have a previous prescription, bring the prescription slip with you. When I pulled it out to show to the doctor, he waved me off, but I think just the fact that I had and could produce it lent some credibility to my story. Also, bring your medication if you have it, so the doctor can see exactly what you take and give you the correct prescription.

After you've been given your prescription, go back downstairs to the pickup/payment window. Give your card and passport to the payment attendant, pay for the medicine, then go to the window next door to pick up the medication. That's it! You're done!

A two month's supply of the medication I take ended up costing 935 kuai. That's a little more than a quarter what I would have paid at International SOS (you also have to pay a consultation fee there that can range between 800 and over a thousand kuai).

I hope all that's helpful to anyone you know who's been struggling to find medication in Beijing. If any of them want to talk or have questions, put them in touch and I'll do my best to help."

 

 

I would assume that the same will be true in most other places. Not friction-free -- especially if you aren't comfortable speaking Chinese -- but not impossible either, and a reminder that China does have options for medication and treatment.

 

That said, people's points here about stress and being away from your support base are good ones: if you aren't used to being in China, then there are a lot of things -- crowds, lines, highly streamlined notions of etiquette, staring (if you're visibly non-Chinese) in a way that you will unconsciously perceive as being hostile for at least the first six months, the frustrations of trying to negotiate daily living in a second language -- that you may find stressful and aggravating. Not to say that you shouldn't go -- but a certain amount of culture shock is inevitable.

[edelweis]

@sinofaze

 

eh perhaps you're a little too scrupulous wrt the school. If you're a paying student, what loss could the school face?

 

Perhaps it's another matter when you're on a scholarship or as an exchange student (meaning your home uni has an agreement with the Chinese uni). Edit: also perhaps if you apply for a specialized or postgraduate course which has a limit on the number of admissions.

 

But if you just go to China as a self supporting language student, whether at a uni or at a private school, surely you should not feel any obligation to stay or give detailed explanations if you have any kind of emergency requiring you to leave the country.

[edelweis]

out of curiosity: does the visa application still require you to say whether you've had any kind of mental illness?

[imron]

Just one thing- did you come to China with a condition similar OPs? Do you have OCD? Depression......? No? Ah, well then.

I think this is the key point.  This thread offers some insight - the last post in particular.

[anonymoose]

If you go to the university hospitals (Zhongshan Hospital, Huashan Hospital, etc. in Shanghai, for example), most of the doctors will be able to speak English to some extent, some even very well. A lot of them have spent time abroad. And this doesn't cost any extra - a consultation will only cost about 20 yuan or less. The downside is that they are very rushed - you may only get 3 or 4 minutes with the doctor. It is better going in the afternoon, towards the end of the week. Don't go first thing in the morning, especially Monday morning, unless it is urgent.

 

It may be more difficult for mental health issues though.

[Johnny20270]

sinfaze. 

 

Please stop scare mongering for no reason. Its daft. Yes! you can just go to the airport and piss off. Its not problem. I went back to my country before in December at a moments notice and thinking about not returning, you book it on ctrip, elong and just bugger off. Have you ever done anything spur of the moment before?

 

And the school issue is nonscence, they do nothing until you pay up. Its the student financial loss, not the school! There are plenty of threads on here about students told to come on a tourist visa and they will convert it to student visa. Apartments, school fees, visa fees are all paid up front as per norm. So should you leave, its your financial loss. 

 

Loss of face? Who gives a f#ck. That whole guanxi thing may be important to Chinese but I generally couldn't give a toss about it. As far as I can see no-one here does anything until you pay 100% upfront. Where is the 'respect and honour' in that?. The OP needs to decide it that's important to him or not. If I was a host family and a person with a mental illness needed to just up and quit one day because he/she couldn't take, I'd 100% understand. 

 

Look. I am certainly not to trying to trivializes the OP condition! Far from it! I have someone very close to me that has a lot of mental disorders and taking medication same as the OP. I know exactly what can happen, the panic attacks, the suicidal thoughts, the severe depression, the feeling of isolation, overwhelming need to 'immediately escape' etc My point is, its difficult, very difficult for the OP to do something like this and providing of idea of a 'way out ', should it all go pear-shaped, is important.  

 

Now If the OP did decide to go, yes all the others posters comments are very useful and a LOT more preparation is required and 'what if' scenarios need to be thought through particularity with the OP's condition. For example, what to do it things go bad, where to get medication. I don't want the OP to think that its going to be an easy ride but I do way to point out factual information and this may be achievable.

 

And my key message to the OP is: From experience of others: even if you 'survive China yet hate it', it could well be a mental barrier smashed for you, and only you alone, can understand how that will make you feel. 

 

I suspect, (and the OP can correct me if I'm wrong), that it might be a bit of a pipe dream, or mental escape at this stage. Maybe baby steps are more sensible. Maybe a holiday with a friend to china would be a good first step. When I came to china first on a holiday many years ago I traveled around on my own and no question this was a hard place to be. i have been to a lot of countries and China rocked me a little. Another alternative is to go to Beijing, Shanghai for a month, join a language school. They can organize accommodation, visas quickly. You will meet other students so won't be alone and if you really like it, delay your flight back, extend your stay. They will be more that happy that you stay on and can convert your tourist visa into a student no hassle. If you hate it, just go home. 

 

Where I live in Beijing is like any major city in the world, Starbucks, western shops everywhere. Its the shallow end of the pool, so to write. You can get buy without Chinese perfectly well here

[roddy]

Loss of face? Who gives a f#ck.

 

Etiquette tip: If you're the only person in the room swearing, stop swearing. You're sounding like an angry teenager. T&C's. 

[Sinofaze]

@Johnny20270

I'm not scaremongering at all. Rather, I'm offering OP some insights into the culture in comparisons to their conditions.

 

 

Yes! you can just go to the airport and piss off. Its not problem.

 

No. Again, it is not as simple as "jumping on the plane". There is the matter of actually getting on the plane, going to the airport. This involves being able to speak some Chinese, if you're on your own. You seem to take for granted that OP will experience the same sphere of reality as you. But who's to say OP will end up in the same area you were?

 

 

And the school issue is nonscence, they do nothing until you pay up. Its the student financial loss, not the school! There are plenty of threads on here about students told to come on a tourist visa and they will convert it to student visa. Apartments, school fees, visa fees are all paid up front as per norm. So should you leave, its your financial loss.

 

Once again (*sigh), OP is looking to enrol on a course or a student-exchange (not too clear on which), which requires a visa processed by the local PSB. If OP does change their mind halfway, the host (and, by this I mean the school) will have to take time and money to cancel the visa. I know this because I have witnessed my employer having to work with the PSB in similar circumstances. Working with the PSB is a very strenuous intricate process involving Guanxi. But then I don't expect you to understand this because...

 

 

Loss of face? Who gives a f#ck. That whole guanxi thing may be important to Chinese but I generally couldn't give a toss about it.

 

...which probably explains why....

 

 

I went back to my country before in December at a moments notice and thinking about not returning,

 

Says it all, really.

 

This part of Chinese culture and bureaucracy can be seen as an unnecessary hiderance which frustrates most foreigners. But it's there nonetheless and OP needs to be aware that they will have to navigate around it along with their conditions.

 

 

Look. I am certainly not to trying to trivializes the OP condition! Far from it!

 

Yes, you are, very much so.

 

 

I have someone very close to me that has a lot of mental disorders and taking medication same as the OP.

 

....And have you asked them if they can conceivably see themselves going over to China for a year????

 

 

I know exactly what can happen, the panic attacks, the suicidal thoughts, the severe depression, the feeling of isolation, overwhelming need to 'immediately escape' etc My point is, its difficult, very difficult for the OP to do something like this and providing of idea of a 'way out

 

WHO'S SCAREMONGERING NOW??!!

 

 

Now If the OP did decide to go, yes all the others posters comments are very useful and a LOT more preparation is required and 'what if' scenarios need to be thought through particularity with the OP's condition. For example, what to do it things go bad, where to get medication. I don't want the OP to think that its going to be an easy ride but I do way to point out factual information and this may be achievable.

 

..Which was exactly what I was saying earlier.

 

And speaking of "other posters", the thread that Admin had posted earlier does not resolve the issue of the OP's medication being available in China nor does it make clear if OP can take a supply into China, which I would not reccommend them to do.

 

Did you know that one of the medications revealed in OP's post- Risperidone- is actually an anitpsychotic drug used to treat bipolar and schizophrenia? This isn't so alarming in itself. It doesn't suggest any dangers, of course. OP was never clear on his/her condition and it isn't any of business. But what it does reveal is the one thing that should negate any encouragement to spending a year in China.

 

And that is OP IS IN THE MIDDLE OF TREATMENT!

 

If you were being treated for cancer or had to go through a serious operation, you don't just stop, up sticks and move to another country, one where the very medication you NEED is unlikely to be available. A country in which the challanges of traveling to would actually be a detriment to your very illness.

 

I am also picking up from what OP said about "taking a gap-year" that they may already be suffering from the pressures of a possible full-time studies.

 

So my advice to OP, in light of what was posted, is to see the treatment through in conjuction to your studies to the very end. That there is the life-changing adventure already.

 

Going to a developing country suffering from an illness belies all sense and could prove harmful in the long-term. Don't forget that tolerence and understanding of OP's conditions in China is still, BY LAW, pretty nonexistent.

[cjake22]

Wow I am amazed by all the comments in this thread. All of your advice has been helpful. I would like to talk about my condition a little bit more. This fall I would say I had a break from reality. I was not hearing voices or seeing things, but I was delusional. I went to the hospital and I got help. I am twenty three and that is the age mental health presents itself. Something similar happened to my mom when she was my age, but she is fine now. I am slowly getting better, and it has put things in perspective. As long as I can remember I have wanted to travel to Asia and China. I am fascinated by the region, language and culture. I made a decision to start learning Putonghua. I want to travel so bad that it hurts, but my first priority is getting better. Having this goal is helping me get better. I have a plan in place and I would like to tell everyone on here what it is. I would like to go to Nanjing for 90 days on a tourist visa. While I am there I want to look at universities and private language schools. If I can't handle it that is fine and I will go home. If I enjoy my time I will stay for a whole year. I am learning coping techniques in therapy and I need to be able to get my medicine. I am also making plans on what to do if this happens again. Right now I am not in school and I am working 30 hours a week, learning mandarin on my own and studying TEFL. I know moving to a developing country will be challenging, but I can always go home. Right now my first goal is getting better, and my second goal planning my trip to china is helping me. If any one has questions please feel free to ask me.

[Johnny20270]

Loss of face? Who gives a f#ck.

Etiquette tip: If you're the only person in the room swearing, stop swearing. You're sounding like an angry teenager. T&C's.

Ok, fair comment. Accepted

 

 

 

To be honest, some of the comments forum never ceases to surprise me. It is just one person opinion. I am often thinking what age are people on here? 19 and have they any life experience at all!

 

There are 2 topics here as I see it:

1) People present factual information to readers about china and what its like to live here from our perspective

2) The OP particular concerns and can he/she travel and live in China with his her particular condition

 

To simplify it, I want to clear up point one 

Point 1

To say that you need a knowledge of the local language to take a flight from a city like Beijing/ Shanghai to the the most developed country in the world, i.e. the US is just plain daft!! 

How do you think hundreds of thousands of other people have done it over the years, i.e. travelling backpacking, last minute holidays. 20+ years ago I backpacked around Europe as many others did with no internet, smart phones, paper maps, credit cards not being accepted. Do you really think I and others were learning 40 languages for all the countries we have been too. Just turning to to a airport, bus station and getting to an airport was possible. In this day and age with modern global technology available now, ease of travel, its much much easier. 

 

Furthermore, saying that you can't just up and go is a foolish and misleading comment. It may have consequences sure, but you can (leaving aside the comments about mental & emotional capacity aside). Stating that you have to notify the school before you leave the country is plain wrong, period! The police won't stop you at the airport. 

 

And yes, whether the OP has the ability to do this or not, is a side issue.

 

And as regards the 'loss of face' .... students come and go out of schools / business all the time, do you really think they are the topic of conversation amongst the staff about what a nasty fiend they are. You are not going on state TV as a disreputable waiguoren. What do you think happens in companies when staff quit their job and take job offers else where? Paperwork is sorted out and you are forgotten about. I can agree that its a subjective issue and for me, this particular course of action, is a non issue. Others may disagree

 

Point 2

yes, its a concern I'm sure for the OP and of course I am not suggesting "don't worry it will be cool". ... that's why I suggested a possible plan of action like talk it over with family first, doctors advice, do research, work through 'what if' scenarios, maybe come of a holiday first with a friend. Not just plain and simple, no, stay at home and forget about your dreams!! 

[roddy]

"And yes, whether the OP has the ability to do this or not, is a side issue."

Nonsense. It might be a side issue for you, as you've suddenly decided that it's much more important we all start talking about what you want to talk about. But for the OP, it's probably actually the main issue. You want to start a topic about the more general case, go ahead.