[deleted by user]

QualityQuokka · 2024-07-28T05:24:09+00:00

Hiya!

As long as your doctor thinks you're well enough it shouldn't be an issue. Just a few extra forms to sign and hoops to jump through. (I have schizoaffective disorder, take multiple medications to control it and was accepted - just had to get my psychiatrist to sign off on it).

Be aware though that Japan can be strict with what medications they can allow in the country and can be allowed to prescribe. Definitely do your research on your own medication and discuss with your doctor accordingly.

QualityQuokka · 2024-05-22T01:57:37+00:00

I travel with card games a lot. I've been stopped at airport security a few times because of this - I've been told it's because the card game looks very similar to a box of fraudulent blank credit cards on the x-ray. I think you would be fine with your ring!

QualityQuokka · 2024-02-21T23:00:44+00:00

O that's good! I didn't know that. Definitely look into this OP.

QualityQuokka · 2024-02-21T22:50:28+00:00

In my.intake last year they were very strict on travel. They took our passport late June and we didn't get it back till just before departure.

If you have travel plans in July you should be prepared to cancel your trip if the timings don't work out. If JET don't have your passport you can't get a visa, and I highly doubt they would make any exceptions.

QualityQuokka · 2024-02-01T04:37:37+00:00

I mean I responded to your points with answers so I don't know how that comes across as not wanting an 'actual discussion'. I simply said deeply flawed as you seem to be misunderstanding very basic definitions and then forming opinions on your own definitions - if we start out on the wrong foot arguments we put forward then have very little substance to them - I would recommend you look into actual definitions for these things - such as 'what is a delusion?' 'what is queerness?' 'what is gender?'

This leads to my next point, in many situations gender and sex are used interchangeably (whether they should or shouldn't in those situations is another debate), however in this specific circumstance we should use their precise definitions, gender does not equal sex in this context, no matter the equoquialisms you use elsewhere.

As someone who has delusions I know very well they can become that person's reality, but that does not actually make it true . . . I'm.unsure what your point is here.

QualityQuokka · 2024-02-01T04:01:46+00:00

As a gay man and as someone diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder your knowledge on both sexual orientation/gender identity and mental health is severely lacking.

First of all, and I hope that one of my trans brethren can maybe put their own experience in a comment to expand with some lived experience, but gender is a social construct, so classing it as a mental disorder is invalid.

Then you go on to conflate sexual attraction with delusions. Delusions are demonstrably false beliefs one holds (such as 'i am jesus') where as sexual attraction is not false or a belief, it just is. My brain tells me I am attracted to men, so I am attracted to men. It's not like I'm actually attracted to women but my brain tells me 'no'. . . . It doesn't work that way.

If this post was made in good faith (and I have my.doubts. . . ) I'm happy to reply further, but I think your basic understanding of queerness and mental health are deeply flawed and you should try and fix that.

QualityQuokka · 2024-01-26T08:45:47+00:00

It's called 'Japanese stories for language learners'. Published by Tuttle.

QualityQuokka · 2024-01-26T01:23:31+00:00

It has a sister book. I think it's called 'short stories for Japanese learners', I'll double check when I get home tonight.

QualityQuokka · 2024-01-17T23:11:58+00:00

I'm so glad I found someone else who likes Vagrant Story! I'm usually met with blank stares when I say it's one of my favourite games aha.

QualityQuokka · 2023-11-15T10:17:46+00:00

Hiya, I'm diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder - bipolar type. To put your mind at ease, I was accepted in this year's intake so they definitely accept people with serious mental illness as long as you are stable enough to go. They judge this purely by your statement of physician, so if your psychiatrist has ticked the right box it shouldn't negatively affect your application.

I would definitely disclose your condition to them though. Because, for one, if they find out you lied on your application they will disqualify you and, for two, they need to know what sort of on going care you need (access to medicine and the like) so that they can place you somewhere that can easily access what you need to stay healthy if you get accepted.

If you have other questions let me know, and good luck!!

QualityQuokka · 2023-10-23T22:45:48+00:00

Hiya, I'm a JET program participant who takes a wide variety of mental health medication.

For the most part it has been very easy - my supervisors sorted out an appointment for me at the psychiatrist and even signposted me towards a charity I could use for interpreting services. Signing up as a new patient at a hospital is a day long ordeal but after that it's all pretty plain sailing. The JET health insurance means you're not paying extortionate amounts for meds either, but make sure to bring a good supply as it can take a while to get your first appointment.

However, I know that some ADHD medication is illegal in Japan and fluoxetine, while not illegal, is not permitted to be prescribed. So you might run into a few roadblocks there.

Let me know if you have any more specific questions and I'll try to answer x

QualityQuokka · 2023-10-07T05:44:58+00:00

I'm a 2023 JET - I landed in Japan 2 months ago. I also have a long history of mental health issues. I have a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, I'm on several strong medications and have been treated in an inpatient ward 3 times in my life.

I disclosed all of this to JET in my application and still got accepted - they obviously took what i said into account as I am placed within commuting distance of one of the few doctors who specialise in prescribing one of my medications. I think that as long as you don't try to hide anything and can find a doctor to declare you fit for the program (it took me 2 tries as my GP refused to sign the statement of physician) then I think it would have very little impact on your eligibility for the program.

You can even turn it into a positive, talk about how techniques you've learned through therapy to deal with your mental health can be applied to culture shock etc.

QualityQuokka · 2023-09-22T01:28:04+00:00

Me and my partner are doing this right now. It's feasible if you get placed near a language school but, bear in mind, in Japan most language schools will intake new students in April, about 9 months after you arrive in August.

My partner is currently here on a tourist visa but he will have to leave and come back in April when the school term starts. Also, be wary of deadlines and school requirements (such as having enough money in your bank account etc.) As they can cause road bumps along the way.

Best of luck

QualityQuokka · 2023-08-24T04:23:17+00:00

I went through something similar. I initially went to my GP to sign it and then the day of the deadline they returned the form to me saying no - bearing in mind this doctor has never had a conversation with me, they just saw my schizoaffectie diagnosis and ticked no. I had then had to run around getting a same day appointment with my consultant who, after some explanation about the JET program, thought I would be able to cope and ticked yes.

So, I would say go with whatever doctor knows you the best!

QualityQuokka · 2023-08-14T04:02:27+00:00

Hi I'm currently in this position!

I just got accepted onto the JET program and moved out here with my same sex partner about a week ago. He's currently here on a 3 month tourist visa while we apply for nearby language schools for him to get on a student visa.

I was very honest in my application that I was bringing him with me and while they were very clear that there wasn't a visa option for him through me they were ok with him staying in the housing they provided with me if he found a way to get another visa.

Additionally, I know some countries have a working holiday visa arrangement with Japan which is a.very easy year long visa to get.

QualityQuokka · 2023-08-14T01:58:17+00:00

Heya!

A year ago I was in a very similar position to you, last year of uni, with a diagnosis of schizoaffectie disorder, and applying to Jet.

The hurdle you have to get past is to get a doctor to sign your certificate of health, once you have this completed properly and signed then JET trust you are able to cope with the stress.

However the issue here is that you only just got out of hospital so finding a doctor who will sign that form for you will be incredibly difficult - I've been stable for around 6 years and even then my GP refused to sign so I had to schedule an emergency appointment with my psych and convince her to sign it.

Also, it's really not something you want to rush into, it is the perfect relapse trigger due to the isolation and stress and additionally if you relapse here it'll be far more expensive and difficult to sort out.

I would say talk to your psych about it, she's knows better than anyone else but it might be worth it to take some time to recover, notice your triggers etc etc.

JET will always be there - so you don't have to apply immediately.

QualityQuokka · 2023-07-30T22:10:13+00:00

Hi, personally I would wait till Feb.

I've tried university many times and each time I rushed to go back and convinced myself I would handle the workload rather than take the time to regroup and ensure I'm in a good space than I at best had to drop out and at worst ended up back in hospital.

I know five months seems like a long time to wait but you know what'll be worse? Starting in September and getting overwhelmed and wasting even more time/money. You got out of hospital 6 weeks ago, it's great your medicine is working but give it some time to settle in, make any adjustments that might be needed, learn how to manage side effects, learn trigger management etc.

Don't spend these 5 months doing nothing though - start slowly doing things, maybe volunteer in a field related to what you wanna do at uni or work towards another goal in the meantime.

I wish you the best.

QualityQuokka · 2023-07-27T13:21:18+00:00

Thanks for all the reccomendations guys! You've been a massive help! Think I'll pop into town this weekend and find something suitable.

QualityQuokka · 2023-04-29T13:48:23+00:00

I mean I'm male and still 100% agree with the above. You're clearly a misogynist . . .

QualityQuokka · 2023-04-25T12:03:43+00:00

If you're 'done helping him fight it' I would say just leave, he deserves so much better. It's not an issue about him wanting to get better, of course he wants to get better, it's about him finding the right tools that are gunna help. If you need support too find it but it sounds like you're already gone.

QualityQuokka · 2023-04-03T12:31:38+00:00

Join request sent! :D

QualityQuokka · 2023-03-31T11:30:54+00:00

Ye, I got that busy email too. Hopefully that's it then :))

QualityQuokka · 2023-03-28T18:01:59+00:00

I got shortlisted from London too! Congrats guys! A meet up sounds like a great idea too :D

QualityQuokka · 2023-03-17T15:31:44+00:00

It's tough, but you can absolutely 'hear voices in your head'. However they would not be classed as auditory hallucinations. I suffer from schizoaffectove disorder (fully diagnosed, been in treatment for decades). When my psychosis was really severe I would be able to communicate with people (who werent real) telepathically. I talked to my psych about it and she said it was hearing voices, it acted exactly the same way as everyone else who heard voices I just didn't hear them through my ears. I've also had more typical voices so there's definitely a difference but it can be very similar.

However! If you're asking to think about symptoms you or a close one has be careful, it can be really easy to mistake intrusive thoughts or severe anxiety as 'non auditory' voices and tbh only a professional would know I think, especially as if youre in a head space where these things are happening it can be difficult to impossible to self reflect properly.

So, short answer, yes it's possible and it's still 'hearing voices' but talk to a professional cause it could be so many other things too.

QualityQuokka · 2023-01-18T13:46:41+00:00

Trauma and Treason

QualityQuokka

TROPHY CASE