I would give anything to move abroad, but im into little to no things it takes to actually do so. And when I read about it, it seems a bit reasonable, but I lose all interest and motivation right there. Doubt myself and the usual.
I hate being american so much to where I want to do. I don’t feel like writing much cause I feel pretty tired right now, but still Its become some sort of dysphoria for me. I feel inferior and I even hope to die in my sleep. I just wish that I were born European.
I do learn languages and I’m well aware of the issues over there.
I wonder to god why I was born here, but I know god doesn’t really work like that or see things that way. So I probably pray.
I feel inferior literally
I don’t relate to the history or culture (as if there is any) at all.
And some other stuff.
And I apologize if this seems very excessive. Its just really how I feel.
You sound as if you’re having a depressive episode. I recognise it because I struggle with depression.
Depression is usually a reaction to real issues. The problem comes in when your psyche becomes overly focused on the negative aspects of your life, and can’t fairly value the positive aspects. Think of it as seeing life through a grey veil, except your brain lies to you and tells you this is what’s really true, and that before you were looking at life through rose-coloured glasses. It’s not true.
- Please get help.
- It get’s better, I promise.
- Moving countries will not fix your depression - no need to ask me how I know :/ Wherever you go, you will be taking yourself with, so look after yourself please.
- The rest of the world knows it’s not all Americans. The people that matter don’t think less of you just because you’re American, they judge you based on your own choices. The kind of people who judge you by your nationality are the same kind of intolerant fools that MAGA attracts.
- America has problems but is still better than many places. The issue is less the absolute reality and more the relative change. How America is today is worse than it was but still better than many places ever were.
Sending you hugs.
Yeah, Im very thankful for this. But the depression comes mainly from being american and living in america.
I believe you. I’m saddened watching the news out of America as an outsider, and I don’t have your emotional attachment to the country.
If I was in your position, I can imagine I would be grieving right now. Grieving the loss of who and what you believed America stands for, grieving your lost confidence in your fellow Americans, grieving the future you hoped for and no longer see, grieving the loss of that part of your identity which used to be proud to be American. These are not minor things to grapple with, and the grieving process hurts. Leaving America won’t make that hurt go away though.
Don’t get me wrong. I’ve moved countries twice now, and I highly recommend it. It’s a wonderful experience. However, it’s also a very stressful thing to do, so only do it to move somewhere that you are excited about going to. Important is the “to”, not the “from”. It’s a bit like moving in with a new partner, you’re going to need those “honeymoon period” feelings to get you through the initial challenges 😄
But the depression comes mainly from being american and living in america.
It can definitely contribute, but parent poster’s point is still entirely correct: you’ve got to work on you, mate. Moving countries may fix some triggers for depression, but it’ll also likely introduce new ones, too. You need to work on your own mental health, and most people really benefit from proportional help with that because of our cognitive biases and difficulty identifying our own triggers and negative thought patterns.
In particular, labeling your depression as coming from loving in the US indicates you’re likely missing other, internal factors.
The bad things are spreading abroad. The reason they ramped up dystopian surveillance measures around the world is so the rich can control the population when the coming AI-induced labor crisis makes normal people’s labor unnecessary. People suddenly without access to resources will become dangerous. Humanity as a whole must overcome this. If there is a safe place, I am unaware. Americans just got stupider faster. Maybe by design due to the impacts of cultural visibility/influence and the need to make people world-wide as stupid as possible.
Edit: just my opinion
This is a beautiful response to a post I resonated a lot with and just wanted to say thank you. I go through awful seasonal depression every single year, but it’s especially worse this year because… gestures around
It’s been hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel with literal Fascism hanging over my head.
Thank you for your message, it helps me to know I’m not alone too. I’m sorry that you’re having a rough time, SAD is the pits. It hit me hard my 1st few winters in Europe.
I trust you’re taking your vitamin D and getting as much light as you can. I’ve got a new puppy, so no choice about going outside any more, no matter the weather 🥶 (I’ll pm you tomorrow, I’m too lazy to upload a photo now.)
Tbh that’s a big reason I don’t think I could move abroad - I HATE cold weather, and all of Europe seems like they have longer and colder winters than the US… at least here in Virginia.
I am indeed taking my vitamin D supplements, although I could be getting more sunlight. I tend to hibernate in the winter bc, again, I HATE cold weather lol. Congrats on your new puppy!! They can definitely force us out of our comfort zones in the best way.
Hope you’ve adjusted to your new life in Europe, friend! My wife and I have been planning a big trip there in the next year or two. Any must-visit suggestions on places to see? We were eyeing a Mediterranean or Nordic cruise that stops in a few different countries, that seems like it’d be really cool.
US government sucks, but that does not mean you suck. You’re probably fine. I mean, you know that country is run by idiots, I’d worry more if you were fine with that… Anyway…
If you’re taking meds, consider asking a doctor whether the dosage is right, incorrect dosages can lead to feeling depressed. Don’t experiment, see a doctor, it’s all just brain chemistry and can probably be sorted out. :)
Hey have you looked into working holidays? We have the equivalent for your country where we can go and do farm labour or Alaskan fishing in a specific season, it means you know ahead of time why you’re going to that country. I think the same thing exists for places like England, Spain, and other European countries.
Myself I have never been motivated enough to even go on holiday unless someone organised it for me.
But also… You don’t need an excuse to get on a plane and go. You just need to make sure it isn’t wiping out your bank account.
Did you know there are services that do all the planning for you and you just pay and show up?
My parents did one once. The one they did was as part of a group and i think the point of that one specifically was that it was all a surprise.
I’m with you. I’ve been feeling especially shitty the last few months. For me it’s been the expenses. My monthly costs are going up faster than my pay, and earlier this year I consolidated some debts to make it more manageable and hopefully get out from under it, but now I’m racking up the balance on the credit card I was trying to eliminate in the first place.
All day yesterday, my head was full of unhealthy thoughts. For example, they were doing work on the building I work in and I fantasized about them REALLY messing something up and just blowing up the whole damn thing with me in it.
If you need someone to chat deeper with, hit me up, I could probably use the company myself. Best wishes to you!
I wish Europe had the equivalent of your Ranger Program, where you can actualy experience the land for what it’s for - sights, history and nature.
PS: Don’t move to Germany, this country will amp up your Depression to the point of suicide.
WTF, Germany does not cause people to become depressed.
No, but it also does fuck’all for people that already are.
While the healthcare system certainly has to be improved in many ways, it does not amplify depression in itself.
People can also improve their quality of life in Germany.
Stick to facts, please. Even though this is the internet, yes.
Germany IS one of the places I do want to live in. Anything is better than US. I only have a few countries that I want. I wiped Japan off ages ago
I kinda wrote off Germany recently due to political shifts occurring there.
But, if it’s somewhere you feel you can feel comfortable going, there are two options which may still be relevant. Maybe you already know about these, so apologies for taking your time if so, or maybe it helps someone else.
There is a language learning visa which allows you to stay for 12 months or so to learn German at an approved language school. There is a cost to this of course, and it’s in no way cheap. Pre-pandemic it was up to about 10k USD. This gets placed into a “blocked” account which proves you can support yourself for the time you’re supposed to be there. After this visa is completed, at least previously, you would need to leave the EU for 3 months before coming back (presumably to Germany) to apply for a “job searcher’s visa”.
Someone else may be able to correct or update some of that information.
Additionally, at the time, Germany provided an exception for IT Specialists, seeming to exempt those positions from the same long and difficult process of an employer ‘proving’ they couldn’t find an EU citizen for the position. But, one still needs to find an employer willing or interested in hiring them.
Someone else can also correct any of that if they find any outdated or incorrect details.
I want you to feel healthy about yourself. I want you to find a home.