Depressed In The Usa

[qqatsi]

Hey all,

I'm 39 and exhausted from trying to keep up with the Joneses, housing and health costs, and generally dismayed with the current political situation in the states.

I have traveled to Thailand, along with Laos, twice in the last three years and summarized that the Thai way of life suits my quiet, Buddhist-like temperment.

I fully understand that one cannot run away from sadness, heartache and unease. But I'd like to do a permanet move and hope for some sort of guidance or reassurance that I am thinking with a level head.

Lest I bore you all with my life story, let me at least briefly cover how and why I am searching for inner peace in Thailand. I have worked a variety of jobs ranging from editing tv commercials to planting potatoes. I am a widow (my wife died young). I have lived all over the Western part of the states. Basically, I'm a wanderer. Not all of my time has been full of sorrow. Yet, I feel as though my life is not fulfilling. Ontop of all of this, I have battled depression most of my life (part genetics, part environment).

My depression lifts when I'm in Thailand (I've spent a total of 6 months there). Even though I was just touring, it seemed a better fit for myself. Anyone heard of a medical visa for depression or something like it? Left field question, I know. Thought I'd ask.

I have considered becoming a monk, along with a tour guide, a restaurant or internet shop owner in Thailand. Is this doable? Now if I had 1/2 million bucks, I wouldn't need as much insight on the feasability of moving to Thailand. I have a small amount saved which can at least get me started. I have about 2million bat saved currently.

Also, is becoming a monk a realistic option, considering I'm not Thai and have no real retirement income. I know monks don't value money, etc., but would my situation dictate having some sort of nest egg to cover expenses?

Lastly, it seems there are two schools of thought as far as becoming an expat in Thailand, financially speaking. One, move there now with what you have and make a go at it; or two, work like a dog until you can safely retire to Thailand. I could do the latter, but 10 more years of the same seems rather unpleasant.

Insights appreciated.

[aughie]

Also, is becoming a monk a realistic option, considering I'm not Thai and have no real retirement income. I know monks don't value money, etc., but would my situation dictate having some sort of nest egg to cover expenses?

Don't do anything foolish to lose the money or to lose control of the money. I apologize if this doesn't need to be said. Some people lose all their good sense when they are exposed to the tropical heat.

[Judge]

My depression lifts when I'm in Thailand (I've spent a total of 6 months there). Even though I was just touring, it seemed a better fit for myself. Anyone heard of a medical visa for depression or something like it? Left field question, I know. Thought I'd ask.

Just tell the folks at the consulate that you are depressed because can't get laid at home.

They will smile kindly and give you any visa that you ask for.

[crocodilexp]

I am in a similar situation, but at a much younger age (25). Fresh out of a top grad school, working a dream job in a #1 company in my field, yet depressed just for being in the USA. Apart from work, everything seems so bland, from food to scenery to entertainment... and I don't even want to mention women.

I figured that if one doesn't overindulge in the nightlife, 30k baht/month ought to be enough to live very well in Bangkok (less in the provinces -- Chiang Mai comes to mind). I lived in Thailand for 3 months, and feel that my standard of living for 30k baht/month there was better than what I get for $4k/month in the USA.

Regarding the nest egg, if you move to BKK (finding work there), and leave your $50k (2m baht) in safe U.S. investments for 20 years, assuming an average *real* (not nominal) return of 6% (pretty conservative), you'll have $120k when you're 60. That's will give you 32k baht in interest alone a month after you're 60, and a substantial principal to boot (for medical emergencies -- in Th these are ~5-10x less expensive than in the USA with same quality care). Do the math.

Right now, I'm working to put 40k in my 401k, and save 40k in cash (just to be extra safe, and able to return if I feel like it). After that (probably 3-5 years), it's hasta la vista Estados Unidos and sawasdee prathet Thai for me!

[Mighty Mouse]

Depression can be treated and at age 39 it is in your best interests to do so.

It doesn't really matter where you move to, apart from taking your luggage with you, you also take your head, and it is usually inside your head where most of your problems exist.

You don't need to move to another country to experience change, you can do that in your home country.

Start talking about your problems with your friends and hopefully you will soon identify a number of solutions that you can try.

Get motivated and good luck.

[crocodilexp]

BTW, qqtasi, maybe you'd consider me crazy, but I think you're at a wonderful age of 39. You are old enough to have tried life in the USA for all it's worth, but young enough not to be considered an old fart in Thailand. Yes, I know, there are places where everybody is considered a 'handsome man', but even in Thailand, once over 50, a range of reasons for a girl to be interested in you is rather limited (despite the number of interested ones being high!).

I'm 25, and my family is all against me moving to Thailand... and I see their point, since I have just embarked on a wonderful job and a life of career advancement and eternal boredom in Corporate America.

Ah, yeah, I also have a very nice girlfriend in Thailand that I speak with every day... and maybe I will marry her next year and bring her over the USA. The disaster looms, doesn't it?

[crocodilexp]

>> Depression can be treated and at age 39 it is in your best interests to do so. <<

True, but then forget about that $50k nest egg. Hey, life's full of compromises, isn't it?

[sriracha john]

Hey all,

I'm 39 and exhausted from trying to keep up with the Joneses, housing and health costs,  and generally dismayed with the current political situation in the states.

I have traveled to Thailand, along with Laos, twice in the last three years and summarized that the Thai way of life suits my quiet, Buddhist-like temperment.

I fully understand that one cannot run away from sadness, heartache and unease. But I'd like to do a permanet move and hope for some sort of guidance or reassurance that I am thinking with a level head.

Lest I bore you all with my life story, let me at least briefly cover how and why I am searching for inner peace in Thailand. I have worked a variety of jobs ranging from editing tv commercials to planting potatoes. I am a widow (my wife died young). I have lived all over the Western part of the states. Basically, I'm a wanderer. Not all of my time has been full of sorrow. Yet, I feel as though my life is not fulfilling. Ontop of all of this, I have battled depression most of my life (part genetics, part environment).

My depression lifts when I'm in Thailand (I've spent a total of 6 months there). Even though I was just touring, it seemed a better fit for myself. Anyone heard of a medical visa for depression or something like it? Left field question, I know. Thought I'd ask.

I have considered becoming a monk, along with a tour guide, a restaurant or internet shop owner in Thailand. Is this doable? Now if I had 1/2 million bucks, I wouldn't need as much insight on the feasability of moving to Thailand. I have a small amount saved which can at least get me started. I have about 2million bat saved currently.

Also, is becoming a monk a realistic option, considering I'm not Thai and have no real retirement income. I know monks don't value money, etc., but would my situation dictate having some sort of nest egg to cover expenses?

Lastly, it seems there are two schools of thought as far as becoming an expat in Thailand, financially speaking. One, move there now with what you have and make a go at it; or two, work like a dog until you can safely retire to Thailand. I could do the latter, but 10 more years of the same seems rather unpleasant.

Insights appreciated.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you sought treatment for the depression? Highly recommend you do so.

There IS no such thing as a geograhic cure... your brain chemistry is the same no matter where you go.

If you do wish to seek a monk visa, here are links for you to tell you how:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=11386&hl=

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=15618&hl=

http://www.thaiimmigration.com/tse/In%20ca...%20Buddhism.pdf

Best of luck to you and I hope you see a professional therapist first for proper treatment.

[chownah]

If you don't have enough money to retire then "making a go of it" in Thailand usually means teaching English. There are literally dozens of discussions about this in the Teaching forum...go there and read about what wages and teaching requirements and teaching conditions are in Thailand....ask questions about working as a teacher there.

If you think you have a skill that could get you a work permit in Thailand then go to the Jobs forum and ask questions about job possibilities there.

If you want to become a monk then I suggest that you go to the Buddhism forum and ask these questions there.

As to the visa....since you are an American (I assume) you don't need to get a medical visa...you can just get a tourist visa and then leave the country every so often to get it renewed....for visa information go to the visa forum and ask your questions there.

As to deciding if moving to Thailand permanently is a good idea? I think you should think of living here for one year first as a temprorary move...guard your money well...and then decide. Since you describe yourself as a wanderer then it is doubtful that you will make any place your permanent home.

[Judge]

Have you sought treatment for the depression? Highly recommend you do so.

There IS no such thing as a geograhic cure... your brain chemistry is the same no matter where you go.

I am not recommending this for everybody but I was clinically depressed for many years living in the USA.

When I moved to Thailand it went away immediately and hasn't returned for more that 5 minutes in about 17 years!

Really!

[sriracha john]

Have you sought treatment for the depression? Highly recommend you do so.

There IS no such thing as a geograhic cure... your brain chemistry is the same no matter where you go.

I am not recommending this for everybody but I was clinically depressed for many years living in the USA.

When I moved to Thailand it went away immediately and hasn't returned for more that 5 minutes in about 17 years!

Really!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Miracles can and do happen...but it's dangerous to depend on one occuring.

[richard10365]

qqatsi,

Do you have a degree or any skills that would make you marketable over here. I think it would be best if you didn't rely on your savings to survive.

Either way, being a surviver of depression myself, I have found a change of scenery to give you a new outlook on life might be just what you need.

6 months to a year working here as an English teacher might get you out of your slump enough for your to see other options in your life.

Sometimes when your depressed, you can have options avaliable but it is impossible to concentrate and focus enough on the options for them to work.

I would not burn all of your bridges back home. After you recover and look at your life more closely, you may want to give it another try back home.

Whatever you do, good luck. I hope you find the peace your looking for.

[Neeranam]

Lastly, it seems there are two schools of thought as far as becoming an expat in Thailand, financially speaking. One, move there now with what you have and make a go at it; or two, work like a dog until you can safely retire to Thailand. I could do the latter, but 10 more years of the same seems rather unpleasant.

Insights appreciated.

Move here now for sure.

You can find inner peace anywhere - note it is "inner". Although it must be hard in the USA.

I suffered from a psychological disease - addiction and tried "geographical cure" for years but wherever I went I always took "myself".

Good luck.

[Judge]

Have you sought treatment for the depression? Highly recommend you do so.

There IS no such thing as a geograhic cure... your brain chemistry is the same no matter where you go.

I am not recommending this for everybody but I was clinically depressed for many years living in the USA.

When I moved to Thailand it went away immediately and hasn't returned for more that 5 minutes in about 17 years!

Really!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Miracles can and do happen...but it's dangerous to depend on one occuring.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree!

[richard10365]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you sought treatment for the depression?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is a good question from Sriracha john. Perhaps there is an underlying medical conditon which is causing or enhancing your depression. If left untreated, your ability to cope with your situation will diminish to dangerously low levels.

I have hypothyrodism and pernicious anemia. Both were diagnosed after I ended up in the doctors office complaining about depression.

Once these conditons were identified, treatment started and the depression went away.

Go see your doctor and tell him your concerns and ask for a physical.

If he says your ok and you can't really tie the depression to a medical problem.......get your visa and come on over.

[Nam Kao]

As an American, the only time i was depressed - i was minus a beautiful TG, be it living in the US or Thai

Lady falangs will drive you off a cliff

I rak Tgs mak mak, CGs du-ay

Edited October 24, 2005 by Nam Kao

[girlx]

I am not recommending this for everybody but I was clinically depressed for many years living in the USA.

When I moved to Thailand it went away immediately and hasn't returned for more that 5 minutes in about 17 years!

Really! 

this is true for me as well! i think it might be weather-related, but there just isn't that constant analysis here that there is in the US. depression doesn't exist here! the concept of going to a psychiatrist in thailand is almost laughable.

if you want my advice, i would invest about half your money and take the other half and go on a RTW trip. it will change your life.

[richard10365]

I am not recommending this for everybody but I was clinically depressed for many years living in the USA.

When I moved to Thailand it went away immediately and hasn't returned for more that 5 minutes in about 17 years!

Really! 

this is true for me as well! i think it might be weather-related, but there just isn't that constant analysis here that there is in the US. depression doesn't exist here! the concept of going to a psychiatrist in thailand is almost laughable.

if you want my advice, i would invest about half your money and take the other half and go on a RTW trip. it will change your life.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I wouldn't totally say it dosent exist. I have read many times of farangs jumping to their death in Pattaya or Bangkok. Usually it has something to do with a woman. Avoid women when you get to Thailand and you don't have to worry about that.

But thats like trying to avoid air.

[bakachan]

Have you sought treatment for the depression? Highly recommend you do so.

There IS no such thing as a geograhic cure... your brain chemistry is the same no matter where you go.

I am not recommending this for everybody but I was clinically depressed for many years living in the USA.

When I moved to Thailand it went away immediately and hasn't returned for more that 5 minutes in about 17 years!

Really!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

where did you live cleveland ohio? perhaps it was sadd disorder with no sun in

the winter months?

man there are some place in the northeast that would send me over the deep end if

i had to live there!

i was going to suggest the big island of hawaii. its warm and alot like thailand

except for expenses but he would have no problem with work permits or visa's

lots can still be had there for 50k. build an old coffee shack and work in

one of the resorts on the kona coast

[solo siam]

Taking yourself out of the rat-race in the USA may well be a cure for your depression but you probably also have some issues that trigger it as well, might be worth getting some counselling at some point to get more of an insight.

I'd probably do as another poster said and suggest getting a round the world flight with open-ended dates, I think you can take the flights over the duration of the year, Take half of your nest egg and then if you decide that one of the countries is the place for you then you still have some start-up capital.

Might be worth enquiring as to see if you can do any work via the internet (think video-editing, not potatoe planting) whilest living abroad.

[Morden]

It's important to go to something more positive rather than merely run away from that which is negative or painful. If you're depressed now, how would you feel if you gave up what you have, went to LOS and then found one day that it wasn't for you?

The advice about using some therapy to help you lighten your feelings of depression is sound. I'm not suggesting that this is the whole solution for you but, when you feel somewhat better about life, you'll be able to make a much better balanced judgement about what you want to do next.

An old lady used to say to me, and anyone else who would listen, 'If you're not sure what to do, tread water'. That may be sound advice for you too.

[Judge]

Have you sought treatment for the depression? Highly recommend you do so.

There IS no such thing as a geograhic cure... your brain chemistry is the same no matter where you go.

I am not recommending this for everybody but I was clinically depressed for many years living in the USA.

When I moved to Thailand it went away immediately and hasn't returned for more that 5 minutes in about 17 years!

Really!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

where did you live cleveland ohio? perhaps it was sadd disorder with no sun in

the winter months?

man there are some place in the northeast that would send me over the deep end if

i had to live there!

i was going to suggest the big island of hawaii. its warm and alot like thailand

except for expenses but he would have no problem with work permits or visa's

lots can still be had there for 50k. build an old coffee shack and work in

one of the resorts on the kona coast

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is embarrasing, but, I don't think that it was the lack of sun, although that might have made things even worse. I think that is was the lack of acceptable female companionship.

In fact I know that it was.

Call me shallow, but I've always been obsessed with beautiful women, but they were never obsessed with me!

At home, I had no problem drawing plain-Janes, but I would never have any feelings for them and felt bad just using them for sex, however, I would break down and do it from time to time which made me feel even worse. Consequently I was quite lonely and without human touch most of the time.

In South East Asia it is easy for me to be around the kind of women that make me feel happy.

Like I said, shallow, but whatever works!

[siamesekitty]

It's important to go to something more positive rather than merely run away from that which is negative or painful. If you're depressed now, how would you feel if you gave up what you have, went to LOS and then found one day that it wasn't for you?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Agree. I had a friend who came to live in Thailand for about a year, running away from issues that were driving her to depression. Ended up getting even worse, with what could have been suicidal attempts if there hadn't been a good friend with her at the time. Just think very carefully about it.

As for the financial planning and stuff, I think it depends on what your goals are and what level of financial security you would be satisfied with. Some people are determined to work on quickly building their nest egg, while others are content with simply enjoying life as they live it and want only to "mee gin mee chai" (enough to live on). It all boils down to what your priorities are.

[britmaveric]

Problems rarely go away infact they follow you, so best bet is sort yourself out where you are and then think about a move when things are more sensible.

[girlx]

i think the key is decide what you want and get it, geographically, economically... it takes a lot of optimism but once you make optimism a habit it kicks in full time. you have plenty of money and you can escape the US, take a breather and think about it, and learn/see something new while you are at it! if more people in the US travelled they would all be less uptight i think.

[alesypalsy]

I am not recommending this for everybody but I was clinically depressed for many years living in the USA.

When I moved to Thailand it went away immediately and hasn't returned for more that 5 minutes in about 17 years!

Really! 

this is true for me as well! i think it might be weather-related, but there just isn't that constant analysis here that there is in the US. depression doesn't exist here! the concept of going to a psychiatrist in thailand is almost laughable.

if you want my advice, i would invest about half your money and take the other half and go on a RTW trip. it will change your life.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would second that. I at 31 years of age have spent about 2-3 of my younger years in and out of deppression, i can without doubt say now the only saddness i have ever felt in a long time is the one of leaving los, i will shortly be full time there, hopefull not much longer, eg 1-3 months.

Good luck to you