Hello.

I lived in Japan for three years.  I lived with my partner on
Shikoku.  We returned to Australia, I had a breakdown, seperated from
my partner, and I have been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia.  I
am in my mid 30's.  I had always been high functioning prior to this.
My experiences in Japan contributed to all this.

Don't get me wrong,  I have a lot of fond memories of my time in
Japan.  It was a great experience for the most part.  But it was
isolating.  Even though I was with my partner there, I was terribly
isolated.  I couldn't speak the language.  Didn't have much in common
with the other english speakers, spent a lot of time alone or just
with my partner.

I lost the ability to speak properly to people and became a hermit.  I
developed anxiety issues and eventually started feeling paranoid.
These feelings continued back home and led to a breakdown and the loss
of everything - relationship, job, mental health etc

I would say very firmly to anyone in Japan who starts feeling
excessively isolated to GO HOME.  Even if you are with a partner.
Your mental health is more important.  I wish I had gone home after a
year.  Maybe things would not have turned out the way they had.

Isolation and culture shock are very very stressful.  Reverse culture
shock is very stressful.  Sometimes the mind just can't take anymore.

So GO HOME if you need to and maybe the outcome of your time in Japan
will be positive and unlike mine.  I hope so.

I have ended up alone, jobless, single, lonely, worried about the
future and with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.  I regret ever going to
live in Japan and I regret not coming home earlier.  It was too late
by the time I did return.

So take care please.