Filipino Americans
We were those 80s, 90s, or even Y2k kids but now we’re Filipino American (Fil-Am) adults who are trying our best to keep it together. You’re trying to level up in your career, date or maybe settle down, move out, or transition into the workforce. Some of us have even started our own families.
On top of everything, you’ve been ignoring signs of anxiety and/or depression: worrying about every single thing, the overwhelm, difficulty falling or staying asleep, feeling unmotivated like you just want to stay in bed all day, or feeling nervous.
You mask your feelings so the family doesn’t worry about you but you can’t you can’t do it all on your own! You tried asking your family for advice or support but they just tell you to stop thinking about it, stop crying, focus on your studies, find a better paying job, or even compare you to your cousin. It really doesn’t help. You also avoid answering intrusive questions about your career or love life at family parties so you won’t be the next tsis-mis (gossip).
You turn to your friends for non-judgmental support but that didn’t go as planned. They’re not able to be 100% objective. They take sides whenever you tell them about an argument you had with your partner. They may even want you to leave your partner! Or they think going out to a bar, getting a few drinks, and meeting new folks will make you feel better. It can, temporarily, but your feelings and problems will still be there the next morning when you wake up with a hangover.
Our parents, titos, titas, ninongs, ninangs, lolas, lolos, cousins, and friends have good intentions but you want more. More privacy, objectivity, and less judgement. You need a trained and experienced mental health professional you can vibe with. Someone who has the education and lived experience to help guide you. Not someone who’s going to tell you what to do. Are you ready to make lasting changes but have no idea where to start? Let’s set up a free no-pressure 20 minute consultation call where I explain what to expect and you can ask me questions about the therapeutic process.