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Learning languages as an escape | ||
Tags: Reasons for study | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| sjheiss Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5689 days ago 100 posts - 174 votes  Speaks: English*, Basque | Message 1 of 9 07 January 2011 at 1:06am | IP Logged | ||
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I wrote this message in another thread, but people ignored it and instead replied to a post that was over a year old, so I guess I'll just make a new thread.
Because of many things I have been depressed lately, but for me, something I recently realized, is that learning languages is an escape for me, like World of Warcraft and other MMOs for some people. When I'm learning languages, I forget about everything that's bothering me for awhile, and then I'm happy again. I do like to play video games too though, but not usually as much as I study languages. I do rarely leave the house, but since I don't eat much during the day anyways, I'm not overweight at least. And learning languages is a lot better than drinking alcohol or doing drugs like many other people my age do. Does anyone else here learn languages as a way to escape? Edited by sjheiss on 07 January 2011 at 1:09am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Naomi Chambers Newbie United States thepolyglotexperienc Joined 5076 days ago 23 posts - 30 votes Speaks: Spanish Studies: FrenchC1, Swedish | Message 2 of 9 07 January 2011 at 1:32am | IP Logged | ||
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Yes, it can be a form of escapism. I can see this.
If it is preventing you from living your life to the fullest, I would recommend reevaluating your priorities. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| tomsawyer Senior Member Aruba Joined 5292 days ago 103 posts - 141 votes Speaks: English* Studies: GermanB1, French, Russian | Message 3 of 9 07 January 2011 at 1:37am | IP Logged | ||
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Not as a means of escape per se, but if I would sit about and play computer games or watch the television, I would always finish the day feeling washed out and apethetic.
I certainly commend your approach of dealing with a mental illness through intellectual pursuits, rather than taking the easy way out. Happy times. 4 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| sjheiss Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5689 days ago 100 posts - 174 votes Speaks: English*, Basque | Message 4 of 9 07 January 2011 at 2:04am | IP Logged | ||
No, I don't learn languages so much that I don't do anything else, but because of my Asperger's I don't have the will/ability to do other things. Also, I'm not in a position that I have an opportunity to make friends. I do not have clinical depression, just the emotion. But learning languages is one of the few things that makes me happy. It's a lot better than suicide at least (not that I've ever considered it, because I never have, in hopes that one day I'll be happy, with friends and a significant other). Tomsawyer, I feel that way too. In elementary school and middle school all I would do is play video games all day, and it got in the way of homework a lot, but now, in high school, with languages I don't feel like I'm wasting my time, since it's fun and useful. I do play video games some, and watch TV, but that's only because I really have nothing better to do, so it's not really wasting time, as I would get really bored if I was studying languages all day. It's nice to just sit down and relax sometimes. Of course, I don't just learn languages as an escape from things, I really do love the languages, and other countries and cultures, and I do wish to travel a lot one day, and use my languages a lot in the meantime. Edited by sjheiss on 07 January 2011 at 2:10am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Ester Groupie Joined 5672 days ago 64 posts - 114 votes Speaks: Modern Hebrew | Message 5 of 9 07 January 2011 at 2:52am | IP Logged | ||
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Any activity can be used (maybe we should say abused) as a form of escapim, even the noble ones. Take volunteering for example, it's a worthy and noble pursuit in itself, but it can also be somebody's escape from their own life struggles and it can also go a bit too far, to a point of helping others not to have to think about how to help yourself. Learning and reading, in particular, are well known to be suitable escape activities. It's no wonder that you've noticed learning languages can have that effect too.
Learn languages, enjoy them, do what positively affects your mood and pursue those precious passions that make your life more bearable and happier, especially if you have problems with your mood which make your life harder (there's a lot of us in that same boat, learning something you're interested in helps tons, it makes you focus and simply getting yourself to successfully focus on something is also uplifting), but at the same time, keep an eye on yourself with occasional reality checks, not to become so consumed by those activities that you forget to just live your life the best you can. Edited by Ester on 07 January 2011 at 2:53am 4 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| iguanamon Pentaglot Senior Member Virgin Islands Speaks: Ladino Joined 5267 days ago 2241 posts - 6731 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Creole (French) | Message 6 of 9 07 January 2011 at 3:31am | IP Logged | ||
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I encourage you to seek professional help. Depression is treatable and can be managed. You don't have to fight this alone. I care.
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| sjheiss Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5689 days ago 100 posts - 174 votes Speaks: English*, Basque | Message 7 of 9 07 January 2011 at 3:35am | IP Logged | ||
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No, I said I don't have clinical depression; my life just sucks. :P
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| iguanamon Pentaglot Senior Member Virgin Islands Speaks: Ladino Joined 5267 days ago 2241 posts - 6731 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Creole (French) | Message 8 of 9 07 January 2011 at 3:59am | IP Logged | ||
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I hope things get better for you soon.
1 person has voted this message useful |
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