Greetings,
I was reminded of my first year of university when I saw your question. It was just before exams and I heard that a classmate had committed suicide. She was usually very optimistic and confident, so it came as a great shock to us all. The teacher told us that the reason was that she really disliked the medical major, but her family forced her to study it. Despite her best efforts to communicate, it seemed that there was no way forward, so she chose to take her own life.
I must admit that I was not yet ready to witness her final moments. I believe that at that time, I was not fully prepared to confront someone who was struggling to be true to themselves and was in pain.
I can empathize with your situation. It seems that you are caught between two opposing forces: on one hand, you have your passion and your desire to pursue your dreams, and on the other, you have the expectations and demands of your family. It's a challenging balance to strike, and it's understandable that it has led to a sense of frustration and unhappiness over the past four years.
I'm not sure how you managed to get through four years of 365 days.
I believe that family members care about you, but perhaps in a way that encourages you to listen to them. They may believe that their own experiences and knowledge are more suitable and safer for you. Parents often say, "I've seen more of life than you have," which can be a way of expressing their belief in their own wisdom.
Ultimately, parents like this may be struggling with insecurities. They may have had unfulfilled wishes for various reasons or experienced significant disappointments and fears, which may have led them to project their hopes onto their children. In Winnicott's theory, this type of parent is described as a "psychotic mother." When the child is an infant, they provide a great deal of protection, but as the child grows up, they may find it challenging to let go and may even want to "swallow" the child to prevent it from leaving.
It is therefore understandable that the child is in great pain, wanting to grow up, but is firmly tethered by the string in their parents' hands. Over time, there are two possible outcomes: one is that they become very used to this control, and the other is that they leave or sink in a very rebellious way. The case of leaving is exemplified by the Peking University student who killed his mother with his own hands. If he didn't kill his mother, he simply couldn't leave.
I would like to present an example of someone who has fallen. An elderly man once came to me for advice on how to discipline his uneducated son. When he was young, he was quite compliant, but in adolescence he rebelled. Later, he found a daughter-in-law to manage him, and now that he is a father himself, he just plays games all day and ignores his child. I believe this is the price of that rope: "If I can't break free, then I will completely sink."
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For you, this is a period of conflict. You have your own ideas, but your parents want you to do things their way. Beyond this difficulty, I think there is another difficulty: is your attitude towards yourself similar to the way they treat you? Do you often demand this and that of yourself, and when you have an idea, do you say to yourself, "This is no good, that's no good either"?
"I believe this assumption may be due to the fact that many people who are in pain may unintentionally treat themselves in a similar way to how their parents treated them, which can result in a sense of carrying a mobile parent with them and struggling with their true inner selves. Therefore, it's possible that the reason you have been in so much pain may not just be your parents, but also your own internal conflict.
How might we approach this challenge? On the one hand, from a practical standpoint, if you can identify a direction you're passionate about and succeed in it, could that help to dispel some of the apprehension they might have?
It would be beneficial to ensure they feel safe before discussing the future.
It would be beneficial to find a way to balance your inner conflict with yourself if possible. If this is not something you can do on your own, you might want to consider seeking the help of a professional counselor. By resolving these conflicts, you can free up more energy for self-development, rather than spending it on internal conflict.
Psychologists have observed that adolescents often engage in a process of navigating their relationship with their parents. If the child emerges from this process with a sense of autonomy and self-identity, it is a mutually beneficial outcome. However, if the parents emerge victorious, it can lead to a sense of loss for the child and a potential tragedy for all involved. This is because the process of adolescence is a journey of the child's self-discovery and the formation of an independent identity.
It is worth noting that the period of self-establishment begins as early as the age of 2-3. If parents are able to provide protection and guidance during this time, it can lead to the child's self-strength developing in a positive manner. Adolescence is often seen as a period of rebellion, which can be a natural part of the journey towards independence.
It would be beneficial for individuals in China to gain true independence at an earlier age.
Ultimately, it is not productive to blame one's parents. All parents are doing their best, but due to various circumstances, they may face limitations in how they can support their children.
This is the inheritance of mental models. Psychoanalytic counseling may be a helpful approach to address this.
I hope this message finds you well. Please accept my best regards.


Comments
I understand how you're feeling and it's really tough when your heart isn't in what you're doing. It's important to listen to yourself and figure out what truly makes you happy, not just what others expect of you.
It sounds like you're caught between two worlds and that can be incredibly stressful. I think it's brave that you've already tried to express your feelings to your parents. Maybe it's time to try again, but this time with a detailed plan on how you'd pursue your passion while ensuring stability.
Feeling lost and uncertain is part of the journey, especially when you're young. Your interest in another field could be a sign that you're meant to follow a different path. Have you considered discussing your options with a career counselor who might offer an unbiased perspective?
Your situation is challenging, but you're not alone in feeling this way. Sometimes we need to take a step back and reassess our goals and dreams. It might help to start small by exploring opportunities within your current major that intersect with your interests or taking elective courses in the field you love.
Depression can make everything seem insurmountable, but remember that it's okay to seek help and take things one day at a time. Perhaps focusing on selfcare and finding support from friends or a community with similar interests could provide you with the strength to make a decision that feels right for you.