“Why does Asia have such a high rate of mental illness and suicide then?”
I have no reason to believe their rate of mental illness is any higher than ours. Go into almost any modern college classroom and you’ll be SHOCKED at how many of the girls in that room are on anti-depressants. If their suicide rate is higher than it is for cultural reasons (i.e., there is no powerful religious underpinnings to their society opposed to suicide. Suicide is even viewed as virtuous in some cases).
“I know people who lived under that looming fear as children. Not all of them became successful.”
And how many who are not pushed as children become successful? Seriously, you don’t seem to grasp the obvious. Of course not every kid who is pushed becomes successful, but I bet the rate of success is lower among those kids who are not pushed. So what’s you’re point?
“Even those that did spent their lives like they’re walking on egg shells about to explode.”
And those who don’t succeed often spend their lives wondering why they didn’t succeed. Again, so what?
In my opinion “successful” is merely a word for well-adjusted and satisfied with life. Under that definition even slackers can be successful as long as they are no burden on others.
I had huge potential as a child. Gifted programs, young writers’ conferences, etc. I was great in art, drama, writing and even science. I could have been anything from a writer to an anthropologist to a doctor. Just couldn’t see the point of being driven though. Why be a stressed out wreck just to meet some arbitrary standard of greatness? My parents were pretty frustrated with me, but since I was a girl they ultimately just shrugged their shoulders about it. I think deep down their primary goal for me was “trophy wife” anyway, lol.
As it turned out, I went into graphic design, had some success with that for a while and now am a stay at home mom...that is plenty challenging for me and of course endlessly satisfying!!!