He doesn't dare to go out, and he doesn't dare to interact with people.
Jilin City News: Yang Shuai, a 22-year-old young man from the FC area of Longtan Mountain Park in Jilin City, dropped out of school in the second year of junior high school and stayed at home, lying in bed for 8 years in a "hibernation" state, living an upside-down life. He occasionally plays online games and only leaves his room once a year to get a haircut.
Seen as a "monster" by those around him
The boy dropped out of school in the second year of junior high school
Upon entering Yang Shuai's home, a strong smell of mold greeted us. During the day, heavy curtains block the light, making the room dim. His frail body lies on a single bed, covered with a quilt, next to which is a computer. "I've been lying here for several years, and now my back of the head hurts." Yang Shuai narrates intermittently.
Yang Shuai was born into a dysfunctional family where his father indulged in alcohol and gambling daily, and his mother suffered from mental instability. When he was still an infant, his grandparents took him home to raise him. "My dad always caused trouble outside. In my memory, he often came back asking my grandparents for money or fought with my mom who was mentally unstable and attempted suicide daily. They divorced when I was very young, and no one wanted me." Yang Shuai grew up in such an environment.
"I have been seen as a monster by people around me since I was little. I had no friends and always played alone. I would often not speak a word all day." Yang Shuai recalls that the most profound event during his elementary school days was when his father attended a parent-teacher meeting for him, scaring him so much that he hid behind the teacher's podium and cried secretly.
"At school, I thought it was abnormal when they fought over trivial matters and reported to the teacher, so I never spoke to them. Later, I fell asleep in class and skipped classes frequently. The teacher gave up on me. I barely made it to the second year of junior high school before dropping out and staying at home." Yang Shuai said expressionlessly.
Lying down for long periods
Only leaving the house once a year
Every day at home, Yang Shuai basically does the same thing - lying down, flat on his back, on his side, or face down. Using various postures, he tries to make his body less tired. When he gets tired of lying on the big bed, he switches to the small bed and then back again.
"My grandparents are old, and we can't communicate. I have no friends either. I often don't speak for a long time. I eat only one or two meals a day, wash my face every few days, and I don't watch TV or listen to music. I just lie there," Yang Shuai said. His grandmother spoiled him immensely, letting him do nothing.
"I am living completely distorted, without the ability to communicate with others. I am avoiding this society. Sometimes when my grandparents encourage me to go out and find work, I lose control and break things. I only leave the house once a year, to get a haircut." Yang Shuai admitted that when he goes out, he finds himself unable to cross the road, too scared to enter a barber shop alone, and unable to spend money.
Self-taught computer skills
Stock trading and gaming to earn money
In 2006, his beloved grandmother passed away, and Yang Shuai was deeply saddened. It seemed as if he woke up overnight from his "hibernation" state, wanting to find something to do. His uncle gave him an old computer, and Yang Shuai began trying to trade stocks and play games online to make money.
"My grandfather gave me 4000 yuan to start stock trading, and by the beginning of this year, I had earned more than 50,000 yuan. Playing games earns me nearly 10,000 yuan a year. For four consecutive years, I still lay in bed every day, but differently, I lay in bed surfing the internet," Yang Shuai continued, sitting up slightly. He explained that he is different from others; others play games for entertainment, while he plays to earn money.
In February this year, his uncle entrusted him to manage stock trading. "As soon as I lost a little money, my uncle blamed me endlessly. Even when I was sick in bed, he still forced me to trade stocks. So I stopped caring altogether and let everything go, including my own stocks." Yang Shuai admitted that in his mind, there were no concepts like "responsibility" or "manhood."
Believes he has a problem
Afraid to communicate with others
"I got into a conflict with my uncle, and it affected my mental state. I started cutting my wrists and hitting myself, experiencing auditory hallucinations and forcing myself to repeatedly do certain things. This year during the Dragon Boat Festival, I decided to commit suicide, swallowing all the medicine in the house. My grandfather sent me to the hospital, and I survived," Yang Shuai said.
Yang Shuai's 82-year-old grandfather, Yang Shanmin, said: "My grandson ended up like this because of his parents directly. They used to come to our house and fight, scaring the child into shrinking into a corner, staring with wide eyes, not even crying. He always says he has a problem, and we didn't know what to do."
"I have returned to the state I was in four years ago, lying in bed all day. But I turn on the computer and stare blankly at the screen. I think I have a problem; I break out in cold sweats when I move. I don't dare to go out, I don't dare to interact with people, I'm afraid, but I also hope someone can help me. I don't want to live like this forever," Yang Shuai said while lying in bed.
Doctor:
Lying for 8 years is definitely not normal
Dr. Wang from Jilin City Psychiatric Hospital said that it is definitely abnormal for a 22-year-old man to lie in bed for 8 years, but it cannot be determined that he must have a mental illness. He needs to go to the hospital for systematic examinations, including psychological counseling, to finally diagnose the condition.
Li Deshui from the Jilin City Successful Education Association analyzed that Yang Shuai's situation is due to influences from genetic factors, living environment, educational process, etc., leading to inferiority complex, causing tendencies towards self-isolation and depression. His social function has been severely impaired. Now, under the help of family members and society, he should step out of the house, adapt to society, and support himself through his own efforts. This is an individual case, but it raises significant reflections. The family living environment and important events in the growth process will have a great impact on children during their development.