I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki - Baek Se-hee

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I liked the concept of this ebook, like it was so real, raw, and unfiltered. The title doesn’t fit… but definitely eye catching and good marketing. It kind of shows a little unserious serious business in a way because Tteokbokki is comfort food and for someone with deeper mental health issues, there might never be a "but" part for all may seem black and grey. But for the author struggling with dysthymia, I believe it just sums up how she feels in a way... that there's a little light at the end of the tunnel for her.
It kind of inspired me too, to think of the ways people may express themselves and the courage it entails, to show yourself out so completely, flaws and all. For someone like me who has struggled with self-expression, like even vocalizing mere thoughts, feelings or opinions for a big chunk of my life, I've always admired those that seem to do so with ease, like it kind of gives me courage.

When I first started reading, I could immediately connect with Sehee for she shares some stuff that I could relate at some point of my life... reading on though, there were some thoughts shared that made me feel bewildered yet strangely comforted? These were the parts that I could not connect with at all but the foundation was laid for me where I could empathize with her to a certain extent, like these may not be shared thoughts/feelings but don't we all have certain thoughts that we'd wish we could erase sometimes? Our own weirdness and quirks I guess I could say, it felt validating, like it's okay, here's someone who's brazenly sharing them with the world so I don't have to talk myself down each time I have a thought I detest/disagree with.

Also, it was this part that kind of made me like the therapist because I don't think a person can open up some of their deepest darkest sides if the one on the listening end has a comforting presence. I mean that's literally how therapists are supposed to be but not all therapists make you feel at home or comforted in a way I could say. I felt like a lot could be lost in translation and transcription as we don't get to hear them, see them, or even feel their tone. A book written in a different format may have perhaps given a better view of everything in my opinion.

I liked that the therapist's point of view was added at the end, gave some more perspective into everything. This was a mere excerpt that we got into in a way, a lot that we may not agree on, but then again, perhaps the author did find the support she needed and wanted to share a bit of her personal experience with struggles and support with the world.