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Culture-Specific Diseases: They Can Only Hurt You If You Believe In Them

After reading a title like that, I'm sure you have a ton of questions (as you should). How can a mental illness pick and choose which people it infects, and why is this mechanism tied to a person's culture and home region? It almost sounds more ridiculous than warding off a Sea Bear with a circle:



First, if you haven't already read my previous article, "The Non-Existence of 'Normal,'" then I would suggest taking a quick look at that first (it may help things make a bit more sense). Second order of business: we need to distinguish the types of diseases we are talking about. This article will be focusing on the cultural impact upon mental disorders, not upon biological viruses or other medical conditions. So please do not misunderstand and think that if you don't believe in a virus (@ COVID) it will not kill you - it definitely still can.

SAME NAME, DIFFERENT GAME

We know that our fluid and undefinable concepts of what is "normal" affect the way that we diagnose and experience mental illnesses. As it turns out, an individual's cultural background (where you are from, what you believe in, how you view life) has a similar impact upon how they interpret the world around them . So since psychological disorders are dependent on the individual experiencing them, people of different cultural beliefs will experience different forms of mental illnesses. This phenomenon includes people of different countries showing completely different symptoms under the same diagnosis. 

For instance, PTSD in America is typically characterized by a lot of emotion-related symptoms (flashbacks, negative thoughts and reactions, avoidance). And yet in 2004, the people of Sri Lanka who survived a devastating tsunami did not experience PTSD in these symptoms, but rather in the harm done to their relationships and their role in the community. The reason for these different symptoms is because in Sri Lankan culture, their unity is a crucial part of their life, and so it was a clear indicator of who was in need of help and who was adjusting after witnessing such a traumatic event.

If you have the time to spare, I would highly recommend watching the video linked below because it goes into a lot more depth about how culture impacts mental illness and gives a lot of detailed examples (including the Sri Lanka discovery): GRCC Diversity Lecture - Ethan Watters

CULTURAL SYNDROMES


In addition to mental illnesses being associated with different sets of symptoms, we also see examples of "cultural syndromes," which are conditions that seem to only exist within certain cultures. Here is a quick list of examples of such syndromes:
  • Koro (or Suo Yang): Feeling like their genitals are being sucked into their body by some supernatural force (curse, spirit, spell). Experienced in Nigeria, Benin, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
  • Frigophobia: A fear of cold, which is rooted in traditional Chinese cosmology of balancing hot and cold. Experienced in China.
  • Amok (as in "running amok"): When people go on a killing spree that they fail to remember later. Experienced in Malaysia.
  • Hikikomori: When a person socially withdraws to the point of never leaving home. Experienced in Japan.
  • Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (or PMS): When women experience mood swings, food cravings, irritability, and/or depression while on their period. Experienced in America.***
*** Yes, America, of course you've got some strange syndromes, too!

So, turns out that there are actually some diseases you can literally only get if you believe in them. This phenomenon of unique mental syndromes and different symptoms associated with similar diagnosis labels further shows how our perception on life and what is "normal" in our culture will affect our mental health.

REFERENCES
 he Diseases You Only Get if You Believe in Them (not going to lie, this article was SUPER interesting)

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