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I am an Indian immigrant living in America. I think what you said is very true. There is even more stigma about "mental health" issues in India so we might not

I am an Indian immigrant living in America. I think what you said is very true. There is even more stigma about "mental health" issues in India so we might not label many things as mental issues, but people are generally more supportive and social, even a little intrusive into others lives. When a friend is having issues, their social group will actively try to get them to socialize, talk about stuff and cheer them up. They will insist that you don't go under the radar and disappear. The American attitude of extreme individuality, personal limits seems kind of ridiculous to me at times. Like I don't even understand what the hell a friend is supposed to be if you can't be honest with them when you're down. Someone to share some good times with is a fair-weather friend, but not at all the same thing as a genuine friend. Sometimes it feels like you have to constantly live with a mask on, even with friends and family. And then when you get lonely and tired of the mask, you are supposed to find a soulmate who will be the sole person you are allowed to be honest and seek help from.. sometimes its not enough. You know a major component in many mental illnesses is letting people isolate themselves. And mental illnesses have been around forever, but they were dealt with by help from society around you. This is an innate, human thing. There is an epidemic of loneliness and isolation in western societies because of the extreme individualism everywhere. Finally, its fucking ridiculous the amount of trust people have in "authorities". "No we won't talk to you about your mental issues because fuck you, but hey why don't you go pay to talk to a stranger instead"? What? Why is that better? Isn't a friend/family member much better positioned to understand your problems and offer some perspective? Of course, the Indian way has some problems too. One, a shit-ton of stigma and judgement by broader society if they find out. And at some point you're supposed to just "man up and get your shit together". And mental health doctors are still not trusted at all. Although, given the recent state of psych studies and the replication failures, they might just be right. /rant Sorry this is a little hostile.. I obviously don't have a full picture of everything, this is just my biased but honest opinion.

pif 10y ago
I can't and don't want to judge American/Western/whatever attitude towards these serious problem, but I've 2 cents to add: > Isn't a friend/family member much better positioned to understand your problems and offer some perspective? While full support from your social environment is important, seeking good professional help is even more important. The more serious the mental issue, the less friendliness can substitute proper therapy.
- zaptheimpaler 10y ago
  Agreed for more serious problems. But if you have a milder problem, maybe a little bit of depression or anxiety I think social help is more effective than professional help. And that is the more common case.
  - eivarv 10y ago
    Why draw the line at those disorders? Or ar you perhaps talking about experiencing some of the symptoms of these disorders to a healthy extent - i.e. normal emotions? Anxiety disorders and depressive disorders can be bad enough to wreak havoc on a persons life.
    - zaptheimpaler 10y ago
      >Why draw the line at those disorders? >Anxiety disorders and depressive disorders can be bad enough to wreak havoc on a persons life. I am sure they can wreak havoc, having faced some myself. Not saying they are not real problems. I just think that in many cases, support of social groups, exercise etc. are more effective treatments than going to a therapist/psychiatrist or taking medication. For example, exercise is now proven to be about as effective or more as an antidepressant. Mindfulness is now being talked about as a very effective treatment for anxiety/depression. People have been saying this kind of stuff for years, but they had zero legitimacy and were laughed at before the science came along. Meditation/mindfulness was considered spiritual hippie-bullshit, now all of a sudden its a viable and effective treatment.. So it just makes me think, when we are talking about as nascent and complicated a science as psychology, there is some value in "folk remedies" and "common sense" which are all too often dismissed as not being scientific enough. Yet that still happens. Do we really have to wait for a hundred studies before we accept that there might be better solutions in common wisdom outside of the current science? Particularly given that many of those remedies can't cause any harm, there is no risk to trying it. Anyways, I am all for therapy and medication if thats what one wants. Just saying that an environment of disconnection breeds more mental illness, like an unsanitary environment breeds more physical illness.
BeetleB 10y ago
>Finally, its fucking ridiculous the amount of trust people have in "authorities". "No we won't talk to you about your mental issues because fuck you, but hey why don't you go pay to talk to a stranger instead"? What? Why is that better? Isn't a friend/family member much better positioned to understand your problems and offer some perspective? While it is good to have a supportive environment from friends and family, my experience is that they are very poor at solving these problems. A good counsellor can be far more effective. Supportive family members often give very poor advice. They think they understand your problem when they rarely do. They'll give you all kinds of suggestions that, for you, are clearly useless and only serve to highlight how little they understand your predicaments. Also, keep in mind, that often friends and family are part of the problem (without intending to be).
eeZah7Ux 10y ago
> Finally, its fucking ridiculous the amount of trust people have in "authorities". True. Some people would even call the police to handle a psychotic episode. > Isn't a friend/family member much better positioned to understand your problems and offer some perspective? Not at all, they can be the worst advisor. Being emotionally involved and not trained as professionals makes them very biased. Having relations that extend in the past and future makes it even more difficult to be unbiased, not judgmental and honest.

pif 10y ago

I can't and don't want to judge American/Western/whatever attitude towards these serious problem, but I've 2 cents to add: > Isn't a friend/family member much better positioned to understand your problems and offer some perspective? While full support from your social environment is important, seeking good professional help is even more important. The more serious the mental issue, the less friendliness can substitute proper therapy.

zaptheimpaler 10y ago
Agreed for more serious problems. But if you have a milder problem, maybe a little bit of depression or anxiety I think social help is more effective than professional help. And that is the more common case.
- eivarv 10y ago
  Why draw the line at those disorders? Or ar you perhaps talking about experiencing some of the symptoms of these disorders to a healthy extent - i.e. normal emotions? Anxiety disorders and depressive disorders can be bad enough to wreak havoc on a persons life.
  - zaptheimpaler 10y ago
    >Why draw the line at those disorders? >Anxiety disorders and depressive disorders can be bad enough to wreak havoc on a persons life. I am sure they can wreak havoc, having faced some myself. Not saying they are not real problems. I just think that in many cases, support of social groups, exercise etc. are more effective treatments than going to a therapist/psychiatrist or taking medication. For example, exercise is now proven to be about as effective or more as an antidepressant. Mindfulness is now being talked about as a very effective treatment for anxiety/depression. People have been saying this kind of stuff for years, but they had zero legitimacy and were laughed at before the science came along. Meditation/mindfulness was considered spiritual hippie-bullshit, now all of a sudden its a viable and effective treatment.. So it just makes me think, when we are talking about as nascent and complicated a science as psychology, there is some value in "folk remedies" and "common sense" which are all too often dismissed as not being scientific enough. Yet that still happens. Do we really have to wait for a hundred studies before we accept that there might be better solutions in common wisdom outside of the current science? Particularly given that many of those remedies can't cause any harm, there is no risk to trying it. Anyways, I am all for therapy and medication if thats what one wants. Just saying that an environment of disconnection breeds more mental illness, like an unsanitary environment breeds more physical illness.

BeetleB 10y ago

>Finally, its fucking ridiculous the amount of trust people have in "authorities". "No we won't talk to you about your mental issues because fuck you, but hey why don't you go pay to talk to a stranger instead"? What? Why is that better? Isn't a friend/family member much better positioned to understand your problems and offer some perspective? While it is good to have a supportive environment from friends and family, my experience is that they are very poor at solving these problems. A good counsellor can be far more effective. Supportive family members often give very poor advice. They think they understand your problem when they rarely do. They'll give you all kinds of suggestions that, for you, are clearly useless and only serve to highlight how little they understand your predicaments. Also, keep in mind, that often friends and family are part of the problem (without intending to be).

eeZah7Ux 10y ago

> Finally, its fucking ridiculous the amount of trust people have in "authorities". True. Some people would even call the police to handle a psychotic episode. > Isn't a friend/family member much better positioned to understand your problems and offer some perspective? Not at all, they can be the worst advisor. Being emotionally involved and not trained as professionals makes them very biased. Having relations that extend in the past and future makes it even more difficult to be unbiased, not judgmental and honest.