Cultured Mental Illnesses?

 Many people believe that their brains are broken when they have anxiety or depression. However, that is not the case. We are beautifully and wonderfully made by a creator that does not make mistakes. Depression is a state of mind that can occur from many different things including trauma, heartbreak, PTSD, bullying, moving, just to name a few. Depression meds in some instances are placebos, because it gives them hope. However, God gives us the prescriptions we need. We are given everything we need to make it through this life. Depression comes when there is no perceived escape from the perception of danger, and hope is a way to escape the perception of danger. 

Oftentimes, it is not the event or situation themselves, but it’s how we define them. If you think you are going to be miserable, then you will be miserable. The total experience comes from the actual event, both responses and resources (extended family, structure, phase of family life, money, coping mechanisms, religion, community and friends), and their cognitions (how they define the event). This is called the ABCX model. When we are able to define them as they are and have healthy coping mechanisms, then we are able to have a better total experience. 

Although there is no research to prove or disprove genetic depression, here is an interesting thought…What if it is not genetic depression, but cultured depression? For instance, when the parents do not have good coping mechanisms for emotions, stress, and just life in general, the children will emulate what they see, and then the problem goes down in generations through that. It is then not a genetic mutation or gene, but instead it is a cultured issue that is passed down because of unhealthy coping mechanisms.

For example, in my own personal family, my parents do not have the best coping mechanisms. Because we never talked about our feelings openly, or recognized that it was okay to not be okay, that led to a lot of different challenges for us. I believe all of my siblings (myself included) have struggled with dealing with emotions and coping with different situations with life. We talked about emotions, but I never felt like it was okay to not be okay. When we would struggle it would make mom super anxious and which would then cause us to feel bad about struggling, so it was a never ending negative cycle.

We were taught to keep our relationship with God and that everything would work out. Which in some ways is true, but we need more than just a relationship with God to make it through this life in a healthy way. Healthy sleep, exercise and eating greatly impacts how we are able to deal with emotions and the hard things in life. If we do not have a balanced life, then we will not be able to do well. Not getting enough sleep greatly impacts how we are able to deal with emotions, stress, and just life in general. Healthy exercise releases the happy hormones and helps us relax and cope with stress, anger and anxiety. Stress and anxiety are okay and healthy in moderate amounts. Stress and hard times can help bring people closer together and strengthen their relationship. Anxiety is a natural, normal reaction to the perception of danger that I touched on earlier. When you entertain the thought, it feeds the danger. One of the only ways to fight it, is to speak the truth. Truth is knowledge.  

There are many other things that we need to survive this mortal world. We need relationships with other people. We need physical affection. We need to feel wanted and loved. We need to have a place where we feel safe. Otherwise we become like animals. Only going for food, fighting and not feeling. However, as humans, we need human connection and a balanced life to be successful and not have cultured depression. We need to learn healthy coping mechanisms to teach the younger generation and help them have a better life than we did.