[Homeira]

Maybe a controversial question... While mental illness is a lot about brain chemistry, and certain factors are genetic, and some has to do with brain-funktion, I also believe that a lot of factors in our society worsen our symptoms, cause mental illness to debut, and make people suffer from a lot of anguish and depression. As well as a lot of theraphy is focused on making people with MI function better in society. Well, are we really to be made to believe that the society that might have caused a lot of problems for us, is one that we should strive to conform into? I wonder what others think about this issue.

[Altered Moment]

It is a very good question. The pressures and expectations can be huge and if you can't live up to them it causes distress.

I learned over the years that it was up to me to decide which cultural and societal norms I wanted to adopt for myself. I one day (in my 30's) realized I had a choice. What I was taught as a child and teen by my family and culture I could take or leave. Some things I liked and was very proud of and others I did not like. Its up to me what expectations I place on myself. Of course the hard part is the fact I have to meet my basic needs. Food, clothing, and shelter. Independence was deeply ingrained in me and I like that and am proud of it, but it causes conflict.

[Homeira]

It is up to me to decide what cultural and societal norms to accept. Thank you for reminding me of that.

[Ididitmyway]

Originally Posted by Homeira

Maybe a controversial question... While mental illness is a lot about brain chemistry, and certain factors are genetic, and some has to do with brain-funktion, I also believe that a lot of factors in our society worsen our symptoms, cause mental illness to debut, and make people suffer from a lot of anguish and depression. As well as a lot of theraphy is focused on making people with MI function better in society. Well, are we really to be made to believe that the society that might have caused a lot of problems for us, is one that we should strive to conform into? I wonder what others think about this issue.

The ills of the society such as poverty, social injustices, discrimination etc are a great contributing factor in developing mental illness if not the major one. Our environment shapes our brain chemistry. The "genes" theory has no scientific prove whatsoever and yet it's being pushed on people by the mass media.

You may appreciate this article on the subject Capitalism is My ?Mental Illness? | Love Moves You

Also watch videos of Dr. Gabor Mate, who explains the connection between mental problems of individuals and the environment they live in.

Jiddu Krishnamurti, I think, once said: "You can't make someone healthy by helping them to adjust to the sick society" and ours is a sick society. If we want to get better individually, we can't do it without changing the society as a whole.

[nonightowl]

Originally Posted by Ididitmyway

The ills of the society such as poverty, social injustices, discrimination etc are a great contributing factor in developing mental illness if not the major one. Our environment shapes our brain chemistry. The "genes" theory has no scientific prove whatsoever and yet it's being pushed on people by the mass media.

You may appreciate this article on the subject Capitalism is My ?Mental Illness? | Love Moves You

Also watch videos of Dr. Gabor Mate, who explains the connection between mental problems of individuals and the environment they live in.

Jiddu Krishnamurti, I think, once said: "You can't make someone healthy by helping them to adjust to the sick society" and ours is a sick society. If we want to get better individually, we can't do it without changing the society as a whole.

I agree....American culture is very pragmatic, shallow, and materialistic.

There's pressure to succeed at work and to work, long hard hours.

We live in a culture that believe anything is possible with hard work, and that's a myth. "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps." Therefore, a lot of people think depression is an attitude problem, not a medical one. It's like any other condition that people are more "accepting" of, such as high-blood pressure.

Single people are under pressure or expectations to get married and have babies.

Older people are expected to be retired and live in houses, not apartments.

Everything is so fast-paced, and the cost of everything just keeps going up. But not wages.

People struggle just to have their basic needs met like food & shelter, yet the emotional needs are just as important. I could go on & on, but I think the gist of it is there.