How Culture Can Impact the Way We View & Process Depression
Every person in the world is born into a culture. Family, geographic location, and spirituality/religion all inform how you see the world and your values. Cultural norms also influence how we express ourselves and view our emotions. These norms can either be helpful or harmful when you consider your experience of depression.
What is depression?
Depression is a mental health condition that impacts millions of people every year. SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, found that over 21 million Americans had an episode of major depression in 2020 alone. Not only does depression impact the life and well-being of the person experiencing it, but it impacts families, communities, and even the economy.
Depression is commonly associated with symptoms like:
Persistent low/sad/numb mood
Lack of energy
Sleeping too much/too little
Eating more/less than usual
Negative self-esteem
Feelings of worthlessness or purposelessness
Social withdraw
Suicidal thoughts
Family Culture
Your family’s culture around mental health may be supportive, or it may not. Shout it from the rooftop and tell your friends if you have a family culture capable of holding your mental health struggles. This is a gift to have and share. When family members show stigma towards mental health struggles, you may feel even more alone or responsible for your depression. You may even forgo treatment or be less likely to engage with a professional.
If your family is not a safe place to land, try confiding in your close friends or chosen family. Even if your blood relatives cannot support you, surrounding yourself with loved ones may be what you need. If people aren’t your thing, try volunteering at a local animal shelter.
Geographic Culture
Your location matters. Are you weathering harsh storms with your entire community, or are you suffering the heat alone? Your location dramatically impacts mental health resources, how you’re able to find support, and when that support may be able to begin. If you’re new to your area or find that your community is getting you down, try locating a support group in a nearby town. If your community’s culture is giving you life, let others know. A feeling of community challenges negative core beliefs like “I don’t belong” or “I’m not worthy of friendship,” which are often magnified during a bought of depression.
Spiritual/Religious Culture
It should go without saying that spiritual care is paramount to well-being, even if you aren’t religious. Religious culture can impact how we see depression and what we’re told to do about it. Some religions may not endorse medication, while others would never question medical intervention. Keep yourself safe here. Don’t feel the need to share if you don’t align with the cultural norms of your spiritual practice. Stick to the basics as you heal. Having a sense of something larger than yourself helps give perspective to life’s problems. Explore other options to connect with a higher power, like trying an anonymous group or volunteering with a local state park.
Regardless of where you are on your mental health journey, take a few minutes today and draw three thermometers on a sheet of paper. Label them Family, Community, and Spirituality.
Take a few minutes to think about how each area is impacting your ability to process. Fill in each thermometer to the level of support you’re feeling and give it a rating out of 10. See if any ideas from this blog have opened your eyes to how your culture is impacting your symptoms of depression. Finally, take that paper to your next therapy appointment.
Finding a therapist when you’re in a season of depression is a difficult task. Don’t hesitate to reach out soon for depression therapy and to find support through these challenges.
