[1zee]

Completely anecdotal, but many of my friends that are of Asian descent have a tough time putting a finger on or grasping what depression is. It almost seems like it's not something that they have been wired to be able to feel or experience.

I was wondering if there was any research to back up that tendency....

[rhizome]

The discipline of Psychology is regional. It's only a bit over 100 years old and (basically, work with me here) originated in Austria.

As I read just the other day from, I think, Linda Tirado, many cultures have no concept of mental illness. Either you're normal or you're retarded, and normal people are expected to power through whatever problems on their own. If you can't, then you must be developmentally disabled.

[ams6110]

Warning: personal, not medical opinion: I've always subscribed to the theory that depression is an indicator that you need to make changes in your life.

I've been more-or-less depressed for probably 10 years. If I have nothing else that I have to do I'm very likely to spend the day in bed. I hate weekends because there's no work/office routine to distract me. I know (or think I know) what the cause is, and I could pull up stakes and make major changes and get away from it, but I've chosen not to for reasons that are complicated. If I'm right, it will resolve itself in about another four years.

[DanBC]

> I've always subscribed to the theory that depression is an indicator that you need to make changes in your life.

Depression is an umbrella term that covers several different forms of the illness.

But most people treating depression talk about the "bio psycho social" model - that people may needs meds for the biological stuff; a talking therapy for the psychological stuff; and lifestyle changes and interventions for all the rest.

[rhizome]

My point is that there are a lot of people who don't have any concept of depression as a chronic condition. In your example, you should simply make those changes, and if you can't do that then try harder.

[vmasto]

Isn't this true for pretty much anyone that hasn't actually experienced it?

It's not like you can describe it exactly, I've seen a lot of "the most accurate description of depression"s that really hit home, but there's no way to make someone understand what it's actually like.

[goodroot]

An interesting parable... I am well acquainted with many people who work with plant medicines like Ayahuasca in the indigenous Amazon.

In one such instance, a fellow was under the tutelage of two renowned Maestros (master shamans). He, after learning how to converse with them, asked them how they cure ailments like depression and anxiety.

The Maestro's had no idea what depression and anxiety were. They were only accustomed to healing physical ailments; they had to work with the Westerners to develop a modality in which they could spiritually heal anxiety and depression.

I reflect on this story often, as it is a reminder that to those whose only concern is their next meal or the snakes in the grass, they need not fret the ghosts of the future or the past.

[rublev]

>I reflect on this story often, as it is a reminder that to those whose only concern is their next meal or the snakes in the grass, they need not fret the ghosts of the future or the past.

I remember when I quit my job way back. Stayed alone in my apartment for 6 months without seeing anyone and was drowning in debt learning a whole host of tech that was way out of my depth at the time (in order to find a better job, which I did). My now GF asks me how I 'got through it' and I have a tough time explaining that when reality hits you don't really have time to be depressed or feel anything. Just 'do'. Like some survival switch turns on.

It's a good story. My parents immigrated from a communist country after many years and they don't understand 'mental illness' or anything related. Every question is just met with 'there was no time for it'.

[cmrdporcupine]

You might find this doc series interesting:

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/rethinking-depression-part-1-1...

There is some discussion in it about the very historical nature of the concept of depression and how it was not "a thing" even 50-100 years ago.

Without saying depression doesn't exist it does call into question the rather schematic and reductionist description of it that we work with today.

[55555]

That's an interesting thought that I think likely has some validity. It certainly doesn't keep east Asians from committing an awful lot of suicide, though.

[Chinjut]

I guess it's possible that Asian cultures are less likely to treat depression as an illness in the same way, but, let me tell you… I am of Asian descent and depression is very familiar to me, not just in me but in Asians around me. Asian-descended people are certainly capable of feeling and experiencing depression.

[gpawl]

They don't have a word for it, that doesn't mean they don't feel it. Every culture has words of some concepts and not for others. An American has a hard time grasping the Asian concept of "face".

[pharrington]

Have you thought about explaining depression in terms of a state of being that's in the same realm of those that cause so many east Asians to commit suicide?