For whatever reason this reminded me of culture bound syndromes, illnesses which only occur within certain cultures thought to be caused by unique stresses and beliefs found only within that culture.
Reminds me I read once that the voices people with schizophrenia hear are kinder and funnier and more benevolent for those who don’t live in the industrialized West
I’d be interested to read that…the characteristics of someone’s hallucinations or delusions are 100% culturally bound and linked to their personal experience, but I don’t know if it’s as cut and dry as kinder and funnier in non-developed countries. I’ve encountered many folks with schizophrenia in the US who experienced psychosis they did not find in any way distressing, for example, and abuse and trauma also absolutely happen in all countries and will similarly contribute to fearful/frightening psychotic symptoms in all countries.
From what I hear the thing that helps or hurts is cultural understanding of what a disembodied voice is. If you start hearing voices and think demon you hear what demons would say, but if you think ancestors guiding you, you hear what you think they’d say.
Idk if alters from DID work similarly though
Yes and yes! I wish I could easily find it.
Penis stealing witches are a fun one https://www.astralcodexten.com/p/book-review-the-geography-of-madness
Hahaha the image of the guy bored out of his mind and the witch just pulls his cock off and he doesn’t even notice. Oh and the cock box next to the witch. Love it.
Now I’m sad that the article doesn’t mention the country I’m from :(
Fucking eurocentric medical community
Does this cause you anxiety?
But most of those I see listed aren’t in Europe?
Yep because as stated in the article it was believed that they don’t exist in European society for a long time
Okay I see what your saying. That Europe just felt it was normal so none of the European countries got one, and that’s why you feel left out.
Yeah Europeans would have seen cultural bound mental illnesses as universal. And to a certain degree, the absolute hegemony of European cultures means there’s a chance that what would’ve been European culture bound mental illnesses spread with European cultures.
The entirety of western psychiatry and psychology is based on the European version of mental health issues…
I just looked at that article and it lists examples from all over the world, including Africa, Asia, and the Middle East…
Yep, which makes me feel even more left out :(
South America?
Nope
I always ask people:
“Are we so selfish and important that it just so happens OUR time is the [best/worst] time?”
One of the first times I smoked weed I did it wrong and swallowed a bunch of smoke. I proceeded to get sick in the back seat of my friend’s car and started believing that my windpipe was made out of glass and if I turned my head it would shatter and slice my throat open. I still think about it sometimes, never knew it had a name!
Those dumb Neanderthals. I can’t believe we ever thought we were anything but cake.
