Feeling sad? Have you lost interest in things you used to enjoy? Perhaps you're suffering from a cold of the soul.
That's the concept that has taken Japan by storm in the last five years, thanks to a culturally savvy marketing campaign launched by pharmaceutical companies to turn mild depression into an acceptable malady that a simple prescription can cure.
Anyone familiar with Japan will recognize that "kokoro no kaze" (literally "cold of the soul") is a phrase guaranteed to resonate with the citizens of that country. Preventing and treating colds is practically a national pastime there.
Everywhere in Japan, you see people wearing gauzy surgical-style masks covering their nose and mouth. Although some may be wearing the masks to protect themselves from the latest bug, the majority of wearers are simply being courteous. In a nation lauded for its complex culture of politeness, the Japanese wear masks when they come down with a cold as a polite way of warning and protecting others.
In Japan, your dentist and dental assistants are likely to wear masks--not to protect themselves from your mouth breathing, but to provide a polite barrier so that you won't be inadvertently subjected to their germs or the lingering odor of their sushi lunch.
Catching a cold in Japan is an opportunity to practice concern for others. How brilliant, then, that pharmaceutical companies have developed this new phrase to describe the symptoms of mild depression. Now, Japanese businessmen, housewives and students are running to their doctors in droves to get prescriptions for antidepressants. In a culture steeped in politeness, it seems that the same folks likely to cover their noses and mouths to protect others from germs are recognizing their obligation to protect their loved ones from their melancholy.
After living in Japan for five years and having a Japanese sister-in-law and four beloved bicultural nieces and nephews, I have a great fondness for that country. That's why I am saddened by this new need to treat mild depression with drugs.
I'm all for turning to pharmaceuticals to help those who are severely depressed. I've lost two brothers to suicide, and even the worst drug on the market is better than that outcome.
Crown Princess Masako, a Harvard grad who surprised the world by agreeing to marry Crown Prince Hirohito and live behind the closed doors of the Emperor's Palace, prompted a national debate on depression when it was announced recently that she was undergoing treatment for the disease. Though it doesn't surprise us that the life of a princess and its accompanying expectations to bear heirs might be difficult to handle--we all watched the sad story of Princess Diana unfold--this is an unprecedented admission in Japan. The fact that the Imperial Family has publicly acknowledged Masako's struggles will have a profound impact on the ongoing discussion of depression in a nation known for its suicide rate.
Preventing suicide? Good. Taking drugs for mild depression? Not always so good.
Does life in "advanced" countries like Japan create stress, frustration and sadness? You bet. Should a culture be treated, en masse, by drugs? I have to question that.
The me-too mentality is all too prevalent in a nation that prides itself on this phrase: "The nail that sticks up gets hammered down." I hate to think of millions of Japanese taking drugs in order to deal with the expectations of their culture. I hate to think of ANYONE taking drugs for that reason. And yet, it's becoming a remarkably common practice around the world.
Our folk wisdom tells us, "Feed a cold, starve a fever." Traditional remedies may help a cold of the soul as well. We don't run to the clinic every time we develop an itchy throat. We drink tea, take vitamins, get plenty of rest--in other words, we take care of ourselves.
Shouldn't we try boosting our soul's immune system first before choosing a pharmaceutical solution?
Recognizing sadness or dissatisfaction is positive. Dealing with the pieces of your life that aren't fitting together is powerful and rewarding. Making decisions to improve your relationships or circumstances is empowering. Understanding our role as growing, changing humans and applying mindfulness to our greatest challenges strengthens and elevates us.
It feeds our soul.
Is it easy? No. Is it healthy? Yes. And letting our loved ones know of our struggle and our optimistic determination to work through it?
Priceless.
Face mask, anyone?
About The Author
Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse offering specialized mindfulness training in Portland, Oregon. Her work has inspired thinkers in over 90 countries. To subscribe to her free weekly ezine, the Friday Mind Massage, please visit http://mindmasseuse.com
The ancient Egyptians used aromatherapy thousands of years ago. Aromatherapy,... Read More
Here is how to build a natural smoothie that can... Read More
From jeweled necklaces to ankle bracelets, and all the tops... Read More
Stripped from the scenes from science fiction novels and films,... Read More
Home Remedies - Facts or Quacks?In a previous article we... Read More
Lavender pure essential oil is cultivated and harvested in the... Read More
Through the simple process of touch, Reflexology is so effective... Read More
There are two main types of arthritis: inflammatory arthritis and... Read More
A parasite is an organism that lives off, and generally... Read More
Tea Tree Oil is one of the most useful products... Read More
A portable massage table can be very essential tool. Massage... Read More
As I started to write this article a few words... Read More
Post-delivery, the whole of immune system is restored to normalcy... Read More
Your mental health is often drastically improved when you use... Read More
Here we will have a brief look at ten essential... Read More
With an increasing number of our youths suffering ADHD, stress... Read More
It may be an ordinary dance studio during the week,... Read More
This title to a book by Rudolph Ballentine deserves more... Read More
What It IsIn Homeopathy, extremely dilute preparations are given to... Read More
Here are two constipation remedies that you can use for... Read More
For many years high blood pressure has been defined based... Read More
Arthritis sufferers are daily bombarded with new, better, more exciting... Read More
Americans are ridiculed around the world for our attention to... Read More
Insomnia ? according to the dictionary is a chronic inability... Read More
Keeping in tune with our commitment to providing the latest,... Read More
Developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago, acupressure is an... Read More
Just when you thought you had all the fun you... Read More
Shamanic healing is one of the vast numbers of healing... Read More
Most consumers have heard of probiotics and know that they... Read More
Feeling sad? Have you lost interest in things you used... Read More
Herbal Medicine, also referred to as Herbalism or Botanical Medicine,... Read More
The first of January will bring a new group of... Read More
I'll admit it ... I'm a spiritual tramp. I've spent... Read More
Many common herbs that you might use in cooking are... Read More
Herb Fraiche essential oil is derived from essential oils complex... Read More
Chi Kung and T'ai Chi are only two of the... Read More
Find Out How to Reduce and Eliminate Chronic Back Pain... Read More
Immunoglobulin E is an antibody, which is secreted from the... Read More
In "Evidence for the Sixth Sense", Hazel Courteney interviews an... Read More
Using digestive enzymes when you have hemorrhoids is a good... Read More
We talk a lot about stress in our society, but... Read More
Tea Tree Oil is one of the most useful products... Read More
Some people say that prevention is better than cure. That... Read More
Next time you reach for your Claritin, think about this:Allergies... Read More
The Stop Smoking Hypnosis people.The ancient Greeks certainly had their... Read More
Parkinson's Disease (PD), a devastating illness, occurs in one of... Read More
Better Living With Essential OilsPractical formulas you can use in... Read More
Aromatherapy can be used to relieve the discomfort of a... Read More
Have you ever casually strolled into a patch of poison... Read More
Now is an incredible time to be on Earth. All... Read More
There are immediate benefits for quitting smoking. Within eight hours... Read More
Here are four different herbs that can give you hemorrhoid... Read More
Eucalyptus pure essential oil is obtained from the leaves and... Read More
Studies and research show natural HRT really works. By using... Read More
Can Color Therapy Be Used With Other Healing Techniques?Yes, color... Read More
...and one of these tips you can get from a... Read More
With natural health care so popular, an area that has... Read More
Is Olive Oil one of Nature's seven original wonders?According to... Read More
Through the simple process of touch, Reflexology is so effective... Read More
If you want to be healthy you need to understand... Read More
Did you know that all physicians and medical researchers have... Read More
Many doctors and others in the health field may tell... Read More
It started with the Tansy cakes. I had to ask... Read More
The five day speech course for stuttering/stammering.The first two days... Read More
One of the least known and least practiced aspects of... Read More
While hands-on healing is probably the easiest of skills to... Read More
Alternative Medicine |