Why i chose this topic
Over my 22 years of life I have been faced with many obstacles. We are faced with adversity every day, its part of being a human being. This can be displayed in the classroom, on the playing field, in the office, or really any other place of frequent activity. We go through a constant battle with ourselves and the people around us to remedy these obstacles. Certain illnesses such as depression and anxiety can really alter our every day activities. I have known people with depression and it is a constant struggle to even get up in the morning each day. Anxiety, on the other hand I can relate to. The reason I chose anxiety as my illness for this website is because I have it. It wasn't really a big issue growing up, as you don't see many little kids complaining about anxiety or how they think the world is going to crash in on them. The Merriam-Webster definition of anxiety is an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it. From personal experience, there couldn't have been a better definition of this illness, which is mainly triggered in the brain. Like I said previously, we all go through obstacles as humans and we are forced to deal with them.
I think in terms of a medical anthropology approach, it can be very essential in terms of defining what this illness is and what can be done to remedy it. Some of the factors that a medical anthropologist might consider is the cultural, economical, and social barriers that we all have as individuals. It is absolutely crucial to understand these factors in the field of medicine. While a Doctor (MD) would look at a patient and make some sort of diagnosis and potentially give a patient medication, an anthropologist would look at the dynamics of that persons life and make some sort of conclusion. One example of this that i found interesting from the course was the use of shamans at hospitals. According to some peoples cultures, they may not be able to take a certain medication or have some sort of medical treatment So I found it interesting that hospitals are adding new elements in the world of medicine and making it possible for doctors and anthropologists to work hand in hand. Throughout the course of this website, i will analyze the use of anthropology in its different approaches, and how it can be useful in the field of medicine. I also want to incorporate some of my personal experiences with anxiety and apply it to these approaches.
References
Merriam-Webster. "Full Definition of Anxiety." http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anxiety
I think in terms of a medical anthropology approach, it can be very essential in terms of defining what this illness is and what can be done to remedy it. Some of the factors that a medical anthropologist might consider is the cultural, economical, and social barriers that we all have as individuals. It is absolutely crucial to understand these factors in the field of medicine. While a Doctor (MD) would look at a patient and make some sort of diagnosis and potentially give a patient medication, an anthropologist would look at the dynamics of that persons life and make some sort of conclusion. One example of this that i found interesting from the course was the use of shamans at hospitals. According to some peoples cultures, they may not be able to take a certain medication or have some sort of medical treatment So I found it interesting that hospitals are adding new elements in the world of medicine and making it possible for doctors and anthropologists to work hand in hand. Throughout the course of this website, i will analyze the use of anthropology in its different approaches, and how it can be useful in the field of medicine. I also want to incorporate some of my personal experiences with anxiety and apply it to these approaches.
References
Merriam-Webster. "Full Definition of Anxiety." http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anxiety