Crazy like U by Ethan Watters

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Crazy Like Us is a book written by Ethan Watters. Through this book, Ethan explores the spread of anorexia, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. Through case studies, the author explains the causes, and symptoms of Anorexia in Hong Kong, depression in Japan, post-traumatic stress disorder in Sri Lanka, and how Schizophrenia came to Zanzibar. Moreover, he explains how these disorders are prevalent in the Eastern nations due to the American influence. In addition, Ethan Watters outlines the implications of the American influence, and the urgent need to treat these illnesses in a culturally suitable framework. Ethan states that American influence changes a lot the way many nations view these disorders, and the American mental health treatments do not work well live the cultural treatment of many nations. Anorexia in Hong Kong Anorexia is a life threatening eating disorder that is characterized by self-starvation, and the urge to lose weight. The obsession of losing weight and the food one eats can lead to anorexia nervosa which is a serious mental disorder. Ethan Watters opens his arguments with the emergence of anorexia in Hong Kong. Watter argues that before, anorexia was a rare and unknown disorder in Hong Kong until it was replaced by the American version. The Asian community has been known for having an obsession for food whereby they share large amounts of meals with family, the issue of food refusal was not in the picture. This disorder of self starvation, and the urge to lose weight was started by adolescents in distress of gaining weight more than their peers because of western influence. The adolescents were impacted by the new wave of cultural shifts, and individualism. Watters use Dr. Lee w... ... middle of paper ... ...use it was creating more complications, instead of bringing a solution. Works Cited Watters, Ethan. Crazy Like Us: the globalization of the American psyche. New York: Free Press, 2010. Print. Sing, Lee. Anorexia nervosa in Hong Kong: a Chinese perspective. Psychological Medicine, 21.3 (1991):703-711. Print. Chan, Z. C. Y. & Ma, J. L. C. (2004). Etiology of Anorexia Nervosa in Hong Kong: A Social Work Qualitative Inquiry. Child and Family Social Work, 9.2(2004):177-186. Print. Evans, Juli. Schizophrenia: Living with Madness Here and in Zanzibar 1992. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 8.1(1992): 53-71. Print. Neuner Frank, Shauer Elisabeth, Catani Claudia., Ruf Martina, and Elbert, Thomas. Post-tsunami stress: a study of posttraumatic stress disorder in children living in three severely affected regions in Sri Lanka. J Trauma Stress, 19.3 (2006): 339-47. Print.

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