Susto “Susto” is a term used in Latino culture to represent a “fright” illness sustained after a traumatic experience. When this fright occurs, it is believed that the alma, or soul, leaves the body of the person involved. Although it is not a clinically recognized illness or disorder by western medicine, it is considered a folk illness originating in places such as Central America, Bolivia Peru, and other Latino migrants who live in America today. This fright is considered more common in females
Susto, fright or soul loss is a folk illness mainly composes of symptoms of depression, weakness, and loss of appetite. It primarily reflects in Latin Americans cultures, but mostly Indian communities, especially Mexicans. Although, other cultures may suffer from similar symptoms it might not relate to susto. This reading focus on modern descriptions of the cultures affected and the symptoms they present. Also, describes the methods used to revoke the effects of susto on the individual. This investigation
The sound of Sunday morning hymns faded into the background as I walked out of the doors of Saint Agatha-Saint James Church and headed toward the rectory. I found Father Jim McGuinn, the local priest and pastor of University City, waiting in his office, just as he promised he would be after mass. He greeted me with his usual warmth, and we sat down to begin the interview. I began with an open-ended question: “In what ways do you, as a priest, see yourself as a healer in our community?” I watched
Background Today, Mexicans make up one of the fastest growing minority populations living in the United States (Sobralske, 2006). With this in mind it is important to learn and understand their culture so we are able to better serve their medical needs. Until the 1940’s Mexicans were able to move freely between Mexico and the United States and since then many have decided to stay in America. Today, many Mexicans come to America in search of better job opportunities, healthcare, and education and
Psychological disorders could be better defined. It is described as mental or behavior pattern that cause a person suffering and is not seen as socially acceptable of normal. The field is growing each year and they are developing a better understanding of how to diagnose and treat the disease. After reading about the DSM-IV-TR it does seem like a more efficient resource for strictly psychological diseases does need to be produced especially, because the amount of psychological disorders has grown
The first chapter of Light in the Dark by Gloria Anzaldúa, I was not only struck by the context of the first chapter but the way that Anzaldúa presented it. As someone born in the mid 90s, my experience of September 11, 2001 is a very distant memory now. Her epistemology of that event answered some questions that I always had and some that I didn’t even know that I should be asking. I look at the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon through a different lens now. For many years I didn’t
is held as the principal healing god above Jesus, for he is incarnated form their own dying and reborn Maya hero/demigod Hun Hunahpu. If one’s “dream soul” encounters Maximon on the road at night, he often induces terrible fright in the dreamer— “susto”—causing illness from “loss of soul.” Yet, it is Maximon the priests call upon to retrieve the dreamer’s soul and restore the person back to health (Shalit
Other remedies besides herbal ones are amulets that can be worn on bracelets and necklaces, pictures and statues of saints, candles, holy oils and incense are all remedies that are meant to protect a person from negativities and “lost soul” illnesses, i.e. mental illnesses(14). Barriers: Barriers to health care adversely affect people’s lives and causes delays in appropriate care, limited preventative services and unnecessary hospitalization. The older generation of Mexican-Americans face many systemic
Psychopathy and Culture Culture-bound syndrome is the amalgamation of some somatic symptoms i.e. body pain or disturbed function of any organ and psychiatric symptoms such as alterations of the experiences and behaviors which are considered to be perceptible diseases in the specific culture. A list of most common culture-bound syndrome is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and some of them are discussed below. Brain Fag: Brain Fag is classified as a culture-bound
Curanderismo or traditional folk healing in Mexican culture is a very ancient belief system. Curanderismo comes from the word curar which literally means to heal. The founding fathers (predecessors) are considered Don Pedrito Jaramillo, Teresita, and Niño Fidencio. These people were not all from the same time period (era) the common belief shared was to rid the patient as he or she is called of an illness whose roots come from evil or evil doing done (performed) by someone else. This system of
Indigenous Resistance "MUSIC IS THE WEAPON OF THE FUTURE" The spirit of resistance is a powerful force in reggae music. In this essay I will explore the ways that resistance is manifested in reggae music and describe examples of indigenous resistance in Jamaica and Mexico. A strong example of indigenous resistance can be found in the Maroon communities of Jamaica. The Maroons were a thorn in the sides of white plantation owners and an inspiration and expression of freedom and autonomy to the