COMMUNITY Ask the Expert 2Q. What is the relationship between
the economy and mental health?

A.

This in an interesting question that can be approachedfrom a few angles. One is that of how a persons personality style or mental health may interplay with theircareer and/or business dealings; and the other is how
the larger economics of a society may cause a person to react ina certain way and effect ones mental health.
First let me discuss some examples of how a persons personality style or mental health may interplay with their career and/or business dealings. For personality, if a person is too passive,
they may not pursue career goals. This can lead to feelings ofdejection if they never attain satisfaction, and cause them to beeconomically dependent on others. Persons who must be at the
top of what they do, may aggravate others in an organization if
they are too aggressive or self-centered. They may also take too
many risks in business or investing (in order to be at the top)leading to failure. For example, a person takes out a businessloan to grow their company because they feel they must bebig, however the companys size then becomes too big for themarket and goes bankrupt. Persons who are magnanimous or
who are tolerant of the vicissitudes of others, those who like tolearn and experience new things, and those that will persist in
creatively pursuing goals even if it means failing many times on
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nomic success.
Mental health problems can also cause personal changes ineconomic success or failure. For example, persons with depression often do not have enough energy to function at a job orJRWRWKHRIˉFH7KRVHZKRKDYHELSRODUGLVRUGHUPD\EHPDQLFKHOSLQJWKHPWREHSUROLˉFDQGFUHDWLYHOHDGLQJWRVXFFHVVHV
although they may aggravate others on the way, and they often
cycle into deep depression. They may also involve themselves inmultiple projects that have high start-up costs and low potential for success (i.e., buying expensive movie-making equipment
and hire staff but have no realistic plan). Persons with attention
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their actual intelligence potential, or aggravate co-workers
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where they are supposed to be or what they should do.

On the topic of how the larger economics of a society may cause
persons to react in a certain way and effect mental health, thiscan also be broken down to personality reactions and vulnerability to illness. For personality reactions, persons who are resilient to adversity may do well and take each economic or careercrisis as a chance to do something new. Persons who base theirself-esteem on their careers and monetary success may havedeep dejection if they lose their job due to economic downturn.
Ones innate temperament mixed with life experiences in dealing with adversity may shape their reaction style.
Persons who have a personal or family history of depression may
begin to feel unstable if there is an economic threat to their job
or livelihood. Those with bipolar disorder can switch into either
depression or even paradoxically euphoric or irritable mania
when faced with economic stress. Persons with anxiety disorders, especially panic disorder, may become very anxious andhave panic attacks. Some persons with these vulnerabilities mayEHJLQWRIHHOVXLFLGDO+LJKULVNIRUVXLFLGHLVbVHHQLQPLGGOH
age males, persons who have a personal or family history ofsuicide, and those who drink alcohol or use drugs.
Whatever vulnerability a person may have to life stress, economic problems in society may naturally threaten ones sense of independence and integrity, cause intense anxiety regarding theirability to care for themselves and family, and cause resentment
and aggravation at management and co-workers when there arelayoffs, downsizing, and corporate mergers.
This short article can only give a cursory discussion on thiscomplex topic. One should consult with a mental health professional if their reactions are more disturbing then expected and/or they have trouble functioning normally.
Doug Berger, M.D., Ph.D
The Meguro Counseling Center provides mental health care for individuals,
couples, and families, in both English and Japanese. www.megurocounseling.
combb

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