GRSJ224/medicalizationofdistress

Overview Psychological distress is a subjective experience, but common usage of the term refers to the range of symptoms an individual may experience internally: unease, confusion and negative feelings and thoughts (provide source). The causes of distress vary and cultural norms will inform whether an individual's level of distress is a normal and appropriate response to their situation. Distress that doesn't seem to match a person's situation may require further investigation.

When distress is a problem (connect this to the construction of illness: what is "normal and appropriate")

Western medicinal approaches

Due to the subjectivity of internal experiences, how and what an individual will label as distressful will vary, as will its causes. The nature of this subjectivity poses a tension for modern medicine, whose success relies on quantifiable symptoms and an understanding of their causes.