• About Us
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Motimagz Magazine
  • Login
  • Register
  • Business
  • Personal Development
    • Motivation
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Agri-Preneurship
  • Diaspora
  • How To
  • Success Stories
    • #StudentShine
  • Interviews
  • Opportunitiesz
No Result
View All Result
  • Business
  • Personal Development
    • Motivation
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Agri-Preneurship
  • Diaspora
  • How To
  • Success Stories
    • #StudentShine
  • Interviews
  • Opportunitiesz
No Result
View All Result
Motimagz Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Personal Development

Identity Crisis: Definition, Signs, and link with Mental Health

Identity Crisis
5
SHARES
73
VIEWS
Share on Twitter

SOLEIL LEVANT FOUNDATION SUPPORT GROUPS

January 28 2023

Series: Identity and Mental Health

RELATEDPOSTS

Early Investment Stage (21 to 29 Years) – Financial Time Line

Do you know your child as a parent?

How To Set Goals You Can Easily Achieve In 2023

How To Choose the Right Career Path

Title: Identity Crisis

Presenter: Tawanda Murepa

Bio:  Founder, Young People Mental Health Trust

Table of Contents

  •  What is identity?
  • Why does it matter?
  • What Is An Identity Crisis?
  • An identity crisis could be caused by a traumatic or life-changing event such as:
  • Signs You May Be Experiencing An Identity Crisis
  • The Connection To Mental Health
  • Can Identity crisis cause mental health disorder?
  • What Is Cultural Identity?
  • The Link Between Cultural Identity and Mental Health
  • Multiculturalism
  • Mono-culturalism
  • How It Affects Mental Health
    • 1). Freedom Of Expression
    •  2). Security
    • 3). Self Esteem

 What is identity?

Identity: can mean different things to different people. It might be about who you hang out with, what music you listen to, where you live or what ethnicity you are. Simply put – your identity is who you are. However, sometimes you can feel confused about your identity and this can cause feelings of isolation and loneliness. It is important to know you are not alone. Take your time to figure out what is right for you and stick with it.

Why does it matter?

Having an identity can give you a sense of belonging, which is important to your well being and confidence. You might make friends with others who have similar interests to you. This will make you both more optimistic and also more open to people from different backgrounds.

What Is An Identity Crisis?

In general, identity has the central quality of personal sameness and continuity; when you wake up in the morning or when things in life change (as they always do), you will not likely think of yourself as a drastically different person. However, some people do wake up one day and discover that they are having what is called an identity crisis. They no longer feel that they are living how they want; something is just not right.

An identity crisis could be caused by a traumatic or life-changing event such as:

1). The birth of a child

2). The failure or loss of a relationship

3). Having a spiritual epiphany

4). Discovering knowledge

5).Changing a career

Our sense of identity helps us move on from the past, into the present, and onto the future with a sense of stability and confidence. It causes us to respond to the world in particular ways. Losing that could be as traumatic as the event that caused it.

Signs You May Be Experiencing An Identity Crisis

Having an identity crisis isn’t a diagnosable condition, so there aren’t typical “symptoms,” as with a cold or flu. However, there are common signs you may be experiencing an identity crisis:

1). You’re questioning who you are — overall or regarding a specific life aspect such as relationships, age, or career.

2). You’re experiencing great personal conflict due to questioning who you are or your role in society.

3). Significant changes have recently occurred that has affected your sense of self, such as divorce.

4). You’re questioning things such as your values, spirituality, beliefs, interests, or career path that significantly impact how you see yourself.

5). You’re searching for more meaning, reason, or passion in your life.

The Connection To Mental Health

Any type of crisis can result in a decline in your mental health. When you find yourself struggling with identity issues, you may also experience depression, anxiety, insecurity, and more. Viewing yourself or your life negatively has been shown to lead to vulnerability and depression.

Can Identity crisis cause mental health disorder?

While an identity crisis can cause mental health to decline, mental health disorders can also lead to an identity crisis. For example, mental health disorders like bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder (BPD), and schizophrenia can make identity a tricky thing to keep a hold of. These disorders can naturally muddy one’s identity. Bipolar disorder, for example, is characterized by sudden and intense changes in behaviour and mood. This characterization can cause friends and family to become confused and unsure of what to expect next. They might become sceptical and uncertain of the dynamics of your relationship with them.  

The extreme swings from mania to depression can be so unsettling that you, too, wonder if anything you do represents who you really are. The fluctuations in mood experienced with bipolar can be frustrating and disheartening as you question what you’ll end up doing next. One of BPD symptoms listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the standard for diagnosing mental health disorders, is identity disturbance, or a markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self. People with BPD often report that they have no idea who they are or what they believe in. Sometimes they report that they simply feel non-existent. Others even say that they are almost like a chameleon in terms of identity; they change who they are depending on their circumstances and what they think others want.

What Is Cultural Identity?

That satisfying sense of belonging and participation you feel when you are among a particular group you identify with is cultural identity. More extensively, belonging to a particular group based on culture, gender, age, and religion. It is maintained by language, traditions, and statutory norms.

The Link Between Cultural Identity and Mental Health

The link between cultural identity and mental health is dependent on how well a person is allowed to express themselves and their culture.

This can be seen in two ways:

1. Monoculturalism

2. Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism

This represents the coexistence of different cultural groups operating together under one harmonious disposition. In this type of society, none of these cultures are being oppressed or prejudiced, and there is liberty for any of these cultures to express themselves however they feel.

Mono-culturalism

On the other hand, monoculturalism refers to the repression of a particular cultural group by a culture perceived to the majority. In this type of society, the repressed group is coerced – directly or indirectly – into dropping their traditions and taking up the majority group’s culture. In a society where other cultures or ethnic groups are not allowed freedom, the minorities suffer.

How It Affects Mental Health

1). Freedom Of Expression

When you are amongst a group of people you identify with, freedom of expression comes easy. You are not ashamed to be true to yourself, because you are sure that every other person would feel the same. When you are allowed to express yourself freely without any form of discrimination, it positively affects your mental health.

download 3 Motimagz Magazine

 2). Security

Identifying with a particular group is like a shield; it protects you from outside judgement and lets you feel safe. You are sure these people like you, and because of that, you are confident. This takes mental health up another notch.

3). Self Esteem

The knowledge that you belong and conform to a particular section of society is thrilling, instilling a deep feeling of ease and confidence. You don’t stick out like a sore thumb, and it makes you feel great about yourself – another positive strike to mental health.

Tags: identity crisismental health
Share2SendTweet1Send
Previous Post

Struck Down But Not Destroyed

Next Post

Try Again: #Poem

Soleil Levant Foundation

Soleil Levant Foundation

Related Posts

Early Investment Stage (21 to 29 Years) – Financial Time Line
Personal Development

Early Investment Stage (21 to 29 Years) – Financial Time Line

by Motimagz
July 14, 2023
70

💰Finance Fridays💰 This is the second stage in the Financial Time Line. Most people in this stage are still partially...

Read more
Do you know your child as a parent?
Personal Development

Do you know your child as a parent?

by Joseph Okwisia
July 12, 2023
34

By: Joseph Okwisia It is said that parents are the best teachers for their children. But in today’s fast paced...

Read more
How To Set Goals You Can Easily Achieve In 2023
Personal Development

How To Set Goals You Can Easily Achieve In 2023

by Motimagz
January 28, 2023
118

‘New year, new goals’ is often the common buzzword with most of us as we will be busy trying to...

Read more
career choices
Personal Development

How To Choose the Right Career Path

by Motimagz
January 24, 2023
89

Career: It is a field or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement especially in public, professional, or business life. : a...

Read more
Christmas holiday Spending
Personal Development

7 Tips Of How Not To Overspend This Christmas Holidays

by Tinashe Bonde
December 16, 2022
66

It’s that time again of the year where people get merry, travel, gather, party as families and friends celebrating Christmas...

Read more
Next Post
Try Again: #Poem

Try Again: #Poem

starting a business

How to start a business with $250 and turn it into a big business

RECOMMENDED

seo strategy

How To Rank on Google: Creating an Effective SEO Strategy for Small Business

September 5, 2023
35
business plan

How To Create Your Business Plan In 5 Easy Steps?

September 4, 2023
25

GET SOCIAL

  • 23.8k Followers

MOST VIEWED

  • One on One with the Zimsec 20A’s Record Breaker.

    One on One with the Zimsec 20A’s Record Breaker.

    273 shares
    Share 109 Tweet 68
  • 5 Main Reasons Why Modern Relationships Are Failing?

    191 shares
    Share 76 Tweet 48
  • Fish Farming in Zimbabwe : Short Exclusive Guide

    182 shares
    Share 73 Tweet 46
  • Zimbabwean Born Actuary Doing It Big In Kenya

    96 shares
    Share 38 Tweet 24
  • How To Start Retail LPG Business In Zimbabwe

    65 shares
    Share 26 Tweet 16

CATEGORIES

  • Business (16)
    • Sales (3)
  • Creativity (5)
    • Short Stories (1)
  • Diaspora (5)
  • Digital Marketing (9)
  • Entrepreneurship (31)
    • Agri-Preneurship (9)
    • Startups (3)
  • How To (8)
  • Interviews (22)
  • Lifestyle (3)
  • Motivation (9)
  • News (1)
  • Opportunities (5)
    • Resources (1)
  • PDF Magazines (1)
  • Personal Development (27)
    • Relationships (7)
  • Success Stories (41)
    • #StudentShine (12)
    • Community Projects (5)
  • Uncategorized (16)
  • Women Talk (3)
Motimagz Magazine

Motimagz Magazine is a wealth hub of business and personal development information, resources, real & practical advice, stories, and the beautiful face of Africa. We inspire and motivate Africans by sharing different success stories, knowledge, tips, interviews, and features across personal and business development.

CATEGORIES

IMPORTANT LINKS

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy

SUBSCRIPTION

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 JNews - Business & Personal Development Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Business
  • Personal Development
    • Motivation
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Agri-Preneurship
  • Diaspora
  • How To
  • Success Stories
    • #StudentShine
  • Interviews
  • Opportunitiesz

© 2023 JNews - Business & Personal Development Jegtheme.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
 

Loading Comments...