"How Are You?" The General Superficial American Personality

When Europeans were asked there opinions on Americans, they came up with some of these answers:

• loud

• friendly

• superficial

• guns

• fast food

• large portions

• patriotic

• school spirit

Can we be generalized this way? I think so. For example, my German Professor will attest to the superficial American greeting "How are you?". We all know the typical response..."Good, how are you?" But is this how you really feel? Probably not, but its a good way to pass by without addressing your emotions! Which leads me to think about Americans and mental illness--why do we hide it? Do Europeans hide it? Is it prevalent in Europe as it is in the United States, after all they do have stricter food guidelines!

We can only heal by addressing our true feelings. And it starts with answering truthfully the question, "How are you?". My German Professor laid into a clerk when she was asked that same question too many times on a very bad day. A book by a Dutch Anthropologist stated, "More interesting yet: Dutch friends and relatives privately commented to me that American emotions they encountered seemed "fake" or "exaggerated". (page 3, Between Us: How Cultures Create Emotions, Batja Mesquita)

In our efforts of becoming more real and maybe understanding our own emotions and dealing with mental illness may come by viewing more accurate depictions of persons with mental illness. "More than 50% will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime. 1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year." (Google.com) Are you lying about your true emotions, mental illness or well being? A better way to identify some of these problems may be to watch an example in a movie, sitcom or animation.

Mental Health Europe: Who We are, What we do

Alisa Roth: "America's Hidden Mental Health Crisis"

Top 10 Most Accurate Depictions of Mental Illness in Movies and TV