“Why My Anxiety Doesn’t Speak English: Growing Up South Asian & Misunderstood”
Some of the deepest wounds carry no words.
Especially when the language you need to heal isn’t the one you were taught to survive in.
Some of the deepest wounds carry no words.
Especially when the language you need to heal isn’t the one you were taught to survive in.
Anxiety in South Asian homes doesn’t always look like textbook symptoms.
It shows up in unspoken expectations.
In the silence after a breakdown.
In the fear of “log kya kahenge” before you’ve even said a word.
Mental health in our community isn’t dismissed because it isn’t real.
It’s dismissed because we were never taught how to name it.
🌿 This Is What It Sounds Like
Here’s what unprocessed anxiety sounds like in a lot of brown households:
- “Stop overreacting.”
- “You’re just being lazy.”
- “You have everything. What’s there to be sad about?”
- “Don’t bring shame to the family.”
- “Beta, have some chai. You’ll feel better.”
Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
🧕🏽 Culture, Silence, and Shame
For many Gen Z South Asian women, emotions get filtered through generational trauma, cultural obligation, and perfectionism. That’s a lot to hold—especially when no one taught you how to talk about what you’re feeling.
There’s a guilt that comes with wanting help. A shame in setting boundaries. A fear that your family won’t understand what you mean when you say you’re not okay.
But here’s the truth:
Healing isn’t Western. It’s necessary.
And your pain doesn’t need to be translated to be valid.
📝 Journal Prompts: When You Can’t Translate Your Feelings
| Prompt # | Journal Prompt |
|---|---|
| 1 | What does anxiety feel like in your language, body, and mind? |
| 2 | Write about a time you felt misunderstood by family. |
| 3 | Which parts of your identity feel cultural? Which feel like rebellion? |
| 4 | What would your younger self want to hear from you today? |
| 5 | Write a letter to your anxiety in your native language or Hinglish. |
| 6 | List 3 triggers and 3 comforts. Why do they affect you that way? |
| 7 | What are the emotional ‘rules’ in your household? |
| 8 | What does real, offline healing look like for you? |
| 9 | Who do you wish you could speak honestly with in your community? |
| 10 | Describe what feeling emotionally safe would look like in your life. |
🥧 Mental Health & Identity Barriers – South Asian Gen Z Women
Visualizing the challenges many of us face when navigating mental health, culture, and silence:
Key Insights:
- 35% can’t express mental health in their native language
- 30% struggle with cultural expectations
- 20% have sought therapy
- 15% hide emotional struggles from family
🧠 Ready to Talk to Someone?
Therapy doesn’t have to feel foreign. With the right support, it can feel like homecoming.
🤝 Looking for a therapist who gets it?
Soon, you’ll be able to check out affiliate links for platforms that connect you with South Asian-friendly, Gen Z-safe, and budget-aware therapists.
Mental Health Sources for Gen Z South Asian Females.
India
USA and Canada
- https://www.greenshield.ca/en-ca/cares/womens-mental-health
- https://homewoodhealth.com/news-blog/blog/womens-mental-health/
- https://www.mhrc.ca/greenshield-cares-womens-mental-health
- https://www.camh.ca/en/get-involved/join-the-cause/womenmind
- https://oaksmentalhealth.ca/free-resources/
- https://www.womensmentalhealth.ca/
Pakistan
Australia and New Zealand