medicalization

Medicalization is the process by which non-medical problems or behaviors are defined and treated as medical issues. This can include turning everyday struggles, social behaviors, or emotional states into medical diagnoses, often leading to medical interventions like medication or therapy. While it can help address genuine health concerns, medicalization may also expand the boundaries of medicine, influencing how society perceives normal life experiences. It underscores the role of medicine in shaping our understanding of health and illness, balancing benefits with the potential to overpathologize normal human variations.