Why I’ve been vocal and critique at length of psychotherapy and psychiatric systems on SaSu

[TAW122]

In case anyone has noticed (maybe a few) that I've spoken at length and critiqued about the psychiatric system as well as psychotherapy as a whole on various threads (including having a megathread just critiquing the field and industry as a whole while focusing on it's impact on societal parts) on SaSu, there are some reasons for that. First off, psychiatry and psychotherapy (and similar fields, industries related to them) are rather paternalistic and authoritarian, especially when it seeks to pathologize (similar to how the legal system and what not tries to 'criminalize' certain actions, behaviors) certain normal human behaviors and even scarier, when it comes to using the legal system (perhaps both are bedfellows with each other) to enforce it's arbitrary rules. Next, the benevolent paternalism when it comes to risk and even CTB, especially when people are trying to push for reform, for change, and to destigmatize the topic, action, and concept of CTB.

Nevertheless, I found a good video that kind of overlaps what I talk about in various threads as well as the megathread critiquing psychotherapy and psychiatry as a whole. The videos linked here are from an actual psychiatrist that even criticizes his own field (linked here and also another one here) in great depth. The second video has a long interview with a well known author of a really profound book and gives great insight into the horrors and abuses of psychiatry. While many people often deflect or feign ignorance of the ills of psychiatry (with even some defending and promoting it), these videos serve to highlight and expose the corruption and evils within those industry.

So this thread just answers the question and explains why despite SaSu being related to CTB that I cannot talk about CTB without addressing the other obstacles (psychiatry and psychotherapy) being in the way and impinging our community towards progress. Furthermore, since those fields and industries are a threat to our civil autonomy, freedoms, and personal agency, they simply just cannot be ignored. I do think if there is serious reform and change (easier said than done of course), it would be yet another step towards the 'candid' discussion of CTB and similar topics become less stigmatized and more open. In addition to that, it may also alleviate some of the burdens and fears that people (who otherwise would have been open and honest about CTB) have about being denied due process, presumed insane and unsound of mind before they have a chance to present their position, and in the end, may also result in fewer CTB attempts (both successful ones and unsuccessful ones). In the end, that would benefit both sides simultaneously (both us being able to be freer and less worry about having to sneak around language, be deceptive or discreet and dishonest for our protection, and the pro-lifers being able to live their lives and have less 'surprises' and shock as a result of prohibition).

 

[TAW122]

This isn't a new thing and perhaps I've stated before in other replies, posts, threads (don't remember which ones specifically), but one of the main gripes that I have with psychiatry and psychotherapy is the weaponization and use of it as pretext and reasoning to either ignore one's specific plights and causes, presume illness and pathologize the behavior/action/symptom rather than addressing the root cause for whatever it is, and of course the aggressive, forceful intervention over one's personal autonomy. Hence, whenever there are people who suggest therapy or something along those lines it really irks me (as well as many people on here, especially those who made up their minds regarding CTB).

This isn't to say that mental illness and other psychiatric disorders don't exist, I'm sure they do and psychiatry has it's role in society (for better or worse), but the weaponization and use as an excuse or reason by mainstream media and common people are just irritating and frustrating for reasons mentioned before.

 

[Ch4in3dcr0w]

I think the whole reform needs to happend on the law level like for example assisted suicide being legal first alot of problems with therapy comes down that its a tool that people/goverments think can "fix" people when like u said its the person that needs to decide if its worth living and if they actually want to live. The discussion on the value of life has been stopped by the geopolitical situation in the world like for example in my own country because of the ukraine/russia war the whole disscusion has been completly stopped. I think therapist with experience know what they are dealing with and what do to its the system forcing them to behave certain ways in the situations like for example my own therapist telling me when she needs to talk to my parents/ force me into a psych ward that felt like more of a warning so i dont talk about my for example plans with her because that just forces her to act even if she agrees or not. Even as im not as knowledgable as u are on this topic i wholeheartedly agree with you and wish for the changes to happend but even the law changes will take decades in a lot of countries and then u have to educate people what theraphy is really like.

 

[Alexei_Kirillov]

Thanks for sharing those videos, so sick of the "brain illness" narrative. It's unfortunate though that even someone who is so clear-eyed on the flaws of the psychiatric system still says things like "they [mental health services] are essential in acute emergencies and often provide time for professionals and loved ones to develop a plan to keep you safe" which is a paternalistic way of saying "to prevent you from committing suicide."

 

[claracatchingthebus]

Psychiatry and psychotherapy are extremely effective for people who aren't that sad or messed up.

Normal people, who suddenly take a short detour into depression or "craziness," like taking a vacation, suddenly get pampered with attention.

Yes, it's all about you. Yes I will value you, tell me what do you think it means? Here are some pills that will make you feel ever-so-slightly out of it for a month or two. You're having a real moment, you're tackling problems, you care about mental health. Aren't you great?

For people who are actually genuinely sad and/or crazy, getting mild attention and slight mild intoxication for a few months at extremely high prices does not actually do anything positive, gives them false hope, and makes them financially worse off. The psychiatrists and psychologists can't often solve the worst problems, but can certainly try, at horrible financial impact to their victims.

It's a lot like seeing a psychic. If you don't care and are looking fun fun, you'll get a performance and feel great. If you are desperate and sad you're going to get bilked.

There's just not a lot of studies on this truth. They never look at medication and therapy effectiveness when removing the 75 percent of people who want attention, feel mildly sad, and are looking to gain insight by getting to know themselves like a rich woman going to the spa.

Really, in order to do accurate studies on if these things work, they would need to remove anyone NOT suicidal from the study, but that's impossible to do because people who are genuinely suicidal are not honest about it because they don't want to get locked up, instead they want to die. Anyone admitting to being suicidal in a study is often kicked out of the study or may not be serious (because if you really want to die, why ask someone to lock you up to stop it?).

Really therapy and medication only work as forms of self-indulgence for the self-absorbed class with at least some money. It's become even a sort of status thing. Of course I have a therapist! First In went shopping, then I had my nails done, then I had a spa treatment, then I went to a therapist and they said all the people I don't like are narcissists and now I feel great about myself. Next I'm meeting a friend for sushi at a great new restaurant.

This type of client sustains the bulk of the business for these "mental health workers" also it's unclear if they are providing mental health so much as a different kind of positive experience, much in the same way it's an experience to go to a whore, a life coach, a personal stylist, a nail manicurist. Occasionally a person seeing a mental health worker loses a cat or parent, then they go on pills for a few months, get even more pampering, and yes, the system then truly works. They have been healed by the great healers, which may have happened with time anyway.

But for real sadness and real trauma, the kind that craves death, the mental health workers offer no real benefit. But they could never admit that without admitting the whole thing is a terrible fucking ruse, one that only truly fucks and exploits the most vulnerable and downtrodden. The truly vulnerable fall into the trap, and are given pills with side effects that are life altering and irreversible. The solution? Even worse pills. Feeling even worse? Time for inpatient care. The gullible are especially lured in. They have no pity, only greed and self-delusion, lying to even themselves about the "wonderful service" they provide to society.