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Much needed vent.

Much needed vent.

If any individual - a neighbour, for example, asked all the most personal questions a therapist of any stripe did, we would think them highly impertinent - a sticky beak. However we allow therapists to ask us anything, invade our privacy without restraint, and we comply - tell them all of our private business as a matter of course, thinking we are being helped.

It is implied to be part of our treatment and our hoped for recovery to do so - but if their treatments worked, we wouldn't be here on this forum asking each other for support and assistance - often, for years on end. Desperate for help.

In my opinion, we are exploited in a heartless even unconscionably, sadistic way. They are completely devoid of scruples and we are exploited then often, simply moved on. While our conditions worsen and our lives waste.

It seems more likely that they are invading our privacy for the purpose of satisfying their curiosity as to how the 'other half lives'.

They 'diagnose' copiously - making highly questionable - even laughable, lists of disorders to satisfy your curiosity as to what is 'wrong with you', (from me - you are severely traumatised from the conditioning and experiences you have endured which have altered your personality, your perceptions, your social standing, destroyed your family, employability, security etc.), prescribe drugs of one type or another, one dosage or another, suggest barbaric procedures which are, in my opinion, little more than needless experimentation. And we comply - or some of us do - with misplaced, naive trust. But none are cured.

I have made the following observation - that society is made up of winners and losers. In general, winners can't make a wrong move and everything goes their way. We losers can't get a break. We do everything right, do it well, yet nothing ever goes right for us. And no therapist will help us because we are the group which pays their bills. Occasionally a loser wins - and that provides the impetus for we losers to keep trying, but, for us, to no avail.

Helping us would deny them their superiority, their source of reliable income, their place in a system which works - for them. They would become one of us - and that would never do.

So how long have you been 'in treatment'? Can you look back and see what amazing progress you have made? Are you doing other that paying their bills?

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In response to: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

@chibam - yes, I do know. Take care.

In response to: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

@Owlunar - thank you for your post. I have tried to always reply to all of my posts but yours has been difficult to respond to.

I would never like to upset you and to take some of your content further runs the risk of doing so. So I will not.

As to some of the rest, yes I believe labels are something of a placebo. Some people actually find it of comfort. Personally I find the fact that there is so much overlap that many diagnoses can only be regarded as 'in the ball park' at best.

I am sorry for your suffering, for all of our suffering. It simply should not be. I hope you are doing alright and send my best wishes to you.

In response to: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

@BPDSurvivor I genuinely, sincerely appreciate your response and point of view. That was why I posted re this subject. I wanted feedback. I wanted the opportunity to discuss the matter, to debate. Simply agreeing with each other serves no purpose. This is such an important issue because once you have seen the system for what it is, there is a responsibility to enable others to start to question what is actually going on too.

My opinion re treatable diagnoses vs 'non-treatable' diagnoses are well set out in other posts so I will not repeat them in detail again here. It is sufficient to say - how many people are being told there is no cure, don't know what causes it, a 'difficult case' - the worst they have encountered? They may think that it is just their bad luck. It is not. It seems to be everybody's bad luck. How many are actually being cured? And how many are simply lining their therapist's pockets?

How many conflicting opinions are there?

Eighteen months ago I would have died for my ex-psychiatrist for what he had done for me - but since then he has shown me that, although he was prepared to discard all the misconceptions he had been taught and treat me according to his own common sense and skill, he was also prepared to throw me under the bus at a time of his choosing - like a used experiment no longer of use. What I have posted on these forums since my first post has only scratched the surface of his betrayal and his absolute betrayal of trust.

He was quite right in all he did and I was amazed by his expertise - to watch as he unpicked my damaged personality, corrected it, cured my Depression, and allowed me to grow into the person I was supposed to be, had the potential to be. And then, astonished at his ability to deceive, at his treachery. Should I say - narcissism? (I think so.)

We had the most amazing discussions, revelations, insights to share and I was delighted to have been taken into his confidence. I thought he was showing the profession how they were acting on misconceptions, how there is a better way and he was prepared to prove it. I was completely enthralled by his expertise. I guess it was all just to keep me trusting him as he led me on.

I don't know how anyone can do that to another - let alone a doctor, and a doctor of psychiatry.

I was completely blindsided - such was my absolute trust. I have tried everywhere to get help since, in an effort to try to understand and come to terms with what he did to me. Because he educated me in psychiatry, human behaviour etc. I need to be treated by someone who knows more than I do. They are only found in psychiatry - and they all have each other's back. If we change to another, they simply learn how the previous psychiatrist had treated, diagnosed, and carry on the same way. There is no independence. There is no integrity. And there seems to be no cures.

It is my opinion that they choose whom they treat well and whom they choose to find in the 'difficult to treat' group; whom they wish to seriously stigmatize by their reports to our GPs which encourage them not to treat us as we present, but as the person the 'expert' has incorrectly, privately maligned.

I am certainly embittered by my experience @BPDSurvivor. It should never have happened. My life is threatened by this outcome. I consider that to be reprehensible - but there is no accountability.

Tar them all with the same brush? I do - until they prove differently. Some have learned to pretend they know what they are doing while others choose whom they will help.

I am pleased that you are happy with your treatment and results@BPDSurvivor. I only wish you were cured - totally.

I send my best wishes and hope that you are keeping well. Stay that way.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

Hi @Historylover ,

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I can certainly hear the pain you have endured at feeling 'betrayed' by the very person you thought you could trust. I totally hear and acknowledge your experiences.


I remember once being told, that in MH, there's no such thing as 'treatment-resistant'. Rather, it means that the client's needs are beyond the realm and expertise of the therapist/specialist/doctor. In other words, these vulnerable clients are placed in the 'too hard' basket, and made to feel like there is no hope. I've been down that road with my BPD - but I kept looking, and finally I found amazing people who had the expertise to provide me the support I needed.

And for being 'cured', what does that mean? Does it mean to never feel low? Having ups and downs is a part of life. Constantly feeling up is not really what life is about.

I see treatment as effective when one can be restored from being totally incapacitated by their MH condition, to being able to function effectively in society - but this doesn't mean there are no ups and downs.

Would you like to share your idea of 'cured'?

Thank you for sharing your experiences @Historylover . I'm mindful that this thread may stir up unpleasant experiences and thoughts for you. Please don't feel obliged to respond if you do not feel able.

Best Wishes,

BPDSurvivor

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

Hi @Historylover

There is no need to worry about challenging my opinions - I can easily handle being misunderstood or misunderstanding myself. I have been trying to understand what happened to you to destroy so much trust so - please - if you feel okay about doing do - please explain more

That psychiatrist seemed to damage your trust in many ways but maybe did some good too - I can understand such a dichotomy - my mother did some good for me in her life as well as not so good - she was a hard woman to live with and understand - it is only since she died that I can see the reasons for her vindictive nature though I can never excuse it

I am glad you replied

Dec

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

Hello again @BPDSurvivor It is my personal opinion that the only disorders which are unable to be cured by competent professionals pertain to those who are too elderly at onset to complete the necessary treatment, and for whom medication may be the kindest, best course.

I refer to symptoms of, eg., Clinical Depression - the causes of which are deeply entangled - though understood by competents. (It is not chemical - although chemical may be a result, not a cause. I am not sufficiently across that.) I consider most other afflictions would have presented before age consideration so I am limiting that opinion to what I consider to be such later onset afflictions. And that is my opinion.

Regarding early/earlier onset disorders of any type - how can it be said that any disorder is incurable? Presentation of severe symptoms merely means more correction is needed, not an impossibility of correction. Do you regard it acceptable that some can be assigned to the 'too hard basket'? If so, what would be the cut off point for determining? Would it be affected by whether you could be bothered, are having a personally, difficult time, couldn't be bothered - or weren't sufficiently knowledgable, dedicated, determined? Such conditions are merely more challenging, and dedicated therapists should relish the opportunity to take on the difficult, and not just the simpler, cases.

Disorders represent damage to the personality, the identity, the reason, the mood, the behaviour. If the personality can become damaged and disordered, by the same token it can become healed and reordered.

Perhaps therapists like to have tidy, well-behaved patients in their waiting rooms as some may consider that to be a reflection of their skill and not a reflection of whose afflictions he is prepared to take on? Like teachers who favour the more easily teachable students and overlook those having difficulties?

As for medication., it merely controls symptoms while the therapist gains an understanding of the situation and commences corrective therapy. Over time, reduction of medication to the point that it is no longer needed is the objective. If not, what is the therapist's objective?

Surely I do not present as one who considers that normal responses to life's ups and downs are not normal? They are unavoidable. Life is tough and deals us some cruel blows. Downs which are not normal responses and have no known cause are not normal.

I hold my opinions because if a therapist is prepared to put in the work and not just the appearance of doing so, improvements should be measurable by both parties.

No improvement resulting in cure = ineffective treatment. Surely?

Cure = an absence of presenting symptoms.

P.S. Certainly everyone has to make a living - or those lucky enough to be in such a position - however, why is it that no psychiatrists are bulk billing? That treatment is out of reach for so many for this reason? I regard it as a measure of their priorities.

In response to: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

No need to reply @AussieRecharger, but I must clarify this point. I'm not suggesting that 'hearing voices' may be from the 'great beyond' when I refer to my assertion that 'hearing voices' may well be, in my opinion, malevolent telepathy - I am asserting they may be from malicious, controlling, interpersonal relationships. And personally, I would love the opportunity to look into it further. Cheers.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

Hey @Historylover .. i was pondering this over the weekend and thinking about DID. I am not sure if this has ever been researched, but I was thinking that if you had trauma and that part of your brain was affected by trauma, then maybe your neuroplasticity could repair itself into the personality of the person who is working to help you heal.

I mean, we all hear about how neuroplasticity can heal, but can it heal by creating a DID personality inside ourselves with all our negative thoughts attached......

That's my thought bubble share of the day.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

I love your question @AussieRecharger but I can not speak with any authority on it.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

Actually, @AussieRecharger, although I am not knowledgeable on the subject, I was writing a lengthy reply yesterday when I got an Authentication Failed notice and didn't have the strength to re-do it. I am trying to understand exactly what you are asking.

Firstly, does neuroplasticity mean the same thing to you as to me - that the brain has the ability to create new neural pathways to adapt to physical trauma and disease by forming new connections to restore or improve former function?

Or does your question relate to emotional, psychological trauma?

That's my starting point.

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