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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.

Hey @Historylover

My answer would be both, you can't really have physical trauma without it affecting you emotionally. I guess I was more coming from the point of childhood trauma, such as abuse, domestic violence etc and the effect it has on the development of the brain. There is a fair amount of research these days to show that childhood trauma causes brain development impairment.

https://healingtraumacenter.com/neuroplasticity-and-rewiring-the-brain/

We presume that when the brain starts the process of healing, that it will get it right. What if the trauma is so deep-seeded that in the development, it still works to protect itself and creates an alter personality of the person working to help it or some other type of connection? When we get to know someone, it's impossible for us to not take an imprint of what makes the unique into our memory.

That's maybe far fetched and it may not be along the lines of what the original question was, but if you don't ask the question.. no one will get curious about what the answer to the question is.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

@AussieRecharger - this is really a complicated issue. The problem I have is that, in my opinion, there is much research which has been accepted as fact and built on, when it should have been questioned earlier. Everyone can't be right in a sea of different opinions and practices.

I regard psychiatry to be in the same situation - so much misinformation and too little in-depth discussion between knowledgable minds, and broad correction.

That is why we get new editions of books - to repeal sometimes incorrect, sometimes further developed or corrected knowledge. But the original idea has to be correct or it just causes everyone to go off developing ideas along completely different paths.

I have not done any research on this subject in particular - but I will look at the link. I think it would take a lot of tossing around to clearly understand each other's viewpoint.

And I was referring to physical injury re trauma - as in acquired brain injury.

EDIT: There is a great deal of difference between developing new neural pathways and correction of personality disorders.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

Also, @AussieRecharger, I once read of - I believe, identical - twins. One was schizophrenic, and his/her brain scan showed changes not present in the other 'normal' twin.

So, one of my questions is: does the brain affect personality development or does personality development affect brain? Perhaps that links to your question? I thought the latter. Still considering.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

@AussieRecharger, I have read and considered the article. I regard 'expertise' to come in many forms - much is asserted and much over-rated. It can come from those whose knowledge has been painstakingly gained by tertiary and beyond formal education and experience, or from that gained by those with a keen and enduring interest in a particular subject, willing to learn from a variety of sources. Levels of understanding vary for each. Look into her areas of interest to get a deeper understanding of her practices and therefore knowledge. I consider much of what she asserts to be basic knowledge, and I disagree with a number of her assertions, others are too vague leaving the reader to draw assumptions.

I have no objection to those who are not qualified being informed and consider it a good thing, but depth and range of understanding is another matter. We should all have as much knowledge as possible, and I do not regard a little knowledge a dangerous thing. It is the beginning of greater knowledge.

I see many flaws in the article myself.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

Hi @Historylover . How have you been?

It's been a long time since we last chatted. Sorry about that. I thought I should just check in to see how you are? I hope you are well.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

So good to hear from you @chibam. I've been wondering how you are too. So how are things in your state?


Things are rather quiet here in Victoria. I don't know when we will ever get out of lockdown. I don't keep up with the latest - I have to just keep going regardless.


Well, my kitchen is installed and functional. Just the finishing off touches to do when my handyman can get back to work here. It's so nice to have it 'almost finished' - so bright and clean, but with all things new, having to develop a new system will take a little time. Cooking has become something I look forward to now and I hope I can maintain my enthusiasm at that level. So nice to be trying new things again.


The painting and carpet is yet to be done and I am still living with everything in a stack in the middle of the living area. I'm tempted to put it all back where it was but I know when I do, my handyman will want to get back to complete the renovation. I'm managing to keep myself busy so that I can ignore the chaos.


How are things going for you and what have you been up to?

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.


@Historylover wrote:

So good to hear from you @chibam. I've been wondering how you are too. So how are things in your state?


Lockdown, lockdown, lockdown.

Even in the news, all you ever hear about is lockdown, lockdown, lockdown; coronavirus, coronavirus, coronavirus. It gets so tiresome.

I'm glad to hear about your progress with your kitchen. I know that waiting on contractors can be frustrating - even at the best of times. But I'm glad to hear that your making do.

I've recently cottoned on to watching videos about the stupidity of "Artificial Intelligence". Most of them are absolutely hilarious. People have trained computers to write original scripts for things like horror movies, lawyer commercials and Neil Degrasse Tyson science shows. The stuff that goes on in those scripts is just so rediculous. Computers must have such a warped concept of human culture and the wider universe.

I even stumbled upon a couple of videos that depicted a "Dear Abby" column, and an ad for medication (implied to be mental health medication), which really made me laugh - in no small part due to how similar the advice felt to real-life mental health commentary. I was tempted to post links on these boards, to give everybody a bit of a laugh. But I didn't know how kosher that was regarding the forum guidelines. Some of the videos feature sex, drug usage, ect.

But if you want a laugh, just look up "Plossopin" on Youtube. It's "A medicine you may need for the symptoms you experience!"

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

Gave me a good laugh @chibam - and much needed too!

Yes I know - Covid19 is all anybody is talking about on the news, and everyone else knows how it could have been done better. Hindsight is such a wonderful thing. I don't bother trying to keep up with it all. Life just goes on as usual for me.

I am busy doing a short, online course at the moment and it is more than I was expecting. I thought it would be less demanding, but it is keeping me up at night trying to get my head around the latest assignment. I am really pleased to be doing it regardless of the unexpected demands on my previously over-rested mind. It's giving me a purpose at the moment. I hope I succeed. I'd love to do another follow-on course but I'll have to see how it goes. I'm even acquiring a few new computer skills - finding how to use Collections, highlight text, make a pdf etc. Amazing really. Being able to use all their functions competently is quite a feat but to have the mind to develop these things more so, to my mind. We have an amazing tool in our heads!

Not much else going on here. I hope you're doing alright. Sending best wishes.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

It sounds like you are really enjoying your course, @Historylover , despite its challenges. That's good to hear!

I don't know whether you spotted this post on the forums: https://saneforums.org/t5/Special-Events/Topic-Tuesday-Tools-for-Advocacy-Tues-21st-September-7-00-8-30PM/m-p/1096966#M12086, about an upcoming chat session occuring next Tuesday evening? It's all about advocacy, and speaking out about what we want, both for ourselves and the future of mental healthcare.

I know that you, like me, often feel the need to speak out about the ordeals and enduring effects of your treatment, so I thought this event might be of interest to you. If you are interested, you can sign up to get a notification when the event's about to begin by clicking the "support" button for the post.

I've participated in a couple of these Tuesday seminars before. Their usually quite interesting and informative.

Great chatting with you, as always. Hope you are well.

In response to: Re: Much needed vent.

Re: Much needed vent.

Thank you for thinking of me @chibam but I don't think that is what I am looking for. We all are treading different paths and these Tuesday Sane chat sessions just don't do it for me. I'm tired of whistling in the wind.

I mentioned in my early days that I had seen a psychiatrist twice - and he was horrible! I saw another a couple of weeks ago - also twice - as I am still trying to understand the actions of 'mine'. I just needed a sounding board and that is what I got. Psychiatrists are reluctant to interfere with another of their 'boys' work, and while he seemed to be more interested in the paths my ex-psychiatrist had taken in my treatment - i.e. questioning everything he had been taught, comparing his own practices, it none-the-less gave me the opportunity to consolidate my thinking etc.

To be honest, I don't think he knew what to do with me as I clearly don't need treatment. I just need my family - in a fully corrected, back-on-the-right-path state. He was youngish and still practicing as he had been taught - so I knew that he would misinterpret everything I said and was careful to be selective in my answers.

Anyway, I'm plodding on and trying to make the most of things. I hope you are doing well and send my best wishes. Take care.

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