Posted by Squiggles on March 12, 2006, at 11:44:12
In reply to meds..., posted by med_empowered on March 12, 2006, at 10:43:17
> I think part of the problem is the power imbalance in psychiatry. You go to a psychiatrist and they label your experience, pushing it into one of the pre-made diagnostic categories...from the beginning, what matters most isn't **your experience**, but rather the docs understanding/labelling of your experience--the expert's word counts for more than the mental patient's word.
>
> Then, shrinks seem to regard their patients with less trust and sometimes even with a bit of disdain. I'm sure we've all had docs who, despite being over-compensated for their time, just seemed that they were too "busy" to really help, even when "helping" is what they **DO** and is in fact the only reason their profession exists--the possibility that drugs and therapy can alter behavior and thoughts and improve human existence.
>
> And then you have the "know-it-alls" who seem to "know," through some sort of psychiatric magic, just what treatment(s) are appropriate. And if it these magical treatments don't work? Well, then its your fault--you're "treatment-resistant" or possibly non-compliant or possibly you have a previously undiscovered personality disorder that "complicates" the picture. THe situation is ridiculous and untenable, especially considering the billions of $$$ pumped into this profession annually for rather lackadaisical results.I don't think you would agree with me,
because I have read your posts. My own
view is that the APA, CPA, etc. should
stop drug company reps. from selling their
wares. They should be more patient-friendly
throught their immense resources. A-n-d
I think that the asylum (or clinics of
a similar sort) should come back
for people who need more intensive care.
As things stand, the treatment of mental
illness is not taken as seriously as it
should be. It is not a glamorous disease,
except in Hollywood movies and they mostly
take place in asylum settings.Squiggles
poster:Squiggles
thread:618505
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060310/msgs/619342.html