Trying to get the nature of this forum..about suicide or psychiatry bashing??

[lostautist]

No I raised an open question to get peoples view points. Are you not open to explaining your viewpoint in an open way? This is a very defensive stance to a question that I made no assumptions to what the answers would be

This whole thread was in reaction to one post? If you had simply asked for clarification in that one thread you would have received it. Defensive? I have already explained my viewpoint. You have made plenty of initial assumptions which is why I've explained myself as well as quoting further assumptions. "Didn't realize this was an anti psychiatry forum." Literally only one person suggested this. You.

 

[Mtnwildflowers]

Man, am I the only one who's like what in the world? I don't even know.

I am because I'm being accused of things that aren't true. People are making so many assumptions about me. There have been some great responses that related to the originally post, but mostly I've found most of these responses cruel and merciless coming from people who claim they are against that

Yeah thanks for the understatement.

Youre wondering whats with the antipsychiatry rhetoric, I'm giving you a fucking answer. I've had nothing but a train of bad experiences with them.

Wasn't meant to be. I was just trying to validate the feelings of the people who have been treated poorly historically.

 

[Feeding Pigeons]

Well then you are wrong. I didn't come here to talk about psychiatry. I came to find a better method to commit suicide

Look, if you're serious, then I apologize for jumping on you, but I genuinely don't believe you. I'll leave it there.

 

[LastFlowers]

I don't see it as bashing, I see it as valid criticisms.

You had a different experience from them, and perhaps you had a different starting point and issues more suited for the field to address. However both practices of Psychiatry and Psychology (as a diagnostic tool) are rife with issues that should not ever be swept under the rug.
For a lot of individuals, these doctors and what they have to "offer" (or force) deserve the vitriol.

As for a lack of ill intentions on the Psychiatrist's part..
Remember what the road to hell was paved with?

 

[Samsal112]

I think everyone should be able to share their opinions about doctors meds and treatments. I thought the theme was suicide. Was really posing the question just to get a feel for the community and what it was all about. But then got so many defensive responses that took aim at making accusations about me when I meant no criticism to anyone.

Well then you are wrong. I didn't come here to talk about psychiatry. I came to find a better method to commit suicide

It is just the way the post was written. But, I assure you, these people are nice and welcoming. I will admit I got defensive, but psychiatry was the worst experience of my life which may be the case for a lot of members. You can find methods on this site.

 

[LastFlowers]

Most psychiatrists are intelligent. What would they gain from being torturers and murderers? They are not magicians. They are doing their best.

Except for the fact that this could easily be said with a sarcastic tone and have just as much merit as saying it straight.

Do you believe intelligence imbues morality and ethics? In every individual?
Especially those in a position of authority/power?

The main issue with Psych practitioners is the amount of power they wield over their patients and over public perception, they need to be stripped of their authority, they can do as they please, improve, research, help those who find them helpful..but they have way too much control over the lives of others.

 

[Mtnwildflowers]

Look, if you're serious, then I apologize for jumping on you, but I genuinely don't believe you. I'll leave it there.

What more would you like to know? I shared some of my story in the beginning of the post for this exact reason. To give more context to my life. What would you like to know specifically? Meds, treatments, side effects- temporary and permanent, diagnoses, years of suffering, number of suicide attempts, current plan?

It is just the way the post was written. But, I assure you, these people are nice and welcoming. I will admit I got defensive, but psychiatry was the worst experience of my life which may be the case for a lot of members. You can find methods on this site.

Yea as I stated at the beginning of the post I've been a patient for 22 years and I'm about to quit on my latest psychiatrist of 5 years. Maybe will keep my therapist for a bit longer. She's a good one even if she can't totally make this all go away.

HI @westie22 ! I believe you are referencing my words here - and, wrongly! Again, you are misconstruing my statements, badly.

What I did was cite the existence of torture and murder of disabled people by psychiatrists - and, per your request, provided many examples of the kind of torture you described, here. Did you get a chance to read over my examples that you requested yet?




@UpandDownPrincess , why do you feel that this should be ignored? I do want you to know that a good many of us, do not agree to have some of our beliefs SEPARATED from our PERSONHOOD and called "just a symptom" and "not who we are," as this is highly dismissive.

@meetapple - Many, many people who are doing what they believe to be "their best", are being extremely violent and harmful to many of the people they "treat." This is a pro-choice space where it's important to warn people about situations where they may be forced into things and their right-to-choose may not be respected. And, important to honor the trauma and survival of the many users here who have gone through this violence, from professionals who believed it was "best for them."

Your first post called them torturers and murderers in repose to my original post about me being pro euthanasia for psych patients because you didn't want to give them the responsibility of psychiatric euthanasia. Then you followed up with these examples that I asked a different poster for of ect done not under anesthesia out of genuine curiosity where it was still being done. Not because I didn't believe it. Because I wanted to get more infomatiom on that posters viewpoint in order to be knowledgeable about that perspective.

 

[PDAnnie2610]

I think what's most interesting is you were "promised no harm". if someone really did that, you should have questioned them right there. There are no Medications or interventions like ect for example in psych that will cause no harm. There will be some side effects of varying degree. That's an obvious lie from the beginning from that individual, and I would have said no and asked others if possible . I have permanent brain damage from ect as well . So you are preaching to the choir about life changing effects. I have memory and cognitive deficits that are permanent. Permanent Tardive dyskinesia. You name it I probably had or have the side effect. But I signed informed consent for my treatment and have to take responsibility for that. I signed up for my side effects because the alternative was shooting myself in the head. I understand people who didn't research treatments ahead of time or understand their consents or even as some people claim on here were "forced" into treatments. That's frustrating. We are all frustrated. But I take responsibility for the treatment choices I've made

I'm glad your provider made sure to inform you of potential side effects because some don't. I suspected that my PCOS was triggered or worsened by the valproate I was given during my youth to treat my bipolar episodes and such was done despite the psychiatrist being aware of me receiving OBGYN care. Now I am permanently on hormones till menopause because my body refuses to behave normally. But I'm not angry, just matter of fact about the fact that doctors don't always know their medications very well. I also can't blame the psych doc because my parent concealed family history of bipolar disorder, so the psychiatrist prescribed antidepressant which ended up triggering hypomanic/mixed episodes in the past.

What I took issue with was how I've been made to feel that I don't deserve comfort and dignity when I was upset and vulnerable. I remembered instances of being told that 'my emotions are inappropriate' and that the appropriate responses from the healthcare staff when I'm dissociating is to be restrained (when in my home country). Granted, the nurses in the western world (where I used to study) were kinder during my dissociative episodes but as a graduate from a healthcare discipline, I was sufficiently turned off from practising, at least in my home country. I do still wish to provide comfort to those in pain but my experiences have coloured my perspectives and I'm coming to terms with using ctb to cope.

I really hope you can be healed, OP.

 

[Mtnwildflowers]

"But I almost want to leave this forum because of the users who reply with posts referring to "all" psychiatrists as torturers or murderers or being tortured by treatments."
I've never seen anyone do this.

What more would you like to know? I shared some of my story in the beginning of the post for this exact reason. To give more context to my life. What would you like to know specifically? Meds, treatments, side effects- temporary and permanent, diagnoses, years of suffering, number of suicide attempts, current plan?

Yea as I stated at the beginning of the post I've been a patient for 22 years and I'm about to quit on my latest psychiatrist of 5 years. Maybe will keep my therapist for a bit longer. She's a good one even if she can't totally make this all go away.

Your first post called them torturers and murderers in repose to my original post about me being pro euthanasia for psych patients because you didn't want to give them the responsibility of psychiatric euthanasia. Then you followed up with these examples that I asked a different poster for of ect done not under anesthesia out of genuine curiosity where it was still being done. Not because I didn't believe it. Because I wanted to get more infomatiom on that posters viewpoint in order to be knowledgeable about that perspective.

"But I almost want to leave this forum because of the users who reply with posts referring to "all" psychiatrists as torturers or murderers or being tortured by treatments."
I've never seen anyone do this.

Here is the post for you now you've seen it

 

[PDAnnie2610]

How do you know what I've browsed through? Is that something you can see? What I'm clicking on? If so, that's creepy. I just posed a question to gather the nature of the forum. Now I'm being accused of plenty of things that are so far from the truth because I've been deemed pro psychiatry and "pro life".

The responses of people are coloured by their experiences and for some, it is traumatic and as such, their responses can be vehement. Don't take it personally.. theres definitely more pleasant and supportive aspects here.

 

[Samsal112]

What more would you like to know? I shared some of my story in the beginning of the post for this exact reason. To give more context to my life. What would you like to know specifically? Meds, treatments, side effects- temporary and permanent, diagnoses, years of suffering, number of suicide attempts, current plan?

Yea as I stated at the beginning of the post I've been a patient for 22 years and I'm about to quit on my latest psychiatrist of 5 years. Maybe will keep my therapist for a bit longer. She's a good one even if she can't totally make this all go away.

The reason there is so much discord in this thread is the reason there are media outlets attacking this site. People experience differently and that doesn't make someone right or wrong. You consider your doctor a good one and believe she has done all she can. I don't like psychiatry because to be honest, I think it's all new age quakery shit. It's nothing more than a philosophy; a profession reliant on opinions. Did you know there is no such thing as a chemical imbalance? Doctors made that up so they had a comeback when patients questioned them. No one really knows how the drugs even work only that sometimes they do. Serotonin is mostly in the gut and not the brain. There is a test you can take to see how much serotonin you have and people depressed found out that they weren't lacking in serotonin. The maker of Xanax said it should only be used sparingly like a plane ride once a year. See, the same reason you're no longer going to your doctor is the same reason people here are defensive. Suicidal tendencies cannot always be fixed. Sometimes we're not really broken, we just don't want to be alive. There is evidence that animals sometimes will commit suicide. There is no purpose to life. Some of us just don't want to be alive. Oddly enough you and the rest of the community actually agree that assisted suicide should be legal and OK. I see all this as being a misunderstanding.

 

[Mtnwildflowers]

I'm glad your provider made sure to inform you of potential side effects because some don't. I suspected that my PCOS was triggered or worsened by the valproate I was given during my youth to treat my bipolar episodes and such was done despite the psychiatrist being aware of me receiving OBGYN care. Now I am permanently on hormones till menopause because my body refuses to behave normally. But I'm not angry, just matter of fact about the fact that doctors don't always know their medications very well. I also can't blame the psych doc because my parent concealed family history of bipolar disorder, so the psychiatrist prescribed antidepressant which ended up triggering hypomanic/mixed episodes in the past.

What I took issue with was how I've been made to feel that I don't deserve comfort and dignity when I was upset and vulnerable. I remembered instances of being told that 'my emotions are inappropriate' and that the appropriate responses from the healthcare staff when I'm dissociating is to be restrained (when in my home country). Granted, the nurses in the western world (where I used to study) were kinder during my dissociative episodes but as a graduate from a healthcare discipline, I was sufficiently turned off from practising, at least in my home country. I do still wish to provide comfort to those in pain but my experiences have coloured my perspectives and I'm coming to terms with using ctb to cope.

I really hope you can be healed, OP.

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. I was also given valproate and currently in the process of being diagnosed with pcos. My psychiatrist told me before prescribing it that they don't usually prescribe it to women of reproductive years because of that side effect. But I was at the point of trying so many medications that there was nothing else left to try that I just had to take the risk. I'm off it now but you live with side effects of meds you stop unfortunately. I hate getting any type of health care because of how people look at you when they see a psych diagnosis in the chart. I know how health care workers can judge. I spent years taking the psych patients my coworkers didn't want because they could be "difficult" in their eyes.

 

[Snake of Eden]

but mostly I've found most of these responses cruel and merciless coming from people who claim they are against that

I am sorry you feel that way as it is not our intention of escalating this discussion to make you upset. That being said if you feel you are being attacked verbally then use the report button on the left bottom corner of each comment that does so. We are here to make sure you are treated with respect and get the support you need

 

[PDAnnie2610]

Gosh, an actual pro-lifer here. Just as I predicted, it turned into a debate about right to die.
Those patients should be allowed to die.
And i didn't talk literally about people asking other people . I just wanted to prove a point why in particular cases when a person physically cannot express consent or refusal treatment would not be actually involuntary most of the time.
Like i said, i posted in this thread not to argue about right to die.

Let's not be too quick to jump and label. We need to be mindful that some of our hurts were from being labelled, hence we should not be too quick to label others just cos they work in healthcare. Healthcare staff are humans too and do have their struggles.

 

[KuriGohan&Kamehameha]

I don't like psychiatry because I study a related field and know that a lot of "the science" comes from 40+ year old studies that are outdated and archaic at this point. These people have enormous amounts of systemic power in society, and their authority often goes unchecked. This rings true for all subsets of medicine, not just psych. Involuntarily treatment is wrong, no matter which environment it is conducted in.

However, most other specialties of medicine do not have the power to decide whether or not someone is of sound mind or not. Psychiatry does. If someone does not want to live, no matter their reasoning, there is no considerstion given to their personal circufemstsnce. By default, you are considered mentally ill. How messed up is that?

Many mental illnesses are labeled as such due to societal norms dictating which sort of behavior is appropriate. These labels are often not based on actual science whatsoever. Did you know that multiple scleoris used to be considered a psychological disease, until MRI technology became available?

Now, I've only addressed the epistemological side of the issue, the lack of knowledge and the problematic way in which data is gathered and spindocotored to support certain narratives- such as suicidality almost always being a temporary problem, which couldn't be further from the truth.

It is vvery hard as a patient to seek any sort of justice, when a psychiatrist wrongs you. They can twist your words easily and will have way more clout when it comes to being considered credible. Who will most listen to, the highly paid, prestugious doctor, or the "crazy person"?

As a child I was put on varying med cocktails by multiple psychiatrists, misdiagnosed with random psychiatric illnesses, and always had my abuse at home turned into a nothingburger. God only knows how much money was wasted on these damaging endeavours. I was drugged out of my mind, while I suffered from vitamin deficiencies, kindling chronic pain, autism, and ptsd. You know what I was diagnosed with, by multiple psychiatrists who had numerous qualifications? Depression and anxiety.

I had to basically write an essay myself on why I believed I actually had ptsd and autism, before another psychiatrist believed me. She couldn't fathom how no one had known I had autism, I had quite severe developmental delays, but it was always played off as "mental illness."

No matter how many I went to, I'd come out feeling worse. They understood nothing about my physical illnesses, nor my ptsd, nor my disabilities. One of them insisted I take antipsychotics and refused to give me anything else, because she didn't have another medication on her government approved list. It was abundantly clear that every decision made in the process of my "care" was a calculated move to limit the liability of their practice. Also medical staff have been so cruel to me and its always played off as nothing because of their status as heroes in society.

I'm not the only one I know, whom this has happened to. I've known several people who were traumatized by psychiatric hospitals and told it was for their own good. One of my good friends died immediately after being in one. Her story will never be heard, because she was considered depressed and out of her mind for making such an "illogical decision". She has no credibility when pitted against a professional psychiatrist.

Many others I know have had their lives destroyed by medications, improper therapy that denied their abuse, gaslighting, etc, and they aren't allowed to speak out about it. Everything is always blamed on the rowdy, treatment resistent patient rather than flawed treatment metholdogies.

Personally, this is why I am very critical of psychiatry, though I can't speak for all members here. This is one of the few spaces where people can honestly discuss what happened to them, without judgement. Other places, you will be told to keep trying the same things that didn't help you a thousand times, and then blamed when they don't work.

You will find some people who disagree, too. Though I imagine those who actually are be fitted by these services are not actively suicidal.

 

[Mtnwildflowers]

The reason there is so much discord in this thread is the reason there are media outlets attacking this site. People experience differently and that doesn't make someone right or wrong. You consider your doctor a good one and believe she has done all she can. I don't like psychiatry because to be honest, I think it's all new age quakery shit. It's nothing more than a philosophy; a profession reliant on opinions. Did you know there is no such thing as a chemical imbalance? Doctors made that up so they had a comeback when patients questioned them. No one really knows how the drugs even work only that sometimes they do. Serotonin is mostly in the gut and not the brain. There is a test you can take to see how much serotonin you have and people depressed found out that they weren't lacking in serotonin. The maker of Xanax said it should only be used sparingly like a plane ride once a year. See, the same reason you're no longer going to your doctor is the same reason people here are defensive. Suicidal tendencies cannot always be fixed. Sometimes we're not really broken, we just don't want to be alive. There is evidence that animals sometimes will commit suicide. There is no purpose to life. Some of us just don't want to be alive. Oddly enough you and the rest of the community actually agree that assisted suicide should be legal and OK. I see all this as being a misunderstanding.

Nope suicidal thoughts can't always be fixed. I only continued to go to her so people couldn't claim I was the "typical" bipolar patient that's not compliant and doesn't take meds. I wanted to prove meds didn't work for me and I tried everything she threw at me for year and year, years after seeing many other providers too. Now you can't blame me the "non compliant" patient because I haven't missed an appointment ever in my life of trying to help myself.

And yes I understand a lot of the "science" related psychiatry, meds, treatments, a lot of times isn't sound. I'm pissed I've been given antidepressants since I was 10. No long term research on how those effect a child's brain. Plenty of other things to be angry about. My permanent memory loss and cognitive effects that are so bad that I'm going to probably have to leave my job. I lost it and Went to the parking garage to jump off two nights ago after a shift where I couldn't remember basics of my job.

 

[PDAnnie2610]

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. I was also given valproate and currently in the process of being diagnosed with pcos. My psychiatrist told me before prescribing it that they don't usually prescribe it to women of reproductive years because of that side effect. But I was at the point of trying so many medications that there was nothing else left to try that I just had to take the risk. I'm off it now but you live with side effects of meds you stop unfortunately. I hate getting any type of health care because of how people look at you when they see a psych diagnosis in the chart. I know how health care workers can judge. I spent years taking the psych patients my coworkers didn't want because they could be "difficult" in their eyes.

Valproate was given as a first line medication to me with no explanation that it could worsen my existing obgyn woes. It didn't help my psych symptoms and they moved onto lamictal and haloperidol. The latter ironically provided the relief I needed but I've had to come to terms with possible subfertility from pcos. But it doesn't matter anymore because I'm now pending rheumatologist referral to assess for possible autoimmune disorder due to inflammation. Though I'm trained to value life in my studies, I now believe that ctb maybe my only way to resolve my pain.

 

[noaccount]

HI @westie22 . To clarify:
I was not the person who talked about EC"T" being done without anesthesia. (Though that is also important to talk about.)
I am the person who talked about it being forced on people, currently, in the U.S.A.
You asked for examples and I gave them.
In a thread about involving psychiatrists in decisions about euthanasia, of disabled and marginalized people,
It is HIGHLY RELEVANT to talk about examples of psychiatrists torturing and murdering people,
when considering the likely consequences of giving them more life-and-death power.
You're welcome for the links you requested.

 

[settheory]

Let's not be too quick to jump and label. We need to be mindful that some of our hurts were from being labelled, hence we should not be too quick to label others just cos they work in healthcare. Healthcare staff are humans too and do have their struggles.

Gosh, just read the next posts of our conversation, it's settled, it was just miscommunication. Don't blow this into a drama.

 

[PDAnnie2610]

Gosh, just read the next posts of our conversation, it's settled, it was just miscommunication. Don't blow this into a drama.

Noted. The thread was quite fast and I truly think that it was getting a bit intense.

 

[Samsal112]

Nope suicidal thoughts can't always be fixed. I only continued to go to her so people couldn't claim I was the "typical" bipolar patient that's not compliant and doesn't take meds. I wanted to prove meds didn't work for me and I tried everything she threw at me for year and year, years after seeing many other providers too. Now you can't blame me the "non compliant" patient because I haven't missed an appointment ever in my life of trying to help myself.

And yes I understand a lot of the "science" related psychiatry, meds, treatments, a lot of times isn't sound. I'm pissed I've been given antidepressants since I was 10. No long term research on how those effect a child's brain. Plenty of other things to be angry about. My permanent memory loss and cognitive effects that are so bad that I'm going to probably have to leave my job. I lost it and Went to the parking garage to jump off two nights ago after a shift where I couldn't remember basics of my job.

Stay here. This place is definitely for you. I experience most of what you have been saying. I only took the drugs because my brother urged me to and I also didn't want to be thought of as non-compliant. My therapist told me I couldn't get better without them. I really didn't think I was that bad lol I now realize that society deems certain traits as undesirable and psychiatry tries to "fix" it with drugs.

 

[Dr Iron Arc]

I think it's safe to say many people here who've had experiences with psychiatry didn't have good ones but I also think it should at least be given a shot or at least a glance depending on whenever and if it's at all possible.

Me, personally I've never attempted using psychiatry itself (just psychology) but I know myself and I know how badly I do with other prescriptions of any kind and any psychiatric medicines I'd get prescribed would probably just make things worse for me, mainly because it is impossible for me to stick to any sort of medicine plan due to my own incompetence.

As an example, I'm currently on metformin for my Type 2 diabetes. I'm SUPPOSED to take 2000 mg a day by taking two 500 mg tablets per meal. If I fail to stick to this exact routine at all I will both have too much sugar and suffer intense diarrhea. At best I can usually only remember to take maybe two pills during dinner but I always forget or straight up just don't eat more than one meal. Even though I know the consequences it's still not enough because my piece of shit self just doesn't care enough.

Now imagine this with any sort of psychiatric drugs. Doesn't matter if it's to reduce my anxiety, depression, trauma, or whatever. No matter what I have to do for these drugs they will require an exact dosage and regiment that I will absolutely screw up. This isn't just me catastrophizing either, I just know it will happen. Why pretend it won't? And that's not even getting into if the psychiatrist manages to actually nail the perfect combination of meds on the first try for me. I'm the kind of sorry loser that side effects tend to always happen to whether it's from prescriptions, over the counter drugs, or even vaccines so my shitty luck isn't going to allow for psychiatry to treat me well either.

That said, this is only MY situation and I make no recommendations for anyone else except for them to make their own decisions like any adult should. Like I said before it's worth a look to at least determine whether it's the option for you and if I come across as bashing the field as a whole, that was not my intention. Psychiatry isn't perfect unless you're already normal in terms of how you react to everything prescribed though so I can also understand WHY many people here are frustrated with it, as is their right to do imo.

 

[Snake of Eden]

Stay here. This place is definitely for you. I experience most of what you have been saying. I only took the drugs because my brother urged me to and I also didn't want to be thought of as non-compliant. My therapist told me I couldn't get better without them. I really didn't think I was that bad lol I now realize that society deems certain traits as undesirable and psychiatry tries to "fix" it with drugs.

I am curious as you labelled your "issues" as undesirable traits. If thats not too introsive to ask would you share more about your experience?

 

[Samsal112]

I am curious as you labelled your "issues" as undesirable traits. If thats not too introsive to ask would you share more about your experience?

I am timid, but I wasn't experiencing panic attacks. I am an introvert and pretty soft spoken. I shouldn't have to take a med to "come out of my shell." That is just my personality. I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve and am very dedicated/emotional in a relationship. Those aren't traits that need to be fixed, but I noticed that the doctor felt a pill would make me more of an extrovert. My brother pushed me to try the drugs because he thought it would help our relationship. Nope, I just don't get a long with him because he is an a-hole; I don't need a pill for that either.

 

[Mtnwildflowers]

This whole thread was in reaction to one post? If you had simply asked for clarification in that one thread you would have received it. Defensive? I have already explained my viewpoint. You have made plenty of initial assumptions which is why I've explained myself as well as quoting further assumptions. "Didn't realize this was an anti psychiatry forum." Literally only one person suggested this. You.

My question was meant to feel out whether or not this forum was and what this forum was about. A good portion of the answers to my original post have made it look that way. You're taking a quote from after reading many response on here that I've gotten. Was that my original viewpoint? I really wasn't sure. That's why I was bringing up a topic. Is it my viewpoint after some of these responses? I'm leaning toward yes. But that's ok. I have anti psychiatry feelings as well. Would I go to the lengths to say some of the things I've read? No. Do I have my own anti psychiatry thoughts. You bet I do.

 

[lostautist]

@westie22 I posted in your other thread so I wanted to clarify myself here because of your concern. Just browse the forum and find topics that interest you. I welcome you here and I hope you find something meaningful, in which ever way you can find.

 

[LastLoveLetter]

Psychiatry and psychology are among the most corrupt and cutthroat industries I have had the displeasure of dealing with as a patient. In fact, the health industry in general has inflicted far more harm than good - physically and psychologically - but I will focus on mental health here.

I have been further traumatised by the way I have been treated and can relay numerous anecdotes about my experiences over the last twelve years that would make some people's jaws drop in astonishment.

As someone with conditions that cannot be cured or treated with a plethora of pills, CBT workbooks or positive thinking, I have been treated like a pariah. I have been told that I am non-compliant, refuse to engage, do not try hard enough and reject treatment. Some of my "favourite" quotes include "Why are you still here?" and "You are attention seeking and wasting resources."

In reality, I have tried everything reasonably accessible to me. I have tried every antidepressant I could get my hands on (often with harmful consequences and long-term side effects that I still live with to this day). In addition, I have tried CBT, DBT, counselling, psychotherapy and every talking therapy option offered by the healthcare services, along with any private alternatives I could afford over the years. I exhausted my savings on several psychiatrists and psychotherapists that have only made my situation far worse.

I never attended with the expectation I can be easily "fixed." I understood that effort, time and work was a requirement on my part. I tried my best to be open-minded and receptive.

Yet each time, I was also confronted with the same pseudoscientific drivel. That being deeply traumatised is a choice. Being immobilised by illness is a choice. Being suicidal is a choice. I just need to adopt a better mindset. I just need to make better decisions. I just need to choose recovery. This rhetoric seeped its way into every modality. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy was regarded as a panacea, despite its shoddy foundations and inefficacy - it was like being subjected to glorified gaslighting and brainwashing.

Challenging and criticising these methods was tantamount to heresy. How dare you claim that medication and therapy do not work for you? Don't you realise that you are the exception to the rule? Can't you see that it's all your fault? No-one ever admitted that the interventions offered were inadequate, that they could be obsolete, that they were ill-equipped to help me.

I was only diagnosed with PTSD a couple of years ago, despite clearly and persistently telling doctors that I have had Complex PTSD for many years and providing evidence of this by providing examples of the symptoms I experienced. I had to fight so incredibly hard for this diagnosis.

Psychiatrists and psychologists alike also pathologised me and diagnosed me with not only one, but nine personality disorders in a forty minute assessment. While I am not suggesting that there is anything wrong with having a PD (I suspect BPD is an accurate diagnosis based on my symptoms, but there is a significant overlap with my CPTSD) and I understand how debilitating they are, this plethora of hasty diagnoses have caused considerable harm. These conditions are still widely stigmatised, including by medical professionals, so my difficulties in getting appropriate treatment have only been exacerbated further by being diagnosed with multiple in such a short assessment. I have only very recently managed to appeal this and have some of these labels removed from my medical records, alongside the "mixed depression and anxiety" diagnosis I was given without my awareness.

I recently tried EMDR and was confronted with the exact same nonsense as all previous therapies - the therapist did not know the first thing about trauma, yet they muddled their way through another CBT-inspired script and were hailed as an "expert." When I raised concerns about their approach, I was reassured that he was very qualified and was a trauma "specialist." Would someone truly skilful blame their patient for being chronically ill and traumatised, and say "push through the pain and do it anyway" to someone immobilised by pain and flashbacks? His perspective was if I could only make some friends, get married and work full-time, everything would fall into place. I just need to push through my severe chronic pain, get over my physical and mental illnesses and get out into the world. It is absolutely absurd. I left sessions simultaneously crying with disappointment and laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

The fact that it's socially acceptable for psychiatrists and therapists to blame their patient for their difficulties and place the onus entirely on patients to recover speaks volumes about psychiatry. Do we blame people with cancer for not being able to heal themselves? Do we blame people with asthma and tell them they are not trying hard enough to breathe air? Of course not. So why does the industry blame people with mental illnesses for not transforming into fully cured "normal" members of society after swallowing some pills and summoning some magical mind power that everyone else apparently possesses to simply become more positive?

I am not opposed to all mental health treatments. I am not opposed to all practitioners either. Despite my mainly negative experiences, I know people who have been greatly helped by various medications and modalities. I have encountered those who meant well but simply could not help, and I do not blame them at all.

However, I do reject an industry that routinely abuses, gaslights, lies to and neglects its patients. I reject an industry that often prescribes pills like Jelly Beans and then blames the patient if they do not work. I reject an industry that frequently peddles pseudoscience and prioritises the narcissistic pride of its practitioners over the welfare of their patients.

If you had a different experience to other members here, then that is valid and hearing various perspectives and experiences can be useful. However, you cannot and do not speak for me or for other members here. Those of us who have been catastrophically failed by those who are supposed to support us have every right to be angry, disappointed, devastated and to share our frustrations. For some of us, this is the only place we can share without being dismissed, invalidated or bombarded with replies insisting that we must be to blame for our experiences somehow because we are difficult, treatment-resistant or secretly do not want to get better.

I have realised from listening to others, reading their stories and conducting research that these are not isolated, individual, rare cases but rather indicative of entrenched, systemic issues. And I have a right to speak up. I will not be silent. Not anymore.

 

[Mtnwildflowers]

Stay here. This place is definitely for you. I experience most of what you have been saying. I only took the drugs because my brother urged me to and I also didn't want to be thought of as non-compliant. My therapist told me I couldn't get better without them. I really didn't think I was that bad lol I now realize that society deems certain traits as undesirable and psychiatry tries to "fix" it with drugs.

Thanks. I really didn't have negative intentions toward anyone or mean to make comments that came off as dismissive. I do realize some of my viewpoints may be different than others, but I have many viewpoints that are extremely similar as well. I'm glad if there are people on this forum using their anger positively to motivate change or if that helps them cope. I just personally feel like if I focus on all the people who have wronged me when it comes to my mental illness, it doesn't motivate me positively. It just makes a situation that's already on edge worse. I'm glad though that some people can channel their anger for good for themselves. We all cope differently. I'm truly sorry if I offended anybody.

 

[willitpass]

i think it comes from a place of trauma and frustration. i myself have been through SO many doctors and hospitals and whatnot and have severe trauma from my treatment. my doctors and therapists themselves have been very good for the most part but a lot of my associations with mental health treatment are tainted by the trauma of the nurses and hospital techs who have caused me great deals of terrible memories. and all of the people in our lives who tell us to get therapy and it'll work out and be okay. it's frustrating to hear when you've tried everything and nothing is working. so i'm sure it comes off in a different way than intended, but so many of us have tried valiantly in treatment that hasn't worked and now feel a disdain when thinking about treatment because it didn't do anything for us and we're sick of being told to keep doing it

 

[Mtnwildflowers]

i think it comes from a place of trauma and frustration. i myself have been through SO many doctors and hospitals and whatnot and have severe trauma from my treatment. my doctors and therapists themselves have been very good for the most part but a lot of my associations with mental health treatment are tainted by the trauma of the nurses and hospital techs who have caused me great deals of terrible memories. and all of the people in our lives who tell us to get therapy and it'll work out and be okay. it's frustrating to hear when you've tried everything and nothing is working. so i'm sure it comes off in a different way than intended, but so many of us have tried valiantly in treatment that hasn't worked and now feel a disdain when thinking about treatment because it didn't do anything for us and we're sick of being told to keep doing it

That's where I'm at too. I'm definitely not telling anyone to keep doing it. I'm not going to keep doing it either. At this point, the only person I see valuable in my treatment team is my therapist. Not because she can fix anything, but because she can tolerate what I have to say. I find some value in her listening. But even a therapist you can't be completely honest with and have to watch your words. No statements indicating imminent danger which basically means hiding a part of yourself. I hate that I have to hide a lot of parts of myself.

"But I almost want to leave this forum because of the users who reply with posts referring to "all" psychiatrists as torturers or murderers or being tortured by treatments."
I've never seen anyone do this.

Did you get the picture of the phone of the post?

Psychiatry and psychology are among the most corrupt and cutthroat industries I have had the displeasure of dealing with as a patient. In fact, the health industry in general has inflicted far more harm than good - physically and psychologically - but I will focus on mental health here.

I have been further traumatised by the way I have been treated and can relay numerous anecdotes about my experiences over the last twelve years that would make some people's jaws drop in astonishment.

As someone with conditions that cannot be cured or treated with a plethora of pills, CBT workbooks or positive thinking, I have been treated like a pariah. I have been told that I am non-compliant, refuse to engage, do not try hard enough and reject treatment. Some of my "favourite" quotes include "Why are you still here?" and "You are attention seeking and wasting resources."

In reality, I have tried everything reasonably accessible to me. I have tried every antidepressant I could get my hands on (often with harmful consequences and long-term side effects that I still live with to this day). In addition, I have tried CBT, DBT, counselling, psychotherapy and every talking therapy option offered by the healthcare services, along with any private alternatives I could afford over the years. I exhausted my savings on several psychiatrists and psychotherapists that have only made my situation far worse.

I never attended with the expectation I can be easily "fixed." I understood that effort, time and work was a requirement on my part. I tried my best to be open-minded and receptive.

Yet each time, I was also confronted with the same pseudoscientific drivel. That being deeply traumatised is a choice. Being immobilised by illness is a choice. Being suicidal is a choice. I just need to adopt a better mindset. I just need to make better decisions. I just need to choose recovery. This rhetoric seeped its way into every modality. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy was regarded as a panacea, despite its shoddy foundations and inefficacy - it was like being subjected to glorified gaslighting and brainwashing.

Challenging and criticising these methods was tantamount to heresy. How dare you claim that medication and therapy do not work for you? Don't you realise that you are the exception to the rule? Can't you see that it's all your fault? No-one ever admitted that the interventions offered were inadequate, that they could be obsolete, that they were ill-equipped to help me.

I was only diagnosed with PTSD a couple of years ago, despite clearly and persistently telling doctors that I have had Complex PTSD for many years and providing evidence of this by providing examples of the symptoms I experienced. I had to fight so incredibly hard for this diagnosis.

Psychiatrists and psychologists alike also pathologised me and diagnosed me with not only one, but nine personality disorders in a forty minute assessment. While I am not suggesting that there is anything wrong with having a PD (I suspect BPD is an accurate diagnosis based on my symptoms, but there is a significant overlap with my CPTSD) and I understand how debilitating they are, this plethora of hasty diagnoses have caused considerable harm. These conditions are still widely stigmatised, including by medical professionals, so my difficulties in getting appropriate treatment have only been exacerbated further by being diagnosed with multiple in such a short assessment. I have only very recently managed to appeal this and have some of these labels removed from my medical records, alongside the "mixed depression and anxiety" diagnosis I was given without my awareness.

I recently tried EMDR and was confronted with the exact same nonsense as all previous therapies - the therapist did not know the first thing about trauma, yet they muddled their way through another CBT-inspired script and were hailed as an "expert." When I raised concerns about their approach, I was reassured that he was very qualified and was a trauma "specialist." Would someone truly skilful blame their patient for being chronically ill and traumatised, and say "push through the pain and do it anyway" to someone immobilised by pain and flashbacks? His perspective was if I could only make some friends, get married and work full-time, everything would fall into place. I just need to push through my severe chronic pain, get over my physical and mental illnesses and get out into the world. It is absolutely absurd. I left sessions simultaneously crying with disappointment and laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

The fact that it's socially acceptable for psychiatrists and therapists to blame their patient for their difficulties and place the onus entirely on patients to recover speaks volumes about psychiatry. Do we blame people with cancer for not being able to heal themselves? Do we blame people with asthma and tell them they are not trying hard enough to breathe air? Of course not. So why does the industry blame people with mental illnesses for not transforming into fully cured "normal" members of society after swallowing some pills and summoning some magical mind power that everyone else apparently possesses to simply become more positive?

I am not opposed to all mental health treatments. I am not opposed to all practitioners either. Despite my mainly negative experiences, I know people who have been greatly helped by various medications and modalities. I have encountered those who meant well but simply could not help, and I do not blame them at all.

However, I do reject an industry that routinely abuses, gaslights, lies to and neglects its patients. I reject an industry that often prescribes pills like Jelly Beans and then blames the patient if they do not work. I reject an industry that frequently peddles pseudoscience and prioritises the narcissistic pride of its practitioners over the welfare of their patients.

If you had a different experience to other members here, then that is valid and hearing various perspectives and experiences can be useful. However, you cannot and do not speak for me or for other members here. Those of us who have been catastrophically failed by those who are supposed to support us have every right to be angry, disappointed, devastated and to share our frustrations. For some of us, this is the only place we can share without being dismissed, invalidated or bombarded with replies insisting that we must be to blame for our experiences somehow because we are difficult, treatment-resistant or secretly do not want to get better.

I have realised from listening to others, reading their stories and conducting research that these are not isolated, individual, rare cases but rather indicative of entrenched, systemic issues. And I have a right to speak up. I will not be silent. Not anymore.

What is it that you think is so different about my experience? Did you ask me specifics about my experience?

I think it's safe to say many people here who've had experiences with psychiatry didn't have good ones but I also think it should at least be given a shot or at least a glance depending on whenever and if it's at all possible.

Me, personally I've never attempted using psychiatry itself (just psychology) but I know myself and I know how badly I do with other prescriptions of any kind and any psychiatric medicines I'd get prescribed would probably just make things worse for me, mainly because it is impossible for me to stick to any sort of medicine plan due to my own incompetence.

As an example, I'm currently on metformin for my Type 2 diabetes. I'm SUPPOSED to take 2000 mg a day by taking two 500 mg tablets per meal. If I fail to stick to this exact routine at all I will both have too much sugar and suffer intense diarrhea. At best I can usually only remember to take maybe two pills during dinner but I always forget or straight up just don't eat more than one meal. Even though I know the consequences it's still not enough because my piece of shit self just doesn't care enough.

Now imagine this with any sort of psychiatric drugs. Doesn't matter if it's to reduce my anxiety, depression, trauma, or whatever. No matter what I have to do for these drugs they will require an exact dosage and regiment that I will absolutely screw up. This isn't just me catastrophizing either, I just know it will happen. Why pretend it won't? And that's not even getting into if the psychiatrist manages to actually nail the perfect combination of meds on the first try for me. I'm the kind of sorry loser that side effects tend to always happen to whether it's from prescriptions, over the counter drugs, or even vaccines so my shitty luck isn't going to allow for psychiatry to treat me well either.

That said, this is only MY situation and I make no recommendations for anyone else except for them to make their own decisions like any adult should. Like I said before it's worth a look to at least determine whether it's the option for you and if I come across as bashing the field as a whole, that was not my intention. Psychiatry isn't perfect unless you're already normal in terms of how you react to everything prescribed though so I can also understand WHY many people here are frustrated with it, as is their right to do imo.

Yep I'm frustrated with it too