I was over reading Patricia Lefave's - beyond the psychiatric box - Patricia Lefave's Blog where she wrote a nice piece on "Psychiatric Naivete". I encourage you all to read it on her site. This article made me think about what I have gone through with my recent rehab @ V.M. in Seattle. So I will post this comment I left there, related to the topic on her site or just maybe stretching it a bit further.
Dear Patricia Lefave:
Though I agree there is a gaping hole and void of soul in the psychiatric profession; they are not alone in this concept in these times of modern medicine.
Though I agree there is a gaping hole and void of soul in the psychiatric profession; they are not alone in this concept in these times of modern medicine.
Because they hold that power symbol Dr. before their name; they have recently become more inclusive and hold more power in the general medical community as a whole. I believe part of this disturbing phenomenon is due do the power and money that the pharmaceutical industry has poured into and wields across all of medicine. So they appear to be all going to the same trough to drink so to speak.
I only bring this topic up; since recently I was being treating for a post concussion injury @ V.M. medical Center in Seattle. As soon as the Dr. in charge of this supposed team approach to medicine read a label from psychiatry in my medical records; he jumped straight to a psychiatry consult; instead of focusing on why I was there and my injury. This was in common sense terms to rehab from an assault related injury I received while working in the mental health field at Humboldt County Mental Health.
I was quite shocked at the assumptions so called regular medicine can jump to now. They are there just waiting to jump on the psychiatric band wagon where ever they can; I guess it saves them having to practice real medicine (things like determining the injury as in medical test, the damage caused, and provide the best course of treatment leading to resumption of usual or normal quality of life/work); But with those egos the size of stadiums they see nothing but what they want to see. I personally don't go for that type of so called medical practice, and to place it in nice terms, it’s complete and utter "Bull Shit". So I took this Dr. to a place he was not used to being and was quite unprepared to deal with; I simple told him he was FIRED and WORTHLESS.
Talk about rattling a whole chain of command and established doctrine; after FIRING this Dr., not only would no other Dr. at Virginia Mason touch my case or provide me care. I was treated with some distain/lack of respect, I'm quite sure I was the talk of the office rumor mill/around the office water cooler, and they even had a security guard present in the hall ways during my next couple of visits. This problem persisted throughout the care I received from this institution, and ended with a one of this Dr’s pals; a neuro-psychologist saying he wasn’t able to help me any further because I knew everything already and was too challenging. I guess this was their way of saying “we don’t treat people @ V.M. that stand up for themselves”.
So even though I personally believe Psychiatry is a false science and criminal as practiced today; as I also believe it could be eliminated without causing so much as a ripple upon the waters of this world. The bigger problem is much more systemic in medicine as a whole. Greed has trumped Ethics; Egos have run a muck which has virtually wiped out all quality care; MONEY and professional recognition have taken over as the primary emphasis of this practice known as medicine.
It appears no one is immune to this rampant infection in medicine anymore. I fear the only fix are those empowering words "YOU’RE FIRED".
Patients have to stop playing victim, stop trading one label for one of their own making, and start striking back where it hurts. First in knocking them off the pedestal of ego's gone wild, and then by taking away the means they use to stay entrenched in a failed and inhumane treatment modality and model; by removing all the negative reinforcing incentives which includes both Social Respect and the all Mighty Dollar.
Unfortunately the creed "To do no harm" has now been replaced by the creed "do no harm; unless it takes away the smallest shred of self ordained power they hold over others, and/or effects thier bottom line, as in out of control greed mongering/profiteering".
This is just my personal opinion and experience of course.
Yours Truly,
Stan
As usual, your comments are welcome
Posts
13 comments:
I agree it's all of medicine that is profoundly corrupt and I've been victim of bad treatment for several conditions, all of which I've improved dramatically, or healed completely with lifestyle changes, diet and alternative care after being harmed by traditional medicine.
of course the psych drugs, well, I haven't recovered from their harm yet...
Dear Stan
(about whom there is something not quite right (like he is pissed off)
I don't post comments this long on my blog BUT I could not find an e-mail address for you so here is an answer.
In Canada , which is following the lead of the States, Psychiatry has been training the family practitioners in the hunt for signs and symbols of madness. This has made them more prone to seeing and hearing in the same ways as psychiatry so this is not ''news'' to me at all. It is more common than not for all doctors notably emergency room attendings to try to fit the patient and any physical complaints into a psychiatric perception of that complaint. Many of the psychiatrized die or develop serious health problems because they are routinely ignored when going for help from other doctors as well. I have had similar experiences with ambulance attendants and other hospital employees also. Once with a heart problem which was ignored (the ambulance had suggested I was likely just drunk , though in fact, I rarely drink anything alcoholic) and the other time with pneumonia which was ignored for over 8 hours while it was suggested to me several times that I should just leave for home any time I wanted. With the heart problem, the ambulance attended originally tired to talk me OUT of even going to the hospital. Of course, this is all ''confidential'' as I am sure you can appreciate. So, in fact this experience of yours does not surprise me. I too was shocked at first as most of us are, but I soon came to understand that this judgemental behaviour almost always accompanied with undisguised disdain is pretty much the new ''norm'' though it has in fact always existed. These days it has become officially sanctioned.
The problem Stan is that telling your doctor he is ''worthless'(even when he is) is not going to be taken at face value as he or she has been trained not to do so and to accept a prefab MEANING to exist behind what you say and to see the emotions you feel as invalid. So not ''acting like a victim'' (acting like an equal who is angry for damned good reason) will not only not work and has no effect on the doctor's thinking, it will actually REINFORCE his beliefs about you. He will in fact, ''interpret'' your firing him and calling him worthless as another attempt at seeing yourself as a ''victim'' which HE is very sure you are not! It will also be assumed you are only ''acting out'' and the motive for it will be to ''seek attention/fame. This system is full of irony. To fight it though, you first have to understand how psychiatrists and those they are training, actually think; then we have to expose every detail of it publicly but it must be calm and detailed also. Screaming, or any other ''negative'' or strong emotion will further be ''interpreted.'' To expose all of this break this pattern entrenched in the public perception, we have to a human face on our stories and also we must expose this on this level by talking about how psychiatry ''interprets'' everything to make it fit into their beliefs which they then project onto the patient. In other words we must thoroughly assess the assessors. If we attack their reasoning or the lack of it, they routinely close ranks and protect themselves as a group and these are the things that must be made obvious to the public. Reasoning with them won't work as this is NOT reason based; it is emotion based for them too though they will deny that. Psychiatrized people who ''stand up for themselves'' are labelled 'non compliant" and trouble makers. So we expose THAT fact also. Look at websites that discuss tactics that work with bullies without resorting to the use of violence. There are some good hints there.
Anyway, I am not publishing your ''comment'' as it is too long and and angry for public consumption But I did want you to know that I agree with most of what of what you say and if you want to give me a shorter piece a bit calmer, I will publish that with the link to your own blog.
I am going to write a piece on this topic here for my CounterAct website and Under Observation blog which may interest you also.
Hang in there, Stan
Pat
Responce to Patricia Lefave:
First off: if you write to the comment section on this blog and expect it not to be published, then you’re not dealing with reality! You can make the choice not to publish my comment and that’s perfectly OK. But you’re preaching to the choir here, and that I will reject.
Not posting my comment because it sounds too angry! Now that’s an interesting concept? I guess maybe you believe reasoning with the unreasonable in going to affect real change? I happen to believe people need to get angry as hell and reject psychiatry and everything that supports it to affect real change. If those words “Your Fired” were used more often, just maybe a wakeup call and change would have to be considered; since their livelihood and ego depends on the victim. Without a victim they cannot have their power vacuum and play their role as abuser as you so eloquently state.
In the USA we have something call a constitution and bill of rights; that affords us the right to get angry as hell and yell it from every mountain top for all to hear; in fact our founding fathers quite implicitly told us that a ruckus revolution every so often is damned healthy for a democracy.
I’m personally choose not to use the manipulation approach you suggest as a means of change; since I find that is dishonest in the same way psychiatry is dishonest with those they claim to treat.
You may not like the more direct approach of calling them out for what they are { they are without doubt cheap Pharmaceutical whores/prostitutes that make a damned good living on propagating lies and misery upon others}.
Yeah, they probably won’t like that characterization and reject it whole heartedly. That’s exactly the point here; they are not going to listen to anyone until they are forced to listen. You don’t play nice with multi-billion dollar conglomerates that have the Government, the FDA, academia, and the medical industry in their pockets.
That would be completely Naiveté as you say. What you are not seeing here with the instance I was referring to in my post with V.M.; as they are now on the hook to look for an acceptable solution that works for me, not the other way around. In fact they called me yesterday wanting to make amends seeing as it’s not ethically responsible of them to deny me medical care because I choose to reject one doctor.
But then you have a reputation to uphold in the profession and are selling books. I do not fortunately have those monkeys on my back. I just write what I feel in honest and healthy emotion and intellect combined. Geez, if that wasn’t so repulsive to so many; it might be called a normal human reaction to injustice and abuse.
Stan
"Anyway, I am not publishing your ''comment'' as it is too long and and angry for public consumption."
Wow. that's complete arrogance! She sounds like a doctor!
Stan
You stated: ''First off: if you write to the comment section on this blog and expect it not to be published, then you’re not dealing with reality! ''
Pat: Gee Stan is that a diagnosis? You sound like a doctor...you sound like an angry doctor..I had no expectations at all. I was talking about my own choices in my own space; not YOURS. Had you NOT published my comments to you as they were too long, I would not have been surprised. Your space is your choice of course.
You stated:
"'I guess maybe you believe reasoning with the unreasonable in going to affect real change? ""
Pat: Nope. I think dealing with the unreasonable by giving them more responses in the style THEY consider to be unreasonable or by name calling is going to reinforce them in their beliefs and not affect change at all; except maybe to make it seem like they need more power to keep us ''nuts'' from ''acting out'' as THEY put it. I don't think you actually understand what I am getting at there Stan.I think we need to deal with this in a whole new way.
You stated; ''Without a victim they cannot have their power vacuum and play their role as abuser as you so as you so eloquently state.''
Pat: Psychiatry, generally, does not believe victimised people are victims; It tends to believe we only ''think'' we are being victimised by them or else that we are ''claiming'' to be victims in order to'' seek attention. ''So when we yell things like ''you're worthless!'' they HEAR that in terms of THEIR own beliefs. They do not hear as equals but as ''superiors'' to ''inferiors.'' ''Mentalism is much like racism or sexism. It is not about logic so we cannot fight it by logical means IMO and I am entitled to my opinion too; just like you.
You stated: 'In the USA we have something call a constitution and bill of rights; that affords us the right to get angry as hell and yell it from every mountain top for all to hear;''
Pat: Yep. that's the theory all right but is it always true or is it only true for some? Don't angry people get drugged for it there? They do in Canada.
You stated: ''as they are now on the hook to look for an acceptable solution that works for me, not the other way around. ''
Pat: Do you think THEY believe they are on the hook ? I believe real solutions will only come in a spirit of mutual well being. All else seems illusion or sometimes con jobs. They ''humour'' us all a lot.
In fact they called me yesterday wanting to make amends seeing as it’s not ethically responsible of them to deny me medical care because I choose to reject one doctor. ''
Pat: I wonder which sort of treatment they have in mind for you now? Did you ask? Psychiatrists and now others treat EMOTIONS like diseases. I think it is important to remember that.
You stated:
"'But then you have a reputation to uphold in the profession and are selling books. I do not fortunately have those monkeys on my back. I just write what I feel in honest and healthy emotion and intellect combined. ''
Pat: I do? What is this supposed to mean me? If so, what ''profession'' am I in and what books am I selling? You sound to me like you want to present yourself as more pure of heart. I just write what I feel too. I do not consider you to be more worthy to speak or more in touch with reality either.
Oh and Stephany?? If it is complete arrogance to say things the way I want within my own space, or to limit comments is it also arrogance when Stan does it? How about when he is diagnosing my contact with reality? Do you think HE sounds like a doctor too?
Anyway, I am going to do my own thing and I am sure you are too Stan. Good luck!
It's the "for public consumption" that sounds arrogant, Pat.
Have a nice day!
Read more here.
Dear Pat:
I will not sit here a take your comment a part one quote at a time; because that would be a waste of time and effort in my book. I will just respond as in kind as a general response to your retort.
Geez, I have the status of Doctor now {jumps for joy as the balloons are released}!! When do I get monument etched in stone, collect a huge pay check, and receive a ticket to psychiatric heaven? Maybe you can pass a few thousand loons my way?
I thought you were the renowned PhD; so I have to wonder if you are still using that DSM in your active practice {you know, for billing purposes and such}? Wouldn't that make you the one perpetuating psychiatric labels?
Though I agree with much you have to say about psychiatry and how it marginalizes the many in an abusive and endless cycle of suffering; I couldn't disagree more on how to get there in the effecting change category.
You may make light of the constitutional fathers intent; but remember that is the same intent and vision that has brought us through world wars, depressions, and a civil war, abolished slavery, ignited the civil rights movement, brought change to status of humanity and equality those with disabilities if only in laws/words at this time, and even brought equality for women like yourself. All of those marks in history encompassed a ruckus revolution of sorts. Do you think this psychiatric revolution is less worthy of sacrifice, open protest, and honest directed anger?
You keep selling books and labeling people while taking the other road and a manipulative way to change through trying to make rational dialogue with the ingrained institutional rock of the truly demented; as in psychiatry.
I will stick with my open and angry voice yelling out for all to hear. My only hope is one approach gets us to the finish line in a metaphorical sense someday.
Doesn't that make me more pure of heart, as if it was a pissing contest with trophy’s and such? I guess you would have to look in the mirror and answer that question for yourself.
I'm pretty OK with I see looking back at me to be candidly honest. If I happen to step on a few toes along the journey and force some to question, think, or even become angry with me; then I believe that a pretty healthy course to travel in this life and upon a noble quest.
I wish you much luck and success
Stan
I don't feel like jumping into the middle of the comments above, but I will say...I have FIRED many doctors since realizing so many have forgotten the Hippocratic Oath they took and will listen to their Pharma Reps (or some UK cheerleaders posing as Pharma Reps) before they'll listen to ME, their patient. I have often assumed (because a doctor gives me THAT look) certain doctors think that I AM CRAZY to think I might know more on subject or medication A, B or C. Maybe it's because I have 20 years experience-I saw my first psychiatrist at 13 and I'm 26. But their solution is always the same-you need more MEDS and let me find what's "popular" right now or what's being pimped right now. Take this example, something I wrote in script style because I work in the film industry: http://invinciblesummers.wordpress.com/2009/02/13/comedy-pt-2/
and of course, most recently a conversation I had with a Wyeth SALESMAN after he told me Rebecca Riley's parents killed her (give me a break) http://invinciblesummers.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/my-conversation-with-a-wyeth-sales-rep/
anyway, my best to you...and we do need to STAND UP and FIGHT-I've been taking their BS for too many years and my mind/body will never be the same. It's extremely sad.
oops...damn I wish I was 26! meant 36! i was sooo tired when i posted this last night.
Kim said: "oops...damn I wish I was 26! meant 36!"
Thank goodness you clarified that mistake; that's like a 100 year difference! {Laughing}
Being a mere 25 myself, I can't imagine the wisdom and experience you have gained over this past couple of centuries. Question: was the Civil War and Great Depression all it was cracked up to be? {Smirk}
If you have any say in casting duties; maybe I could Star in your next production? {Laughing} Of course I would have to have my own trailer and be assured a juicy SAG contract!
Stan
ok, you made me laugh and I needed it after my last post at my blog. well Stan, I used to be a casting director. and good luck with that juicy SAG contract these days!!!!
Dear Pat:
To begin with, I would like to apologize if I mischaracterized you as a practicing clinician, PhD, or published author.
These were obviously misperceptions and a misrepresentation made on my part.
I applaud the efforts you make in regards to changing or eliminating psychiatry as it stands today.
Though we may disagree on the road we must take in getting to this coveted destination; I believe we agree in principle that psychiatry is an abomination to humanity in its practice, and to the victim’s lives it destroys along its misguided path.
I will choose not to post your most recent comment for the exact same reason you did not post mine.
“I am not publishing your ''comment'' as it is too long and angry for public consumption”
I wish you well and great success in your pursuits and journey,
Stan
Tnak you Stan, I appreciate the correction of my identity and also the fact that you did not publish the comment as it was too long and not fit for public consumption. That is also why I did not want you to publish the first one, but stated I only sent it as I could not find your e-mail address.
Now we can agree to disagree I think.
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