Can you be anti-psych and still believe in psychiatry?

Life is VERY rarely strictly this or strictly that. In the last couple years I've been going on a rollercoaster ride (all screams and no fun) with regards to how I regard psychiatry, with all kinds of factors of my past experience adding to the confusion. I started out believing in the "theories" about the way meds "worked." It seemed all so beautifully elegant, overactive dopamine systems and whatnot.

Then I started researching, and then I learned how unscientifically these "theories" arose--I learned of the overwhelming harm that they cause (firsthand as well as through reading). I would find myself looking at the issue from opposite extremes, and in the worst times, I would say to myself, "Maybe I should go back on the drugs. I'm really desperate to try anything, anything that will help." The thing was, though, that they likely wouldn't help, and even if they did "help" by reducing symptoms, I would still have the real problems to deal with.

What is my point? We are all human, and so everything we perceive is distorted--no matter how "sane" you are, that's just how it is. Because of this, we are all living in the greys, and especially since everyone's brains are different and so complex. Who knows? Maybe the serotonin theory for instance, is correct in SOME people's brains--even though studies show that this would be a very small percentage. So, to dismiss psychiatry as an outright lie with NO truth would be to dismiss the complexities of the world we live in--compounded by the complexity with which we perceive it.

While I believe that psychiatry--that ANYONE--has no right to forcibly treat someone or to give people dangerous drugs that they know little about, I do believe there is merit to psychiatry as a STUDY--not as a MEDICAL BRANCH, since we still have so much to learn. Like in the past, I see psychiatrists latching onto new treatments (notice I've stopped using " " -- it was irritating me) that they have no business to inflict on other people.

So, Isme, I see your views as rather rational (and there are so many irrational people walking around without a diagnosis on their shoulders). Maybe anti-psychiatry is right on every point; maybe pro-psychiatry is right on every point. Like Socrates observed, I will never know--none of us can. But we can be sure of things, and I am sure that psychiatry is dangerous. But if they well-inform people (which there is SO much resistance to these days) and don't force treatments on people (like children or the elderly or other groups vulnerable to exploitation), then I still have a problem with it, but I'll let them be. Just stop violating human rights, and I'm okay with that.

Anonymous wrote:another thread designed to invite people to stir up people who've been harmed by bio-psychiarty!

this thread should be moved.

As moderator of this forum:

This thread is not disruptive in any fashion, and only states the opinion of a member of the forum, in a calm and civil manner. People are allowed to discuss why they don't agree with the antipsychiatry movement. They should not attack, insult, or otherwise harass the other list members. Disagreements, when handled rationally, are actually helpful to both sides. It gives them a chance to really think about their perspective.

The original post not disruptive, or "trolling". It will not be moved.

Psychiatry has some merit for some people. Medicine does help some people. I have both read and met many people who believe that psytropic drugs have made a great difference in their lives.

However, there are many other approaches that seem to work well for many people: diet, herbs, zen, exercise, religion, self-help groups etc. It seems that if someone is helped by say taking Omega 3 fats they insist that everyone should take it. People seem to only think there way is correct. We have had that with most religions over the years. I was taught that only Catholics could go to heaven. I believe that there are many paths to controling mental illness. I recently read about some famous people in history who suffered from mental illness and/or problems, yet they grew past them. It seems they just accepted their handicaps and learned to manage their difficulties. Some very famous people did great things for the world, even before pills were invented.

I'm grateful that we have this forum because many of us have had bad experiences with psychiatry. This is a place we can vent and not feel so alone.
James

There does seem to be a number of different branches of psychiatry, each making somewhat different claims and with decidedly different treatments. Even among traditional psychs, you have a split represented by those enthusiastic about pharmaceuticals, such as Peter Kramer in "Listening to Prozac" while another group is more talk therapy and anti-pharmaceutical such as Peter Breggins in "Talking Back to Prozac" Other groups such as the orthomolecular psychiatrists believe in adjusting brain chemistry through the use of vitamins and other nutritional substances. Some doctors believe diet and nutrition to be the main thing. Others stress the role of environmental factors, allergens and dysfunctional relationships. You can still find everything from behaviorists to those specializing in regressive hypnosis. We are lucky to have such a choice but it comes at the cost of confusion to those who suffer and don't know which way to turn. Plus many of these treatments may not be paid for by insurance and thus limit many people's access to what might be an effective treatment in their particular case.

Gary