Does psychiatry create a cult like mentality?

Ok, so I've noticed this for a long time with psychiatrists, patients and even part of the general population. When I or someone else becomes critical of psychiatry they are automatically attacked with hostility or discredited as being uneducated, denying mental illness, insensitive toward those who are suffering, or just plain ignorant. I've been told many times in some shape or form that I am extremely arrogant to question 'an entire field of science made legitimate by highly educated professionals' Been called a peasant, redneck, bigot and the like. When I bring up that no system, business, or concept is free of corruption I'm met with something along the lines of 'so you think doctors saving lives is some type of conspiracy' or 'you think I am dumb and have fallen for a grand deception that only you have been smart enough to figure out' That, and the fact I've noticed many people become triggered or distraught when I talk about where psychiatry has failed to help me.

In no way shape or form am I against those struggling with mental health issues or those who help others, but my opinions and personal observations are frequently obfuscated in the other direction.

There is something about this topic which brings out an animosity in others and to be frank it feels like psychiatry has created some type of religion or cult mentality regarding critique. As much as I hate to say it, it only fuels my opinion that psychiatry has a dark side.


What do others think?

If you ask me, it's peoples' nature of believing what they prefer to be true, without giving honest consideration to opposing the common belief. Seeing as most people haven't been through, as far as psychiatry goes, any more than simple medications (antidepressants especially), the people who haven't lived it are probably the ones who the very most of the "anti-psych people are nutjobs" sayings come from.

I'm not a conspiracy theorist stressing myself out over the world authorities secretly plotting to form a dystopian society or anything like that, I just think it's a matter of them not giving a hoot about the welfare of the mentally ill. But people definitely do, often erroneously, dismiss anyone opposed to psychiatry as just that: a lunatic. I agree, there is a cult-like mentality around it, but I also think that psychiatry in particular is more often regarded as benevolent due to its "apparent charitableness;" unlike things that present more hostility such as the correctional system, for example. Too many people just don't bother to look past it.

Riccola wrote:When I or someone else becomes critical of psychiatry they are automatically attacked with hostility or discredited as being uneducated, denying mental illness, insensitive toward those who are suffering, or just plain ignorant. As much as I hate to say it, it only fuels my opinion that psychiatry has a dark side.

I too have suspected this for a while. Truly, I think the system in general creates a cult like mentality; you say something like "I don't want to work" and suddenly everyone in the room becomes visibly offended, and tries to coerce you into getting a one. Or you could say disagree with the masses and say "the government does want to hurt and oppress us", then you are ridiculed into conforming to everyone else's opinion, and labeled as paranoid. Know what I'm saying? People keep each other in their place, Psychiatry tries to turn us against each other, so they can push their lies into the minds of everyone else.

I've been guilty of buying into this pro-psychiatry mentality myself, and I've also been guilty of taking a black-and-white standpoint on it too. Now I try to meet it in the middle; Psychiatry has helped some, but has harmed so many more. As you know, it has its roots into barbaric medical practices like forced drugging, restraints, forced ECT, and lobotomies; it's more of a creed than a legit medical profession.

I totally agree with this thread.

Both replies are really well written and I enjoyed reading them. I have to agree with both of you, people seem to police each other thoughts condemning those which counter theirs. People tend to believe they are correct despite not having seen something first hand or that their limited experience/knowledge covers all possible experiences someone else might have.


BTW, conspiracy theorist is just a derogatory term for critical thinker

Riccola wrote:Ok, so I've noticed this for a long time with psychiatrists, patients and even part of the general population. When I or someone else becomes critical of psychiatry they are automatically attacked with hostility or discredited as being uneducated, denying mental illness, insensitive toward those who are suffering, or just plain ignorant.

The psychiatric industry is run by psychos that made this happen, anti psychiatry bringing out an animosity in others. They may be soulless psychos but they are still are experts in psychology.

Liberalism - A political theory founded on the natural goodness of humans and the autonomy of the individual and favoring civil and political liberties, government by law with the consent of the governed, and protection from arbitrary authority."

So from this, we can gather that a "bleeding heart liberal" is an individual that aligns themselves with the Liberal party(aka left), and is particularly sympathetic to the underprivileged class.

Don't you want the poor sick children to get the "medicine" they "need" to succeed in school ? Don't you have a heart ? If you have a heart and really are a caring person you will help us get funding so we can do mental health screenings so we can identify and "help" and drug the $#%^ out of these poor children who are "suffering" from ADHD ect...

Personally, I think we have a pervasive ideology hiding under the cloak of liberalism. The true motives of psychiatry would never be accepted or welcomed by anyone, but if you can wrap them up under a disguise of helping others, curing illness, empower the weak... anything that fits the liberal rhetoric; that hidden agenda can spread with little opposition. Little opposition, because anyone who calls it out for what it really is can automatically be discredited as being a bigot. But come reality, its nothing but hypocrisy. While their heart is in the right place, I think few bleeding heart liberals have any idea about what they are really supporting or pushing. When you think about it, medicating children without a voice, forcing people to psych hospitals without consent, and giving power to a system which has a history of some of the most grotesque human rights violations ever conceived it contradicts the definition of liberal in every respect.

There are two major parts to why psychiatry can seem to have a cult-like mentality.

First, people, whether they're psychiatrists or not, can dislike being criticized. Some of us will respond to criticism by being critical in return.

Second, people tend to develop loyalties to certain groups and ways of thinking. Just think about how common it is for people to become loyal to a specific political party, a single sports team, or a single manufacturer of a good (like a clothing brand or restaurant chain). In theory, these examples are so common because it's human nature to develop these kinds of loyalties to groups of people. When we become part of a group, we're more inclined to be even more antagonized by those who seem to be outside of our group (especially if they're being critical).

In other words, it isn't psychiatry that creates a cult-like mentality. It's us, the people all around the world, who can create what seems like a cult-like mentality. We can do this by disliking criticism in general and disliking it even more when it seems to be directed at our friends, colleagues, and beliefs.

most people, who have psychiatric past, get offended when one discredits psychiatry cause then you're kinda implying that the issues the people had were too easy to solve, and the people were weak to seek psychiatric help.

i've visited a psychiatrist and i believe it's all hoax. talking to a friend, regular exercise work better than anti depressants. but the doctors dont prescribe this.

jaus tail wrote:most people, who have psychiatric past, get offended when one discredits psychiatry cause then you're kinda implying that the issues the people had were too easy to solve, and the people were weak to seek psychiatric help.

i've visited a psychiatrist and i believe it's all hoax. talking to a friend, regular exercise work better than anti depressants. but the doctors dont prescribe this.

I've noticed that a lot to be honest. Or that by calling mainstream psychiatry a hoax/corrupt/broken/ect, people take it as meaning that mental illness doesn't exist and said person is faking it. Truth is treatment and mental illness are two completely separate worlds. Treatment doesn't have to work or be ideal for someone to be mentally ill or struggling with a very real issue. Getting that point across often seems like an uphill battle. Especially being critical of how psychotropics are prescribed (or forced on people during inpatient) seals the deal on being misinterpreted.


Take my case for example. Psychological trauma can not be medicated away. Trauma based disorders can not be managed with psychotropics the same way other disorders are. Trauma- not a chemical imbalance- is the root cause here. Unfortunately in my experience most modern doctors of psychiatry are profoundly ignorant regarding the treatment and symptom presentation of psychological trauma often misdiagnosing the symptoms only having to offer loads of medication as a fix. Couple that with unchecked abusive treatment by some doctors and institutions with psychiatrists who refuse to listen leads you to having a person who harbor strong resentment at the current system only to be labelled as stigmatizing the mentally ill.

I think people in general need to realize that the most vocal critics of psychiatry are those who have have seen psychiatry first hand. Sadly, their unheard voice is why we have a broken system in the first place.

Even my breakdown was due to trauma. I often think had I cried to a friend n stayed at his place for a few days I wouldn't need the doctor.

At times it's normal to be depressed n feel sorrow.