Posted by Toph on October 14, 2006, at 18:14:44
In reply to Re: Request Problems in Living Board » Toph, posted by alexandra_k on October 14, 2006, at 10:11:21
I am not a Szazsologist, Alex , but I would like to respond to a couple things you wrote.
>
> > First, I am mentally ill as I stated above
>
> It all hinges on what you mean by 'mentally ill' really. See, Szasz doesn't believe in mental illness (except as a metaphor) BUT (and this bit is important) he believes in NEUROLOGICAL illness alright. He would grant you NEUROLOGICAL illness, he just wouldn't like to call it 'mental'.
>This is semantics but if I have a neurological disorder, which I do, I think, then one is referring to the mechanics of my illness. If I have a mental illness, which I do, I think, then one is referring to symptomatology of my illness for it affects my mentation and mood.
> > as much as I wanted to believe that just the right talk therapy would end the repeated interruptions in my functioning.
>
> I don't think he advocates talk therapy...
>I was just saying here that I could not accept my mental defect and hoped that psychotherapy would cure me.
> > like Szasz, he believed that I needed no medications as my parents were competely at fault for my "adjustment" problem.
>
> I thought Szasz was alright with the notion that some people with neurological illnesses are helped by medication... I'm not sure he blames parents or believes in 'adjustment problems'.
>I read more carefully some of his ideas and I think you are right and I misquoted him in this regard.
>
> Best I can figure... He has some jolly good arguments for patients rights. Patients rights along the lines of the right to refuse treatment. Or if that is overridden it should be overridden by a JUDGE not by a PSYCHIATRIST.
>
>In several manic states I attempted to contest my involutary commitments only to be convinced at the last minute somehow by a clever social worker to sign a voluntary admission before facing a judge. As a voluntary I avoided the legal ramifications of a fomal mental commitment (permanent record, loss of rights, etc.) My history with psychosis and the mental health system is extensive. In the main I feel that I have been very fortunate that I was treated mostly compassionately and effectively. I sometimes shudder to think what the outcome for me would have been if I had lived a hundred years ago.
Anyway, I apologize if I overreacted.
poster:Toph
thread:693789
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060918/msgs/694824.html