PSYCHIATRIC JERKY III
Let’s glimpse into the traumatic impact that capitalistism has on individuals, families and intern society at large. When one starts to look for the root causes and connections that are contributing to and maintaining this culture of “madness” that is making and keeping people “sick”, an act that proves to be very lucrative for medical research, Big Pharma, as well as, for the psychiatrists who invest in the drug companies who they support, by prescribing the drugs that are connected to their investments. Even more disturbing, are the new “disorders” that continue to be defined and in turn more drugs are designed and prescribed. Some disorder are suspect like the diagnosis and drug treatment for “Oppositional Disorder” which pathologized behaviors that I believe are important to have in society, to help keep things from really getting out of hand by the powers that be. These are behaviors that challenge the status quo and authority through various descenting reactions to the androcentric oppressive systems that we find ourselves in, with or without our knowledge, that these oppressive systems exist and how these systems impact and control individuals and societal behaviors. We might think we have free will but I beg to differ.
Also, problematic is the early detection and medical intervention that is now on its way to becoming a common approach even in Canada. It is a program for early detection “Prodormal” before the onset of a mental disorder. The result is administration of a diagnosis and psych meds to young children and teenagers because a series of questions deems them at risk of developing mental illness down the road.
Prodomal treatment is dangerous on so many levels. This discussion l will save for another column…but one can intuitively and logically induce a whole set of potential problems coming from prodromal diagnosis. And in turn, there will be a dramatic increase in the number of young people labeled and treated with psych meds for potential mental disorders. And as a result, Big Pharma’s and their shareholders line their pockets with huge profits well they are putting children and teens at great psychological and physiological danger.
As Ron Sakolsky, a local Surrealist/Anarchist writer points out that “mutual acquiescence”, a term describing blind servitude to the oppressive institutions and systems of control, a term coined by him, can be overcome with the recognition that we can recreate reality from our desire for poetic lives that embodies joy, mutual-aid and freedom to become whatever we can envision ourselves to be. Thus, being a positive contributor to a healthy vibrant life for oneself, others, ones community and society at large.
A new society of mutual aid and connected care is needed for creating a strong community that encourages and embraces neurodiversity and allows people to freely express themselves as they see fit, that which does no harm. In terms of mental health l call for a new poetic all inclusive healthy society free of oppression and control. That has a whole facet of different behaviors and values that are not dictated by the elite self-serving androcentric governments and corporations that continually plague our well being. One that offers support via community care, not hospitalization and meds, and also practises non-invasive radical therapies with a political analysis …along with such things as Open Dialogue, peer-support, community care and outreach, safe care houses plus the many other alternatives that have interested caring people available to help one and another in times of need.
We need a personal, a societal and a political transformation if we are to
shift into a new reality that operates intriguingly differently and enhances our lives. What does a change in reality look like? How does it come about? Questions like these are where the imagination needs to go in order to envision creative ways to transform and liberate ourselves from involuntary servitude, illness and misery.
Let’s do it….let’s make the needed transformations happen and live better radiant poetic lives…why not it’s possible!
Insanity – a perfectly rational adjustment to an insane world.
R. D. Laing
