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Originally Posted by Lonely Warrior
I think that the way our societies have been progressing is the source of many mental health issues, it's not just a mere imbalance of chemistry in the brain. People are stressed more than ever before, they are alone than ever before, ... etc. We haven't evolved to live in large societies. Living in large cities makes are disconnected and very stressed. I don't think any effort can solve this problem. Of course there are some MIs that have genetic causes, but as we've learned that having the genes for a MI doesn't mean it will be activated. The environment plays a significant role.
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Yes, well, to be sure. I put 'imbalance' in quotes like that because I'm using it in a generalized, broad way because it's a word open to interpretation I suppose. Yes, I mean, many people are clearly not up to par. The status quo is rooted in bias, ignorance. 'Ignorance', which I believe can be accredited to both misfiring chemicals and cultural conditions. This could just be my current (flawed?) worldview, but there seems to be an epidemic of lack of empathy. And a pervasive moral apathy (I don't mean this in any religious or spiritual sense, by the way.). More than I can ever recall. Though I could partially be projecting and filtering everything through depression; differentiating between pessimism that's actually called for and irrationally induced pessimism due to a depressive temperament, is still something I do not fully have a handle on yet.
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People here keep saying to others "see a therapist" as if if they don't know how to decide by themselves. But I would argue that the majority don't believe in therapy. After all, what are the percentages of people who benefit from therapy? Not very high. Some say it's because we don't understand the mind very well, but I think the reason is because of the robotic approach of therapy. Basically, you are paying someone to listen to you, and tell you things you already know. People look for empathy and sympathy and genuine listening. These can be fulfilled by people you know and are willing to reach out to you even if you don't ask for help.
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The 'see a therapist' mantra I've heard crooned so much all ties in with the apathy I see everywhere. Even on this board I get somewhat of a sense of indifference. It's a real problem, and it's no wonder people who really are in a state of crisis end up feeling hopeless. Sure, a lot of people just don't have the answers. But a lot of that is through lack of trying. It's one big selfish circle jerk. I'd even wager that a good many of these people who get their problems 'fixed' end up resorting to the same apathetic behavior they were troubled by when they were in a jam. They become comfortably apathetic like everyone else.
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I was seeing a therapist for several sessions, and once he saw me outside in the elevators to his clinic, and he didn't acknowledge me, or bothered to look at me!! How can I believe this person wanted to help me?!!
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That's pretty strange. I've heard of this though, so you wouldn't be alone. And yeah, I do believe that often therapy cannot be taken seriously in its current state. Several family 'friends' I know are therapists, and they're as far from the objective, non-judgmental presence you'd think they would be in person. There's the 'well, they're human too you know?' defense, which is all fine and good, but you'd expect that those involved in some kind of mental health field would be more altruistically inclined. Especially when they're therapists and their sole intent is supposedly to 'help'--should apply during a therapy session and outside of a therapy session. I've found therapy to be mostly a waste of time, but occasionally beneficial. This recent therapist I've had still falls short in terms of helpfulness, because they're all ultimately apathetic in the end. Apathy's killing me.
Therapy right now is not good due to apathy towards mental health in general as I've been saying. It's also still such a murky and grey area, and even when you've got people who think they know what they're doing--it still would seem as if they don't know what they're doing really. Seems like we should be sinking more time into learning more about mental health. Putting more money and attention into mental health. Without sounding like some kind of delusional zealot, or worse, an idealist: a new social revolution needs to be pioneered.