Quite simply ... if you had a choice over the matter, would you choose to remain in a more appealing fantasy, or would you prefer to experience the world as it truly exists, even if the experience could (and most likely would) be a painful one? Let's assume that, if you choose fantasy, you will forget ever having known that the fantasy was anything but reality.

In a more practical sense, how does this apply to psychiatric medication? To drug abuse? To coping methods? To the seeking of vices?

What's the goal of therapy? To bring us closer to reality, or to make us happy?

[Open Eyes]

Unfortunately REALITY always comes out eventually. I find that in many situations where I have encountered others, as much as I want to believe they will simply be honest, straight forward and responsible, they fail to do so, and often choose to make up their version of what they want the reality to be.

The goal of therapy?, I can only truely speak for myself here. The therapy that I have had was to address the PTSD I am experiencing. I needed to understand it and discuss the past and be validated as well have another person help me to slowly disable the power and emotions that present with these memories. It has been quite a journey into the depths of a Reality that my brain somehow set aside for protection.

Drugs?, well, I watched a special on 60 minutes and the studies going on is that in many cases a placebo can be just as effective as a drug, if not more effective. So, in learning that I would have to consider that often one may simply need to believe they are taking the magic pill that will set aside the challenges that have been crippling them and they now can progress, and feel better. So that must mean we have more power to overcome than we realize, that is the REALITY that many do not seem to see.

No, for me, I want to see the Reality and learn to address it. I don't want to pretend it isn't there only to have it haunt me again as it has recently.

Open Eyes

[Shanzy]

Reality. A fantasy cannot last forever, and when it collapses, you are left with the realisation that all of your pleasantries were delusions.

I would definitely choose reality, despite the fact that it might be painful at times.

[Callmebj]

What's the goal of therapy? To bring us closer to reality, or to make us happy?

Both I would say. We hardly can live a fantasy and have it work in real time.
If I live in fantasy, I would be like Shirley Maclain in her New Age ideas. Seeing
the struggles in the world instead of fooling myself that everything is well and good as she seemed to do in her books. No, the world is not a place of justice and I am well into adapted to that.
Illusionary thinking is weird to me...and the people within that realm are hardly able to cope if and when reality hits them in the face. Not only would they
be completely devastated and confused, but likely madder than a hatter.

We all have fantasies at times, like winning the lottery and what we could do with that.
But we are aware, it is a fantasy and keep on keeping on. The earth is not the place to be thinking of perfection but a trying time to learn and become whole. Without difficulties, we would not grow in this world. We would infantile in our view of everything and fool ourselves that there is no challenge here on earth. Without difficulties we cannot know to overcome and move forward. Thus having the feeling
we have conquered some small war within ourselves, and take action with the problems in the world. Feeding the hungry, helping in devastations, propping up a friend a neighbor in their time of need. Living a fantasy life is never seeing the need in others or ourselves for that matter. Just MHO, bj

[sconnie892]

When my T started suggesting meds, I told her very directly that I felt it was important for me to experience the pain as it truly was - not as some blunted or reduced form. I know that may sound strange, but I feel that is important for my recovery. I feel that if I don't know what true pain is, I cannot know what true joy is either. I guess that makes me a "reality" girl all the way. (Not to say I don't enjoy a good fantasy from time to time - like having Publishers Clearing House show up at my door with a really big check.)

Thank you everyone for entertaining my odd philosophical thoughts.

Honestly, I'm surprised that no one chose to live in a dream. A similar question was asked in another forum, and the dream seem to be favoured by the residents of said forum.

I've always believed that, once one has experienced reality, the fantasy isn't enough. It's merely a superficial imitation of what's real. And when living in a fantasy, there will always be the sense of something missing.

Furthermore, if we never experienced pain and misery, what would happiness even mean? Would we even know that we were happy? Can one exist without the other?