[Nix]

I recently had an inpatient stay in a mental health facility. On Tuesday evening, we had a group therapy session in which we were all given a handout that we went over together. By the end of it, I was so angry I couldn't even see straight.

Here are some excerpts from it:

"If one has a desire for success at all levels, including one's mental health, one must first take 100% responsibility and accountability for everything that one experiences."

"Let there be no mistake, one's life is under one's control, even if it does not appear to seem so at times."

"Everything between life and death you must control."

"...you have always had the power and control to do things differently, to get it right through willpower alone, to produce the desired result as you imagine it in your thoughts."

This article made me spitting mad because it is so ignorant and irresponsible. I understand the idea that we need to work hard, not give in to a victim mentality, and take personal responsibility and accountability for our reactions to the things that happen in our lives, but that's completely different than saying we are 100% responsible for everything that happens to us between birth and death. As a survivor of sexual abuse, I find this idea particularly offensive.

Additionally, as someone who has dealt with voices, hallucinations, anxiety and crippling depression, I know for a fact that willpower alone cannot always solve our problems. Willpower does not make hallucinations disappear. Willpower is not always enough to be able to hold down a job or keep one's environment tidy or concentrate and keep a clear mind. And what about people with chronic illnesses like cancer or starving children in Africa or victims of war and genocide? They're responsible for all the events in their lives? Ugh. It still makes me upset.

I complained about it on my patient satisfaction survey but I am wondering if I should lodge a formal complaint about it to the hospital. I cannot believe that in America in 2018, mental health professionals are spewing this kind of victim blaming nonsense to a room full of mentally ill patients as advice for how to progress. I feel it is utterly irresponsible and incredibly damaging.

I found the article here, if anyone cares to read the entire thing. (For clarity, let me mention that we only read the part about responsibility and not the part down below about accountability. https://www.earthwalkcommunity.com/w...ccountability/

I feel like somehow somebody should urge that this article be taken down from the site. I haven't explored the site any further, but I'm just so upset that people are being damaged by this insensitive and ignorant babble.

(((((Nix))))) I'm so sorry that happened to you

[Nix]

Thanks. I'm more concerned in general that this stuff is being spewed onto many people who are in a vulnerable position. It's not really about me as much as it is about the idea--the concept--that it's wrong and somebody ought to fix it.

[ShadowGX]

Ugh, that's disgusting. This is the exact kind of stuff that most people believe though, that MI sufferers just don't want to change and all they have to do is try harder. **** those people.

[mugwort2]

Sounds like a modern day usage of pulling one up by one's bootstraps. To clarify I mean that supposedly everything that happens to us is our fault. Okay sometimes it is but other times it's far from our fault. Sounds like that paper was terribly overgeneralizing without considering other circumstances. I feel sorry that happened to you&the other patients.

[happysobercrafter]

Nix, I hope you do speak up. That is appalling to say to anyone because it is FALSE! And for those of us who struggle on top of life problems? That is downright cruel. I would be furious about it too.

[*Laurie*]

Absolutely infuriating!!

[Nix]

I found an address to send a letter of complaint, so I worked on that today.

[healingme4me]

Why would they use something from there and not something more clinically recognized is my thought?

[pachyderm]

I notice that the person who wrote it uses "I" -- but I see no identification of who that person is.

[Carmina]

It's this guy:

https://www.earthwalkcommunity.com/a...c-neil-linton/

[pachyderm]

Sounds like one of the most wonderful people known on earth.

[Perna]

It is a guy's personal blog post/site and I think his opinion (and not about what happens to one, one's circumstances but about how you respond to them, take responsibility for "fixing" your own life; for effect, not for cause of problems).

https://www.earthwalkcommunity.com/a...c-neil-linton/

[healingme4me]

I think the fact that it sounds more like motivational speaker than an actual recovery program speaks to my initial response.

I get the 'butterfly effect', at the same time one thing I cringe upon hearing, though not stated in this particular blog although the slippery slope seems the same is 'there's a lesson to be learned in everything.' I had to state ahead of time immediately after my mom passed to someone that used that all the darn time, don't you dare say that to me in this case.

With this blog, sure we need to be accountable for our actions and behaviors but the statement is indeed a slippery slope where there would be no way in hades that I am responsible for my mom's cancer, for example.

[*Laurie*]

Not only does the guy have his head up his rear end, he's a poor writer, too. My take on him is that he's in a ton of denial about his own issues.

[WishfulThinker66]

"Pulling up bootstraps yes," but I don't necessarily see this as implying fault. Poorly worded though as I can see how it would be construed that way. Still you are right that it needs to be addressed and rewritten in a manner that is far less offensive. Do you feel up to the task of writing out your own new and improved example to provide them with your argument? Doing so might be an opportunity for empowerment. regardless, good on you for taking them to task!

[happysobercrafter]

Originally Posted by Nix

I found an address to send a letter of complaint, so I worked on that today.

You're a blogger!!! Me too!! I love your writing, girl, you get right to the point!! I love it!

[Nix]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

I think the fact that it sounds more like motivational speaker than an actual recovery program speaks to my initial response.

I get the 'butterfly effect', at the same time one thing I cringe upon hearing, though not stated in this particular blog although the slippery slope seems the same is 'there's a lesson to be learned in everything.' I had to state ahead of time immediately after my mom passed to someone that used that all the darn time, don't you dare say that to me in this case.

With this blog, sure we need to be accountable for our actions and behaviors but the statement is indeed a slippery slope where there would be no way in hades that I am responsible for my mom's cancer, for example.

I don't know exactly what you are trying to say... if you are saying that the cancer thing is a "slippery slope" argument, well... I don't know much about logical fallacies, but he said, plain and simple, that we are responsible for everything that happens in our lives. So I don't think it's a slippery slope argument to include things like cancer and war and genocide and sexual abuse. He did say everything.

Originally Posted by WishfulThinker66

"Pulling up bootstraps yes," but I don't necessarily see this as implying fault. Poorly worded though as I can see how it would be construed that way. Still you are right that it needs to be addressed and rewritten in a manner that is far less offensive. Do you feel up to the task of writing out your own new and improved example to provide them with your argument? Doing so might be an opportunity for empowerment. regardless, good on you for taking them to task!

I'm not a professional, and I have no desire to write a blanket statement on how everyone with mental illness can fix themselves.

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Why would they use something from there and not something more clinically recognized is my thought?

I found it very unprofessional to use a blog post when there is a myriad of other material from people in the psychiatry field available for use.

Originally Posted by pachyderm

Sounds like one of the most wonderful people known on earth.

I am not interested in personally attacking him. I don't know anything about him and I don't care whether the information in his bio makes him look like an angel or a demon. All I care about is that accurate, healthy information is provided to mental health patients as opposed to inaccurate, damaging information.

Originally Posted by HappyCrafter

You're a blogger!!! Me too!! I love your writing, girl, you get right to the point!! I love it!

Oh, well, thanks. The blog is mostly just a place for me to collect different coping skills I've found and revisit them if I am in need of help and forget options I have. I decided to put it here in case anyone else found some of the strategies I've discovered useful. I don't really consider it writing. But I'm glad you got something out of it.

[-jimi-]

He sounds like someone running a cult.

[Nix]

I sent an email to the web site expressing my concerns. I don't know if they will listen, but at least I attempted.

[healingme4me]

I meant it's a slippery slope to start saying that individuals are responsible for things beyond our control. The butterfly effect says that if I step on an ant today, I create a ripple in the fabric of time that 20 years from now can cause someone to have a cold, for instance. It's philosophy not empirically supported.

Telling someone who is grieving that there's a lesson to be learned from their loss is dismissive of the grieving experience, which is why I told this person not to before she could have a chance to.

I'm glad that you spoke up. I am appalled they would use this in a clinical setting like they did with you.

[WishfulThinker66]

I'm not a professional, and I have no desire to write a blanket statement on how everyone with mental illness can fix themselves.

Sorry, I was just trying being helpful and I think there is a misunderstanding here. Sometimes it is very helpful to be armed with an alternative or solution when complaining about something. It often lends added credence to our case we are arguing for.

[Nix]

Originally Posted by WishfulThinker66

Sorry, I was just trying being helpful and I think there is a misunderstanding here. Sometimes it is very helpful to be armed with an alternative or solution when complaining about something. It often lends added credence to our case we are arguing for.

That makes sense. Thank you. I guess it just kind of seems like the author of the blog post is very certain of himself and I don't really feel qualified to propose a "better" version of his opinion, nor do I want to, nor do I think he would listen to me. But I understand what you are saying and it is a valid point.

[happysobercrafter]

Originally Posted by Nix

I sent an email to the web site expressing my concerns. I don't know if they will listen, but at least I attempted.

Yes, you did! And good for you for speaking up!

[Deejay14]

While personal accountability is good in general, there are too many exceptions to the rule. For example any form of child abuse or neglect past or present, Whether or not genetics play a role in mental illness, the fact that there are some people who are treatment resistant to all types of meds. Those who experience PTSD.

Now I have ptsd and depression. Are there things I can do to improve my life and deal better with the symptoms. YES, there are and I take 100% ownership for those self care. But that doesn't take away all my symptoms with th ptsd. My depression is very well controlled with meds most of he time but if I get a good ptsd flare that flares, too despite my best efforts. I think the writer meant well, but really blew it!