8 Comments
User's avatar
⭠ Return to thread
Steve Allard's avatar

Doesn't this "language of the therapeutic" come directly from the big pharma business model?

More grist for the mill can be found on Jon Haidt's substack. Specifically the data on why liberal teenage girls depression has exploded since 2012.

https://jonathanhaidt.substack.com/p/mental-health-liberal-girls

One thing I'm studying today is what is referred to as FDIA or Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another which is the DSM-5 definition of what used to be referred to as Munchausen syndrome. If you explore further upstream into the home, it is mothers needing attention who are causing this current hysteria that is altering education in the USA.

Expand full comment
Christopher F. Rufo's avatar

Yes, there needs to be more research about the intersection of SSRIs/mood drugs and the social movements that promote these ideologies.

Expand full comment
Alan Schmidt's avatar

> Doesn't this "language of the therapeutic" come directly from the big pharma business model?

100%

Tried group counseling to try to get a hold on my panic attacks. Some of the most deranged "therapy" I have ever seen in my life. It was basically several hours of self-pitying ruminations followed by an instructor led exercise that had nothing to do with anything. For example, we spent one afternoon talking about "privilege" It was clear the sessions were just window dressing to get to the prescribed zombie pills that was their main business.

The solution that worked for me? Less time online, cold Showers, punching bag, breathing exercises. Total cost? About 100 dollars. Getting help outside big pharma's tentacles? Priceless.

Your mileage may vary.

After Covid, some people are getting wind of jus how corrupt the entire industry is.

Expand full comment
Stochastic Optimism's avatar

In defense or some therapists mine recommended mostly exercise for depression and anxiety. She was super based.

Expand full comment
RJLJR's avatar

I had to laugh about your solution to your panic attacks (a laugh of acknowledgement). Of course it was brilliant and effective. Why did I laugh? My 19 year old daughter was very socially timid--she was afraid to speak to someone in a store, restaurant, etc. about a problem, need, etc. Then one day I find out she and a male friend (also very timid) of hers had been engaging in their own "rejection therapy." THey would spend the evenings going into stores, restaurants, hotels, fire stations and other things and simply asked them for something in the place (a T-shirt, a hat, a coke, etc.) -- just so they could get rejected, recover and move to the next place. You know what happened? They were almost never rejected and they would come home with bags full of free stuff they've been given! No more anxiety for them!! I was so proud of her discovering this and actually doing it!

Expand full comment
Daniel Hall's avatar

Modern Western women (the only kind I'm at all familiar with) live under constant pressures to meet a set of ever increasing expectations. It used to be that she "only" had to be the perfect women, the perfect wife, and the perfect mother. Now she is expected to be all of that and to work outside of the home to help pay the bills. And if the woman is unfortunate enough not be a POC, she is told that she has "White Privilege and Fragility". It's hardly surprising that many struggle to live up to such fickle demands; the weight must be incredible.

I may be labelled sexist and get flamed for this for this, but I think the Rolling Stones figured some of this out back in 1966 and as a result penned "Mother's Little Helper". Based what I have heard from my wife and friends, things are even more different today - now they have marginalized identities and have to be "woke" as well . No wonder so many women are mad and aggressive, Its enough to drive anyone over the edge. The majority of women I know ages 25-50 have regular counseling sessions, many women over 30 have regular prescriptions. It is a perfect environment for the modern university to become a “therapeutic institution".

And is a heyday for Big Pharma!

Expand full comment
Oh Susanna's avatar

Agreed! I just wrote a post about how I think sleep studies are simply a front for selling CPAP machines. I'm determined to avoid conventional medicine as much as possible unless absolutely necessary. Like you i have had far too many negative experiences, and far too much experience of figuring out cheap or free and far more effective solutions on my own.

Expand full comment
Chris Gorman's avatar

Very interesting. There is an entire book in this comment on the lives of modern families and how they have ceased to function in a meaningful way towards the benefit of the unit itself and individuals within it. Well done.

Expand full comment