Posted by Iansf on March 27, 2005, at 1:35:50
In reply to what do you think of these arguments?, posted by greg diamond on March 26, 2005, at 13:11:48
> 'Commonsense would hardly dictate otherwise for, by suggesting to people that they are merely biologically defective mechanisms capable of handling their emotional/psychospiritual crises only with the aid of a technological crutch, many of the fundaments and principles of psychological healing are completely undermined.
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> Encouraging patients to give up on personal growth and understanding in favour of pills is, apart from being a philosophy of despair, a recipe for emotional disaster. Thus, helplessness is substituted for mastery, dependency for autonomy, and an unexamined life takes the place of self-discovery.
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> Moreover, at precisely the time of greatest need, the patient-cum-psychic adventurer is delivered up to a zombie-like state devoid of both mental acuity, and the capacity for deep feeling, self-awareness and self-empathy. That biological psychiatry could so blithely trample underfoot such granite pillars of therapeutic commonsense is chilling.'
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I've been taking antidepressants for 15 years and not once have I been in a zombie-like state. Nor has my life gone unexamined. And speaking of lack of examination, the author appears to base his opinion of antidepressants on his pre-existing beliefs, not on an examination of a valid sampling of people who have actually used meds. If he has interviewed anyone, I suspect it's only people he knew supported his position. Put the word out wide enough and it's easy to find people who are anti-meds. And just as easy to avoid talking to people who support their use.
poster:Iansf
thread:475844
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050326/msgs/476121.html