Posted by alexandra_k on October 14, 2006, at 10:11:21
In reply to Re: Request Problems in Living Board » zazenducky, posted by Toph on October 14, 2006, at 9:35:12
Szasz has a large body of work so it can be a bit tricky to figure what he is saying... I most certainly haven't read all of his work, but I have read some of it. I've also read some fairly good summaries of his work from people I trust. I think... He is misrepresented a lot...
> First, I am mentally ill as I stated above
It all hinges on what you mean by 'mentally ill' really. See, Szasz doesn't believe in mental illness (except as a metaphor) BUT (and this bit is important) he believes in NEUROLOGICAL illness alright. He would grant you NEUROLOGICAL illness, he just wouldn't like to call it 'mental'.
> as much as I wanted to believe that just the right talk therapy would end the repeated interruptions in my functioning.
I don't think he advocates talk therapy...
> like Szasz, he believed that I needed no medications as my parents were competely at fault for my "adjustment" problem.
I thought Szasz was alright with the notion that some people with neurological illnesses are helped by medication... I'm not sure he blames parents or believes in 'adjustment problems'.
> Szasz' theories resonate with me like Bettelheim's famous assertions that autism is the fault of "refrigerator moms" not neurology.
I'm not sure that Szasz would say that either... But... He has a huge body of work so who knows...
I think...
He has been misrepresented rather.
Best I can figure... He has some jolly good arguments for patients rights. Patients rights along the lines of the right to refuse treatment. Or if that is overridden it should be overridden by a JUDGE not by a PSYCHIATRIST.
poster:alexandra_k
thread:693789
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060918/msgs/694730.html