Very briefly. This is just exactly it, right? This is, in one brief interaction, everything that I’ve been talking about. Someone expresses shock at what’s a well-known (and deeply injurious) symptom of a psychiatric illness. Someone else points out that it’s in fact a common symptom. The other person reacts violently to that point because the symptom is particularly unpalatable. But
I see this, like most things, as another example of how the post-colonial theory of the "subaltern" has become de rigueur among academics and progressives in the last 20 years. While such theories can be helpful in framing the world, when taken as orthodoxy the "marginalized other" becomes more precious than the "evil, privileged majority." So, in this case, people will first look for who's marginalized (the mentally ill), then, defend them against ANY implication of badness or wrongdoing. Usually this has nothing to do with the mentally ill person and everything to do with the person doing the finger wagging wanting to appear smart, current, and morally upright by the rules of their peer group or tribe.
One of the main differences I've seen is the "conversation piece" vs "I don't want anyone to know about this" The father who has spent the family vacation money on drugs or the the woman with OCD from Freddie's mental illness vignettes a view months back are not broadcasting their situation. The "stigma" is there for a reason, it implies expectations, or a quality of life one feels everyone is entitled to achieve (and yes, it is also a comparison tool we use to feel better abojt ourselves). The stigma should be removed from the person as it usually dissuades from pursuing help, but stigma around behaviors or conditions are helpful when they keep perspective for those in chargeb of helping and allocating resources. (The word stigma is everywhere, but it seems now to be portrayed almost exclusively as a representation of oppression as opposed to a positive awareness that some "ways of being" aren't good
I may as well let you know that I actually unscheduled this post after scheduling - it just didn't seem meaty enough to be worth posting - but something is up with Substack where it's not registering some changes to posts after you initially schedule them. Monday's post is missing some significant edits I made, for example. Trying to figure out what's going on.
Most of my intrusive thoughts are about donating to charity. The other day I was on the subway and started having intrusive thoughts about letting the old lady standing near me have my seat.
Oct 19, 2023·edited Oct 19, 2023Liked by Freddie deBoer
This gentrification of mental illness has helped lead to shameful neglect of those who most need treatment. If mental illness consists of only quaint and vaguely endearing symptoms, then it's not so bad that mentally ill people are not getting treatment and are being repeatedly released from observation onto the streets. Unfortunately, that's not the reality. It is very dangerous for both the patient and the people around them. Not to mention profoundly miserable and terrifying.
I believe we need to bring back mandatory treatment for those who suffer. But also, most mental hospitals need to recommit to actually helping people who they have so obviously given up on. A person who is deeply psychotic can be admitted for observation and not given a single medication during that 72 hours, determined to be low risk whether they are or not, and then dumped on the street to fend for themselves. It's shameful, and yes I do blame people who have the mental health equivalent of a hangnail for normalizing things that should not be normalized. I realize this is a bit uncharitable, but dang. It's annoying and leads bad directions.
Yet another person was pushed on the subway tracks in NYC yesterday by an "emotionally disturbed" person. And of course the transit police reveal immediately that this person is "known to us in the subway system". Great system we have for the severely mentally ill. Wait until they are dead or try to kill somebody else before intervening.
Always spot on regarding this subject. But you might burn yourself out reacting to the presumably legion uninformed and moronic dialogues/exchanges on Twitter and TickTock. I closed my Twitter account weeks ago, and apropos of better mental health, I’ve never felt better.
Some people actually have been diagnosed with 5 mental illnesses though?
Or to make this a more substantive point, I think Freddie sometimes assumes that his experience of mental illness is the only one. But, Freddie, trust me that other people have different experiences. It is possible to get X diagnoses and still not be seriously mentally ill, still not to feel that the supposed mental illness has had a major negative impact on your life. You can say "well then those diagnoses were wrong," and maybe, I'm not going to defend the DSM, but still there are people with real official diagnoses who don't find them to be a big deal.
For the sake of argument, let's take Mr. 5 Undiagnosed at his word. Doesn't this seem like it should be a "there but for the grace of God" moment? (Is there a good secular equivalent to this phrasing?) I'm not gonna say my own anxiety and Asperger's are a great time, but I do appreciate that my manageable experience is not the only one.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is exactly the time where "check your privilege" is actually appropriate. Maybe not in that tiresome phrasing, but the basic idea fits.
"That's psychotic" YES THAT'S THE POINT MY MAN
Imagine trying to destigmatize mental illness while stigmatizing mental illness.
I see this, like most things, as another example of how the post-colonial theory of the "subaltern" has become de rigueur among academics and progressives in the last 20 years. While such theories can be helpful in framing the world, when taken as orthodoxy the "marginalized other" becomes more precious than the "evil, privileged majority." So, in this case, people will first look for who's marginalized (the mentally ill), then, defend them against ANY implication of badness or wrongdoing. Usually this has nothing to do with the mentally ill person and everything to do with the person doing the finger wagging wanting to appear smart, current, and morally upright by the rules of their peer group or tribe.
Or, maybe I'm reading too much into it.
One of the main differences I've seen is the "conversation piece" vs "I don't want anyone to know about this" The father who has spent the family vacation money on drugs or the the woman with OCD from Freddie's mental illness vignettes a view months back are not broadcasting their situation. The "stigma" is there for a reason, it implies expectations, or a quality of life one feels everyone is entitled to achieve (and yes, it is also a comparison tool we use to feel better abojt ourselves). The stigma should be removed from the person as it usually dissuades from pursuing help, but stigma around behaviors or conditions are helpful when they keep perspective for those in chargeb of helping and allocating resources. (The word stigma is everywhere, but it seems now to be portrayed almost exclusively as a representation of oppression as opposed to a positive awareness that some "ways of being" aren't good
i have intrusive thoughts constantly. never any upsetting ones though. okay dude.
I may as well let you know that I actually unscheduled this post after scheduling - it just didn't seem meaty enough to be worth posting - but something is up with Substack where it's not registering some changes to posts after you initially schedule them. Monday's post is missing some significant edits I made, for example. Trying to figure out what's going on.
Most of my intrusive thoughts are about donating to charity. The other day I was on the subway and started having intrusive thoughts about letting the old lady standing near me have my seat.
This gentrification of mental illness has helped lead to shameful neglect of those who most need treatment. If mental illness consists of only quaint and vaguely endearing symptoms, then it's not so bad that mentally ill people are not getting treatment and are being repeatedly released from observation onto the streets. Unfortunately, that's not the reality. It is very dangerous for both the patient and the people around them. Not to mention profoundly miserable and terrifying.
I believe we need to bring back mandatory treatment for those who suffer. But also, most mental hospitals need to recommit to actually helping people who they have so obviously given up on. A person who is deeply psychotic can be admitted for observation and not given a single medication during that 72 hours, determined to be low risk whether they are or not, and then dumped on the street to fend for themselves. It's shameful, and yes I do blame people who have the mental health equivalent of a hangnail for normalizing things that should not be normalized. I realize this is a bit uncharitable, but dang. It's annoying and leads bad directions.
Yet another person was pushed on the subway tracks in NYC yesterday by an "emotionally disturbed" person. And of course the transit police reveal immediately that this person is "known to us in the subway system". Great system we have for the severely mentally ill. Wait until they are dead or try to kill somebody else before intervening.
Always spot on regarding this subject. But you might burn yourself out reacting to the presumably legion uninformed and moronic dialogues/exchanges on Twitter and TickTock. I closed my Twitter account weeks ago, and apropos of better mental health, I’ve never felt better.
Eh, love you Freddie, but this standing alone seems like thin gruel for a post on a genuinely important topic. But it’s your Substack.
Some people actually have been diagnosed with 5 mental illnesses though?
Or to make this a more substantive point, I think Freddie sometimes assumes that his experience of mental illness is the only one. But, Freddie, trust me that other people have different experiences. It is possible to get X diagnoses and still not be seriously mentally ill, still not to feel that the supposed mental illness has had a major negative impact on your life. You can say "well then those diagnoses were wrong," and maybe, I'm not going to defend the DSM, but still there are people with real official diagnoses who don't find them to be a big deal.
I don't know if it is good that you make me laugh about really serious topics with your humorous bluntness. 😜 ("No. You don't.")
For the sake of argument, let's take Mr. 5 Undiagnosed at his word. Doesn't this seem like it should be a "there but for the grace of God" moment? (Is there a good secular equivalent to this phrasing?) I'm not gonna say my own anxiety and Asperger's are a great time, but I do appreciate that my manageable experience is not the only one.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is exactly the time where "check your privilege" is actually appropriate. Maybe not in that tiresome phrasing, but the basic idea fits.