sigmund fruit Posted November 15, 2004 Posted November 15, 2004 I have been reading this forum for a while and read a lot of answers and advice, some good and some bad, offered to various queries. Some of the responders seem to be psychiatrists or psychologists, either real or psuedo. i suspect a lot of it is psychobabble with a healthy dose of pop psychology. Regardless, when one visits a shrink, of what real benefit is it over the long term??? Let us disregard the drugs for now, as in the recent press and studies it is showing that these "experts" in human behavior are doling out drugs like a Pez dispenser and affecting the suicide rates, etc. in various groups. So, for this question, what does a shrink offer (not drugs) that a person cannot get from talking over their problems with a close friend, spouse, or priest? Are they nothing more than hired friends with a BS in BS?? It never ceases to amaze me how people can just open up their most personal aspects to someone that society tells them is a "professional" in some aspect. The most modest person will sit for hours in a drs. office, and bare ass and bend over upon request to a perfect stranger with a piece of paper on the wall. I can see a physical exam as being more mechanical in nature and more justifiable. But these same people will do the same to a shrink of even more intimate areas, without really knowing this person, while not daring to tell their most trusted friend or spouse. Of course a shrink will provide the proper name for a specific ailment that they diagnose, after many sessions and substantial lightening of one's wallet. But when they finally diagnose that you are an a**h*** because your daddy didnt buy you a porsche when you were 16, and now you have some sort of complex, then what??? In the end, isn't it only oneself that can chose to change behavior, or rationale, or outlook? I realize that people suffer traumas in life that are unimaginable to most, and when this is diagnosed and the person realizes the cause of their problem, what is the solution provided by these "professionals" of this quasi science?
moimeme Posted November 15, 2004 Posted November 15, 2004 People have problems that their friends or family may be unwilling to discuss. Someone who isn't emotionally involved can provide perspective that people who are involved prefer not to provide. And, often, people will find it easier to accept criticism from someone they are not emotionally involved with. Too, if you have a genuine disorder or mental ailment, friends and family may be unaware of the symptoms and may react to you in unhelpful ways. For instance, someone who is clinically depressed won't be helped by friends and family who, ignorant of the symptoms of depression, tell the sufferer to 'snap out of it'. AD/HD is a classic example. People with AD/HD appear to be selfish, inconsiderate, and sometimes not too bright. A trained professional will be able to diagnose AD/HD, which causes forgetfulness and poor planning and can subscribe drugs that help patients focus. Some people do resort to psychologists and counsellors to find support and other benefits that one would ideally find in friendships or family relationships. But friendships and family relationships can be dysfunctional and can therefore fail to provide the support people need sometimes. that a person cannot get from talking over their problems with a close friend, spouse, or priest It can be very difficult sometimes to unearth the underlying causes for one's problems. 'Shrinks' are trained to be the particular sorts of detectives who know where to look to find causes. Regular folks don't have that training. I realize that people suffer traumas in life that are unimaginable to most, and when this is diagnosed and the person realizes the cause of their problem, what is the solution provided by these "professionals" of this quasi science They can suggest strategies to people to try to change themselves. They have spent many years learning about what works and what does not to help people in various situations. You might as well ask why your son can't just fix your car rather than taking it to a mechanic. Regular people haven't put in the time studying the heaps of information about what causes psychological problems and how to fix them.
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