6 ms·

Psychiatrists are a bit like chiropractors. They want to be seen as "doctors", but none of what they do has any scientific basis. Ever notice how psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are a bit like chiropractors. They want to be seen as "doctors", but none of what they do has any scientific basis. Ever notice how psychiatrists just prescribe you random medications without knowing how, or even if, they work? The most damning fact is that I've never met anyone on psych meds who is doing really great.

marsrover 10y ago
I have noticed. Multiple times I've gone to a Psychiatrist and they have decided to try something because it's new and supposed to work, when the reality is they've only ever put 2 or 3 clients on it and it has been working for a few weeks, and the medication itself has only been out a year. In addition, the worst times in my life were the times when I was taking psychiatric medications.
- phren0logy 10y ago
  I'm sorry this has been your experience, but please don't throw my entire profession under the bus because of it.
  - marsrover 10y ago
    I don't doubt that there are great Psychiatrist out there (you're probably one of them, and I'm sorry to have offended you). However, due to my past experiences I'm reluctant to find out where or who they are or recommend this form of treatment to others.
    - phren0logy 10y ago
      That sucks, and I hope you will find what works for you.
  - intopieces 10y ago
    Your profession needs no help from marsrover to find itself under the wheels of a bus. Every other medical revolution -- such as the rise of antibiotics, the pioneering of complex surgeries, and the advancements in medical imaging -- have resulted in a net reduction of people suffering from the ailments those tools are involved in treating. Not so with psychiatry. The more drugs that are developed, the more illnesses are discovered to use them on. You'll have to excuse the skepticism of some us who have seen loved ones suffer through debilitating, sometimes permanent side effects from drugs their psychiatrists prescribed. Your profession will get the benefit of the doubt when fewer of us are caring for those loved ones.
    - vacri 10y ago
      Psychiatry is, by far, the most difficult medical specialty. The human mind is so complex that the diagnostic 'bible', the DSM, has two sections - one for mental illnesses, and one for all other medical conditions.
    - vonmoltke 10y ago
      > You'll have to excuse the skepticism of some us who have seen loved ones suffer through debilitating, sometimes permanent side effects from drugs their psychiatrists prescribed. What debilitating side effects are those? How does their frequency compare to side effects for non-psychiatric drugs and treatments?
      - Sone7 10y ago
        Don't do that. You can look up the debilitating side effects yourself. Asking someone to re-live watching their loved one lose their self from benzos or anti-psychotics that were prescribed as a first measure rather than a last resort - which Does happen, and far too often - is crueler than you know.
        cgriswald 10y ago
        Nonsense. Asking for evidence and examples is not "cruel", especially when a broad claim is being made based on a personal experience. I have many dark, hurtful experiences in my life. And when I share them, the only thing I expect in return is respect. Asking a question about my experience or asking me to provide evidence in support of my broader claims is not disrespectful. It's something I would expect might happen. If I couldn't handle it, I wouldn't bring it up. Or I would end the conversation. In all honesty, I would be more offended at the implication that I cannot speak for myself.
        Sone7 10y ago
        There was no implication whatsoever that intopieces couldn't speak on their own behalf. It's disrespectful to suggest there was. I suggest you read intopieces' reply to vonmoltke, and have a think about this exchange from a fresh perspective. Remember that when people talk about losing their loved ones, a little tact goes a long way. Asking so bluntly for research you could look for yourself (that pharma companies would never actually publish) comes across as tactless in this situation, which is why you're being greyed.
- groovy2shoes 10y ago
  To offer a counter-anecdote, I suffered from severe, recurrent Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and ADHD primarily inattentive (it's not at all uncommon for the three of them to present themselves simultaneously in individuals) for over 10 years before I finally started seeing a psychiatrist. For the last 2 years, I've been taking 3 medications daily, and after the initial hump of spending a few months trying to find an effective combination, we arrived at one that really works for me, and I can't remember ever feeling better. Furthermore, my psychiatrist has always treated me with respect, empathy, and genuine interest in my well-being. If he doesn't actually care about me as a person, then he's a damn fine actor. From my point of view, the end results are indistinguishable.
  - warfangle 10y ago
    You're awesome and your psychiatrist is awesome!
ksenzee 10y ago
> I've never met anyone on psych meds who is doing really great. Of course you have. You just didn't know it. People don't wear placards around their neck announcing "I'm on psych meds!"
- djcjgshjjc 10y ago
  We call this "voluntary response bias".
phren0logy 10y ago
1.Psychiatrists go to medical school, just like other "doctors." 2. There is a huge evidence base for the practice of psychiatry, though it would be nice if it were adhered to more rigorously. 3. Incomplete understandings of the mechanisms of action of drugs is rife throughout medicine. For example, why does the hypertension drug HCTZ work at sub-diuretic doses? 4. If they were doing great, they probably wouldn't need to see a psychiatrist. Also, there are very likely people that you have met who are doing great that you have no idea are seeing a psychiatrist.
- alleychnt 10y ago
  Show me a guy on psych meds who is doing great and I'll believe you.
  - warfangle 10y ago
    o/ heya. I've been on psychiatrist-prescribed meds for a little over two years now. I've gotten a better job, my salary has increased by 52%, I live with less stress, I have a (mostly) tidy home, I am no longer dependent on alcohol, I care for a wonderful dog, I am cultivating healthy relationships and friendships, and I am more involved in my community. I've also been seeing a cognitive-behavioral therapist for about three years to work through anxiety, depression, gender identity, and trauma from several childhood sexual assaults. But maybe I don't count, because I'm not a 'guy' :) but I'm doing absolutely fucking amazing, thank you very much.
    - alleychnt 10y ago
      and as soon as you go off the meds?
      - vonmoltke 10y ago
        What does that have to do with anything? Some conditions are incurable, only treatable.
      - nommm-nommm 10y ago
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
pugz 10y ago
Have we met? I'm a person who takes medication daily for the last 7 years for bipolar and it has improved my quality of life immeasurably. I have a great job, a great relationship, own a house, have a cute dog and my professional and personal relationships have never been better. I haven't seen the inside of a hospital in 7 years.

marsrover 10y ago

I have noticed. Multiple times I've gone to a Psychiatrist and they have decided to try something because it's new and supposed to work, when the reality is they've only ever put 2 or 3 clients on it and it has been working for a few weeks, and the medication itself has only been out a year. In addition, the worst times in my life were the times when I was taking psychiatric medications.

phren0logy 10y ago
I'm sorry this has been your experience, but please don't throw my entire profession under the bus because of it.
- marsrover 10y ago
  I don't doubt that there are great Psychiatrist out there (you're probably one of them, and I'm sorry to have offended you). However, due to my past experiences I'm reluctant to find out where or who they are or recommend this form of treatment to others.
  - phren0logy 10y ago
    That sucks, and I hope you will find what works for you.
- intopieces 10y ago
  Your profession needs no help from marsrover to find itself under the wheels of a bus. Every other medical revolution -- such as the rise of antibiotics, the pioneering of complex surgeries, and the advancements in medical imaging -- have resulted in a net reduction of people suffering from the ailments those tools are involved in treating. Not so with psychiatry. The more drugs that are developed, the more illnesses are discovered to use them on. You'll have to excuse the skepticism of some us who have seen loved ones suffer through debilitating, sometimes permanent side effects from drugs their psychiatrists prescribed. Your profession will get the benefit of the doubt when fewer of us are caring for those loved ones.
  - vacri 10y ago
    Psychiatry is, by far, the most difficult medical specialty. The human mind is so complex that the diagnostic 'bible', the DSM, has two sections - one for mental illnesses, and one for all other medical conditions.
  - vonmoltke 10y ago
    > You'll have to excuse the skepticism of some us who have seen loved ones suffer through debilitating, sometimes permanent side effects from drugs their psychiatrists prescribed. What debilitating side effects are those? How does their frequency compare to side effects for non-psychiatric drugs and treatments?
    - Sone7 10y ago
      Don't do that. You can look up the debilitating side effects yourself. Asking someone to re-live watching their loved one lose their self from benzos or anti-psychotics that were prescribed as a first measure rather than a last resort - which Does happen, and far too often - is crueler than you know.
      - cgriswald 10y ago
        Nonsense. Asking for evidence and examples is not "cruel", especially when a broad claim is being made based on a personal experience. I have many dark, hurtful experiences in my life. And when I share them, the only thing I expect in return is respect. Asking a question about my experience or asking me to provide evidence in support of my broader claims is not disrespectful. It's something I would expect might happen. If I couldn't handle it, I wouldn't bring it up. Or I would end the conversation. In all honesty, I would be more offended at the implication that I cannot speak for myself.
        Sone7 10y ago
        There was no implication whatsoever that intopieces couldn't speak on their own behalf. It's disrespectful to suggest there was. I suggest you read intopieces' reply to vonmoltke, and have a think about this exchange from a fresh perspective. Remember that when people talk about losing their loved ones, a little tact goes a long way. Asking so bluntly for research you could look for yourself (that pharma companies would never actually publish) comes across as tactless in this situation, which is why you're being greyed.
groovy2shoes 10y ago
To offer a counter-anecdote, I suffered from severe, recurrent Major Depressive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and ADHD primarily inattentive (it's not at all uncommon for the three of them to present themselves simultaneously in individuals) for over 10 years before I finally started seeing a psychiatrist. For the last 2 years, I've been taking 3 medications daily, and after the initial hump of spending a few months trying to find an effective combination, we arrived at one that really works for me, and I can't remember ever feeling better. Furthermore, my psychiatrist has always treated me with respect, empathy, and genuine interest in my well-being. If he doesn't actually care about me as a person, then he's a damn fine actor. From my point of view, the end results are indistinguishable.
- warfangle 10y ago
  You're awesome and your psychiatrist is awesome!

ksenzee 10y ago

> I've never met anyone on psych meds who is doing really great. Of course you have. You just didn't know it. People don't wear placards around their neck announcing "I'm on psych meds!"

djcjgshjjc 10y ago
We call this "voluntary response bias".

phren0logy 10y ago

1.Psychiatrists go to medical school, just like other "doctors." 2. There is a huge evidence base for the practice of psychiatry, though it would be nice if it were adhered to more rigorously. 3. Incomplete understandings of the mechanisms of action of drugs is rife throughout medicine. For example, why does the hypertension drug HCTZ work at sub-diuretic doses? 4. If they were doing great, they probably wouldn't need to see a psychiatrist. Also, there are very likely people that you have met who are doing great that you have no idea are seeing a psychiatrist.

alleychnt 10y ago
Show me a guy on psych meds who is doing great and I'll believe you.
- warfangle 10y ago
  o/ heya. I've been on psychiatrist-prescribed meds for a little over two years now. I've gotten a better job, my salary has increased by 52%, I live with less stress, I have a (mostly) tidy home, I am no longer dependent on alcohol, I care for a wonderful dog, I am cultivating healthy relationships and friendships, and I am more involved in my community. I've also been seeing a cognitive-behavioral therapist for about three years to work through anxiety, depression, gender identity, and trauma from several childhood sexual assaults. But maybe I don't count, because I'm not a 'guy' :) but I'm doing absolutely fucking amazing, thank you very much.
  - alleychnt 10y ago
    and as soon as you go off the meds?
    - vonmoltke 10y ago
      What does that have to do with anything? Some conditions are incurable, only treatable.
    - nommm-nommm 10y ago

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

pugz 10y ago

Have we met? I'm a person who takes medication daily for the last 7 years for bipolar and it has improved my quality of life immeasurably. I have a great job, a great relationship, own a house, have a cute dog and my professional and personal relationships have never been better. I haven't seen the inside of a hospital in 7 years.