When people talk about "therapy" here, they most likely are thinking of bog-standard talk therapy, where you just go in and kinda, well, talk to someone about your life, problems, etc.

For some people, it's enough to just get things off their chest, talk about things out loud with someone and helps them deal with their issues. I personally see such a therapist monthly and find it beneficial to my mental health.

For others, especially those with more intense troubles and traumas, it may not be, and would probably be served better by someone more specialized with said traumas.

Like any medical profession, the quality of individual therapists and mental health experts can vary widely, from chuds to libs to comrades and everything in-between. there's a solid chance you may not get the perfect fit on try 1, I didn't.

I just feel like some people are dipping their toes into Scientology-ish "all therapy is bad, never seek professional help for your problems" stuff, which I think is disastrous advice.

  • SuperNovaCouchGuy2 [any]
    ·
    2 months ago

    I didn't let that broad-brushing stand unanswered, especially because the most common implication of that is "(specific trendy drug) will solve your problems because it solved mine"

    Based on what I've seen irl and online, I'd say that such sentiments in this case moreso may come from a place of despair and suffering, not so much arrogance nor shilling of snake oil, especially if the person has tried therapy before in good faith. Not saying that shitheads and "Just X bro"-scientist roganites don't exist though, because you absolutely do describe a widespread and life-threatening tendency especially among men, but it may not apply to this specific case that OP mentioned earlier.

    I was speaking from the perspective of someone that had to live with (for a time) someone who didn't even start therapy at all (except bragging about lying during initial counseling before dropping out of college), going the all-American route of "nothing is wrong if no diagnosis is made," and instead self-medicated while gradually wasting away, starting to steal from me to keep the self-medication going to the point of me having to move out for my own sake.

    That is beyond horrifying. My condolences. deeper-sadness

    • UlyssesT [he/him]
      ·
      2 months ago

      Thank you, I do appreciate that.

      The experience, and the eventual loss (he died alone and wasn't found for while afterward), definitely weighs on me and subjectively gives me strong feelings against self-prescribing and self-medicating tendencies among some people that refuse to accept support even when it's available.

      • SuperNovaCouchGuy2 [any]
        ·
        2 months ago

        he died alone and wasn't found for while afterward

        :doomjak: no words beyond "NO"

        definitely weighs on me and subjectively gives me strong feelings against self-prescribing and self-medicating tendencies among some people

        thats very understandable and such tendencies are undoubtedly harmful, may you find peace on the farm with the family

        • UlyssesT [he/him]
          ·
          2 months ago

          thats very understandable and such tendencies are undoubtedly harmful, may you find peace on the farm with the family

          Thank you. I am well and happy here. It was just a bit haunting to get that notification call from the people that found him and saw me on his contact list. He made no calls, never reached out.