Psychiatry Pseudoscience?

[UltraBudgie]

I am curious SurferSoul what you (and others here on this thread) think of RFK Jr.'s approach to mental illness treatment. I think, why not?, it can't hurt and may actually help some people in spiritual ways. In my searching through the internet, I also say back in the old days that hospitals had sun rooms where they would take patients daily - not any more.

I think there's no "one size fits all", it is a horrible idea to think that severe problems can addressed by simply "getting some sun". It smack of this quackery:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Creek_Sanitarium

But wholesome diet, exercise, and practical work with simple tangible results are good therapy! For many problems. But not all.

I think we vastly underestimate the effect society and culture have on mental well-being, lumping it under "environment" as some unchangeable externality that it is the patient's problem for not adapting to. Everyone is expected to conform, even though society has become much more homogeneous—it's very difficult to get work as a weaver now, for example: sorry OCD people!

I've got no problem with RFK doing his shtick, as long as medicine is able to self-regulate to empower doctors to actually help people, rather than being beholden pill-pushers or mandated quacks.

[quintessentone]

I think there's no "one size fits all", it is a horrible idea to think that severe problems can addressed by simply "getting some sun". It smack of this quackery:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Creek_Sanitarium

But wholesome diet, exercise, and practical work with simple tangible results are good therapy! For many problems. But not all.

I think we vastly underestimate the effect society and culture have on mental well-being, lumping it under "environment" as some unchangeable externality that it is the patient's problem for not adapting to. Everyone is expected to conform, even though society has become much more homogeneous—it's very difficult to get work as a weaver now, for example: sorry OCD people!

I've got no problem with RFK doing his shtick, as long as medicine is able to self-regulate to empower doctors to actually help people, rather than being beholden pill-pushers or mandated quacks.

I don't think taking patients out to get some sun was ever though of as being the solution for severe problems, just an added benefit perhaps.

Maybe RFK Jr.s farm therapy could be an added treatment to other treatments, but he will have to make it affordable to average Americans.

[UltraBudgie]

Maybe RFK Jr.s farm therapy could be an added treatment to other treatments, but he will have to make it affordable to average Americans.

Nah, mental health is a bougie problem, the poors will just have to suck it up with drudgery and beer, or homelessness if they roll a gutter ball. Remember, health care isn't a right. There's always charity!

PS I hope you can recognize when I'm being satirical, even if not everyone can...

[quintessentone]

Nah, mental health is a bougie problem, the poors will just have to suck it up with drudgery and beer, or homelessness if they roll a gutter ball. Remember, health care isn't a right. There's always charity!

PS I hope you can recognize when I'm being satirical, even if not everyone can...

Healthcare is most definitely a right in many countries. Not sure what is the issue with yours.

What countries have free healthcare in 2025? | Oyster®

[UltraBudgie]

Nah, mental health is a bougie problem, the poors will just have to suck it up with drudgery and beer, or homelessness if they roll a gutter ball. Remember, health care isn't a right. There's always charity!

PS I hope you can recognize when I'm being satirical, even if not everyone can...

Healthcare is most definitely a right in many countries. Not sure what is the issue with yours.

What countries have free healthcare in 2025? | Oyster®

Ah, I see! Perhaps you do not. My apologies, then.

[quintessentone]

Ah, I see! Perhaps you do not. My apologies, then.

What was the topic of this thread again?

Ah, psychiatry pseudoscience.

I would not use the word pseudoscience in this field of study and theory.

[FlyersFan]

Healthcare is most definitely a right in many countries. Not sure what is the issue with yours.

What countries have free healthcare in 2025? | Oyster®

1 - Healthcare is not a right, it's a commodity.

2 - Healthcare is not in the Constitution therefore it's not a Constitutional right.

3 - There is no such thing as 'free healthcare'.   Taxpayer citizens end up paying for it.

[quintessentone]

1 - Healthcare is not a right, it's a commodity.

2 - Healthcare is not in the Constitution therefore it's not a Constitutional right.

3 - There is no such thing as 'free healthcare'.   Taxpayer citizens end up paying for it.

Yes, but we don't end up losing everything we own.

[SurferSoul]

 

Well if we consider what many people in the middle class bracket do and there seems to be a growing trend for these kind of things, then yeah. Basically anything nature is good for our well being. I remember a study that said most allergy’s have come about by the over use of the various “hygiene” products in the home. All those sprays and perfumes, bleach and other chemical concoctions can’t be good for us on their own, but the point of the study was because we aren’t exposed to germs and other naturally occurring pathogens in the same way we used to be, we have lost our natural resistance and thus the body when exposed to such produces a autoimmune response known as allergies. I’m paraphrasing here but that was pretty much the conclusion. 

These days “forest bathing” is a thing, so is “wild” swimming and cold water dips. All this is because we have lost our connection to nature and what for most of human evolution was just part of our daily existence. Basically we aren’t adapted to live in the urban sprawls, with artificial lighting, chemical soup and all the rest that comes with modern urban life. 

Im all for getting out in nature both for my physical and mental wellbeing/health.

[SurferSoul]

1 - Healthcare is not a right, it's a commodity.

2 - Healthcare is not in the Constitution therefore it's not a Constitutional right.

3 - There is no such thing as 'free healthcare'.   Taxpayer citizens end up paying for it.

A commodity, that’s an interesting viewpoint. 

Yes there is such a thing as free healthcare, its called proper exercise, proper relaxation/sleep, proper diet, breathing exercises, and last but not least feeling loved and having someone or thing even to love. Very important for mental health that last one. 

If I ever got smashed up in some accident I’m glad there are hospitals too with the all the amazing stuff they can do these days.