The source of the problem: what people fail to understand about mental illness

In this first episode of a two-part series, I discuss some of the uncomfortable realities about the West's epidemic of mental illness. First and foremost, it's important to understand the concept of reification, which is the process by which something that isn't really a thing becomes a thing in individual perception. Through reification, a constellation of symptoms becomes a mental disorder, and the sufferer of those symptoms is placed at further remove from individual responsibility.
Pre-order my book: amzn.to/3UlsTsY
Book a paid consultation:
oriontarabanpsyd.com/consulta...
Subscribe to my newsletter: oriontarabanpsyd.com
Social Media
Facebook: profile.php?id=1...
LinkedIn: / orion-taraban-070b45168
Instagram: / psyc.hacks
Twitter: / oriontaraban
Website: oriontarabanpsyd.com
Orion's Theme: • Enrico Deiana - Orion'...
Thinking of going to grad school? Check out STELLAR, my top-rated GRE self-study program based on the world's only empirically-validated test prep system. Use the code "PSYCH" for 10% off all membership plans: stellargre.com.
Become a Stellar affiliate and earn a 10% commission for every membership purchased by a new student you conduct into the program: stellargre.tapfiliate.com.
GRE Bites: / @grebites4993
Become a Psychonaut and join PsycHack's member community:
/ @psychacks
Sound mixing/editing by: valntinomusic.com
Presented by Orion Taraban, Psy.D. PsycHacks provides viewers with a brief, thought-provoking video several days a week on a variety of psychological topics, inspired by his clinical practice. The intention is for the core idea contained within each video to inspire viewers to see something about themselves or their world in a slightly different light. The ultimate mission of the channel is to reduce the amount of unnecessary suffering in the world.
#psychology #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness

[@psychacks]

In this first episode of a two-part series, I discuss some of the uncomfortable realities about the West's epidemic of mental illness. First and foremost, it's important to understand the concept of reification, which is the process by which something that isn't really a thing becomes a thing in individual perception. Through reification, a constellation of symptoms becomes a mental disorder, and the sufferer of those symptoms is placed at further remove from individual responsibility. Pre-order my book: amzn.to/3UlsTsY Book a paid consultation: oriontarabanpsyd.com/consultations Subscribe to my newsletter: oriontarabanpsyd.com Social Media Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090053889622 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/orion-taraban-070b45168/ Instagram: instagram.com/psyc.hacks Twitter: twitter.com/oriontaraban Website: oriontarabanpsyd.com Orion's Theme: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaO7c62HZ613e7M Thinking of going to grad school? Check out STELLAR, my top-rated GRE self-study program based on the world's only empirically-validated test prep system. Use the code "PSYCH" for 10% off all membership plans: stellargre.com. Become a Stellar affiliate and earn a 10% commission for every membership purchased by a new student you conduct into the program: stellargre.tapfiliate.com. GRE Bites: www.youtube.com/@grebites4993 Become a Psychonaut and join PsycHack's member community: kzbin.info/door/SduXBjCHkLoo_y9ss2xzXwjoin Sound mixing/editing by: valntinomusic.com Presented by Orion Taraban, Psy.D. PsycHacks provides viewers with a brief, thought-provoking video several days a week on a variety of psychological topics, inspired by his clinical practice. The intention is for the core idea contained within each video to inspire viewers to see something about themselves or their world in a slightly different light. The ultimate mission of the channel is to reduce the amount of unnecessary suffering in the world. #psychology #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness

[@zacharyiler136]

This is pretty easy. Therapy is designed around women. It is how women deal with problems, by talking and empathizing about them. Women are the client. Women overwhelmingly prefer to blame something ELSE for their problems, self inflicted or otherwise. Inventing diseases that take the onus of responsibility off the woman and place it on the disease is designed to encourage women to seek out therapy. It’s just advertising. Come to therapy and you get to blame your failings on something else and eschew responsibility. Not complex, just marketing 101.

[@Kels12368]

Dr. Taraban, I agree with your point about certain mental illnesses like anxiety or depression being potentially improved through lifestyle adjustments such as diet and exercise. However, it's important to recognize that conditions like bipolar disorder often necessitate medical intervention, especially considering their strong familial links. Additionally, when a patient's condition is severe enough to require hospitalization, most psychiatrists will seek collateral information from the patient's family and friends. Nevertheless, once someone with a condition like bipolar disorder has been stabilized, it becomes their responsibility to adhere to their treatment plan for ongoing maintenance.

[@Kels12368]

⁠@@zacharyiler136he isn't discussing talk therapy which involves discussions with a counsellor to address emotional or psychological issues. He discusses psychiatry which involves medical diagnosis and treatment, including medication, for mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who can prescribe medication.

[@zacharyiler136]

@@Kels12368 Sure, and the vast, vast majority of their disorders are "diagnosed" and referred through regular ol' talk therapy. The amount of people that just show up at a doctor''s office and say they have a disorder is remarkably low.

[@teahuncho]

@@zacharyiler136 from my experience, thats not at all how therapy works. i have not heard about a single therapy session in which the therapist diagnosis the patient, then acts like there is nothing to do to work on the problem. the main focus in therapy that i had was always working on actions you can personally take to improve your situation. even from your ridiculous "marketing 101" view-point. how would they make any money if they claimed that there is nothing to do and the disease is 100% to blame. then the patient wouldnt even have to come back to the next session, would they?

[@brianbachmeier34]

“Medical science is making such remarkable progress that soon none of us will be well.” - Aldous Huxley

[@coconutcomic7420]

🐐

[@robinscott6477]

YUP

[@thomaslyons441]

All the better to keep you taking a drug for life.

[@paulbucklebuckle4921]

So true , everyone's nuts , people used to have character traits , now the have medical conditions.

[@elmotociclista9296]

However, the issues discussed here are not supported by science

[@janeharry790]

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

[@toyotacorolla-zl3rx]

Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable s0urce here in Australia. Really need!

[@ugnoise]

Yes, Psychehubs. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.

[@JualanZoomid5]

Is he on instagram?

[@Karebear1267]

Yes he is. Psychehubs

[@Minidjdj]

Microdosing helped me get out of the pit of my worst depressive episode, a three year long episode, enough to start working on my mental health.

[@whocarescrapsa]

In primary school, one of my teachers noted that I was quite restless and recommended that my parents consult a doctor. After being diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed Ritalin, my late father, God bless his soul, strongly disagreed with this approach and instead enrolled me in an all-boys boarding school. The boarding house accommodated 80 boys, where daily exercise, uniform meals, a consistent routine, and standardized sleep schedules were mandatory. Predictably, I adapted well and behaved just like the other 79 perfectly healthy boys. There were no obese boys and none on Ritalin. I'm deeply thankful that my father recognized the foolishness in the initial advice.

[@johnfoley4023]

"all-boys boarding school. " === So what was the difference from regular school? No girls? exercise? and routine?

[@whocarescrapsa]

@@johnfoley4023 Ok so youtube deletes comments with single parent of the non-male kind. Yeah, firstly no girls. Boys' restlessness can only be compared to other boys. Girls seem to be able to sit still for 5 hours and read a book where boys can't. We need a break every 45 mins to go outside and break something. A lot of the teachers are simply trying to sedate boys into behaving like girls. I dated a parent that was single, and she gave her son money for lunch and said, "rather buy the M&Ms with nuts in because they are healthy!". I am sure many kids are not eating correctly nor getting enough sleep because they have iPad's and PlayStations at home.

[@whocarescrapsa]

@@johnfoley4023 KZbin keeps deleting my response. I am going to paste 1 sentence at a time until we find out what they dont like.

[@whocarescrapsa]

@@johnfoley4023 Yeah, no girls. Boys' restlessness can only be compared to other boys. Girls seem to be able to sit still for 5 hours and read a book where boys can't.

[@whocarescrapsa]

@@johnfoley4023 The restlessness of those that have poles can't be compared to those that have holes. Ones with holes seem to be able to sit still for 5 hours and read a book where poles can't. We need a break every 45 mins to go outside and break something. (comparing genders using normal words seems to trigger YT)

[@TheTektronik]

"We suffer more in imagination than we do in reality" - Seneca.

[@JoeSmith-cu1pm]

This may be true, but it's ignorant to assume that suffering doesn't exist because you've not experienced it personally.

[@LizaNaude]

I use to be depressed, until I heard the quote: depression is anger without enthusiasm. What also helped me, was Freud that hinted that I was not depressed, but simply surrounded by assholes. Now I do not have to embrace the condition, but simply recognise it as a reaction, and then take appropriate action - introspection and self care. Somehow the ‘chemical imbalance’ disappeared, without chemical intervention. Great talk, thank you.

[@Zack24XB]

NOooo you don't understand, you need lots of pills to numb you out and ruin your libido!

[@pazzodi3]

It could instead be shame.. have you heard of Tim Fletcher, his videos on various content is superb. Search up his videos on shame, it's truly an awakening.

[@Stanthemilkman]

I just went to the gym and got out of the house to do stuff outside

[@detBits]

I find what you wrote to be true much of the time. Additionally, a chemical imbalance can certainly be caused by poor diet and sleep habits if everything else in lifestyle checks out. For example, 2 days ago I ate a massive carb and salt heavy meal right before bed, I was overfull and went to bed LATE (1AM). I slept 8 hours and I was groggy and low energy all day, borderline ill. I knew the cause. So last night I had my last, modest meal at 7PM, went to bed by 10PM (vs 1AM) knowing I was probably going to wake in good spirits. Low and behold today I feel totally normal and even GOOD. Everyone's condition is so personalized, my mental health is so much easier to manage even on the bad days now that I've reconciled much of my troubled past. I remind myself that the way I feel on a certain day is my body communicating its needs - the trick is learning its language and applying the treatments. Cheers to all, you CAN overcome it.

[@Snoop_Dugg]

I remember watching a video about someone talking about suffering from depression. He explained how his life was shit and he had been diagnosed by depression. But then his friend recognised that yes he should have felt that way given his situation. It wasn't a mental illness but a normal reaction to a shit situation. It's why people love going on holidays because they can forget their problems temporarily.

[@RedRed-cl7zj]

I suffered with depression, anxiety and nervous breakdowns, until I finally divorced and struck out on my own. Since being on my own, having peace and moving on with my life, I've been able to gradually wean myself off of all antidepressants and no longer have any of these "issues".

[@grantwithers]

depression, aka the wife

[@szymonbaranowski8184]

bravo!

[@pgress1867]

I‘m a MD for more than 20 years and I couldn’t agree more to what you explained in this video.

[@JoeSmith-cu1pm]

Then your expertise lies elsewhere and it's good of you to acknowledge that. This video was incredibly ignorant with flawed logic.

[@pgress1867]

@@JoeSmith-cu1pm please go ahead and explain where his logic is flawed

[@JoeSmith-cu1pm]

@@pgress1867 He presents a few logical fallacies. Namely, he's producing an argument about a weaker representation of the truth and attacking it. In some areas he suggested that what is true of the part is true of the whole... A few of his statements are purely based on stereotypical definitions of mental disorders. This video feels irresponsible and I was disappointed that he put out something like this. I was a casual fan of his channel, but I get enough misinformation, echo chamber content everywhere else.

[@pgress1867]

@@JoeSmith-cu1pm Thanks for elaborating. A text-based forum makes it difficult to go into depth, however, I‘d like to approach this from slightly different angle. Depending on which country you live in maybe 30% of operations are unnecessary. There are intensive care stations where people older than 80 years or people older than 70 years with severe pre-conditions are treated for several months with no expected outcome. This kind of over treatment likely occurs in non-medical businesses as well. Lawyer take cases before court despite having any chances. Insurance and financial products are being sold which financially harm the customer. Consultants are hired to dissipate responsibilities. And the DSM gets larger every edition. Evidence based medicine becomes really difficult when expert opinion is the basis for defining new conditions and disorders. Let‘s propose a „pro-social personality disorder“ and I promise there will be a correlate found in fMRI.

[@elastelmaszczyk59]

@@JoeSmith-cu1pm I am so glad to see your comment. My sentiments are the same. This should have been a debate. When he came out with "no lab test specific for schizophrenia" it was as if he wasn't even hiding the cherrypicking.

[@bgdsrb1]

Wake up babe, Orion posted!

[@iassersalgado433]

Amén brother

[@J31]

Stop with these generic bot-like comments. Are you that starved for attention?

[@Emin.V.Aliyev1]

😂

[@bgdsrb1]

@@J31 those are the best. check out the bell-curve IQ meme 😏

[@J31]

@@bgdsrb1 And where do you think you are on that curve? Wait, let me guess....

[@tjadolson1816]

i suffered from depression. I was told it was in my family history. The truth is I wasn't selective with the thoughts I was choosing. I interpreted life experiences incorrectly far too often but once I examined my thoughts and decided to choose better ones my depression disappeared. We are the creators of our destiny. I stopped taking the antidepressant wellbutrin and now Im free from false ideas.

[@CC-hx5fz]

I've used antidepressants a couple of times, usually for the minimum time specified to notice them taking effect. Although, I did take them for almost 2 years when I was struggling to adjust to life changing disability. Those drugs can be useful to help you step away from the edge, but the real point is to feel different, and then figure out what else you can do to get your mind where you need it to be. Getting a healthier pattern of sleep can also make you feel different. So, can improving your diet. Right now, I manage myself as if I were a distressed toddler. I have a little checklist I run through ... am I hungry? ... tired? ... trapped wind? Works just as well.

[@tjadolson1816]

@@CC-hx5fz I like your perspective. anti depressants helped me get back off the edge. I was not right. it took time but my thoughts were the underlying issue. the meds have there place but it's not a place wanted to stay. I like your comment. ☺️

[@CC-hx5fz]

@@tjadolson1816 I was also told it was in my family history which just makes you feel helpless. There's always something practical you can do for yourself. Talking helps if you need to bounce ideas off someone for anything obvious that you might be missing. We are social beings, but this endless venting that's all over the internet is definitely a pattern of learned helplessness.

[@MaxKomes]

Man, you’re making some big statements exposing the medical industry 😂. I applaud you, sir. Let’s put people’s minds back in their own power.

[@leegrande8226]

The diagnosis problem is similar to looking for a black cat in a dark room where there may be no cat at all. Some people who are otherwise good "scientists" can spend their whole lives in such a search.

[@DrDu-zc4eg]

Dr. Du - Licensed Psychologist (Texas) - Director of Clinical and Sport Psychology Texas Tech University (Athletics) Early in my training, I always struggled to grasp the workings of psychologists and, more crucially, the true role of the DSM in this process. Social sciences differ fundamentally from natural sciences in that, as Dr. Taraban mentions, many concepts and ideas are abstract rather than concrete, as in the natural world. When someone attributes their behavior to “my ADHD" or “my OCD," they're exemplifying what Dr. Taraban describes as reification. Personally and professionally, I don't subscribe to the notion that symptoms define us; they are simply experiences stemming from various factors like biology, environment, and society etc. Further, I believe symptoms are a result of some other actual problem (many of times which patients don’t know what that is). I resonate with the idea that "the symptom is the disorder," but it's essential to realize that the symptom or disorder does not define one's identity. For those who grasp this concept, they can lead fulfilling lives despite experiencing challenging symptoms that may impede functioning at times. I'm particularly intrigued by part two of this series, especially regarding the problem highlighted: reification leading to "an inappropriate dependence on a privileged class of specialists who enjoy a monopoly on indicated treatment." My initial thoughts on this suggest that the significant demand placed on mental health professionals could be more manageable if reification were less prevalent. Over the years, especially working with college students and collegiate athletes, I've noticed a stark increase in the number seeking therapy compared to a quarter-century ago, and I believe reification plays a substantial role in this trend. The notion of specialists monopolizing treatment isn't surprising, given the capitalist framework that has long dominated in the United States. This seems particularly true for those in private practice. However, there are alternative ways to assist individuals in achieving their desired lives without monopolizing specific treatments or support. This is why I value this platform; psychoeducation alone can be incredibly beneficial. When individuals recognize they're struggling to implement psychoeducation, they can seek additional support from mental health professionals to complement what they've already learned or attempted to apply. As always, Dr. Taraban, thank you for the insightful video, eagerly awaiting part two. 👌🏾

[@grantwithers]

If you are a doc, which you seem to be, then you should know the "disorder" is literally the disordering of that person's lived life experience, and the lived life experience of those around them, not the person's behavior or symptom. Otherwise you need to go back to first year psych and read the definition again.

[@sirajik7824]

This is absolutely correct. I was diagnosed with a disorder based upon self reported criteria, and then forced to take all kinds of meds which thoroughly messed me up all because I was slapped with a label arbitrarily. I was lucky enough to realize that if I made the mistake of BELIEVING I was this disorder. I would live the rest of my life taking drugs, getting sick, and not having any hope that I could ever get better. I stopped contextualizing my challenges as a medical issue, and started contextualizing them as a spiritual process and I’m stronger and healthier than 99% of the people I encounter and working as a medical professional.

[@hideyasuyuki1]

This subject is something more people need to pay attention to. Nowadays it’s impossible for me to meet someone who doesn’t claim to have some kind of psychological disorder, especially among the privileged educated class. Even I fell into this category for a time, self diagnosed dyslexia. What I’ve noticed is when I practice meta-cognitive strategies a lot of the things I’ve suffered from cease to exist. it might be the case that I was out of practice.

[@eric_linden]

This is your most interesting episode in a long time. Looking forward to part two.

[@fourdoor4554]

We should not neglect the idea of diet with regard to mental illness. Increased rates of metabolic disease, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, play a huge part. Very few health providers, however, acknowledge this because of little to no nutritional training. For most, just getting off of the standard western (American) diet can reverse their symptoms to a point where they no longer need medication or they can scale back.

[@gracerules2008]

Yeah but not everyone is inclined to change their diet. Therefore medication should be an option for convienence purposes.

[@gracerules2008]

Those are good points but as long as people are given options. I don't think pushing medication is the solution. I don't think pushing against medication as an option is a solution either.

[@angelacross2216]

An aspect of this which should be disturbing is the large numbers of people for whom the standard American diet is enforced. Schoolchildren, the military, nursing home residents, the incarcerated, hospital patients, to name just a few, are all fed by institutions obliged to follow dietary guidelines which effectively demand poor nutrition. Meanwhile the medical system is like acting as a Narcan provider racing around treating symptoms while pretending they don’t know that fentanyl is a problem.

[@TeaRose9]

@@angelacross2216 THIS!!!

[@meetandinspire]

"None of these nearly 300 mental illnesses can be objectively assessed. Diagnosis is primarily based on self-reported criteria, checklists of symptoms."

[@petertrzos6645]

bro, it's RIDICULOUS. I did my medical school psychiatry rotation in Cook County Jail in Chicago, and ZERP diagnosis were given out... we always put "Rule out XYZ disorder, rule out 123 disorder" in the charts to kick the can down the road and remove accountability. I couldn't even believe the total lack of objective standards.

[@PuntedKitten]

The criticism is valid, but there is no direct method of diagnosis possible. That doesn't mean underlying problems don't exist. The myriad of diagnoses can be whittled down, though. At this point, they serve insurance companies and have a small utility of communicating a general symptom cluster between clinicians.

[@grantwithers]

That's bs tho. It's pretty ez to tell when someone is schizoid, "objectively", and if it is disordering their lived life experience. That doctors don't bother to go out and hang out with their patients long enough to observe it directly is not an indication that there is no way to objectively assess. The same goes for many of the disorderings. ADHD and many of the other more small time disorders are meh tho.

[@seanmar1738]

@@PuntedKitten "The criticism is valid, but there is no direct method of diagnosis possible." People who talk about the impossible without any basis... Well, you should be embarrassed. What you should have said is: "The criticism is valid, but there is no direct method of diagnosis currently recognized by the broader therapeutic community." IMO The broader therapeutic community should be paying more attention to standard research psychometrics, it would be a big step in the right direction. I've never heard of a therapist applying a standardized HEXACO or even FFM test with their patients. (I'm sure there are some that do, but I've not heard of them and I've listened to therapists who I have suggested this to, balk that they're too hard to get, which is an absolute absurdity.) Regardless on the validity of my ideas though, what's possible is hardly something you should be limiting based on current practice. That's an awful way to think.

[@icekills1]

That is very scary. It's like an unfalsifiable truth. We know that in some cases or contexts, the mental issue exists, but objectively, there is no test we can perform validate or invalidate

[@guayx2]

Hello Dr. Taraban, I'm a Psychiatry resident physician. Insightful video as always, thank you. I have some comments that I hope you can clarify in Part 2. I agree that reification is a problem, but I am unaware of any clinicians, whether they be MDs, nurses, or psychotherapists/psychologists, who fully subscribe to this notion. We are explicitly taught in our training that recovery from mental illness is not simply a function of receiving treatment, but rather the patient must also put in work themselves (through therapy, mindfulness, reflection, engagement with treatment, etc). Often, for less severe mental illnesses, our work as clinicians is to help the patient put in this self-work, with the prescribed treatments largely serving to facilitate this process. Certainly, reification is problematic if our PATIENTS subscribe to this notion. But frankly, I know of no clinician who believes in it or who would educate their patients from this lens. The DSM is ultimately a diagnostic manual to help clinicians categorize disorders. It does NOT offer explanations regarding the causes or mechanisms of disease. It's unfortunate that some patients might derive a sense of reification from their DSM diagnosis, but it's up to us clinicians to provide this clarification for our patients. Further, your statement that we have "an inappropriate dependence on a privileged class of specialists who enjoy a monopoly on indicated treatment" leaves questions unanswered. On one hand, allowing patients open access to specialized knowledge and treatments (e.g., drug and diagnostic research, self-CBT materials) is vital for transparency and patient empowerment. On the other hand, specialists are needed to provide treatment that is safe, regulated, and evidence-based. Can you imagine if psychotropic medications were sold over the counter for anyone to buy, or if anyone could open up shop to provide "therapy" without any training? For these reasons, I support Dr. Du's comments that psychoeducation, as is the role of your channel, is ultimately beneficial for patients. But I would add the caveat that education must be provided in a nuanced manner so as to not accidentally mislead viewers. Looking forward to part 2!

[@psychacks]

And yet I don't know a single psychiatrist who doesn't prescribe medication.

[@teahuncho]

@@psychacks likely because the job of a psychiatrist is to work on a diagonosis and treatment plan. if you do not wish to go that route or if the psychatrist thinks you dont need to, but you would still like to receive support, you can visit a therapist?

[@dancedoctor2]

@@psychacks, so do you feel schizophrenia can be treated without medication? Who else besides psychiatrists are best equipped to prescribe these meds?

[@dancedoctor2]

Great comment. It's too bad Dr T didn't really address your comment. I'm sure he's busy, so it is a lot to ask in his position, but still--great comment.

[@karolisz815]

Your whole question is wrong. There are many tools that can help to get out of this pit. What works for me is to be around safe people/community/loving environment without falling into some belief system like participating in NVC(non violent communication) group, journal, set goals even if they are small, quit social media and youtube, learn to set boundaries​ with people and learn to recognise and meet my own needs without expectation from others. It is not easy to do because it requires small steps and that is the hardest but worth of choosing which you and most people wont do it anyway haha. I wish you well. @@dancedoctor2

[@chrisgoeswest9882]

Great examples. I have personally seen more than one individual “diagnosed” with ADHD resolve after they exited their traumatic life circumstances and dealt with some childhood damage. It has led me to feel that most mental illnesses are variations of trauma response, rather than problems with chemistry.

[@kdee44]

Agreed 100 percent

[@TheVioletMagic29]

They are all coping mechanisms. The difference is some are considered acceptable by society and those that are not are labelled mental illness.

[@selinasmith2068]

💯 this episode needs to be heard by the world over!

[@manu.rehani]

Nailed it…!! The same reasons we have 300 different types of cereals… Here we are with illnesses

[@barefootarts737]

I am continually amazed at how people need to place blame. Rather than just looking into the present and finding a way to respond.

[@spencerroyal4109]

If an eagle is raised around chickens, the eagle may act strange. Especially in the view of other eagle's and chickens who would easily judge the eagle and think they are right. Wisdom of one who knows the difference between both eagle's and chickens, would have the best response to give to the eagle and insight in to how best to proceed and what information such eagle would need and not be able to obtain from eagle's or chickens.

[@johnwhitten1947]

I have long believed that we become what we believe about ourselves and the world. This is compatible with this episode. Thank you.

[@davedoyle4970]

This is great food for thought. I am a therapist working with Vets, most of whom have been diagnosed with PTSD. I think the problem of over-diagnosing is very real. And I also agree that the whole idea of diagnostic criteria benefiting specialists (and the insurance companies who reimburse them) is a spot-on critique. However, you’ve also got to acknowledge that naming a problem (just period, whether it’s external or internal, mental or physical) can empower a person to take charge of the problem. When we diagnose a client with a particular mental health challenge it does not ONLY limit their responsibility. It can also give them a better framework for dealing with the symptoms and all the fallout in their lives from those symptoms.

[@Curtis1880]

I have been a physician for 40 years: I have seen many of these "diseases" created in that period of time, including the explosion of ADHD diagnoses. School teachers diagnosis the "disorder" so the doctor will prescribe dangerous psychoactive medications, until the developmental window for impulse control has been completed, all in order to make the teachers' jobs easier. This is terrible. Locally, I am know as the doctor who won't treat ADHD.

[@Willie_Wahzoo]

Schoolteachers want young males on speed to control them. Whamin destroy everything with their selfishness and laziness, and we sit back and let them.

[@JoeSmith-cu1pm]

And as a GP, you should be referring them to someone else for a proper diagnosis, as it's outside of your area of expertise. Also, isn't it possible that teachers want to help students with potential disabilities by referring them to someone who can make a proper diagnosis? Sounds like a professional way to handle the situation. Likely, a teacher is more familiar with what a typical child looks like than you are. Also, childhood development is part of the curriculum for an education degree. What I'm saying is; it's clear that your anecdote is biased against teachers and you should reconsider your opinions on the matter.

[@UzahBoolah]

The most important thing I learned while struggling with my own ‘mental illness’ was that there is no escape, except through embrace. I am flawed. I will remain flawed. But I am better off co-existing with these flaws than trying to suppress or alter them. I stopped seeing them as flaws, and instead see them as just part of my behavior. I can live with that. I can’t live with: “These alterations were *supposed to help me. They were *supposed to make me better.”

[@boethius1812]

People strive toward perfection. It's not possible. It's ok to not be perfect.

[@hyperteleXii]

Now you are identifying with your flaws. Fatal mistake.

[@relationshiprx6820]

As a licensed counselor I approve and applaud this message! Love your sarcasm!

[@ogholyghost575]

You're saving lives, Orion. God bless you! 🙏🏿

[@dimex3362]

This completely and totally fits with what I’ve always thought. Basically “it’s you” not some sort of thing that has happened to you. And like anything else I think some people are more or less prone to these things… naturally.

[@lukaskoch2508]

Finally someone speaks the truth. This is much more important than your other stuff. Well done.

[@grantwithers]

Much worse than most of his other stuff though regrettably.

[@lukaskoch2508]

@@grantwithers What he was talking about here, causes much of the issues he is talking about in his other videos.

[@grantwithers]

@@lukaskoch2508 Not sure what you're talking about. Specifically, I'm not sure that certain men (or women) having disorders of their lives makes women hypergamous or makes he himself avoid all western girls or makes men and women both seek out value in relationships as he notes in other vids.

[@lukaskoch2508]

@@grantwithers take narcissism as an example of an personality disorder of relevance here. The typical „western women“, looks for her own well being and not much more. That is narcissistic. To put it the other way around: what we understand or summarize as western women, are women with lots of narcissistic traits. The rise in narcissism created the typical western woman.

[@lukaskoch2508]

@@grantwithers Think about narcissism for example. What we consider a typical "western woman", a woman looking for her own well being only, is a narcissistic woman. The rise in pesonality disorders therefore for example causes "men going their own way" or the "passport bros" movement.

[@cognitivedissident4615]

Ive worked in mental health and ive never heard a better explanation of the field. What youre describing also made me think of the covid debacle...with the faulty tests, the ridiculously fast roll out of a risky, expensive, treatment that people were pressured into taking for no good reason considering that it doesnt affect transmisability and i could go on and on. It really made me question testing in general throughout the entire medical field. My conclusion: it thrives on neurosis of both the patient and the physician. I now work in retail.

[@njabulondiweni5914]

I agree that "sciencelessness" of these disorders is astounding

[@raphaelantoine7331]

Excellent subject It takes courage to speak about this!

[@sanxmuch121]

This has been demonstrated by Michel Foucault in "history of madness" in 1961... His thesis is that the naming and the therapeutical practices of mental illnesses has always been the reflection of the societal power of the cast of psychiatrists into society and peculiarly through a lingo which could not be understood by uneducated people. He is nowadays decried for other behaviour problems but he did a lot of valuable studies on the relations between society, power, knowledge, order, constraint and control.

[@tjkoch408]

I 100% agree. At one point in my life I was convinced that I was depressed because my life wasn't going the way I wanted it to. Instead of admitting defeat and going to a doctor for depression pills, I took responsibility and worked on it. I got my life back together and now looking back on it, I was just really sad.

[@robertmacdonald6289]

Absolutely spot on! Finally mental illness, extremely well explained. Reification, who knew "mental illness" could be summed up so succinctly! People simply create "reasons" out of "excuses." When a child learns to walk, it falls, doesn't cry and simply gets back up, many times laughing. As it gets older and taller, when it falls a little harder it cries. The worst thing is for someone to pick the child up. That's what this culture does, picks up people emotionally and mentally that think they are more than they are. Life isn't intended to be about "getting back up." It's about learning to walk, run, sit, stand, lay down, flow, swim all of it, yet, learning to do so one must learn to "get the 'f' up. Thank you for such a profound 13 minutes and 35 seconds!

[@philliasphog6689]

Boom! Nailed it. We knew this was going to be a problem when it was published.

[@user-ih6cj5ep6w]

It’s about time someone speak up on this. I really appreciate this video.

[@thegritsch]

I largely agree based on my experiences. To me, most mental illnesses can be attributed to trauma and dysregulated nervous systems, both of which can be dealt with. Conversely though, what these mental disorders are serving as a proxy for, is an empathetic other that acknowledges a person’s suffering without judgment. Something that has become increasingly rare as our society becomes increasingly individualistic and atomized.

[@saxsophone]

It aligns perfectly with the way I see it. Thanks for your courage.

[@BasementBerean]

Is it possible that the reason why there's so much mental illness is that too many people just have too much time on their hands, and they use this time by getting obsessed over things that don't matter, and going down rabbit holes, until they're crazy?

[@theBear89451]

People need a purpose. While reification is a problem, I think you have put your finger on the bigger problem. This could explain why the happiest Americans are the Amish. I don't think the uptick in overdoses and self deletion are caused by reification.

[@Tgogators]

Could be, also it could be that we have more understanding to mental illness than ever before. What many today do no realize is that people use to be "locked away" or labeled "retarded" (I don't mean that in a mean sense, but the clinical term of slow-processing). While there is a lot of problems with medications on treatments, but they've also helped many people with their mental health issues, the documented data for decades has backed this up.

[@paulcarter9652]

That for sure is variable, at least for a considerable amount of the population, but it's not the whole problem, nor, would I say, its root. More than time, it's what people do with it; the average adult works an underpaid job (sometimes two, other times even more) to barely survive in questionable conditions. This makes him feel miserable, hence, he looks for ways to aliviate that misery, most commonly through drugs, "adult", any sort of content that can numb him long enough through not to feel anything (old cartoons, documentaries, prank videos, etc.) or a combination of all. So I'd say that, along with time we have available and troublesome living conditions, it is not knowing how to handle misery and be resilient to it the main cause of the problem

[@marcuschauvin7039]

I blame tiktok and lazy parents

[@dificulttocure]

Indeed. That's why "mental illness" are more common in first world countries. It's ironic isn't it? People with access to better and more food, rest, and better health systems are getting more sick than people without them. I live in argentina, we no have absolutely no issues here with mental disorders. Of course they exist, and they affect a very small number of people, but for example, children with adhd pretty much don't exist here.

[@tnn-cj3vy]

i've been saying this for years, and been called a clown for it. thank you for publishing this.

[@marcoemiliovalle7708]

ABSOLUTELY EYE-OPENING!!!

[@JilianToree]

In other words, it's never been a more lucrative time to be a mental health professional.

[@daviddesroches-xt1cn]

You are courageous, exposing the truth about the corrupt medical industry; who conceal their devious actions behind compassionate words, mostly on innocent children, making them weak and addicted, and compliant. If our enemies wanted to play the "long game" by destroying the USA from the inside out, the medical community seems to be a willing participant in that game (follow the money). You are shining a light in a dark room; keep up the amazing work.

[@danielfcastro]

Not only the USA, but the whole West, maybe the whole world. I'm form Brazil and here things are the same as in the USA.

[@Thomas-pq4ys]

Boomer here. In the 1960's,I was labeled, and "underachiever." I tested intelligent, but got lousy grades... school was boring... I'd tune out, go into my head... teachers loved calling on me to snap me out of my daydream. I'd ask them to repeat the question, most of the time, I'd get it correct. Eventually, they just left me alone. I just didn't care if my grades were good or bad. I just couldn't wait until I got home, have peace and quiet, be myself without criticism. Now 73, and ADHD as hell... and dealing with the trauma I grew up with... Ok... back to the vid... Ok... I got it... good subject...

[@planetary-rendez-vous]

I love your episodes about general psychology. It's a fresher perspective than the red pill which keeps getting repeated and get tiring of thinking about the "harsh" reality.

[@zhshsG7]

The world needs people like you. Plain and simple.

[@user-ch7fo7cc5d]

You are making critically important points!!! Keep talking!!

[@AM-ko4pi]

This was exactly my experience. I had a mental breakdown and was diagnosed with severe depression and social anxiety disorder. I spent 2.5/3 years just blaming my sickness for my state of mind. I treated it as if it was a separate entity from myself and I improved very little. I won’t go into detail about the circumstances surrounding this realization, but I eventually had an epiphany that I was at fault for my mental state and that I needed to take responsibility for what it was doing to me and my loved ones, who were supporting me. After that, I worked really hard to correct the behaviours that lead me towards the mindsets that set me back. I’m proud to say that, 9 years after my breakdown, I no longer seek regular counsel and I’m no longer on any medications and I’m better than I’ve ever been at any point in my life. This is all thanks to changing the way I perceived my illness and my perceived responsibility I had in relation to it.

[@user-rj4xl5bl2s]

Just appreciate what your life partner has to bring to the table and thank them when they appreciate what you bring to the table starts a spiral of good in a relationship.

[@NicoSmets]

Orion, your short dense and sharp videos are great.

[@KonradTamas]

Love this Information, it is what we need ! Give back the power into the hands of people !

[@pbmbuss]

Good observation on the power over the treatment issue, and the reluctance of many psychiatrists to discuss or question reification and over-medicalization of mental suffering.

[@taslimlazzarotto3705]

Yes! Finally someone said it. Slowly discovering this for myself. Thank you for the articulation and helping to put even more dots together

[@fablife1093]

Orion, this one is going to break the internet.

[@hardywatkins7737]

Difficult childhoods. If we went through childhood with the facultys of an adult, we'd maybe alot more of us be ok, but we have to deal with all of that as children and it takes it's toll.

[@richardbro999]

Good points. I think almost everything in the DSM can be explained as behaviors reflecting c-ptsd/Childhood trauma/Developmental Trauma (all basically the same thing).

[@dantheman5555]

These illnesses are very real and I’ve done everything I can to try and fix

[@nunchukGun]

I got treatment for Panic Disorder then later ADHD and Depression. Honestly with Panic Disorder, it was very straightforward and i can honestly say I don't have it anymore because there was a very clear goal for treatment. With Depression and ADHD the treatment made me feel way worse and I eventually gave up because I realized those things weren't objective and there was no criteria for them getting better. I didn't even think I had ADHD until I got treated for it.

[@user-mm1zd3kz8q]

You've nailed it!! I lived and worked with people diagnosed with mental illnesses. I haven't done the research you have, but I've come to similar conclusions. I'll be very interested to see Part 2.

[@stephendevlin4223]

Fantastic episode. I look forward to part two :)

[@jonwilkinson3886]

Very brave, very accurate. I hope your peers are as congratulatory as I am Doc. 😊

[@kwyatt261]

I think you are the best at presenting these nuanced, both things can be true simultaneously type of ideas.

[@davidjacobo4204]

Hear, hear. This is so relevant in today’s society. Be careful tho, you are taking on a very powerful privileged class.

[@davegebbings7632]

Another great episode. I see your subs are continually going up. Its well deserved your content gets better and more diverse all the time.

[@Lisa-bo8jl]

Amen! Great video. I appreciate your perspective. 👏

[@isabellec.9173]

Thank you so much, Orion! Finally someone dares to tell it like it is.

[@grantwithers]

It's not that daring to get things this wrong.

[@exnihilonihilfit6316]

Just won't drop that victimhood, will you, Grant? A victim of reality itself and of people, no doubt.

[@grantwithers]

@@exnihilonihilfit6316 Lelz I'm no victim.

[@hh71vmcaad_5g9]

Very useful content, particularly this episode. Bravo!!

[@stevejarosz8136]

Old story with a new twist. Excellent video!

[@christianthomas7238]

Hey Orion, I would love to see a conversation with Gabor Mate on this topic! I really think that what both of you contribute is really profound beyond believe.

[@mryouben]

I get what what Dr. Tabaran is saying. But at 46 years I got an ADHD diagnosis. The prescribed medication saved my marriage, helped me keep my job and perhaps saved me from prison.

[@Tgogators]

Indeed. My biggest mistake I made in my young years was refusing to take ADHD meds until my parents just gave up trying ("Why keep wasting money if you're not going to take it") it made school such a struggle. Getting back on it as adult, I can focus more than ever, albeit it's not a magic pill and I sometimes struggle with time management. There's a rather negative stigma about medications, I think it's mostly because it sounds heroic & romantic to "overcome your struggles" against the evil Pharma and/or be out the outlier. When asking for reasonings on this, I'm often met with kooky conspiracy theories. It is a scary time when people think they're smarter than MDs about neurological disorders.

[@MrKen59]

I agree - it’s not fair to say it doesn’t exist. Our problem is that we exist in an envelope built by a set of people. Let’s let people adhd run the show and see how the other feel.

[@Lokipower]

Dr. K from HealthyGamers nailed it. ADHD is both the most over-diagnosed AND under-diagnosed condition.

[@Xorgye]

I was diagnosed with ADHD 29 years ago at the age of 8. That did not help, and in hindsight my environment was much more 'cause' of the disbalance than they have ever admitted. I took a diagnose again 2 years ago, exactly like dr Orion described: i knew what i had to report, so i got the 'label' again but now with grownup me at the rudder and pointing the help in the right direction. They helped me this time by developing proper boundaries and selfrespect. That did solve almost all issues. Still on medication but its tuned down, and honestly i like the 'tool like' focus it gives me. Its mine now, my tools, my life. I am so glad its not aimed at me 'being nice to my environment anymore' because this environment did not care for me.

[@UnlimitedWomen2]

Response Paid 4 by ‘Big Farma’

[@Hyperionid]

Wow never thought that I would hear on KZbin, from a qualified professional, the vicious cycle that (some) privileged patients fall into: therapy not as a means of a cure, but an ongoing exercise of finding an excuse - via means of expensive consultation. Looking forward to part 2 Orion !

[@mwtichenor]

So glad you’re making content about something else. Your videos are gold.

[@IfSemper]

He's always made videos about "something else" : ) Click "videos" then "oldest first."

[@katejoy5787]

Love this❤ I look forward to reading your book, The Value of Others, Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@dqvale]

I appreciate your material.

[@goldeneggduck]

Good point. Market creation out of thin air could be at work at work by specialists and researchers.

[@kikiposada]

Amazing episode Orion!

[@othellologos8225]

I'm wondering if this is going to be our new future. It's like we all have to learn or re-learn how to think. My mind is blown right now...🤯

[@christineturner2290]

One of your best videos, Orion.

[@grantwithers]

Worst by far in terms of technical truth.

[@liliolosa4167]

I am struggling with this as I’m watching this. My thoughts start thinking about all the worse case scenarios. And then compares my current reality of support vs in the past. And it just seems like it’s dwindling. My thoughts then leads me to hopelessness of the situation, but I def know I’m not even objectively looking at the situation because even that I think I’ll do it wrong. Thankful to have heard this

[@moumouniadjana8152]

Solid work Dr.

[@andriup]

YOU'RE THE BEST!

[@PortalEMCioranBrasil]

Insightful and enlightening as usual. Thank you!

[@Tnc874]

Facts. I was an overwhelmed mother and i was dx’d with Bipolar and pumped with hella medications. Edit…. This is a really good video. Im looking forward to the 2nd video

[@kdee44]

I'm so happy that I can clearly see truth.

[@brandonmontgomery7461]

Thank you for this information, it's crazy that we can prescribe medication for something we can't objectively identify. There has been a huge push for therapy and other forms of mental health treatments lately, which makes me think about how if you go looking for a problem, you're more likely to find it

[@Joel-zi6pt]

Honestly been thinking this for a long time finally I here someone else agree.

[@wolf-dietergrabner9762]

Thanks for pointing this out. I find large portions of ‚traditional‘ therapy pretty dysfunctional and self absorbed. What helped me a lot was Dr. Daniel Amen and his focus on brain health (as opposed to mental health) and taking care of basic factors like sports and daylight instead of ruminating what might be wrong.

[@Bryan833s]

I had "ADHD" once. Turns out I was really stressed, and I was stressed in part because I didn't like having to make decisions. Concentration and focus are a skill, and like any other skill, it starts with a choice that is maintained through practice and discipline.

[@churchofthegreenflipflop2436]

Great thinking and perspective. I'd like to see a discussion between Orion and Jordan Peterson 🙂.

[@ShermanKyle]

6:00 that descriptive sequence of adjectives was a treat for the ears, and is very reminiscent of Carlin’s classic bit “Soft Language” Great illustration of your point there Orion.

[@sonyamoste]

My brother (55) took his own life 2 weeks ago. He was depressed, but it mostly was his own doing, he ran out of money after leading a party party life style for decades and didn't like what he saw when he looked into the future. I took him in the last 12 months and saw the depression up close. I got him to see a psychiatrist last summer, he went on 2 appts and didn't go back. He knew it wasn't something a "doctor" could cure. I applaud your courage to post this video. ADHD, which my brother seemed to have as a child as he could not relax, was probably due to too much sugar, and with no father at home, he lacked a smack in the ass that was sorely needed.

[@omnipotentwiz5101]

Sorry about the loss of your brother. Thing is people now have a lot of victim mentality. We fail to take responsibility for our own lives and blame it on others and when we run out of ‘others’ we blame it on a subjective mental illness.

[@GregSteele-os8yp]

Very entertaining,even a spontaneous laugh.Well done.

[@thomasochsenfarth7048]

Making it a disease turns on the disgust and activates the turning away reflex, rather than taking responsability for the relationship and engaging whole heartedly with my goodness and influence in order to make a differerence for the better. I know two people who struggle and annoy with narcissistic behaviour. Whenever I think about them and use this word they lose their humanity in some sense. When I just describe their compensatory behaviour and pain they went through, which lead to their impossible behaviour, then I just see hurt children who want to be seen and looked at by an adult.

[@grantwithers]

A lot of them actually are "an illness". However most of them are not "diseases" tho.

[@grantwithers]

"Whenever I think about them and use this word they lose their humanity in some sense" Yeah, that's partially because they are, in some senses, literally actually less human, just like schizoids (myself) are. Specifically, if they are genuine NPD, they have the empty schizoid core (same as schizoids). If you didn't fill up the schizoid core around age 2, you quite literally are "less of a full person". Again, I am that, I know of what I'm speaking. But, with that said, you still gotta treat them fairly well. In the true NPD person though you quite often will have to deal with them at arms length when they're abusing people, or cut them out entirely. And correct, they are literally still just children, hurt children to be exact and yes they want to be grown up and be a grown up.

[@thomasochsenfarth7048]

@@grantwithers Thanks for putting those two terms into contrast and correcting that.

[@funknotik]

This contrasts with Dr Robert sapolsky perspective on mental health. There are genetic precursors to adhd, depression, etc. DAT1, DRD4 VNTRs, and SNPs in the ADRA2A, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), and noradrenaline transporter (SLC6A2) genes and others are visible in patients of adhd. It’s also dependent on environmental factors whether or not the genes express themselves.

[@willemvanriet7160]

We’ll said! We were animals, we still are, just smart animals. Mental illnesses are just various growing pains of going from a being acting on instinct to an awake conscious being that evaluates, make assessments, react with various emotions from fear to joy etc.

[@matthewcraig245]

Best channel on KZbin

[@missyelious]

I second that