I would hate to get into the clutches of one of these institutions.

Psychiatrists tend to be some of the most messed up people there are. It just seems to be one of those professions that attracted whacked out people. Lawyers are also some of the most messed up people I have ever dealt with.

Going to these people for help is like cutting yourself open, and going swimming with sharks.

There are certain people who will use everything and anything you say against you, and once you get diagnosed with some problem, from what I have read and heard, it is worse than a criminal record.

Originally posted by poet1b

I would hate to get into the clutches of one of these institutions.

Psychiatrists tend to be some of the most messed up people there are. It just seems to be one of those professions that attracted whacked out people. Lawyers are also some of the most messed up people I have ever dealt with.

Going to these people for help is like cutting yourself open, and going swimming with sharks.

There are certain people who will use everything and anything you say against you, and once you get diagnosed with some problem, from what I have read and heard, it is worse than a criminal record.

And yet, i have seen dozens of people get admitted for going crazy after getting arrested for something, only to be let go in a day or two and are never seen again.

The "shrinks" know that there are cases where substance abuse (frequent), drinking, the stress of an illness, or blood sugar issues can cause intermittent psychosis....or a good act to avoid jail for a few days.

Most states are broke right now. They are looking for many ways to cut budgets, and MHMR is a good place to start. Hospitals have had to get to where they turn away patients that NEED inpatient care because they just aren't funded for the beds required to get the job done.

We are not talkinga bout a lucrative, private mental institution. That is something that the affluent do by choice, because they just don't want to behave (affluency and dysfunctional behavior seem to go hand in hand). We are talking about state run mental institutions.

I will be the first to admit, there are abuses. Aide's are given too much opportunity to cause harm to the patients. Without an EXTREMELY robust Patients Rights advocate working cases, and a solid screening process, hospitals are not likely to improve much. The hospital i worked at is nothing like you would expect in a state run mental hospital, to be sure (even though the buildings are 1940's era, and carry the ghosts of horrendous treatment regimens in days gone by).

The hospital of today is more about allowing the patientt to execute his/her psychosis while only intervening to maintain safety. Medications are given, to be sure, but often they are in place of physical restraint when done on a PRN basis. Something like 5 or 10 mg Haldol, or some Ativan, to quell violent behavior only.

Groups like the ACLU, while reviled (rightly, in many cases) have done a great job of improving the care given to the mentally infirm. At least, in Texas.

Regardless, when you only are budgeted to pay doctors 200k/yr, you are going to get the talent you can afford. And they usually come with their own "baggage", as you mention.

Originally posted by telepath
This seems to be what my girlfriend thinks, she is the eternal skeptic--although, she does admit that we made non-verbal contact 800 miles apart once. What do you think? Are telepathic individuals just crazies talking to themselves?

[edit on 27-5-2008 by telepath]

No. I personally can read at times what my wife is saying and it's almost always right i also know what others are thinking.