I got asked this question by a psychiatrist a few years ago

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Is there anything that could make you happier in life?
I answered: Of course, everybody could in some way be happier
He said: No, I am perfectly happy.

This just kind of stunned me. I almost told him that if he lost a hundred pounds he would be happier, but I waited until me and my mom had left and told her. I thought i had responded in an intelligent way, and he just says no. But he also misdiagnosed me with Bipolar at one point in time so I don't think he is much of a psychiatrist.

Was not sure what section to put this in, but figured this one could fit.

Sounds like a smart-ass to me.

Not that he couldn't be perfectly happy. Some people actually are, and don't care for anything in their life to change. It's just that in the context of a therapy appointment, it seems like a flat out smart-ass answer to me. Maybe even arrogant.

I wonder what his response would have been if you had told him he'd be happier if he lost 100 pounds.

And I agree with the answer you gave him.

Sorry but I don't have much faith in the medical industry especially psychiatry. Seen many and get different results.

Now this might sound a bit arrogant so I apologist in advance. You think having an education makes you smart. I have six certificates on my wall, went to six different Universities and I am a practicing successful CPA. We think because they have credential after their name they are smart? They now everything - right? I have credentials after my name (CPA, CGMA).

Give credit where it is due but a certificate does not necessarily mean credibility. Use your gut feeling.

Here is an example. Is there anything that could make you happier in life? My response....

Yes, I have goals in life to accomplish and each time I accomplish them I am happy. But I am on a path, I am happy now but I rejoice when I accomplish more goals. Life would be boring if I was totally happy and to do nothing more.

B

Last edited by kg4fxg on 05 Mar 2012, 8:43 am, edited 1 time in total.

"fail?"

Was that intentional? Regardless, it works in this context.

This is one of those questions that I believe is inherently unanswerable.

This was a good question and it strikes a bell for me also warns me to avoid psychiatrist and eat their crap medication

If i visited 6 different psychiatrist would they all diagnose me with same stuff it would be fun if they all came up with different diagnoses

He took your answer, personally. Often-times, when people answer a question back with 'everyone could' or 'we all could'... it's a subtle invitation for the person asking the question to take a look in the mirror at themselves. In other words, he might have sensed THAT you were implying THAT his weight could be a factor in his happiness. So, he answered in a way in which to make it clear THAT you were THE one with PROBLEM and not him.

This is the way that it should have occurred:

"Alexender"Is there anything that could make you happier in life?
I answered: Of course, everybody could in some way be happier
He said: You know i think you're right. But, i want to know about what could make you happier in your life?

TheSunAlsoRises

In my dealings with psychiatrists, I've found out the majority are quite good liars. Whether or not he's lying only to you, or himself, that's on him. Don't worry.

One of my friend is harassed by her in-laws they want her to rake in good money by working hard
they want her to produce only a male grandchild and when two times she delivered a girl child they taunted her
they want her to hand over all her salary to them
they deny her visit outside with friends
after two month of her delivery she was forced to go out and get a job

But she is a good liar her version of story
They take care of my children
They say things are expensive now so two people earning makes things easier
they are helpful around house and want me not to do unnecessary expense

Its a good lie and here in India girls are brainwashed to somehow say positive things about their inlaws
and psychiatrist also want us to see the glass full in optimistic manner.

"Perfectly happy" doesn't exist. Happiness is a continuous variable, existing along a spectrum, not a binary or categorical data point. This "psychiatrist" is claiming to practice medicine, yet he is not using evidence-based methodology. If pressed, he would be unable to cite any evidence-based criteria or any consensus-based definition for his terms. Your answer was intelligent. That psychiatrist might be a lot happier if he didn't think he had to lie to his patients, or if he was able to understand the most basic tenets (i.e., evidence-based practice) in the very field in which he holds a doctorate (i.e., medicine). He isn't necessarily unhappy because of his weight. More likely it's because he's ignorant and he's afraid his peers and his patients might find out.

I learned in grad school that medical doctors have the lowest mean IQ among doctors in all fields, and it should hardly surprise anyone that psychiatry is a popular field among medical underachievers. The state of psychiatric research is so bad that little of it is actually conducted by psychiatrists. Sadly, little of it is understood by practicing psychiatrists as well.