What a Shaman Sees in A Mental Hospital

Post Reply New Topic

Very interesting. I don't believe in any non physical psychic phenomena, but it is great to see a non-pathologising interpretation of mental illness and neurological differences.

The following is revealing:

?The other world?s relationship with our world is one of sponsorship,? Dr. Somé explains. ?More often than not, the knowledge and skills that arise from this kind of merger are a knowledge or a skill that is provided directly from the other world.?


Those who develop so-called mental disorders are those who are sensitive, which is viewed in Western culture as oversensitivity. Indigenous cultures don?t see it that way and, as a result, sensitive people don?t experience themselves as overly sensitive. In the West, ?it is the overload of the culture they?re in that is just wrecking them,? observes Dr. Somé. The frenetic pace, the bombardment of the senses, and the violent energy that characterize Western culture can overwhelm sensitive people.

I'll take therapy, such as CBT and medication, over superstition, thank you very much.

(Yes, like many here, I've been in a mental hostel a couple of times.)

One of the major reasons that psychiatric facilities exist is for social control of those who deviate from the prescribed ways of living and being. Any commitment to healing in these places is usually anchored in the social control foundation stone. This is never stated of course. It has always been this way.

Lobotomies could never have been acceptable practices if that were not true. It did not matter that it was a form of mutilation because it was practiced on "deviants", and these people had no social status. Practices have changed though the ethos is the same. Will read the article when I have time, really flat out today, sounds really interesting. Good thread.

I was in a psychiatric facility and I wasn't controlled.

Hell, I was controlling them by refusing to eat in the cafe, refusing to line up for meds (which I could have refused to take if I wanted), refusing to go to any group sessions, and going home way earlier than they wanted.

Nothing like school (and even college), where you actually are controlled and forced to do things.

I also like it that there are people who have a "non-pathologizing" view of mental illness.

There are many people with "mental illness," for instance, who are quite creative. If channeled properly, the substance which emanates from a "psychotic" person's mind could be employed in a positive direction.

If one listens to "word salads" which are produced by schizophrenics, one could interpret them, at times, as complex, beautiful collages, rather than mere psychotic rants. Sometimes, "word salads" could be disturbing, though.

I am quite ambivalent about medication. While it might "control" a person, it just might take the "person" away from the person.

If only there could be a way to assist the "psychotic" person in channeling his/her impulses in a positive direction, rather than having anti-psychotic meds sublimate those impulses, perhaps irreversibly.

I've never "served time" in a mental hospital; but I've visited other people in these places, and I hate how zombified many patients seem as a result of their medications.

My depression and autism have made me more spiritually in-tune. I hate my disabilities, but I love them.

I'm definitely an advocate of science, truth, etc over superstition.

I also believe there are, potentially, positive aspects to both mental illness and autism. I believe drugs, potentially, sublimate the "essence" of people. Drugs have their purpose--but they have to be used with care so that they don't cause lobotomy-type results.

When the neurologists and technicians begin to understand how the brain really functions, then we won't need psychology, and that will be a very good thing.