This post is going to be short. I picked up a book, from my shelf, one that I purchased maybe 10 years ago, and which I also probably last read 10 years ago. This was when I was actively studying psychology, hoping to eventually become a psychologist, therapist, or counselor. After a few years of school, I realized that this wasn’t the career for me and that mental health was more of a hobby. I don’t know if hobby is the right word, but the human mind fascinates me, especially the things that go on in the brain that make a person seek out aid from a mental health professional. It was published in 1991, but I think the arguments in this book are still valid today. The book is split into five parts, which is convenient for me since I like to make breaks when they won’t interrupt the flow.
There is an introductory chapter in which Dr. Breggin gives a short explanation of the differences between a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, psychologist, and psychoanalyst. He also makes mention of the other types of professionals that work in the field of mental health. There are a wide variety of professionals that you could end up coming into contact with if you are a person who is seeking help regarding mental health.
Chapter 1 takes us to 1954, when the author was a young student visiting the nearby mental health facility at the request of one of his friends. Although the chapter is short, it sets a solid base for the rest of the book. You start to get an idea as to why the author is so opposed to the use of medication to treat mental health issues, and his preference for conversation and loving care.
Nonfiction and Nonsense 