Hi, Russ

I have not been around for a few days, and I did not get a chance to read your article until now. I was trying to do my homework before responding, but I decided to take a break from "Some dark thoughts about Happiness".
So, I do not know enough yet to comment on the particulars you are discussing....and even without the 'extra reading material', I would have to read your article at least one more time before I can hope to fully understand it. For right now, the most important thing I wanted to say:
I feel the same way about Psychology as I do about Religion.....my beliefs regarding both are identical....."None of the Above'. That is very different from being an atheist. I do not believe against God or against Psychology......it's just that I 'know' , and I firmy think one cannot know something and believe it at the same time. (and I cannot substitute a belief for what i do not yet know) Of course, the focus on pathology in Psychology...and even more so Psychiatry...is not only not helpful, and completely wrong scientifically..... and it shows a total lack of insight and understanding about human nature....and it is harmful to more patients than it has ever been helpful to others. Yet, the 'Positive Psychology'
sounds to me like a movement of 'Against Prozac' coming back in retaliation against 'For Prozac'....and thereby it automatically has joined the 'None of the Above' list for me.

What I really wanted to say, and what 'I know without a theory to back it up with', is: I am shocked...and I feel sad...and I find it disturbing...that you submitted this article several days ago, and that there has been not one word of response, or even acknowledgement....of your thoughts, work, effort, and existence.


Anyway.... just wanted you
to know that I saw, and heard you ...and that I am interested (and still working on it) Katrin

by Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 525 comments) on Saturday, August 12, 2006 at 8:21:00 PM
 

PS

What does the PC stand for?

by Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 525 comments) on Saturday, August 12, 2006 at 8:25:18 PM
 

PC = Politically Correct

Thanks for your kind words, Katrin. I have seen psychologists off and on over the years and have been helped by them. My only beef with them is, like most professionals, they think their years of training make them experts. If you venture an opinion on their field, they really bristle. It's almost like psychology is a religion to them and they think they're high priests.

by Russ Wellen (58 articles, 1029 quicklinks, 66 diaries, 335 comments) on Saturday, August 12, 2006 at 8:58:43 PM
 

exactly!

.....and what's so frustrating to me is, that neither one of them is, or should be treated as a 'religion'. Neither one of them is that 'special'.....at least not any more special than the 'perfection' already inherent in the particular 'system' 'as is' (i.e. the making of a baby...pregnancy...childbirth....breastfeeding....or the mind) You don't have to add 'religion' to it to make it more special .....or 'less real' , less accessable, more sophisticated...more magical. With this attitude: 'A mere human 'being' should/ must resort to trust, belief and faith of those experts who have the special education, intelligence, insight and gift to practice and teach various 'secret healings', as they are not capable of 'knowing' the 'Religion', (special powers), and the 'Gods' (them).... who practice, and have that special Power and Knowledge and Expertise.'

And since all these different systems are interdependent ....when you take the 'exclusive right' to one single 'specialty', and study facts/beliefs blindly, alone , out of context, and as the only true.....an exclusive 'world' that matters..... and expertly only visible to you, or like you......you've by default ruined 'the truth' by taking 'the dynamics' out of it's natural relationship.....and by making something 'yours'...'.your perfection'......he is totally missing the point and 'the meaning of perfection'. There is no question in my mind that there is an exact science behind the workings of the soul, just as is true for the body and mind. I don't think God is any more or less special than the birth of a child, and/or many other things. It is very special without the religious packaging which keeps us from exploring more chemistry and physics. I don't think Jesus is that special either......no more than Ted Bundy, for sure.

I have no doubt that therapy really helped you. Therapy, or psychology...has so much to offer......it's a science and an art.....not a religion. You and your therapist, and your relationship, matter a lot too. You are most likely the dream patient for a very, very good therapist as well.....very tough, and promising at the same time. Therapy is like doing research.

"The true worth of an experiment consists in his pusuing not only what he seeks, but also what he did not seek'. Claude Bernard

"What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite." Bertrant Russell

Katrin

by Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 525 comments) on Sunday, August 13, 2006 at 2:20:55 AM
 

PS

By 'tough'....I mean that as a compliment...your intelligence, reasoning, and the quality of your thinking and communicating.

by Katrin R. (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 525 comments) on Sunday, August 13, 2006 at 5:56:35 PM