# Mental illness is exaggerated **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 9, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522 "2013-06-09T03:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/321 "2013-06-19T20:43:47Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > While we’re talking about Sigmund [the Master Speaks](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2468/was-sigmund-freud-a-quack). > > **Lekatt** I ask this in complete seriousness- why exactly did you read all of Freud’s books? I will answer you in seriousness. I was young then in my twenties. I went back to college but was disillusioned with psychology and quit. I saw a Freud book in a used book store for 50c and bought it. I became fascinated with him and read all his books along with others like Jung, and Adler. I recognized at the beginning he was talking in symbols and did not see his concepts as literal things. He was a great writer. I learned from Freud to not take things literally and it was of tremendous help. I suffered from depression and migraine headaches that kept me in bed. Freud’s work helped me to cope. But it was on my 49th Birthday year that I experience unconditional love and from that moment on my mental problems were over. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/322 "2013-06-19T20:51:55Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > . I recognized at the beginning he was talking in symbols and did not see his concepts as literal things. He was a great writer Talking in symbols? And who or what aided you in translating these “symbols”? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/323 "2013-06-19T21:42:59Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I don’t know Carl Rogers. If you have described what modern therapist are taught, then it is understandable why they achieve no good results. What I said about Freud was accurate to the letter. > > A good therapist must be empathic and non-judgmental. His success will depend on the trust given by the patient. You can and do project unconscious material on everyone you meet. But you usually mistake it as the other persons material. It takes a special person to be a good therapist. They can not be trained. Rogerian therapy, advanced by Carl Rogers and others, was premised almost entirely on the necessity for unconditional positive regard for the client. It was also called client centered therapy. It is not modern. It came about in the 60s and 70s, and went away thereafter. It’s much more like what you’re describing than is Freudian psychoanalysis. Neither of these therapies have sufficient empirical evidence to support them. So, you’re essentially wrong on every point and in every conceivable way. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/324 "2013-06-19T21:47:30Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > So, you’re essentially wrong on every point and in every conceivable way. That’s not a surprise since he seems to be saying “Freud didn’t mean what he wrote, he meant some other things that I am interpreting according to my own devices.” ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/325 "2013-06-19T21:50:03Z")
I have no practical knowledge of Phychaitrists and just a little experience with therapists. I do recall a Dr. being interviewed on the radio one time for whatever it is worth. His commment was that he had never cured anyone, he was seeing clients sometimes for years and they had little improvement. Some of his clients started attending AA and had dramatic, fast, and long lasting improvements. He switched his practice to a group therapy where the group learned to trust and support one another. He also used some of the guidelines from aa as to how they should start dealing with life and past problems. He claimed great success. I have never heard from him since so I have no idea how true or accurate his statements were. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/326 "2013-06-19T22:09:43Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > So, you’re essentially wrong on every point and in every conceivable way. Not to be blunt, but this quote can apply to pretty much all of **lekatt** ’s posts where he attempts to cite facts. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/327 "2013-06-19T22:13:06Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I have no practical knowledge of Phychaitrists and just a little experience with therapists. > I do recall a Dr. being interviewed on the radio one time for whatever it is worth. His commment was that he had never cured anyone, he was seeing clients sometimes for years and they had little improvement. Some of his clients started attending AA and had dramatic, fast, and long lasting improvements. He switched his practice to a group therapy where the group learned to trust and support one another. He also used some of the guidelines from aa as to how they should start dealing with life and past problems. He claimed great success. I have never heard from him since so I have no idea how true or accurate his statements were. Well, sounds like he was treating people for alcoholism. He may very well be accurate that he never helped anyone. What method was he using? As for AA, the evidence for its effectiveness is not overwhelming. Perhaps they just need to try Freudian love therapy. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/328 "2013-06-19T23:05:39Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > I have no practical knowledge of Phychaitrists and just a little experience with therapists. > I do recall a Dr. being interviewed on the radio one time for whatever it is worth. His commment was that he had never cured anyone, he was seeing clients sometimes for years and they had little improvement. Some of his clients started attending AA and had dramatic, fast, and long lasting improvements. He switched his practice to a group therapy where the group learned to trust and support one another. He also used some of the guidelines from aa as to how they should start dealing with life and past problems. He claimed great success. I have never heard from him since so I have no idea how true or accurate his statements were. You have to get the trust and non-judgment support and it words. I believe him and you. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/329 "2013-06-19T23:46:17Z")
So, Lekatt, you’re an expert on psychotherapy and the works of Sigmund Freud. And you’ve admittedly never heard of Carl Rogers. How about Adler? Perls? Horney? Dr. Phil? ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/330 "2013-06-20T01:23:20Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > So, Lekatt, you’re an expert on psychotherapy and the works of Sigmund Freud. And you’ve admittedly never heard of Carl Rogers. How about Adler? Perls? Horney? > Dr. Phil? I have read a couple of books by Alfred Adler. Don’t know about the others. I am not an expert on anything, but I have got cures. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/331 "2013-06-20T01:32:25Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I have read a couple of books by Alfred Adler. Don’t know about the others. > I am not an expert on anything, but I have got cures. Cures? There’s only one cure: love. Right? Love is all you need. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/332 "2013-06-20T03:45:07Z")
Forget it Jake, it’s **lekatt** town. ---
**Author:** ![PBear42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PBear42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PBear42)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/333 "2013-06-20T04:16:14Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > When I was reading Freud many years ago I went to the used book stores to find his books. On buying his book “Totem and Taboo” I found inside the book a newspaper, old and yellowed, with an interview of Freud. It was in this newspaper I read the quotes I posted here. I may still have it, but I have thousands of books and don’t intend to look for it. Please reconsider. It’s an important question. If you happen to have documentary evidence the “cigar is a cigar” quote is authentic, you would make a signal contribution to history’s understanding of Freud by finding it. And don’t limit yourself to posting here. There are many scholars who would be interested as well. Frankly, I think your memory is playing tricks on you, but that’s the great thing about documentary evidence. If clear, it eliminates all doubts. This would be a very important discovery. ---
**Author:** ![Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e47c2d/32.png) [@Hershele\_Ostropoler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hershele_Ostropoler)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/334 "2013-06-20T04:47:56Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > If all you know about Freud was from the history books then you don’t know about him. That’s trivially true of everyone. > [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > It is not modern. It came about in the 60s and 70s, and went away thereafter. It’s much more like what you’re describing than is Freudian psychoanalysis. Yes, well, that’s actual Freudian analysis. Not the double secret psychoanalysis hidden behind a thick fog of metaphor, which there is no record of Freud or his disciples ever using, and which bears a remarkable resemblance to Rogerian therapy. > [@Telemark](#): > > Not to be blunt, but this quote can apply to pretty much all of **lekatt** ’s posts where he attempts to cite facts. Is **lekatt** male? Because these posts can only have come from Freud’s lover, and I know of no evidence suggesting he was anything but straight. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/335 "2013-06-20T05:12:03Z")
> [@PBear42](#): > > Please reconsider. It’s an important question. If you happen to have documentary evidence the “cigar is a cigar” quote is authentic, you would make a signal contribution to history’s understanding of Freud by finding it. And don’t limit yourself to posting here. There are many scholars who would be interested as well. > > Frankly, I think your memory is playing tricks on you, but that’s the great thing about documentary evidence. If clear, it eliminates all doubts. This would be a very important discovery. Not really that important to me. If a lot of people over the years has attributed that saying to Freud then it makes sense that he probable said it. No big deal. ---
**Author:** ![PBear42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PBear42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PBear42)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/336 "2013-06-20T06:33:36Z")
IOW, you don’t have documentary proof. Too bad. That would have been interesting. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/337 "2013-06-20T10:40:22Z")
> [@PBear42](#): > > IOW, you don’t have documentary proof. Too bad. That would have been interesting. Freud was an awkward subject and the socialites loved him. They could talk about sex using his concepts without appearing inappropriate. Most of them never understood what was going on in his works. Even today that is true. We have lost our ability to think outside the literal where the real meaning of life lurks. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/338 "2013-06-20T11:05:33Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Perhaps they just need to try Freudian love therapy. I almost tried that, but my mother wasn’t terribly comfortable with the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/339 "2013-06-20T12:38:13Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Freud was an awkward subject and the socialites loved him. They could talk about sex using his concepts without appearing inappropriate. Most of them never understood what was going on in his works. Even today that is true. We have lost our ability to think outside the literal where the real meaning of life lurks. Ah I get it now. You read outside the literal Freud, where the “love cures all” meaning of Freud lurks. Surprisingly, this is also your philosophy! It’s amazing how much of the world agrees with our personal ideology when we don’t literally look at it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/340 "2013-06-20T12:40:49Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Ah I get it now. You read outside the literal Freud, where the “love cures all” meaning of Freud lurks. Surprisingly, this is also your philosophy! It’s amazing how much of the world agrees with our personal ideology when we don’t literally look at it. It’s amazing how a potato looks exactly like an elephant if don’t literally look at it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522.md?page=18)