The Anti-DSM-IV.. I think this goes here.. | INFJ Forum

The Anti-DSM-IV.. I think this goes here..

Discussion in 'Imagination Exercises' started by acd, Jan 20, 2009.

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  1. acd

    acd Well-known member

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    So, someone I knew from awhile back found and introduced me to this book called Pronoia Is The Antidote For Paranoia , and I've just recently really been reading it. It's pretty trippy and there's lots of imaginative creative writing exercises in there.. I liked this one a lot so far, so I'm posting it. If anyone can think of any other 'anti-disorders' that would be awesome if you'd post them, or if you read any of these and think they apply to you, say so and why!!



    Psychiatry and psychotherapy obsess on what's wrong with people and
    give short shrift to what's right. The manual of these professions is a
    943-page textbook called the DSM-IV. It identifies scores of pathological
    states but no healthy ones.
    ---exerpt from Pronoia by Rob Brezsny

    The Anti-DSM-IV or The Outlaw Catalog of Cagey Optimism

    * ACUTE FLUENCY. Happily immersed in artistic creation or scientific
    exploration; lost in a trance-like state of inventiveness that's both blissful
    and taxing; surrendered to a state of grace in which you're fully engaged
    in a productive, compelling, and delightful activity. The joy of this
    demanding, rewarding state is intensified by a sense that time has been
    suspended, and is rounder and deeper than usual. (Suggested by H. H.
    Holiday, who reports that extensive studies in this state have been done
    by Mihaly Cziscenmihaliy in his book, *Flow: The Psychology of Optimal
    Experience.*) ​

    * AESTHETIC BLISS. Vividly experiencing the colors, textures, tones,
    scents, and rhythms of the world around you, creating a symbiotic
    intimacy that dissolves the psychological barriers between you and what
    you observe. (Suggested by Jeanne Grossetti.) ​

    * AGGRESSIVE SENSITIVITY. Animated by a strong determination to be
    receptive and empathetic. ​

    * ALIGNMENT WITH THE INFINITY OF THE MOMENT. Reveling in the
    liberating realization that we are all exactly where we need to be at all
    times, even if some of us are temporarily in the midst of trial or
    tribulation, and that human evolution is proceeding exactly as it should,
    even if we can't see the big picture of the puzzle that would clarify how
    all the pieces fit together perfectly. (Suggested by Meredith Jones.) ​

    * AUTONOMOUS NURTURING. Not waiting for someone to give you what
    you can give yourself. (Suggested by Shannen Davis.) ​

    * BASKING IN ELDER WISDOM. A state of expansive ripeness achieved
    through listening to the stories of elders. (Suggested by Annabelle
    Aavard.) ​

    * BIBLIOBLISS. Transported into states of transcendent pleasure while
    immersed in reading a favorite book. (Suggested by Catherine Kaikowska.) ​

    * BLASPHEMOUS REVERENCE. Acting on the knowledge that the most
    efficacious form of devotion to the Divine Wow is tinctured with playful or
    mischievous behavior that prevents the buildup of fanaticism. ​

    * BOO-DUH NATURE. Dwelling in the blithe understanding of the fact that
    worry is useless because most of what we worry about never happens.
    (Suggested by Timothy S. Wallace.) ​

    * COMIC INTROSPECTION. Being fully aware of your own foibles while still
    loving yourself tenderly and maintaining confidence in your ability to give
    your specific genius to the world. To paraphrase Alan Jones, Dean of
    Grace Cathedral: following the Byzantine ploys of your ego with
    compassion and humor as it tries to make itself the center of everything,
    even of its own suffering and struggle. ​

    * COMPASSIONATE DISCRIMINATION. Having astute judgment without
    being scornfully judgmental; seeing difficult truths about a situation or
    person without closing your heart or feeling superior. In the words of Alan
    Jones: having the ability "to smell a rat without allowing your ability to
    discern deception sour your vision of the glory and joy that is everyone's
    birthright." ​

    * CRAZED KINDNESS. Having frequent, overpowering urges to bestow
    gifts, disseminate inspiration, and perpetrate random acts of benevolence. ​

    * ECSTATIC GRATITUDE. Feeling genuine thankfulness with such
    resplendent intensity that you generate a surge of endorphins in your
    body and slip into a full-scale outbreak of euphoria. ​

    * EMANCIPATED SURRENDER. Letting go of an attachment without
    harboring resentment toward the stimuli that led to the necessity of
    letting go. (Suggested by Timothy S. Wallace.) ​

    * FRIENDLY SHOCK. Welcoming a surprise that will ultimately have
    benevolent effects. ​

    * HIGHWAY EQUANIMITY. Feeling serene, polite, and benevolent while
    driving in heavy traffic. (Suggested by Shannen Davis.) ​

    * HOLY LISTENING. Hearing the words of another human being as if they
    were a direct communication from the Divine Wow to you. ​

    * IMAGINATIVE TRUTH-TELLING. Conveying the truth of any specific
    situation from multiple angles, thereby mitigating the distortions that
    result from assuming the truth can be told from a single viewpoint. ​

    * IMPULSIVE LOVE SPREADING. Characterized by a fierce determination to
    never withhold well-deserved praise, inspirational encouragement, positive
    feedback, or loving thoughts; often includes a tendency to write love
    letters on the spur of the moment and on any medium, including napkins,
    grocery bags, and skin. (Suggested by Laurie Burton.) ​

    * INADVERTENT NATURE WORSHIP. Experiencing the rapture that comes
    from being outside for extended periods of time. (Suggested by Sue Carol
    Robinson.) ​

    * INGENIOUS INTIMACY. Having an ability to consistently create deep
    connections with other human beings, and to use the lush, reverential
    excitement stimulated by such exchanges to further deepen the
    connections. A well-crafted talent for dissolving your sense of
    separateness and enjoying the innocent exultation that erupts in the wake
    of the dissolution. (Suggested by Sue Carol Robinson.) ​

    * JOYFUL POIGNANCE. Feeling buoyantly joyful about the beauty and
    mystery of life while remaining aware of the sadness, injustices, wounds,
    and future fears that form the challenges in an examined life. (Suggested
    by Alka Bhargava.) ​

    * LATE LATE-BLOOMING. Having a capacity for growth spurts well into old
    age, long past the time that conventional wisdom says they're possible. ​

    * LEARNING DELIGHT. Experiencing the brain-reeling pleasure that comes
    from learning something new. (Suggested by Sue Carol Robinson.) ​

    * LUCID DREAM PATRIOTISM. A love of country rooted in the fact that it
    provides the ideal conditions for learning lucid dreaming. (Suggested by
    Kenneth Kelzer, aithor of *The Sun and the Shadow: My Experiment With
    Lucid Dreaming.*) ​

    * LYRICAL CONSONANCE. Experiencing the visceral yet also cerebral
    excitement that comes from listening to live music played impeccably by
    skilled musicians. (Suggested by Susan E. Nace.​



     
    #1 acd, Jan 20, 2009
    Last edited: Jan 20, 2009
  2. alcyone

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    I think I am afflicted with most of these disorders. Do you recommend I seek treatment?
     
  3. Pristinegirl

    Pristinegirl Well-known member

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    Same goes for me I could probably be diagnosed with most personality dissorders and perhaps even schizophrenia and phobias .. let's not even go there. xD
    I fully agree with you though, I'd love to be diagnosed as MBTI's type instead. Because it says so much about you and general complex of problems you have.
     
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  4. nozflubber

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    As someone gonig into psych/neuro, I have many criticisms against modern disorders. First I think the term "disorder" is an unspoken appeal to Aristotle's notion of "proper forms" but in reverse, thus conotates the wrong meaning. Condition/syndrome is a superior term. Secondly, some of the personanlity disorders do seem anti-introvert, anti-women, et cetera. I also think it's wrong to play metaphysical tyrant and tell the schizphrenic there are no voices, there are no others in the room, etc. How the hell do you know? !? Clinical psychology should not be used as a saramsai sword against the paranormal/scientific/philosophical unknowns of our world and our perceptions.

    However, you should understand how the DSM is used. It's application is for those who want to change, or are in serious danger of hurting themsevles and others.

    The DSM-IV is not a witchhunter's manual; it's a practitioner's guideline book. There's a big difference.
     
  5. Zanshin

    Zanshin Community Member

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    I agree. It's there to help practitioners diagnose in the tricky field of human psychology. There is very specific criteria needed to be diagnosed and you usually need the majority of them. It's really just a way to organize mental illness into categories in order to proceed with the proper treatment. It's not a bad thing; it's just like the mental version of a medical book, but not quite as precise and not necessarily 100% accurate. Sure there's a stigma to being diagnosed with something, but that's something that can be avoided by only telling trusted supporters, and being positive in general. And that's really another discussion in itself. Yes, this manual is depressing to read because it radiates negativity, but it really is necessary in order to help people with mental illness efficiently. If you want to read about a more positive side of psychology read stuff about the humanistic/existential perspective. In my opinion it is important to be positive when dealing with mental illness, but also aware of the abnormal processes going on.
     
    #5 Zanshin, Jan 21, 2009
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2009
  6. OP
    acd

    acd Well-known member

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    You're seriously offended? Your sensibilities are that delicate? Haha, no offense but maybe get a grip! It was a joke from a book I read... whoahh.
     
    #6 acd, Jan 22, 2009
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2009
  7. Zanshin

    Zanshin Community Member

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    Didnt mean to come across as being offended cause I'm not. Just thought it was a more serious topic. My bad lol.
     
  8. Pristinegirl

    Pristinegirl Well-known member

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    The DSM-IV is not a witchhunter's manual, actually it can be in the cases of psychiatric extensive care, when you don't have a choice. Although you are correct, in most cases it is used for people who intend to get better and have problems in some area..

    However this is also a weakness because people cannot be categorized within a mental disorder incorporating 1,2,3,4 or more symptoms ... We are so much more than just that and furthermore: individuals!

    =)
     
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  9. mayflow

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    Yay, I so much agree. :smile: haha, Pristinegirl, you are so Pristine.
     
  10. Pristinegirl

    Pristinegirl Well-known member

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    Hahah you think so, aaaw I'm so flattered *blush blush and ear to ear smile haha* =)

    YOU noticed it, by a couple of paragraphs why I consider myself pristine haha whereas people I have gone to school with for 4 years soon don't understand why xD (a handful of ISTPs)
     
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  11. OP
    acd

    acd Well-known member

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    Meh, ok. I just tend to not take things so seriously all of the time so perhaps I wasn't being respectful posting it, though I didn't mean to be disrespectful.

    I'm not making light of disorders...My god, that wasn't the point, and I am sure the guy who wrote the book it's from wasn't making fun of mental disorders or people with them, either.

    I think maybe the reason why Breszny put it in his book was to sayyyyy that people are individuals who have positive and negative characteristics and instead of looking for what is wrong with everyone, we should look at what is right as well instead of judging them by the status-quo..

    Obviously the dsm-iv is used to diagnose conditions so that psychiatrists etc. can help a patient recover, so it's not a bad thing... As far as using it to "witchhunt," I doubt that goes on very much. And If you think it's any worse than categorizing people strictly by mbti types and saying things such as they misunderstand you/or you don't see eye-to-eye or get along because they are this certain type, is not much better.
     
    #11 acd, Jan 22, 2009
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2009
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