i went to VA for psych treatment. they don't do psychotherapy except in (to organize) a (1) group. but you could talk to a social worker like 8 times (over 2 months or something like that), iirc.
the social worker, after a few visits, told me to get The Purpose Driven Life. my point is our current state of mental health... more evidence:
i went to hospital VOLUNTARILY like any other patient.
here in florida, as soon as you walk through the door it locks and you cannot of your own accord, it's called the Baker Act.
there i slept in "box bed"... low to the floor, thin plastic mattress, plastic pillow and sheets that are not fitted (you couldn't have fitted sheets for this thing) and slide all around.
box beds, i found out later, by letter, are because they have to be "immovable".
i could throw that plastic mattress, but not a real mattress. and, don't tell me you cannot attach a real bed to an anchor.
point being: this is punishment not health care.
while there my assigned shrink told me in private session "the true meaning of the Lord's Prayer{ (it was hanging on his wall); he then told me if i went "out there" (outside his door) and told anybody what he said that they would not believe me, maybe think i was "off." um... i think he is certifiable.
day before my last day (once you find out you can't just walk out you "game" to get out in the fewest by law days) the chief shrink would occasionally ask people what they have learned... i guess tis is from the Baker Act mentality?
when i did not "get it" he went to newspaper and tore off an edge to write on, he wrote: "God does make junk."
point? VA and Community hospital both peddling "God" (Christian) as medical treatment.
i'm formulating how to most effectively advocate on this issues.
i called the [same] community hospital the other day to ask if what i thought was true: do they have only one mental health Unit? yes. so all and any patient would go there and through their same shit "program." AND, this is also why i called... it's called the Behavioral Health Unit.
point: stigma, your behavior is bad and must be corrected, must be brought in to conformity.
once, in the mid 80's, i asked the VA if i could check myself into their psych ward and if i did could i check myself out --they said yes, but they lied. it was real bad scene when i ask to go (open the door), then put it in writing like they asked. i was strapped to metal table naked/briefs only and shot up for quite while. then a local come over and has "hearing" and let's me out.
many of these type place are real hell holes. truly, this is NOT medicine, not treatment, but it comes out of religious fascist state.
America needs an ATTITUDE overhaul.
