Published on 12, July, 2020
Since graduating from college I've been strugglign to adapt to society, I've been unable to hold down a job and have been dealing with depression, mood swings and a whole host of mood swings. My wife pointed out to me a while back that I showed a lot of signs of autism, and rethinking about my childhood (I was always paranoid that people weren't telling me that there was something wrong with me. I wasn't like the other kids, I did well in school, but I didn't act like them, I didn't talk like them, and I didn't think like them), I couldn't read until I was in 4th grade, and the only solice outside of learning I ever took was video games. It was the world I understood best. My psychiatrist agrees that I might have autism but is telling me that a diagnosis would do nothing for me, and that kaiser, at least the one I go to, will only diagnos children and that they don't see a point to diagnosing adults because we should already have coping mechanisms. School was the only thing I ever understood. It made sense. I have a schedule, I attend, I learn at my own pace, I can leave and return, I gain knowledge, I grow in power, I move onto the next adventure. It was even easier to be social, I felt safe. It was an environment I knew. Anyways, I forgot what my point was. I guess I just wanted to be heard, realize I'm not crazy, that I do have this problem and that I can finally start finding resources to help me succeed.
Recombinantsocks,
Again thank you for taking time to reply.
You make some good arguments as usual and I recognise the concept of "the challenge" having taken an advanced course in person centred councelling 15 years ago. I completed the course but failed to meet the criteria for a successful career. I had not realised at the time I was autistic. The advice I was given was "now is not the time". In other words you need to become someone else before we will let you practice.
I remember one classic moment in a psychology lecture when the lecturer was describing basic human nature and explaining we all seek more fulfilment from life. I commented that councelling was a bit like prostitution "selling love for money". It went down like a lead ballon with the mostly female students in the class although the lecturer (male) did agree that I was correct, if a bit extreme.
Anyway my main purpose in posting this is to draw attention to the documentary investigation by Cathy Newman broadcast last night into the struck off doctor who first linked MMR vaccinations to autism. He is now pedalling the same nonsense in the US and also Europe. He has made a film about the subject and set up a "charity" and gives lectures. He also has links with Donald Trump who it appears agrees with him. He has even claimed to have a cure for autism according to the programme. 40% of the donations to his charity have gone to him personally as remuneration.
He may be an extreme example of "infiltration" but not unusual in my view.
The concept of picking a vulnerable group of people and setting up support charities to make a personal fortune from them is sadly a growing phenomenon it seems.
The first step is to create demand by raising awareness about MH issues then offer politicians solutions (at our expense of course) and bingo you have a business model which can be exploited. I agree I am cynical to the extreme at times but these are facts not hypotheses nor philosofical ideas.
I will look to getting a copy of the book you refer to once I have read up on the subject matter and summary of its contents. Thanks for the link.
Take care, Laddie.