Should we accept politicians who see psychiatrists?

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I usually try not to have more than two threads on the front page at a time, but I just found this article and thought it was pretty compelling.

Mental Illness -- America's Most Dangerous Political Taboo (link).

Political taboos, campaign dealbreakers and electoral glass ceilings are crumbling. Members of Congress are openly gay and bisexual, there’s a black man in the White House, and a woman may be next. Voters have accepted all sorts of behavioral warts and missteps in their political candidates, too. DUIs? A mistake of their youth. Draft dodgers? There’s a long list. Womanizers? A much longer list. Illegal drugs? In just a few short elections, we’ve gone from a president who “didn’t inhale” to one who openly admits using cocaine in his youth.

Yet one large taboo remains stubbornly fixed—mental illness. Sure, it’s part of the conversation, in that pundits these days can, and do, speculate casually about whether Donald Trump has narcissistic personality disorder, Joe Biden has slid into depression, Hillary Clinton is clinically paranoid or Jeb Bush will be undone by a Freudian sibling tangle. But here’s the really sick thing: For a politician to admit to seeing a psychiatrist would likely be far more politically damaging than any of the possible symptoms of actual mental illness.
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The article goes on to explain how this issue has inexplicably shaped American politics. Unfairly, in my opinion. I would want the people we've chosen to lead the country to take the steps necessary to remain strong and reasonable instead of being worn away mentally, emotionally and physically by the stressors of a very stressful job.

I would not look down on somebody for seeking treatment. I would be more inclined to look down on somebody for losing their shit because they didn't seek treatment in time.
 
Psychiatric help should not be vilified. Period.

Even if you don't buy into Freud et al, there's something to be said about the benefits of speaking with a professional listener who's heard everything there is to hear and can put your shit into perspective without ending the convo with "yadda yadda Hail Mary's Our Father's".

Any longtime war roomer should understand there's a great deal of peoe in the world who would benefit from such an interaction.
 
But here’s the really sick thing: For a politician to admit to seeing a psychiatrist would likely be far more politically damaging than any of the possible symptoms of actual mental illness.
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Horseshit.

Seeing a psychiatrist is an ACTUAL indicator of some mental issue. Speculating that Donald Trump or another candidate is exhibiting "possible symptoms" of some mental illness is just politics.
 
When roughly a fifth of American adults use medication and millions go to talk therapy for their mental health, why shouldn’t the people governing the country be able to as well?
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Why is this even a question worth asking?
 
With some of the dirty shit that goes on in politics and war I think I would almost prefer someone that sees a shrink. Most these assholes can ruin lives and sleep like a baby. I still won't ever forget the Republican Congressman who single-handedly was able to delay extended unemployment benefits right before Christmas and then when Congress broke session went home and held a million dollar sweet 16 birthday party for his daughter.

So yeah, I'd rather someone have a conscience. If you are in Congress and don't feel a need to talk to someone and get some feedback to maintain a healthy mind and sound moral compass then ironically that person is probably fucked up.

Now if they are seeing a shrink because they are seeing talking mailboxes or some shit that's different. Someone insane shouldn't be in office. But the stigma of people seeing someone so they have someone to talk to about problems and decisions in their lives needs to go. It used to be seen as a sign of weakness. Real men don't talk about their problems and all that nonsense. IMO, real men can acknowledge it sometimes help to have an objective party to bounce things off instead of making the same mistakes.
 
I trust psychiatrists even less than I trust politicians. They're more full of shit. I dislike their constricting of a normal range of character traits into areas they define as mentally ill and thus in need of their professional assistance.

Thus a boastful and egotistical man, like Trump, becomes by their definition "sick," even though most of the psychologists who taught me in school were just as boastful and egotistical as Trump (but not as rich and successful). A morose man, like Lincoln, becomes clinically depressed. An emotionally controlled man, like Washington, becomes repressed. A hyperactive man, like TR, needs Ritalin in their view.

It's silly and stupid. And I wouldn't trust a man who felt like he had to go to see such witchdoctors because he didn't have enough control over his basic emotional functions.
 
What a ludicrous topic. Of course we should. Seeing a psychiatrist shows emotional depth and self-awareness. Any pragmatist would be open to the utility of seeing a psychiatrist and bettering themselves.

I have a feeling that if dudes like Ted Cruz saw a psychiatrist, they'd be a considerably less shitty human being.
 
I'd rather my politicians saw a psychiatrist instead of consulting sky wizards
 
Cold Front said:
I trust psychiatrists even less than I trust politicians. They're more full of shit. I dislike their constricting of a normal range of character traits into areas they define as mentally ill and thus in need of their professional assistance.

Thus a boastful and egotistical man, like Trump, becomes by their definition "sick," even though most of the psychologists who taught me in school were just as boastful and egotistical as Trump (but not as rich and successful). A morose man, like Lincoln, becomes clinically depressed. An emotionally controlled man, like Washington, becomes repressed. A hyperactive man, like TR, needs Ritalin in their view.

It's silly and stupid. And I wouldn't trust a man who felt like he had to go to see such witchdoctors because he didn't have enough control over his basic emotional functions.
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You don't know what you're talking about and you clearly don't know the categorization of mental illnesses, which almost always stretch far beyond mere "character traits". I'm very critical of a lot of psychiatry as well, but there is great utility in the practice and it's not overreaching at all in the way you describe: there is nothing that would lead me to believe any practical psychiatric professional would assume Trump to have any type of illness. Being an arrogant douche isn't an illness, but a normal personality trait.

Among all your dumb-as-fuck posts, this has to be up there.
 
Giblert said:
Psychiatric help should not be vilified. Period.

Even if you don't buy into Freud et al, there's something to be said about the benefits of speaking with a professional listener who's heard everything there is to hear and can put your shit into perspective without ending the convo with "yadda yadda Hail Mary's Our Father's".

Any longtime war roomer should understand there's a great deal of peoe in the world who would benefit from such an interaction.
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Spot on. Why should seeing a mental health professional be viewed negatively? Everyone has issues they want to work through and sometimes a spouse or friends do not understand or can't keep quiet or the like. Politicians are under huge pressure at times - better they turn to a psychologist or psychiatrist than coke and hookers.

I'd add the caveat that specific mental illnesses can make a politician unsuitable for office at a specific time.
 
Codpiece said:
Spot on. Why should seeing a mental health professional be viewed negatively? Everyone has issues they want to work through and sometimes a spouse or friends do not understand or can't keep quiet or the like. Politicians are under huge pressure at times - better they turn to a psychologist or psychiatrist than coke and hookers.

I'd add the caveat that specific mental illnesses can make a politician unsuitable for office at a specific time.
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Thanks. I agree with your caveat and would add that the negative opinions of the psychiatric profession is likely due to some or many bad apple practitioners/therapists delivering truths that were ill-received and shit-talked about to everyone the patient knew.
 
Is it not a default assumption that most politicians are mentally ill?
 
That someone seeks psychiatric help may well be an indicator that he isn't suitable for some role or task.

It depends.
 
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