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Laing And Psychiatric Schizophrenic Healing Autobiography Wisdom And Theories

By Donald Lewis


The mental health field boast a number of psychologists and psychiatrists which are also writers. While this is the case, most have focused on orthodox treatments since having left medical school. That is, except for Ronald Laing, a psychiatrist whom originally failed, then passed exams states in a partial psychiatric schizophrenic healing autobiography wisdom madness and folly. In fact, the psychiatrist suggest the failure was due to statements made against orthodox treatments rather than negative test scores.

Laing, a Scottish psychiatrist and author whom wrote extensively on the topic of mental illness, especially psychosis has numerous book and film credits. Most of Laing's views can be attributed to treatments related to psychopathological phenomena. In most cases, due to the unorthodox treatments the psychiatrist prescribed for clients which were influenced through the study of existential philosophy.

Laing's views often ran counterclockwise to the ongoing treatments of orthodox psychiatry such as chemically based medications and electroshock therapy. In one case, because the psychiatrist and author looked at the feelings of clients as real experiences rather than symptoms. Whereas, when it came to psychosis, Laing viewed schizophrenia as theory rather than the fact.

While labeled as anti-psychiatry by others in the field and a large portion of society, Laing rejected such label and moved forward with a thriving practice. For, the psychiatrist had become accustom to labels as others had been labeling the psychiatrist a New Left thinker for years.

The 2017 film, Mad to Be Normal focuses on Laing's unconventional work in the field of psychiatry. The film portrays the psychiatrist in the 1960s revealing the approach Laing took with regards to the unique community built for clients and unorthodox treatments provided at the time. While this is the case, this is just one of the many films in which the psychiatrist played a part. Whereas, there have been a number of books including the autobiography in which readers can learn a great deal more about Laing, life and the unconventional wisdom placed on society at large during a life well lived.

Even as a child in grammar school, Laing was being labeled as competitive, clever and precocious. For, unlike other children of the same age, Laing loved reading books, participating in track and field and later, becoming a musician and associate at the Royal College of Music. After which, Laing attended medical school and eventually graduated as a mental health care provider from the University of Glasgow.

During medical school, Laing also started a Socratic Club, appointing well known Philosopher, Bertand Russell as president. After which, Laing became involved in different areas of psychiatry, always pushing for unconventional treatments. Actually, advocating for new and unorthodox treatments was something Laing continued up until passing away in 1989.

Ultimately, Laing's colleagues throughout a long career characterized the psychiatrist as being conservative. For, most disagreed with the psychiatrist with regards to the overwhelming opposition to orthodox treatments. Whether electroshock therapy or new medications being released at the time, Laing remained strongly opposed compared to others in the mental and medical health care fields throughout life until passing away in 1989.




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