--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "ruthsimplicity" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Judy, you made the comment: > > "The DSM diagnoses, remember, are for the guidance > of therapists who are working with patients who > can't cope, based on the characteristics found in > thousands of past patients who couldn't cope." > > which may be generally true, I don't know, I am not a shrink.
As I recall, this is explained in the intro sections of DSM. ("Can't cope" is my phrase; change to "seek treatment" if that seems more appropriately neutral). > However, people with certain personality disorders may cope > just fine,a narcissist or sociopath for example. Technically, these are only disorders if they're professionally diagnosed, and typically people aren't diagnosed unless they seek treatment (or perhaps commit a crime and are required to submit to psychiatric examination). So to some extent it's a matter of semantics, but I think the caveat bears consideration. <snip> > The working hard of TM TBs on one fruitless activity after > another is very disturbing to me. I am still processing what > I think about it and what I think about what y'all think > about it. It was to me as well until I had the opportunity to interact with folks who were in the middle of it, to see it from the "inside," as it were. Then it made perfect sense.