Laing And Psychiatric Schizophrenic Healing Autobiography Wisdom And Theories

By Donald Lewis


Psychiatrists and psychologists are often writers as well as health care professionals. In one case, the late and well known psychiatrist Ronald Laing is included in this category. For, Laing had a lot of experience in the overall field of psychiatry as explained in a partial psychiatric schizophrenic healing autobiography wisdom, madness and folly. The partial autobiography describes the psychiatrist and the non-conventional aspects of treatments provided throughout a lifetime.

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 society at large, Laing rejected such labeling. At the same time, the psychiatrist was also labeled as being conservative with regards to political affiliations. For, Laing was often regarded as a New Left thinker.

Mad to Be Normal, a film released in 2017 focuses on the life of Laing and the field of psychiatry in the 1960s. One of the main aspects being to shine a light on the unorthodox methods of treatment being provided at the time, many which were more successful than others. While this is the case, this is just one film in a library of a number of books and films in which Laing has received such credit.

Even as a child, Laing was thought to be clever, competitive and precocious whether related to reading, writing, sports or music, Laing often took the road less traveled. A road which eventually led to the Royal College of Music, then later, the University of Glasgow. It was at the latter where the young Laing failed the exams, then spent six months working in a mental ward before retaking and passing the exams.

During studies at Glasgow, the student set up a club related to the Socratic Oath, acquiring Philosopher Bertand Russell as president. While successful at setting up the club, Laing failed the first set of exams. Then, after serving as an assistant in mental health ward for 6 months, returned and retook and passed the exams.

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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