Toxic Shaming: Speaking the Unspeakable Truth of Psychiatric Violation

Vast numbers of us find ourselves shamed or ashamed as a direct result of having been psychiatrized.  What if this is not an accident?  Could it be that toxic shame is a direct intention of psychiatry, not just a byproduct? Is psychiatry using shame in the same way it uses other so-called ‘treatments’ – as a means to silence dissent, marginalize critique and enforce compliance with dominant culture ‘norms.’  Regardless of intentions, what is the implication of an entire profession actively exploiting clinician-patient power differentials so that its members are free to force their will on vulnerable, unconsenting service recipients?  

In this episode, we explore our lived experiences with what we are coming to term ‘psychiatric molestation.’  We discuss how the medical model has positioned psychiatry to ‘have its way with us’ in body, mind and spirit.  We openly challenge the violation inherent in any posture of ‘clinical intercourse’ which dictates that the psychiatrist is always on top, dominant and entitled to exercise power, while relegating patients to the bottom, submissive, receptacle role.  Finally, and most importantly, we ask how we can overcome iatrogenic shame and recover from the damage that psychiatry has done to us on physical, mental, moral, social and existential levels.

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