[curryst]

> DSM-5 is a handbook for how to blame society’s failures on individuals

I staunchly disagree with this, this has never been my experience with any of the psychologists/psychiatrists I have seen (I've seen somewhere around 6 over the course of my life).

Blame has never been a component of any psychiatric treatment I have experienced. The DSM is a book of diagnostic criteria to identify the issues you are experiencing, to help guide the provider in finding an appropriate means to help the patient cope with their problems. There is no question of blame; blame is basically irrelevant to the treatment.

I also don't think identifying someone's problem as being a result of society is clinically productive. Is telling a depressed person "Listen, you're just getting screwed over by society" going to be helpful? I think not, because the corollary to that is "and you can't change society, so you're stuck like this".

I do think it is important to consider how society is impacting the mental health of all of its members, but I don't think that discussion belongs inside your doctor's office.

[JacksonGariety]

> "and you can't change society, so you're stuck like this"

I think OP meant that psychologists/psychiatrists don't recognize the social nature of mental illness at all. Just because you can't change society doesn't mean you should tell patients that they can lift themselves out of depression through sheer willpower, healthy eating habits, and exercise. Those things can help but if you don't know how you're going to pay rent next month and you've got two kids, you're going to have serious anxiety.

[whatshisface]

Being anxious about a freight train heading straight towards you is not "anxiety" any more than grieving for the loss of a loved one is "depression." Medical doctors have absolutely nothing to do with the natural and accurate negative feelings associated with not being able to make rent.

[JacksonGariety]

But in most cases depression is a natural response to the difficulties of life. It's like when your immune system triggers an inflammatory response to infection. It's painful but natural; and the cause is external. Willpower can't cure depression any more than it can reduce inflammation. But in the case of mental illness, the external agent is socioeconomic hardship, family dysfunction, loss of a loved one, etc.

[samdamsamm]

Thank you. This is what I meant.