Tuesday 28 August 2007

"Look. We don't believe, we fear."

learned-helplessness

"Following the work of Martin Seligman, many psychiatrists now characterise depressed people as suffering from Learned Helplessness. Seligman's theory arose from the observation that dogs which were repeatedly given electric shocks over which they could exercise no control became listless and helpless - in many ways like depressed human. Studies of normal humans also revealed that they became helpless if given no control in experimental situations and he hypothesized that people became depressed as a result of being placed in situations where whatever they do makes no difference to what happens."

(Oliver James, Britain on the Couch, p50)

For a larger version of this picture, click here.
To find out what Prozac-Nadler is thinking, click here.


(In the collection of Richard McCabe, London)

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I get it - those are the mountains of despair?

Jeannetto said...

It's amazing how good this is, and i'd like it anyway, but that fact that i'm in there and you are kind of prodding at a truth about me makes it intense on another level.

Steve said...

I didn't mean to reveal any deep dark truths about anyone but myself, but if I did, I think that's good, whatever the flak that comes from that.

soulbrush said...

i keep returning to this and reading it over and over and it fills me with despair...maybe it's those deep dark truths...

Anonymous said...

deep dark truths...why bother with anything else?

really.
truly.

printed and hanging on my wall at work.

the therapist said...

Aside from the pharmacy and the acting out of your depression, I wonder what other steps you have taken to counter it?...(I do enjoy your pictures).

the therapist said...

Do you feel threatened, Ellis, if someone takes an interest in you...?

regards.

Anonymous said...

Hey cuz,
For the 1st time I relate to your blog today.....
;-(

xxxxx
The bipolar II one in the family....

Steve said...

Maybe you just need to get laid, Rachelle...

Steve said...

Hello Therapist.

Were you thinking of offering your pricey sympathy-time to me and then crowing on your blog about what mugs we Weak In The Headers are?

Anonymous said...

what pill will the therapist be?

Anonymous said...

jesus. you need to get published. i'm fucking serious. (i was gonna write 'effin' till i remembered your avatar) bwa ha ha

quite frankly, i need some SELF control. alluva sudden, i'm eating a bag of hershey kisses a day. if this keeps up, i'm gonna get round. [i get images of me rolling off the furniture.]

the therapist said...

Many thanks, Prozac.

Having considered myself a fake most of my life, it doesn't sit easily with me to say I am real, but so it is. As for soliciting for work on your blog, I would never do that, having what is known outside the womb as a reputation. However, your fear inclines me to wonder- who has betrayed you?

regards.

Steve said...

I think The Therapist wants to Fuck With My Mind (but hey, that's what they're good at, innit?)

Have always wanted someone to Fuck With My Mind like Conchis done in The Magus. You up for the job Therapist?

Betrayal. Everyone. But mainly betrayed by...myself.

Not sure what that means, but sounds like the sort of thing one would say in therapy.

Now back to reading my Jeffrey Masson book.

Anonymous said...

Im jealous that switch has a job and a printer.

the therapist said...

Prozac,

You'd like me to play with your mind? Like Conchis? I suggest reflecting on the him or her who originally played with your mind.

Spend a little time with that, the original betrayal. Then sleep.

regards

Anonymous said...

http://www.suicidemethods.net/index.html

family like you who needs enemies! here is a great site for you to check out!!

Anonymous said...

http://www.geocities.com/t_ride9/sui.html

This one is great too - different methods of suicide when the fucking prozac wears off! and getting laid doesnt help!

baggelboy said...

Wow
It looks like everyone is playing on the belly of a pointy chined lady.

Anonymous said...

that therapist is always smoking a pipe filled with a mysterious O. substance.

O. instead of alcohol, perhaps?

Steve said...

Opium. I don't know. Though supposedly it's making a comeback. Suitably louche for The Therapist, I'd say.