It's Just the Human Condition - So Dump your DSM/Disorder & Demand Better

Throw out your DSM/ Diagnosis. In this ‘Peerly Human’ original, we put conventional psychobabble to shame.  We explain the entire realm of psychiatric diagnosis with a few basic principles that your average 8th grader could grasp. No masters degree or MD required.  Just your own ‘peerly human’ lived experience.  

10 principles:    

1. Human beings need safety & security across multiple life dimensions

2. We respond with fight-flight-freeze (FFF) to fear that our needs won't be met

3. FFF impacts body/brain functioning dramaticly (heart rate/ breathing/ tension/pain/judgment/speech/learning/digestion/nutrition/sleep/healing)

4. FFF looks different depending on if we express it physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially, etc

5. We use FFF to both (a) escape what we DON'T want & (2) go after what we DO want.    

6. FFF takes a huge toll on our minds/bodies when our needs go unmet (or remain at risk) for prolonged periods. (Think of your car without an oil change for years)

7. When understood, FFF explains virtually every disorder in the DSM. 

8. Since 90% of public mental health clients are trauma survivors, FFF is likely playing a huge role in what we are currently treating as 'mental illness.'

9. Conventional mental health cannot responsibly ignore this any longer. 

10. We must hold providers accountable to do better, as the damage from mis-treatment is great. 

Detailed 'primer' available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yVqs9JgbkxR4X-n5ji0xtBl3-Caka0YI8nJAdzRoxw4/edit?usp=sharing