Category: Self Examination

Looking beneath the surface to understand why we do what we do

WHO’S REALLY CRAZY? by Art Smukler, MD, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Politics, Psychiatry, Self Examination, World events, a psychological view

In 1963 President John F. Kennedy signed the Community Mental Health Act into law. $365,000,000 was authorized to start community based mental health treatment programs, so that the mentally ill could be treated at home rather than in horrifying, ancient hospitals where they were often just housed. The act was lauded as the beginning of a new era for treating mental illness.

Now 50 years later, the results are utter chaos and inhumanity. Many of the mentally ill now sleep under freeways, roam the streets, urinate and defecate wherever, and attack random people because they feel that they are being threatened. 

Why did this wonderful idea fail?

Politics! The politicians refused to allocate enough money to fund community mental health centers and build new state-of-the-art acute-care hospitals. 

It really is that simple. Psychotic people need laws to get them admitted, against their will, to a hospital. Plus, their psychological treatment needs to be funded. 

Closing the antiquated psych hospitals was a great idea, but then all the saved money went to everything but mental health. 

Did the politicians really believe that psychiatric illness would just disappear? Poof!

They’re crazier than the poor psychotics roaming the streets. 

Oh. And did I mention that the politicians cared more about getting re-elected than doing the right thing? Silly me. Finally, after 50 years of chaos, maybe things might change.

Please check out THE REAL STORY and NINE NORTH. Thanks.

PAGE 1 OR DONE! by Art Smukler, MD, author & psychiatrist

by artsmuklermd, posted in Psychiatry, Self Examination, Writing

CHAPTER 1

TRUTH OR FANTASY?

Two years and one day after Nelson Bennett died, he rose from the dead.

Amidst the hundreds of people strolling down the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California he stood alone, hair dark brown, not prematurely gray like it used to be, and at least thirty pounds lighter.

“Nelson!” Jake yelled. “Nelson!” The man was about fifty feet away – close enough for Jake to clearly make out his features; far enough for Jake to wonder if he was hallucinating. There was no way Jake could ever forget or mistake Nelson’s face. It was the face of his older brother, his only brother and only sibling.

The man turned, stared straight at Jake, his blue eyes locking onto Jake’s blue eyes. Abruptly, he glanced over his shoulder, a startled look transforming his gaunt, clean-shaven face, and he placed his index finger in front of his lips. Then he pivoted, and like a snowflake landing on a hot windshield, melted away.

“Stop!” Jake hollered, shoving past two young couples walking in front of him, pushing his way through the endless crowd of people toward the spot where Nelson’s image had vanished.

There in front of the designer eyeglass store, Jake stretched his six-foot frame and stood on his tiptoes to see over the passing crowd. No sign of Nelson anywhere. How could there be? Nelson’s ashes were sitting on a shelf in his closet.

Jake took a deep breath and broke into a run. He knew his behavior was absurd and that Nelson was dead. He also knew what he had just seen.

That’s the rule when you’re not John Grisham, Michael Connolly, or Nelson DeMille etc. To join their hallowed ranks, you need readers, and to get readers you have to immediately engage them.

Like the first page of NINE NORTH? Click to buy it.

Love the book? Tell friends. Go on Amazon. Thanks in advance. Art

#Mysteythriller #lovestory #hidingonapsychunit #Hassidiclife