Consider mental illnesses an individual chemico-biological problem has enormous benefits for capitalism. First, it reinforces Capital’s drive towards atomistic individualisation (you are sick because of your brain chemistry). Second, it provides an enormously lucrative market in which multinational pharmaceutical can peddle their pharmaceuticals (we can cure you with our SSRI’s). It goes without saying that all mental illnesses are neurologically instantiated, but this says nothing about their causation. If it is true, for instance, that depression is constituted by low serotonin levels, what still needs to be explained is why particular individuals have low levels of serotonin. This requires a social and political explanation; and the task of repoliticalising mental illness is an urgent one if the left wants to challenge capitalist realism.
Capitalism Realism – Mark Fisher (via communize-anarchy)
Sometimes you just have low serotonin levels, like some people have endocrine issues, but also sometimes this is true… like trying to claim it’s exclusively caused by capitalism is really REALLY fucked up. SSRIs have saved the lives of MULTIPLE members of my family. Lactose intolerance isn’t caused by capitalism (not producing enough of the enzyme that breaks down lactose) and sometimes not producing enough serotonin isn’t either.
(via thepeacockangel)
It’s just extremely unfortunate that there IS no way for a professional to really discuss or recommend treatment for mental illness induced by or heavily contributed to by capitalism cuz’ like… What are they gonna say… “Your shit is fucked up because you live in a society that your brain is not remotely suited for and you can’t do the things that help your brain function correctly on a chemical level or avoid the lifestyle that pumps you full of stress hormones so… LOL YOU’RE DOOMED.” I mean I don’t think it would help anyone to hear that even if it might be totally true for someone. I think it’s totally true for me. I don’t think I would feel 75% as bad as I do without the constant high level terror of “Oh my god, I need money or I’m going TO LITERALLY DIE.” I feel like self-care is a lost cause when I’m constantly thinking about that. Maybe I’m just a stereotypical Capricorn.
(via minotaur-tears)
Yes, both are true, but the point is the idea that all of it is caused by capitalism is false, and harmful, but yeah I mean I’d probably feel better in a society that wasn’t so… well evil and didn’t make me feel completely worthless if I’m not earning money/am not a good provider, but on the other hand, I’m pretty sure not being able to get out of bed around my period is just my brain chemistry being a dick, also I’m pretty sure the meds I’m on make it a lot easier for me to do actual work towards ending capitalism because I’m basically non-functional without them
Thoughts From The Peacock Angel 