In the 60s, R.D. Laing among others founded the anti-psychiatry movement, as well as authored several books including ‘The Divided Self’ and ‘The Politics of Experience’. As somewhat of an eccentric within the field, he held vastly unique views on human nature and our relationships with each other. In this video Laing describes his view; that often trying to look backwards to find the catalyst of an individual’s depression or suicidal thoughts is not necessary when there’s a way out of the depression readily available. Often, our own thinking about the depression itself leads us into the downward spiral, creating a self-perpetuating mood state. However, determining what one enjoys and engaging with some simple humour can go a long way in restoring a more positive feeling in the patient.

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Feature: Furfante at Flickr, Creative Commons, some rights reserved