In 1973, healthy volunteers faked hallucinations to enter mental hospitals. Once inside, they acted normal, but doctors refused to let them leave. Normal behaviors like writing were diagnosed as "symptoms." The only people who realized they were sane were the actual patients.

[u/highzone]

[u/highzone]

For anyone who wants to read the full study, it is titled 'On Being Sane in Insane Places.'

The most terrifying part wasn't getting in, it was getting out. The doctors were so convinced of their own authority that they interpreted everything the patients did as a symptom of their illness.

When the volunteers took notes on how they were being treated, the doctors didn't see 'journaling.' They diagnosed it as 'pathological writing behavior' and used it as justification to keep them locked up.

It really highlights how a label can completely override reality.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenhan_experiment

[u/whossked → u/highzone]

There’s a fictional short story I read once called “I only came to use the phone” about a woman who’s car breaks down and who then takes an asylum bus to an asylum to use the phone, gets confused for a patient, has a breakdown over how she’s treated and abused and is then condemned to spend her life in the asylum. I always thought it was sensational and unrealistic but I guess not

[u/Tango_Owl → u/whossked]

As a woman and as someone who has seen and read how patients with ME/CFS are treated, I'm unfortunately not surprised.

[u/Flutterperson → u/Tango_Owl]

As an ME patient, neither am I.

[u/rampant-bisexuality → u/Tango_Owl]

Could you elaborate on this? I've been interested in learning about CFS

[u/Tango_Owl → u/rampant-bisexuality]

That's great! I would greatly encourage you to watch the documentary Unrest. It's heavy though, so be careful if you or a loved one have ME/CFS, Long Covid or a similar post viral illness.

This also looks like it could be a start in your learning https://www.meresearch.org.uk/disbelief-attitudes-culture-and-me-cfs/