“Armchair Pathology”: What YOU Need to Know

Betrayal Trauma Recovery - BTR.ORG

Anne Blythe, M.Ed.

Education, Sexuality, Relationships, Mental Health, Society & Culture, Self-improvement, Health & Fitness

4.6 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This episode is Part 3 of Anne's interview with Paige.
Part 1: "Armchair Pathology": What You Need to Know (this episode)
Part 2: Is My Husband Enmeshed With His Mother?
Part 3: Can Herbal Medicine Help With Betrayal Trauma Symptoms?
Part 4: Navigating Pregnancy When You're in Trauma
Armchair Pathology: The pathologizing (diagnosing, whether by a formal diagnosis or simply a suggestion) of an individual without thorough, knowledge-based, individualized care by a provider or advocate.

In other words, when a provider or advocate labels a victim with certain pathology without spending time actually treating or working with that individual.

Paige is on The BTR.ORG Podcast explaining the dangers of armchair psychology. Tune in to The BTR.ORG Podcast and read the full transcript below for more.
Why is "Armchair Pathology" a Dangerous Practice?
The symptoms of trauma often mimic mental illnesses, disorders, and pseudo-psychological conditions (like "codependency"). Meaning that when providers do not factor in trauma and abuse to a client's profile, any diagnosis or suggestion can be completely inaccurate.
Have YOU Experienced the Dangers of "Armchair Pathology"?
Some victims have experienced the dangers of armchair pathology without even realizing it - because this practice has become so normalized. You can ask yourself these questions:

* Has a provider or advocate diagnosed me with a mental illness, disorder, or something else, without ever having seen or spoken with me?
* Have I been prescribed medication without having been given a diagnosis?
* Was I given a serious diagnosis after only one visit, or after a telehealth appointment?
* Did the provider give me a diagnosis after speaking with my husband?

BTR.ORG Is Here For You
Too many so-called experts subject women to severe harm. If you worry that you may be experiencing the dangers of armchair pathology, please seek support right away.

Attend a BTR.ORG Group Session today to process your experiences.
Full Transcript:
Anne (00:00):
Welcome to BTR.ORG. This is Anne. We have a member of our community. We're going to call her Paige on today's episode. Welcome, Paige.

Paige (03:19):
Hi. Thanks for having me.
What is "Armchair Pathologizing"?
Anne (03:21):
Paige came on today's episode to address a variety of topics. We're going to start with armchair pathologizing of victims. So Paige, what is armchair pathologizing?

Paige (03:34):
It is when peopleare labeled with a disorder or a diagnosis without actually having had interactions or contact with a provider or advocate.

Anne (03:51):
Can you give some examples of that?
Examples of "Armchair Pathology"
Paige (03:53):
One great example is we see it a lot with celebrities. Expert in psychological fields say, oh, well this person obviously has narcissistic personality disorder. Or this person's presenting with borderline personality disorder. But these professionals don't have a relationship with these individuals. So they're just observing things from the outside and not actually treating them in any capacity. Which makes their statements unethical. We see it a lot in the betrayal trauma community. Oh, well, you're just not healed enough. You're just triggered because you're not healed.

Especially when women are countering the narrative that they are codependent or trauma bonded or any of these victim blaming labels and they're li...

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to BTR.org. This is Anne. No matter what you're going through right now. No matter if you thought things were under control, no matter if you hoped things would get better, if you realize you're back to square one.
0:14.8	If you find yourself needing support, we're here.
0:19.3	If you're new to the BTR Podcast, consider starting with the oldest episodes first and then work your way
0:24.7	forward chronologically.
0:26.4	If you do that, you'll hear a change in my voice as I grow in my confidence and skills.
0:31.9	If you're like the majority of our listeners, you're experiencing the type of abuse
0:36.0	that's invisible and difficult to wrap your head around. Your husband is using porn or having
0:40.7	affairs or lying to you or all of the above and no one understands how to
0:45.2	actually help you. We do. If you're wondering where to start, go to BTR.org
0:51.9	slash steps to see your next three steps.
0:56.0	BTR coaches are not only professionally trained in trauma and abuse,
1:00.0	we've lived through it ourselves. We get it.
1:03.0	With BTR group sessions, you have access to at least 21 sessions a week to choose from.
1:09.0	Our group sessions are for women victims of emotional and psychological abuse
1:13.5	and sexual coercion.
1:15.1	You can access our daily group sessions from your closet,
1:17.9	from a parked car in your garage.
1:20.3	Check out the session schedule at BTR.org.
1:23.0	We'd love to see you in a group session today.
1:25.0	We have a member of our community.
1:28.0	We're going to call her Paige on today's episode.
1:31.0	Welcome, Paige.
	...

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