A huge dilemma for those of us who are BDSM practitioners, and even for those of us who practice adult consensual spanking, Domestic Discipline, etc. has been the fact that BDSM practitioners have been dealt with as "having something wrong with them" by mental health practitioners for decades.The Mental Health profession has a manual for mental health practitioners called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, typically abbreviated as, "The DSM," which is written by the American Psychiatric Association, The A.P.A.. When a mental health professional encounters something they have not dealt with before, or they have to determine a diagnosis for a client or patient, for insurance billing or other purposes, they rely on the criteria in the DSM. The DSM is supposed to be based on the scientific research about the issues and symptoms it deals with. If a behavior you engage in is listed by the A.P.A. in the DSM as a pathology, then you have been classified as having a degree of mental illness.
Historically BDSM, homosexuality, and a great many other sexual variances from "the norm" were dealt with as being "mental illnesses" in the DSM. The DSM was forced by new research based empirical evidence to change those judgements.
BDSM was removed from being viewed as inherently pathological in the DSM in the mid 1990's. The DSM still, though, deals with BDSM and related behaviors as being potentially viewed as "a paraphilia" which is a form of psychopathology.
It is not at all uncommon for people who share this sensual/erotic orientation to feel uncomfortable with the "uniqueness" of their esoteric proclivity. This results in people who fear that they are somehow "sick" or "wrong" because they enjoy SM or some sort of power exchange dynamic within their family or love life, turning to mental health professionals who (all too often) confirm for them that, "Yes, there is something wrong with you. You have a paraphilia...and by the way there is no cure for this, but perhaps we can try therapy and some medications to help you live with your mental disability." The fact is the mental health community has no reason to necessarily know about our lifestyle. The empirically evidence-based "bible" of mental health practice, The DSM, the last word in mental health diagnosis, deals with the topic ambiguously enough to guide a mental health professional to see, BDSM, spanking, DD, etc. as forms of mental illness.
Now oddly enough, it turns out that there has grown to be a good sized body of empirical research literature about BDSM, none of which indicates that our favored behaviors are in anyway pathological.
The A.P.A. is in the process of its latest periodic revision of the DSM to realign its pronouncements with current research, and progress in treatment and best practice.
The NCSF, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, that advocacy arm of the BDSM and polyamory community, is mounting a campaign to influence the A.P.A. to change the DSM to conform to empirical research, and abandon the stigma and ignorance based biases it has relied on in its past pronouncements about BDSM. NCSF has done an excellent job in laying out the case for how inappropriate this is in their "White Paper" on this topic.
There is a petition to the A.P.A. to change how it deals with our lifestyle. Please sign the petition urging the A.P.A. to make this change.
Historically BDSM, homosexuality, and a great many other sexual variances from "the norm" were dealt with as being "mental illnesses" in the DSM. The DSM was forced by new research based empirical evidence to change those judgements.
BDSM was removed from being viewed as inherently pathological in the DSM in the mid 1990's. The DSM still, though, deals with BDSM and related behaviors as being potentially viewed as "a paraphilia" which is a form of psychopathology.
It is not at all uncommon for people who share this sensual/erotic orientation to feel uncomfortable with the "uniqueness" of their esoteric proclivity. This results in people who fear that they are somehow "sick" or "wrong" because they enjoy SM or some sort of power exchange dynamic within their family or love life, turning to mental health professionals who (all too often) confirm for them that, "Yes, there is something wrong with you. You have a paraphilia...and by the way there is no cure for this, but perhaps we can try therapy and some medications to help you live with your mental disability." The fact is the mental health community has no reason to necessarily know about our lifestyle. The empirically evidence-based "bible" of mental health practice, The DSM, the last word in mental health diagnosis, deals with the topic ambiguously enough to guide a mental health professional to see, BDSM, spanking, DD, etc. as forms of mental illness.
Now oddly enough, it turns out that there has grown to be a good sized body of empirical research literature about BDSM, none of which indicates that our favored behaviors are in anyway pathological.
The A.P.A. is in the process of its latest periodic revision of the DSM to realign its pronouncements with current research, and progress in treatment and best practice.
The NCSF, National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, that advocacy arm of the BDSM and polyamory community, is mounting a campaign to influence the A.P.A. to change the DSM to conform to empirical research, and abandon the stigma and ignorance based biases it has relied on in its past pronouncements about BDSM. NCSF has done an excellent job in laying out the case for how inappropriate this is in their "White Paper" on this topic.
There is a petition to the A.P.A. to change how it deals with our lifestyle. Please sign the petition urging the A.P.A. to make this change.
By the way, those of you who may not relate to the descriptor BDSM as describing your lifestyle, should know that the DSM deals with lists of behaviors. If you engage in spanking, paddling, strapping, whipping, etc. you are effected by this whether you call your self a BDSMer, DDer, Spanko, or whatever. The DSM is used worldwide too, so this is not purely an issue for those of us in the U. S.
I have signed the petition as have the rest of "our clan." I added my credentials as a mental health professional and a brief description of my life for whatever, if any, additional credence it might add.
This is a an opportunity for us to strike a blow in destigmatizing our lifestyles and the lives of those who share them.
Tom
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.
I have signed the petition as have the rest of "our clan." I added my credentials as a mental health professional and a brief description of my life for whatever, if any, additional credence it might add.
This is a an opportunity for us to strike a blow in destigmatizing our lifestyles and the lives of those who share them.
Tom
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.
Thanks so much for sharing this. Have had the DSM thrown in our face a couple of times as "proof" that we have a mental problem. Glad there is a chance for review!
ReplyDelete:)
Todd and Suzy
What a great post. I was seeing a therapist for depression and told him I live in a DD marriage (a very happy one). Despite my best efforts to convince him otherwise, he was determined to lay my depression on the fact that my husband "controlled" me and that I was somehow stiffled by him. How sad that even medical professionals cant accept DD/BDSM etc. as valid lifestyles.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
Hi All
ReplyDeleteHave signed the petition, as you say DSM is extensively used here in Europe too.
Hil
P.S. Great picture :-)
Very important stuff Tom. Thanks for putting this out there. I am signing and urging others to as well!
ReplyDeleteTodd, Suzy, and Suzanne thank you for noticing this and for your expressions of support. I hope that you will sign the petition. You really do have the opportunity to exert influence on reforming the DSM.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sara and Hil for not only your supportive words but for signing the petition. I see you both there. Weould you (or any others who have Blogs) consider commenting about this on your Blogs? If you don't want to do a fully blown post you could simply write a brief comment and link readers here to get to the NCSF White Paper and survey link. We need to build a force field of support for this.
I can't believe I actually signed the petition with my full name, history, and professional role and credential, but I am tired of seeing people treated this way including those whom I know and care for.
By the way, for those of you who are not so inclined to be "out" in this way, it is possible to sign the petition and withhold your actual name. You can even post a comment on the survey and withhold your name.
Thank you to you four and I hope many more of you will learn about this and work to influence the APA by signing this petition.
Tom
Go confidenly in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.
Tom, thanks for this honest post, not that I have ever found you anything but.
ReplyDeleteI have signed the petition, also with my full name and address.
I lived my entire married life as a convinced D D and D/s partner.
My late wife was a fully qualified practising clinical psychologist.
I too am tired of hiding.
Warm hugs
Paul.
Paul, I/we are always pleased to hear from you here. You have always been a great friend. Thank you for signing the petition so forthrightly.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason right now the links to the petition here and at the NCSF website seem to not work. Hopefully that is just some passing Internet glitch.
In looking at that I discovered there is actually a DSM Revision Blog. It is DSMRevisiion@Blogspot.com.
It's purpose it to keep us all aprised of the progress of this campaign.
Thanks again, Paul.
Tom
Go confidently in the direction of your dreama. Live the life you've imagined.
Hi Tom
ReplyDeleteHave added a link to your post and a link to the petition on my blog. Let us hope that our concerted efforts will help to bring a change for the good.
Hil