Does anyone on here subscribe to more existentialist values? I’ve spoken to people with mental health issues that seem to be drawn towards the notions but not many who actually have an understanding past a ostensible self-image they’re trying to create (that’s probs just me being bitter bout my ex). 

However a fundamental part of the notion of existentialism is complete awareness and subsequent freedom, it rejects the notion of a subconscious as reductionist and a cloak to hide behind. We are aware of all of our actions and decisions we make, including what to and what to not remember. 

The idea of psychoanalysis and much of modern psychology, is in my opinion, rejected in course and still would be. Including notions of personality disorders, I envisage Sartre would say that these are reductionist attempts to categorise the human condition and also and attempt to hide from the reality of true freedom.

For info I have been diagnosed BPD and am also a philosophy graduate from the UK. The diagnosis doesn’t correlate with my beliefs about the consciousness and character.  I do not share these notions with the professionals as for someone who doesn’t read philosophy and understand more wild exploration of thought, may tag this to a type of psychosis. I actually went to an ‘existentialist therapist’ once and after about 8 weeks of her seeming to just talk about death acceptance, something that reaaaally wasn’t an issue for me, I asked her if she’d even read being and nothingness - she hadn’t, really pissed me off. 

I was first diagnosed 10 years ago but rejected the notion as I was studying at the time. Spent 10 years bouncing around the globe getting into all sorts of shit along the way and then after another ‘breakdown’ and loosing my job I have been diagnosed again.

I don’t see it as denial however can see how some may see it that way, modern psychology has really been focussed on and studies of the consciousness and it’s metaphysical existence have really lost touch in my opinion. I just reject these notions of personality disorder. I think they are reductionist views of the infinitely complex human condition and to feebly attempt categorise them like the DSM or ICD does is an insult and a step away from true resolution and recovery. 

I do not wish to take away from the efficacy of treatment with a basis in psychoanalysis or other psychological treatments. They work within a capacity, for analysing and changing unacceptable and/or damaging behaviours. I just question the ability they have to cure for the reasons I’ve outlined. As always with the existentialist view, out of this apparently dismal view is true freedom, eventual cure and ultimately happiness, but a more difficult road than DBT and psychotherapy - which appear to be the equivalent a cover up tattoo rather than a coalition and acceptance of the squiggle you got at a house party, incorporating it with a larger continued piece of art. Psychoanalysis gets close these days I think, but fundamentally misses the mark by eventually solving the issue by obscuring free will. 

I don’t wish to trigger anyone and I apologise if I do, I wanted to know if anyone else with a diagnosis on here shares existentialist, absurdist, or even phenomenological views. I’d like to label myself as more along the absurdist branch, just cause Camus a top geez and brings humour to the party and I can identify with Meursault, but the fundamental views that portray to mental health are the same. Whether for anyone this has proved damaging, helpful, any snags etc. ? 

Nietzsche told us to approach and live our lives like a work of art. Some of the most beautiful paintings dig out the darkest human emotions, yet their beauty persists. Some beautiful people on here