06/03/2026
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I asked ChatGPT this:
"Can you give me a couple of examples of normal human emotions that have been pathologised so that the pharma can benefit from prescribing more drugs and increasing their revenue?"
I encourage you to go and ask!
Based on the response I received, I'd say that in the case of the menopause, it is a natural and physiological process, only exacerbated by the crazy lives we lead which cause depletion over time, not a mental health disorder. Menopause can cause mental health challenges such as anxiety, mood swings, depression, poor concentration, lack of sleep... but the cause is physiological. This feels like a way to avoid investigating women's health further.
I am glad HRT is available but this pharmaceutical solution does not target a mental health issue, it targets hormones as the root cause. Hence it should be removed from the DSM.
And like the menopause, there are a few other "conditions" that shouldn't be in there.
The DSM classification of mental health disorders has grown considerably since the last update in 2013. It was then reviewed in 2022. There are dilemas around this and I am not a scientist nor a doctor, but in my human and holistic therapist view, a few if not many "conditions" need further review.