Yale psychiatrist explains how Trump's mental issues will cause him to self-destruct

[yuiyoshida]

Yale psychiatry professor Bandy X. Lee does not diagnose lightly. In fact, she emphasizes that her theory about the mental state of President Donald Trump does not reflect the professional opinion of any of the institutions that she is affiliated with, including the Yale School of Medicine.

Nevertheless, she tells Raw Story that it’s her opinion that rather than acting strategically, Trump’s pattern of behavior shows signs of severe psychological distress and that both Trump and his supporters are self-destructively spiraling in a way that spells dire trouble for the nation and the world.

Conversation edited for clarity below:

Tana Ganeva: Can you explain your theory about Donald Trump’s mental state, that the behavior is pathological rather than strategic?

Professor Bandy X. Lee: What mental health professionals look at are patterns. Patterns of his behavior. Oftentimes Trump’s assertions don’t bring him the advantages that strategy would.

It fits a pattern more of someone acting that is driven by emotional compulsions. It’s the emotional need to reframe situations. For example, the idea that the midterm elections are a win for him and if not, it’s seen as a fraudulent election.

more..
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/11/yale-psychiatrist-explains-trumps-mental-issues-will-cause-self-destruct/

[BootinUp]

1. We know. Nt

[renate]

2. Interesting stuff about his followers, too

Thanks for posting this!

[empedocles]

3. Fortunately, trump has made many bad decisions already.

Good thing, or else we would really be in trouble now. Good to know he is likely to make more mistakes to come.

[JohnnyLib2]

4. After Trump's presidency--

this will be theme in many of the articles and books written about him.
IMO, many of the key people who surround him know or sense this going on but are willing to cash in on it.

[LuckyCharms]

5. Good read, thanks for posting. k&r. n/t

[Solly Mack]

6. Oh, we know.

Doesn't help knowing though. Kind of like knowing the train is going to crash but there is nothing you can do to prevent the carnage.

If it was only him and his supporters at risk - but it's not. It's the rest of us too.

[MBS]

9. + 1000 n/t

[Jarqui]

10. The people in his cabinet and the GOP senators

would dismiss such a thing out of hand like they did Kavanaugh's accusers.

I'm not suggesting Kavanaugh's accusers proved their case. Their case was dismissed without proper due diligence by the GOP Senators in control.

The only way Trump goes anywhere before 2020 is if the GOP senators deem it to be.

[Xipe Totec]

7. Reminded me of The Hitchhiker's Guide's description of Grunthos the Flatulent

who was about to embark on a reading of his 12-book epic entitled "My Favourite Bathtime Gurgles" when his own large intestine - in a desperate attempt to save life itself - leapt straight up through his neck and throttled his brain.

[zentrum]

8. But he makes his coterie of

.....mega rich backers---The Mercers--more powerful, so no Repug cares. Kavanaugh is a a Mercer guy too.

[trickyguy]

11. We really need to listen carefully to Ms. Lee. She has a message for all of

us and if you want even more info on rTumps mental state
just read "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" which is a collection of writings
by professional psychologists and psychiatrists. This is where is all starts.

And I'm sure she choose the word dangerous very carefully.:

evilfrown:

[BigmanPigman]

12. "Duty To Warn" psychiatrists say the same things.

Most real psychiatrists look at this as a serious issue and do not take it likely. The fake prez is a danger to the country and world. He has personality disorders that can't be cured with meds and traditional, intense long term therapy. Even if tRump acknowledged he is a narcissistic, sadistic sociopath and committed himself to intense therapy his chance of getting noticeably better is about 10%. Lee, the doctor in this article, has been one of many who have been alerting the public for over a year.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychiatry-in-society/201806/mental-health-experts-advise-duties-warn-and-protect

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/01/bandy-lee/550193/

[yonder]

13. With respect to social media this stood out:

"On the right it’s far more extreme and far more divorced from reality. You have the very conditions that allow for thought reform to happen."

[pangaia]

14. Thank you for posting.

Anyone who has done even the minimal of 'inner work' on themselves, who has looked deeply into their own being, has seen this pathology in trump from the beginning.

And what is interesting is that this kind of self-study is not something very many people who identify as republicans have ever done, if any at all.

This may seem like broad-brushing, but they live in the lower levels of the intellectual, emotional and physical centers... where everything that occurs in their lives is purely automatic. Nothing actually comes from them as an individual person. it all just 'happens.' totally unconsciously.

They are truly 'asleep.'

[elocs]

15. If Trump is truly mentally ill, is it right that we belittle and deride him

for his illness? Is the same thing appropriate even if it's psychological distress?
Or do we just do that for Republicans while those on the Left get a pass?
Granted, he is in the most powerful political position in the world as head of the world's richest nation and only remaining superpower.
I have a 27 year old goddaughter who is schizoaffective and I visited her today at the mental health facility where she was committed and I'd hate to see anyone mock or belittle her for things she has done as a result of her mental illness which is a disease of the brain.
Do we really need to label everyone with a psychological pathology which could very well be a result of who they are and who they choose to be rather than a mental illness or personality disorder.
I know there are a lot of DUers so I'm sure I'm not the only one who can see things this way.
I'm sure there are many who have family and loved ones and friends who truly suffer as a result of their mental illness. She had her first major psychotic breakdown 10 years ago this Christmas and has been hospitalized many times. One of the main drugs she has been on for years is Abilify and the FDA issued a warning that a side effect of Abilify is that it can cause those who use it to become hypersexual and it has ruined the lives of some in that regard. This has happened with my goddaughter so is it ok if she gets mocked and derided for being the 'town slut'? Obviously not because she is sick, but if Trump is sick because of a mental condition then his actions are the result of his disease. I don't think a mental illness diagnosis is required to explain why somebody is self-centered, greedy, and evil because they choose to be that way.

[Doodley]

16. I am very sorry about your Goddaughter, but her condition and Trump are

two completely different issues.

Trump has his finger on the nuclear button. He can start a war at any time. He can affect people's life, whether they have healthcare, whether a woman has the same rights as a man and so on.

He has poisoned America. He has convinced tens of millions of people, if not a hundred million, that respected journalists and news organizations, judges, scientists, generals and anyone who is a Democrat is not to be trusted, is fake news and only his version of ignorance, based on bigotry rather than fact is what matters.

He is destroying this nation from within. He has created an all time low in the relationship with our allies, while heaping praise on despots. He has brought ridicule throughout the world. That is very different from your Goddaughter. He should be ridiculed. He should be belittled, because that is what he has done to his political opponents, of both parties, to the media, to gold-star families, to women, to Muslims, to Africa, to Mexicans, to Barack Obama.

Yes, he needs to be brought down and people need to understand that we have somebody who is mentally incapable of being a president for all Americans.

[elocs]

18. My point is that if Trump is truly mentally ill, then he needs help

because we should not mock and insult and deride someone for their mental illness even if their finger is on the nuclear button.
But I don't believe Trump is mentally ill, but that he chooses to be the way he is.

[diane in sf]

20. He won't get help as long as the criminals surrounding him find his behavior useful.

[yuiyoshida]

21. Hey Diane!

I am in SF too! Howdy neighbor!

[bdamomma]

22. No one has

ever tried to stop him from being an A-hole, and he thinks he knows everything.
He is truly a threat to himself and others, and does anyone think people will stand idly by if they feel threatened by this sick unfit whatever you want to call him.

[Scurrilous]

17. K&R

[malaise]

19. Can't happen soon enough

Please please!