Thank you for this. I do think that there is a function to the social media posting, which is to raise awareness and reach people and hopefully convert their thinking. But then it has to be taken to the next level, into real direct action.
There's probably something to this, yeah. I need to finish part 3 but one of the things I want to get at there is if we conceptualize socialism as the next economic stage (IF!) then we need to think about which things move us toward it and which things don't. There's definitely an argument for comment sections moving toward socialism, but there's quite a lot more that's needed. And what are those things? etc
Very true. Personally, I focus on local political advocacy (transportation oriented). I live in a relatively progressive area (which still has a good minority of trump supporters) but there is still quite a lot of authoritarianism present in local government, I’ve become aware of it the deeper I go. I’ve had some wins but it’s easy to just give up in the face of how entrenched it all is.
Really helpful survey of these ideas! Not easy to summarise so many ideas this clearly. Love how you're applying these theories to such a concrete situation. Look forward to the next one :)
I love this series! I'm a therapist and the first part of this series was recently posted in our community therapist group. It caused an interesting debate, although textbook reflexive impotence on both the group practice leader's side and the associate/recent associate's side-- but at least we broached the conversation! I'm a recently licensed therapist, so I exercised my impotence on the associate side. My therapist friends and I speak about this all the time, especially about if/when we are ready to take on associates, how can we do it fairly? We live in an increasingly expensive mountain town, and so many of us struggled financially and, thus, mentally/emotionally. I imagine the struggles we went through are only going to get worse. I'm really looking forward to part 3 because it feels as if we are the fish and capitalism is the water, and yes, I hear the hopelessness/powerlessness in that statement. I'm just beginning to dive into and understand capitalism/socialism/economy and the impacts they have, thanks to my training as an IFS therapist. I really appreciate your ability to take these complex topics and put them into language I can actually understand!
I see that you wrote this awhile back, but wanted to thank you for summarizing everything just so. Ironically, I read Capitalist Realism a couple of years ago and ended up in IOP a month later. As a teacher, it became too much watching my students suffer waiting for mental health services with 100s in line before them. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work.
We each have something to bring to the collective. It may not seem like enough to put it down and have it read on Substack, but reading what you wrote resurrected hope in me — you're the first person I've encountered (in real life?) to acknowledge the true depth of what we're witnessing and experiencing.
Thank you for writing this. I am a psychotherapist-in-training in Canada right now. Before this, I was an ordained minister. And on the side, I read and learn about Marx and dialectical materialism. I've my own dog-eared copy of Capitalist Realism. All that is just to say, there is a clear and unambiguous connection (it seems to me) between capitalism and poor mental health outcomes for the humans who live in it. Again, thank you for putting words to this important topic in such a coherent way.
I appreciate when people write about the potential impact of Mark Fisher on clinicians (and clinical practice), not just their patients. In 2018 Farhad Dalal published "The cognitive behavioral tsunami", which I recommend for anyone trying to find concrete points about the link between depression, treatment and neoliberalism.
a very well researched piece. I’m working with a ‘trauma informed teaching’ company at work & finding the majority of the circumstances we are finding challenging due to social context above personal circumstances
Capitalist Realism was the first book I lent my girlfriend when we started dating 🥰
You may enjoy ‘The Invisible Doctrine - The Secret History of Neoliberalism’ (Monbiot & Hutchinson, 2024) and ‘Technofeudalism’ (Varoufakis, 2023) about what is replacing capitalism.
Thank you for this. I do think that there is a function to the social media posting, which is to raise awareness and reach people and hopefully convert their thinking. But then it has to be taken to the next level, into real direct action.
There's probably something to this, yeah. I need to finish part 3 but one of the things I want to get at there is if we conceptualize socialism as the next economic stage (IF!) then we need to think about which things move us toward it and which things don't. There's definitely an argument for comment sections moving toward socialism, but there's quite a lot more that's needed. And what are those things? etc
Very true. Personally, I focus on local political advocacy (transportation oriented). I live in a relatively progressive area (which still has a good minority of trump supporters) but there is still quite a lot of authoritarianism present in local government, I’ve become aware of it the deeper I go. I’ve had some wins but it’s easy to just give up in the face of how entrenched it all is.
Really helpful survey of these ideas! Not easy to summarise so many ideas this clearly. Love how you're applying these theories to such a concrete situation. Look forward to the next one :)
I love this series! I'm a therapist and the first part of this series was recently posted in our community therapist group. It caused an interesting debate, although textbook reflexive impotence on both the group practice leader's side and the associate/recent associate's side-- but at least we broached the conversation! I'm a recently licensed therapist, so I exercised my impotence on the associate side. My therapist friends and I speak about this all the time, especially about if/when we are ready to take on associates, how can we do it fairly? We live in an increasingly expensive mountain town, and so many of us struggled financially and, thus, mentally/emotionally. I imagine the struggles we went through are only going to get worse. I'm really looking forward to part 3 because it feels as if we are the fish and capitalism is the water, and yes, I hear the hopelessness/powerlessness in that statement. I'm just beginning to dive into and understand capitalism/socialism/economy and the impacts they have, thanks to my training as an IFS therapist. I really appreciate your ability to take these complex topics and put them into language I can actually understand!
I see that you wrote this awhile back, but wanted to thank you for summarizing everything just so. Ironically, I read Capitalist Realism a couple of years ago and ended up in IOP a month later. As a teacher, it became too much watching my students suffer waiting for mental health services with 100s in line before them. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work.
help me care enough to write part 3 somehow
We each have something to bring to the collective. It may not seem like enough to put it down and have it read on Substack, but reading what you wrote resurrected hope in me — you're the first person I've encountered (in real life?) to acknowledge the true depth of what we're witnessing and experiencing.
as usual, every word from a so called “therapist” is beyond worthless.
worse than worthless actually
Brilliant piece. Thank you. I’m working on a post on Fisher as part of a series looking at our dependence on digital technology
Reflexive impotence. What a concept!
I will need to reread more than once. Makes a lot of sense.
Brilliant. Thank you
Very insightful, thanks for writing!
Thank you for writing this. I am a psychotherapist-in-training in Canada right now. Before this, I was an ordained minister. And on the side, I read and learn about Marx and dialectical materialism. I've my own dog-eared copy of Capitalist Realism. All that is just to say, there is a clear and unambiguous connection (it seems to me) between capitalism and poor mental health outcomes for the humans who live in it. Again, thank you for putting words to this important topic in such a coherent way.
This was a great read.
I appreciate when people write about the potential impact of Mark Fisher on clinicians (and clinical practice), not just their patients. In 2018 Farhad Dalal published "The cognitive behavioral tsunami", which I recommend for anyone trying to find concrete points about the link between depression, treatment and neoliberalism.
dalal's book good
Wow this is a brilliant analysis and framework that I will be using going forward.
a very well researched piece. I’m working with a ‘trauma informed teaching’ company at work & finding the majority of the circumstances we are finding challenging due to social context above personal circumstances
I'm rereading "Capitalist Realism" so this being recommended is ... providence (I also saw "Nosferatu" a few days ago).
Edit:
"Therapy is immensely helpful, but it is not helpful in developing a better political economic future for everyone."
Then it's not helpful.
Capitalist Realism was the first book I lent my girlfriend when we started dating 🥰
You may enjoy ‘The Invisible Doctrine - The Secret History of Neoliberalism’ (Monbiot & Hutchinson, 2024) and ‘Technofeudalism’ (Varoufakis, 2023) about what is replacing capitalism.