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Today, we’re breaking down mental illness: what it is, where it comes from, and how it became defined by psychiatry, diagnosis, and the modern mental health industry.

This video essay explores the history of mental illness, the history of psychiatry in America, the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), therapy culture, medication, and how “madness” has been shaped by colonialism, racism, sexism, capitalism, and eugenics.

In 2026, more people than ever are being diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health conditions. Therapy and psychiatric medication are more accessible than ever, yet many of us still feel broken, unstable, paranoid, exhausted, or “crazy.” So what if the problem isn’t just our brains?

This episode examines how mental illness became medicalized, institutionalized, racialized, gendered, and monetized, and why suffering is often treated as a personal defect rather than a rational response to an increasingly unstable world. We look at the rise of therapy culture and TherapyTok, BetterHelp and online therapy platforms, the American Psychiatric Association, Big Pharma, the chemical imbalance theory, and the political weaponization of “mental health” by both the left and the right.

We also explore lived experience with diagnosis, including bipolar II disorder, PTSD, depression, medication, rehab, and long-term therapy, and what happens when you start questioning whether your diagnosis explains you… or disciplines you.

Topics covered in this video essay include:

mental illness explainedhistory of psychiatryDSM and psychiatric diagnosistherapy culture & TherapyTokBetterHelp and online therapyBig Pharma and psychiatric medicationbipolar disorder & hypersexualityPTSD & traumathe Enlightenment concept of Reason (logos vs eros)How to Go Mad Without Losing Your Mind by La Marr Jurelle BruceDrapetomania and scientific racismeugenics in the United Statesforced sterilization in Californiaasylums, lobotomies, and electroshock therapyWomen and Madness by Phyllis Cheslerpsychiatric imperialism & neurosexismracialization of schizophreniaW.E.B. Du Bois and double consciousnessneuroleptics and antipsychoticsGen Z mental health statisticscapitalism, burnout, paranoia, and social collapsepsychosis vs spiritual awakeningDave Chappelle’s mental breakdown“snaps and clicks” theorymadness as political identity

If you’re searching for:

mental illness explainedhistory of psychiatrytherapy culture critiquebipolar disorder explainedDSM explainedpsychiatric diagnosisBig Pharma and mental healthmedication vs therapygen z mental healthis mental illness biological or social

this episode provides the historical, political, and philosophical context behind modern mental health.

Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bzB3ikEsOgkDz01G4EN4yCRzZdariwe91bqOEbJYbQk/edit?tab=t.0

#videoessay #mentalhealth #mentalillness #psychiatry #historyofpsychiatry #therapyculture #bipolar #ptsd #diagnosis #dsm #bigpharma #genz #capitalism #burnout #psychology #philosophy #culturalcritique #politicaltheory #therapy #medication #trauma #neurodivergent #madness #sanity #socialtheory #internetculture

Disclaimer: This video is for entertainment, journalistic, and educational purposes only. I do not own the rights to any clips, music, or images used. All third-party content is included strictly under fair use for purposes of commentary, criticism, analysis, and discussion.

Fiji (researcher, host, producer, editor)instagram: @s0wettwitter: @s0wettiktok: @fijithesirenyoutube: @fijithesiren

im on substack now !! subscribe for articles and email updates whenever new episodes are released: https://substack.com/@s0wets0dry Today, we’re breaking down a pink pill that is far too popular, though for understandable reasons. The divine feminine energy coaching/ advice trend has roots in feminism… and fascism. We’re going to look at how the reinforcement of patriarchal gender roles became disguised as pretty pink Pinterest-worthy mental and spiritual self-help.We’re talking: Willow Smith’s song Female Energy, the girlboss era, witch feminism, When God Was a Woman by Merlin Stone, The Divine Feminine by Mac Miller, Google Trends for “feminine energy” terms, Mormons, Carl Jung’s psychology with Aspects of the Feminine and Masculine, the divine masculine and feminine theory’s connection to fascism, Eros and the Mysteries of Love by Julius Evola, the myth of the hermaphrodite, gender essentialism, semiotics, and The Love Witch.If you’re searching for a video essay about divine feminine explained, feminine energy meaning, feminine energy coaching critique, or why divine feminine content is trending, this episode gives you the historical, political, and psychological context behind the aesthetic/ trend.Intro: 00:00:00 - 00:01:13Divine Feminine Energy and Feminism: 00:01:13 - 00:25:11What Does Divine Feminine Energy Mean Today? 00:25:11 - 00:33:47The Jungian Psychotherapy Roots of Divine Feminine Energy Coaching 00:33:47 - 00:50:32The Fascism behind Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine Coaching 00:50:32 - 01:02:05The Modern Danger of Femininity Coaching 01:02:05 - 01:07:28The Love With and Self-Help for Women 01:07:28 - 01:13:03Wrap up: Wet, Dry, and Confused 01:13:03 - 01:26:07Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WV8tEH20twe9IGylcXSMDj8aTJngabojJWpesMuZl2c/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.xp4frjo6d83o #videoessay #divinefeminine #feminineenergy #masculineenergy #feminineenergycoach #divinemasculine #femininitycoaching #femininity #jungianpsychology #genderessentialism #girlboss #witchfeminism #selfhelpcritique #popcultureanalysis #spiritualitytrends #newagetiktok #feminism #culturalcritique #thelovewitch #willowsmith #macmiller #philosophy #genderstudies #internetculture #aesthetictrends Disclaimer: This video is for entertainment, journalistic, and educational purposes only. I do not own the rights to any clips, music, or images used. All third-party content is included strictly under fair use for purposes of commentary, criticism, analysis, and discussion.Fiji (researcher, host, producer) instagram: @s0wet twitter: @s0wet tiktok: @fijithesiren youtube: ‪@fijithesirenMaximo (video editor)‬maximosarzano16@gmail.com)

This episode/video essay is about… bathwater. Sydney Sweeney’s Dr. Squatch Bathwater Bliss ad, the bathtub scene in Saltburn, the difference between “sexy” and “erotic,” and why capitalism keeps selling us desire but never giving us the real thing.We’re talking: Sydney Sweeney’s controversial Dr. Squatch ad campaign, Elle jones substack essay “everyone is sexy and no one is erotic,” the difference between sexy and erotic, sexiness in marketing, Georges Bataille’s theory of eroticism as violence and excess, Saltburn and erotic desire, Byung-Chul Han’s Agony of Eros, capitalism, possession, consumption, and more.Intro: Sydney Sweeney address backlash to Dr. Squatch ad campaign and compares it to Jacob Elordi’s bathwater: 00:00:00 - 00:03:34Everyone is sexy and no one is erotic: the viral substack essay: 00:03:34 - 00:07:31The difference between sexy and erotic: 00:07:31 - 00:17:03Eroticism in the movie Saltburn with analysis from Georges Bataille’s Eroticism: Death & Sensuality: 00:17:03- 00:29:25Sex Sells: The Marketing Strategy behind Sydney Sweeney’s Sexy Ad Campaign: 00:29:25 - 00:39:00Desire & Possession: The Agony of Eros by Byung-Chul Han 00:39:00 - 00:55:06Feminist Critiques of Sydney Sweeney’s Ad Campaign 00:55:06 -01:04:49Wrap Up: Wet, Dry, & Confused 01:04:49 01:11:26Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JlgG4V344bWITgXy3RpigZCZSV-SEcpo8oAi_lbhTww/edit?tab=t.0Disclaimer: This video is for entertainment, journalistic, and educational purposes only. I do not own the rights to any clips, music, or images used. All third-party content is included strictly under fair use for purposes of commentary, criticism, analysis, and discussion.#SydneySweeney #Bathwater #Saltburn #JacobElordi #DrSquatch #AmericanEagleAd #SweeneyControversy#SexyVsErotic #Desire #Eroticism #Feminism #ChoiceFeminism #PopCultureAnalysis #VideoEssay#GeorgesBataille #ByungChulHan #AgonyOfEros #PhilosophyTok #TheoryTube #s0wetS0dry #Podcast #DeepDive #MediaCriticism Join the community of confused pussies and philosophical slxts💦🌵 follow on instagram, twitter, youtube, and tiktok @s0wets0dryFiji (host, editor) instagram: @s0wet twitter: @s0wet tiktok: @fijithesiren youtube: ‪@fijithesiren‬ Mylao (Graphic Designer, and Artist)instagram: @xlaomedia email: xlaomedi4@gmail.com This content is for entertainment, journalistic, and educational purposes. I do not own the rights to the content from other creators in this episode. All content is used under fair use.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...