George Farthing, an expatriate British man living in America, was recently diagnosed as clinically depressed, tanked up on anti- depressants and scheduled for controversial Shock Therapy when doctors realised he wasn't depressed at all - only British.
Mr Farthing, whose characteristic pessimism and gloomy perspective were interpreted as serious clinical depression, was led on a nightmare journey through the American psychiatric system. Doctors described Farthing as suffering with Pervasive Negative Anticipation - a belief that everything will turn out for the worst, whether it's trains arriving late, England's chances at winning any international sports event or even his own prospects to get ahead in life and achieve his dreams.
"The satisfaction Mr Farthing seemed to get from his pessimism seemed
particularly pathological," reported the doctors.
"They put me on everything - Lithium, Prozac, St John's Wort," said Mr Farthing. "They even told me to sit in front of a big light for an hour a day or I'd become suicidal. I kept telling them this was all pointless and they said that it was exactly that sort of attitude that got me here in the first place."
Running out of ideas, his doctors finally resorted to a course of "weapons grade amphetamine", the only noticeable effect of which was six hours of speedy repetitions of the phrases "mustn't grumble" and "not too bad, really".
It was then that Mr Farthing was referred to a psychotherapist.
Dr Isaac Horney explored Mr Farthing's family history and couldn't believe his ears.
"His story of a childhood growing up in a grey little town where it rained every day, treeless streets of identical houses and passionately backing a football team who never won, seemed to be typical depressive ideation or false memory. Mr Farthing had six months of therapy but seemed to mainly want to talk about the weather - how miserable and cold it was in winter and later how difficult and hot it was in summer.
I felt he wasn't responding to therapy at all and so I recommended
drastic action - namely ECT or shock treatment".
"I was all strapped down on the table and they were about to put the rubber bit in my mouth when the psychiatric nurse picked up on my accent," said Mr Farthing. "I remember her saying 'Oh my God, I think we're making a terrible mistake'." Nurse Alice Sheen was a big fan of British comedy, giving her an understanding of the British psyche.
"Classic comedy characters like Tony Hancock, Albert Steptoe and Frank Spencer are all hopeless cases with no chance of ever doing well or escaping their circumstances," she explained to the baffled US medics. "That's funny in Britain and is not seen as pathological at all."
Identifying Mr Farthing as British changed his diagnosis from 'clinical depression' to 'rather quaint and charming' and he was immediately discharged from hospital, with a selection of brightly coloured leaflets and an "I love New York" T-shirt.
Depressed? You could just be British ...
by Simon 9 Replies latest social humour
-
Simon
-
FMZ
roflmao Simon... so true... so true...
FMZ
-
Englishman
His story of a childhood growing up in a grey little town where it rained every day, treeless streets of identical houses and passionately backing a football team who never won,
Umm..well..I'm sure that I know someone like that. Your name escapes me though..He he heh..
Englishman.
-
mouthy
Tony Hancock, Albert Steptoe and Frank Spencer
What happened to them anyone? I loved watching "Some Mothers do ave em" & Tony's blood donation, still gives me a laugh. Are they still in the land of the living???
-
Aikon
Was he from Manchester?????? The most depresing place on Earth, where it never rains but pores !!!!!!!!!!
Aikon
-
stillajwexelder
Was he from Manchester?????? The most depresing place on Earth, where it never rains but pores !!!!!!!!!! Aikon No that would be Halifax
-
Simon
Yes, Halifax is where Mancunians who can't stand to live anymore go
-
stillajwexelder
I remember an old Folk Music song - forgotten the group but I think they were from Lancashire -- sang -- "From Hull and Halifax and Hell oh Lord Deliver me"
-
Simon
I guess the "hell" bit would be Manchester then? (going along the M62).
Or maybe it's Leeds? ... yes, that would fit ... or Liverpool ...
-
hillary_step
Simon,
Identifying Mr Farthing as British changed his diagnosis from 'clinical depression' to 'rather quaint and charming' and he was immediately discharged from hospital, with a selection of brightly coloured leaflets and an "I love New York" T-shirt.
lol....
I long ago learned to sum up the differences between many British and Americans by comparing them to UK and Japanese audio equipment.
The best UK audio equipment is functional at best in design, few frills, plain and ordinary with crooked teeth and a spartan kitchen. The very best amplifiers for example just have an on and off switch and nothing else. If you have heard a Lin Sondek playing vinyl, you will be struck by its very boring design. When you play music however, the quality of reproduction is quite astonishing. Its quality is internal.
Japanese audio is flashy, lots of dials, knobs, flashing lights and irritating gimmicks. But switch it on and it sounds like a grating metallic and strident President earnestly praying to God and asking him to fill his heart with Jaysus.
If I have missed upsetting anybody with the above comments, please do not hesitate in letting me know. I am trying to perfect a posting technique called 'global-git', which I hope will eventually lead to my being stalked by people from every representative nation on the planet, including the Marquesas. I have few prejudices.
HS