What Did People Believe About Therapy In The 1800s?
“Therapy’s Messy Origin Story: Freud, Cocaine & Couch Confessions 🧠💥”
Therapy has been around longer than your uncle’s conspiracy theories — and trust me, it’s just as messy. Part one of this deep dive: let’s rewind the clock to the late 1800s and meet the wild man himself — Sigmund Freud.
Freud, the OG of psychoanalysis, was a chain-smoking, cocaine-snorting Viennese doctor who decided that your childhood, your dreams, and your repressed feelings were the keys to your messed-up head. His big idea? The unconscious mind — all the buried stuff you don’t even know you’re thinking about but that still drives your behavior.
Was he onto something? Absolutely. The fact that buried emotions can sabotage your life still holds water today. But let’s be real: Freud was also a total nutcase who thought everything was about sex, your parents, or your secret desire to marry your mom.
So here’s your takeaway: if your therapist is still stuck on pure Freudian bullshit, you’re not healing — you’re basically starring in a bad Victorian soap opera. Know your roots, but don’t get stuck in them.
This video is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are in crisis or having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or go to your nearest emergency room.
About Michael
I'm Michael, a mental health creator, recovered alcoholic, future therapist, and the host of Sober Psychology. After realizing how much of the traditional mental health conversation misses the mark, I decided to build a space dedicated to raw, unfiltered self-examination and personal healing. My approach combines psychological principles with brutal honesty and hard truths, cutting through the noise to help people navigate their own growth. No toxic positivity, no hidden shame—just real conversations about what it actually takes to heal.