Your kinds thoughts are really appreciated. I am sorry for what you went through and for your loss. While I guess no one would mind being a hero, I am just so relieved my baby girl is safe. I now feel compelled to help others avoid the pitfalls my daughter almost fell into.
I am not sure what question you are answering. To be clear, I wasn’t talking about me labeling anyone. But if a parent goes to their kid’s pediatrician and hears that the doctor thinks their child is ADHD (or whatever diagnosis) I want to be able to arm them with the necessary information to fight the label…not give the label.
And let me respectfully disagree a little bit on names/labels. Part of growing up is learning to deal with adversity. Being called names happens to just about every kid I have ever met at some point. With regard to medical labeling (not just mental health) I totally agree with you.
You’re kidding right? I can recite chapter and verse of the TADS study as well as anything Healy, Whitaker or Gøtzsche ever said or wrote about it.
But it occurs to me that part of what I had to do to educate myself was to synthesize an enormous body or work, watch endless hours of YouTube videos and read 3 complete books.
It seems like putting together a series of clear and concise presentations targeted at parents (one for each of the most common diagnoses) that would do four things:
1. Provide in one easy to digest and understand place the important background knowledge to understand the diagnosis and treatment options
2. Links to key research and studies done on subject with short and easy to understand description of what was done, key findings
3. Questions to ask doctor, therapist and / or psychiatrist to test their knowledge and also put them on notice you can’t be fooled with medical BS and buzzwords
4. Links to further reading for those people that feel they need a grasp of every detail
I could do this but I don’t know how to best get it into the hands of parents that need it. Thoughts anyone?
While I agree, as a psychiatrist I think you are morally bound to do more. The practice of psychiatry has a deplorable track record and things have never been worse.
If it was my profession that was partly responsible for the irresponsible drugging of our children I would be outraged. The process of using our children as guinea pigs on these drugs of dubious clinical value and clearly significant adverse side effects cannot go on and I would stand up and be counted.
One of my favorite quotes, ““The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men [and women] to do nothing.”
The lack of knowledge from the psychiatrists I have met is appalling. The fact that I know more about the studies than people that went to medical school and have sworn an oath to protect their patients should be criminal.
The only way I can think to fix this is there needs to be legal reform. GPs and psychiatrists that don’t know what they are doing need to be sued out of business. If I got in my car, got drunk and killed someone I am going to prison. If I am just a careless therapist that drugs a few kids to death it is all in a day’s work. Not only don’t I go to prison but I get to bill for my “services.”
Honestly this was by far the hardest part for me. I knew this was going to put my daughter in a difficult position. It was made worse by my ex-wife calling my daughter’s ex-boyfriend and asking him to call my daughter and convince her to go against my wishes take the pills.
When my daughter got the letter from her prior doctor’s practice she was really upset with me (which I am sure was the doctor’s intention). Fortunately I had recorded my conversation with the practice (with their knowledge and consent) and I let her listen to the recording so she could hear I wasn’t “out of control and inappropriate.”
But sometimes you have no choice. When we all went to my daughter’s therapist together she was mad at both of us. I told her it really wasn’t fair that she was in the middle but I simply had no other option.
The morning after the session I had this text exchange with my daughter:
Me: “…I know I reacted super strongly but I hope you know it was only because I was really afraid for your well being. Those drugs are no joke and I was terrified. I know it upset you and put you in a really difficult position. I feel awful about that but I didn’t see what choice I had. I hope you can forgive me.”
Daughter: “I am not upset with you dad. I’m happy you stepped in otherwise I would be on them right now without knowing anything. I love you (heart emoji).
Thanks to everyone for their comments. One of the things that strikes me as interesting, even odd, is that almost everyone feels like anxiety is something to be cured. Anxiety is a protective adaptation that is part of what makes us human and even helps us to be effective.
If I don’t get anxious before a big presentation then I don’t prepare as well. If I don’t get anxious about an upcoming race then I don’t train as hard. If I didn’t get anxious (and trust me I was VERY anxious) about this nightmare with my Daughter and Prozac I would not have been the most informed person I could possibly be. There have been 39 studies done on Prozac. I have reviewed them all.
It took this experience for me to understand how completely brainwashed we have all become not just about taking a pill to cure things but that our emotions are not something that require a “cure” in the first place.
Your kinds thoughts are really appreciated. I am sorry for what you went through and for your loss. While I guess no one would mind being a hero, I am just so relieved my baby girl is safe. I now feel compelled to help others avoid the pitfalls my daughter almost fell into.
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I am not sure what question you are answering. To be clear, I wasn’t talking about me labeling anyone. But if a parent goes to their kid’s pediatrician and hears that the doctor thinks their child is ADHD (or whatever diagnosis) I want to be able to arm them with the necessary information to fight the label…not give the label.
And let me respectfully disagree a little bit on names/labels. Part of growing up is learning to deal with adversity. Being called names happens to just about every kid I have ever met at some point. With regard to medical labeling (not just mental health) I totally agree with you.
Report comment
Randall,
You’re kidding right? I can recite chapter and verse of the TADS study as well as anything Healy, Whitaker or Gøtzsche ever said or wrote about it.
But it occurs to me that part of what I had to do to educate myself was to synthesize an enormous body or work, watch endless hours of YouTube videos and read 3 complete books.
It seems like putting together a series of clear and concise presentations targeted at parents (one for each of the most common diagnoses) that would do four things:
1. Provide in one easy to digest and understand place the important background knowledge to understand the diagnosis and treatment options
2. Links to key research and studies done on subject with short and easy to understand description of what was done, key findings
3. Questions to ask doctor, therapist and / or psychiatrist to test their knowledge and also put them on notice you can’t be fooled with medical BS and buzzwords
4. Links to further reading for those people that feel they need a grasp of every detail
I could do this but I don’t know how to best get it into the hands of parents that need it. Thoughts anyone?
Report comment
While I agree, as a psychiatrist I think you are morally bound to do more. The practice of psychiatry has a deplorable track record and things have never been worse.
If it was my profession that was partly responsible for the irresponsible drugging of our children I would be outraged. The process of using our children as guinea pigs on these drugs of dubious clinical value and clearly significant adverse side effects cannot go on and I would stand up and be counted.
One of my favorite quotes, ““The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men [and women] to do nothing.”
The lack of knowledge from the psychiatrists I have met is appalling. The fact that I know more about the studies than people that went to medical school and have sworn an oath to protect their patients should be criminal.
The only way I can think to fix this is there needs to be legal reform. GPs and psychiatrists that don’t know what they are doing need to be sued out of business. If I got in my car, got drunk and killed someone I am going to prison. If I am just a careless therapist that drugs a few kids to death it is all in a day’s work. Not only don’t I go to prison but I get to bill for my “services.”
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Of course. [email protected]
Not sure how I can be of assistance but happy to be of any help I can be for you.
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Honestly this was by far the hardest part for me. I knew this was going to put my daughter in a difficult position. It was made worse by my ex-wife calling my daughter’s ex-boyfriend and asking him to call my daughter and convince her to go against my wishes take the pills.
When my daughter got the letter from her prior doctor’s practice she was really upset with me (which I am sure was the doctor’s intention). Fortunately I had recorded my conversation with the practice (with their knowledge and consent) and I let her listen to the recording so she could hear I wasn’t “out of control and inappropriate.”
But sometimes you have no choice. When we all went to my daughter’s therapist together she was mad at both of us. I told her it really wasn’t fair that she was in the middle but I simply had no other option.
The morning after the session I had this text exchange with my daughter:
Me: “…I know I reacted super strongly but I hope you know it was only because I was really afraid for your well being. Those drugs are no joke and I was terrified. I know it upset you and put you in a really difficult position. I feel awful about that but I didn’t see what choice I had. I hope you can forgive me.”
Daughter: “I am not upset with you dad. I’m happy you stepped in otherwise I would be on them right now without knowing anything. I love you (heart emoji).
Report comment
Thanks to everyone for their comments. One of the things that strikes me as interesting, even odd, is that almost everyone feels like anxiety is something to be cured. Anxiety is a protective adaptation that is part of what makes us human and even helps us to be effective.
If I don’t get anxious before a big presentation then I don’t prepare as well. If I don’t get anxious about an upcoming race then I don’t train as hard. If I didn’t get anxious (and trust me I was VERY anxious) about this nightmare with my Daughter and Prozac I would not have been the most informed person I could possibly be. There have been 39 studies done on Prozac. I have reviewed them all.
It took this experience for me to understand how completely brainwashed we have all become not just about taking a pill to cure things but that our emotions are not something that require a “cure” in the first place.
Report comment