You mean it’s about promoting the (very expensive) “electronic drugs”?
SCAPEGOATING
If “most people” carrying out “Mass Shootings” come from the “Normal” division of the population, NOT the “Severe Mentally Ill” division; then I don’t see how “Getting Tough” with the “Severely Mentally Ill” will reduce the “Mass Shootings”.
Thank You Leah for standing up effectively against Injustice.
Thank you very much, for your research and advice.
The holistic approach did work for me for Psychotropic Drug Withdrawal (Neuroleptic LAI), and for Mental Wellbeing and Happiness.
I rebounded several times and nearly killed myself, before deciding to taper carefully. The Rebounds were recorded as Relapses; or more Chronic Severe Mental Illness. And then I had 35 years of complete wellness.
My Name was Placed by my GP Surgery, on a Severe Mental Illness Register in 2002, while I worked on House of Parliament Building Norman Shaw House:
I wonder how this fits in with Person Centred Care
Thanks for highlighting an obvious source of human distress; it can’t be emphasised too often.
But, if “Global Mental Health” were to “acknowledge” Sociostructural determinates of distress – what might they do with them?
Factually, the average present day Psychiatrist has as much of an idea of a non tranquillisation approach, as does the average librarian, or taxi driver.
It would seem to me that a person can only be excluded by an exlusive group, and exclusive groups can exclude anyone, so everyone is vulnerable to being excluded. I think this is how a lot of the world operates, and this is one of the reasons why we have mental institutions.
In my own life I have experience of being in some generally inclusive groups. Some human environments naturally operate like this.
Thank you Dr Gnaulati,
It is an interesting question why people approve of ‘pride’ and ‘success’. I wonder how much difference there might be between men and women as observers on this.
A “Diagnosis of Schizophrenia” is on of the most Fatal things that a person can get!
Thanks for the Great Blog Eric
“Learning From the Voices in My Head” by Eleanour Langdon is available on Amazon (Ebook) for £2.95, and it is an excellent and very readable book.
I don’t know whether to laugh, or to cry:-
“…The researchers hypothesized that bipolar disorder itself might lead to Parkinson’s disease since both syndromes are theorized to be disorders of the dopaminergic system. However, the researchers acknowledge that the cause of both disorders is unknown and that bipolar disorder itself “is not associated with overt evidence of neurodegeneration…”
Myself I didn’t suffer longterm neurological difficulty until I came into contact with psychiatry.
But you try reporting this to a doctor or neurologist.
That’s what it might be in a sense “evil spirits” or “human ill will”, that surround a person. There’s no reason why a ceremony shouldn’t work – to chase out the demons.
“…and one which will tell a person, to their face, that their experience is not true, not real, and not valid.”
In my case Yes and No, the Academics and Neuro Scientists that looked after me completely omitted my recent historical experience in the summer of 1980. I had spent several months in Amsterdam prior to returning to London and ending up in the Maudsley Hospital for 2 months, and then returning to the Galway Ireland Regional Hospital.
But there was no mention of Amsterdam where I had worked and lived for several months and had been socially acquainted with a young Northern Irish “Born Again Christian” man who matches the description of the person below..
(he had been concerned about a conversation we were supposed to have had, but that I couldn’t place)
.
The Maudsley Psychiatrist in 1980 though vague on nearly everything else had placed a strong emphasis on “street drug abuse”. Which I repeatedly denied.
(Retrospectively I would deny knowingly or willingly taking street drugs).
When I was transferred to Ireland in November of 1980 the Mental Health “History and Formulation” (without Amsterdam) was quoted by the UK accompanying Doctor and written and signed for by the Admitting doctor, rendering the information IMO, Unreliable.
This Standard was accepted by my 1980 Consultant Psychiatrist and Academic Researcher at Galway Ireland.
The UK accompanying Doctor from 1980 (I believe) ‘committed suicide’ around 2000; and the Admitting Doctor at Ireland from 1980 (based in the UK in 2000) was barred from practising medicine.
Dear Chris Maylea and Indigo Daya,
Thank you for this very worthwhile Article.
I believe the Facts On The Ground should indicate what works, and should be followed – not Academia.
I’ve been. “Diagnosed” as “Schizophrenic” “Chronically Schizophrenic” and “Schizo Affective”, but have many, many years of proven Wellness behind me, as a result of leaving the Mainstream Psychiatric system.
My “Severe Mental Illness Disability” the Hallmark of “Severe Mental Illness”, also left me very quickly when I left the Mainstream Psychiatric System.
Had I remained “Severely Mentally Ill” for the past 40 years I would have cost the Irish Taxpayer about €3.5 Million (€80,000/Yr X 40yrs);
I cost the Irish Taxpayer about €0.35 Million (€80,000 X 4Yrs), prior to taking charge of things myself.
Exactly!
This is as a result of the hard work and persistence of individuals and organisations like Mad in America.
Everyone can probably identify with a nervous breakdown (especially ‘under stress’). But people recover, don’t they?
During a ‘Nervous Breakdown’ a person might be incapable and full of fear. A person “diagnosed with schizophrenia” might know where they are, but be disturbed.
So what’s the difference between a “nervous breakdown” and “schizophrenia”?
My external circumstances are not too different over the years but I’m happier. But a lot of people might be trapped in impossible situations.
(I remember a doctor friend telling me when someone is in a job that’s full of stress and comes to see him he tells them that the solution might be to leave the job. But a lot of people feel like they can’t, and not necessarily for the money).
They are not Antipsychotics they are Neuroleptics.
“Antipsychotic” is a marketing term, but it is inaccurate as the drugs don’t do anything for “psychosis”, the drugs “switch the whole person off”.
Dr Peter
I admire any doctor that is prepared to help people trapped in “psychiatry”.
“….A lot of our conversation has to do with the fact that we have to open up institutions; we can’t let these people be on the streets.’”..”
The “Classic Mentally Ill” are not shooting people. Its a small proportion of the large percentage of “Mentally Well People” that take Psychiatric Drugs for convenience, that are going on the Rampage.
“..In 2013, the maid of honor in Tittl’s wedding committed suicide. Then his cousin committed suicide. Another relative was institutionalized with a serious mental illness that year….”
I’ve experienced the same thing myself regarding suicide and my own extended family; and I have also attempted suicide twice myself. My problem was Akathisia.
Hallucinations = Brain Damage?
I think the McMinfulness movement is about pulling Mindfulness down. I notice a lot of ‘catch phrases’ are used repeatedly, even though I doubt the people using them know what they mean.
Most of the ‘SMI’ recovery stories I’ve seen on MIA have the spiritual side of ‘Meditation’ included in them.
To prove the point:- When I was at school in Ireland, English was the 98% Official Language. Irish (Gaelic) was also taught and promoted at school for 12 years up to the school leaving age of 16. But the majority of students, after 12 years of schooling, were not up to standard in the language.
But any child can learn a language naturally in 6 months.
When I was at school (as an incentive) a good pass in Irish in the final exams was worth 2 credits which would guarantee a person entry into University. And anybody up to standard in Irish taking the final exams was more or less guaranteed this.
(But the students were still incapable of learning the language through the school system).
.
Doesn’t at all surprise me.
I notice lots of people who work in Mainstream Mental Health for some reason seem to live not too far away from “the Joker” they mightn’t act out, but its very much in there.
But the UK even acknowledges how hopeless the “Mental Health” System has become. Theres nothing of value to export.
Thanks Sarah,
Your Message is always extremely constructive and I’m very interested in your initiatives.
I was at a late night peer group myself (11PM to 12 AM), when I saw your Article and have been attempting to absorb it since.
Peer Groups Can Make a Big Difference.
….and there’s probably a Diagnosis for 1 in every 3.
Lancet is England I presume. And England seems to have far too many of its own “Mental Health Problems” to involve itself anywhere else.
For example 1 in every 4 adults in England have been prescribed a psychotropic drug in the past year.
..and it’s probably the same all over the ‘developed’ world.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Dear Dr Dainius Pūras,
Do “Schizophrenics” have the “highest” rate of Suicide?
I was diagnosed in 1980, at the age of 20; and between 1980 and 1984 experienced a series of Suicidal hospitalizations, culminating in 1984 with me discontinuing drugs (depot injection) suitable for schizophrenia – and made Recovery. The DRUGS had CAUSED the SUICIDAL Hospitalizations (and the DISABILITY).
In October 2018 I went (with my notes) to see Professor of Psychiatry Dr David Healy at Wales, who provided me with a Letter expressing that he was confident that I had never suffered from Schizophrenia to begin with.
Dr David Healy in 1984 had been Registrar to the Consultant Psychiatrist that had treated me between 1980 and 1984.
A LICENCE TO KILL
This was my Experience with Psychiatry:-
I attended a Western Buddhist Group in London many years ago to learn Buddhist Breathing Meditation, and this has improved my ‘happiness in life’ over the years, very much. I would recommend it to anyone.
Meditation is something a person can do independently, and the ‘patience’ to do it can be developed very gradually.
As far as I know Buddhist Breathing Meditation has been reliably ‘proven’ to improve happiness and quality of life.
Why is “every” Hearing Voice Group in London ON during “Working Hours”?
Do people have to be “Disabled” to attend a group?
Are these groups run by Professionals or Peers?
Nearby Groups
Camden Mixed Hearing Voices Group
Tuesdays, 12.00 – 1.00pm
Camden Voice Collective 16-25 Group
Wednesdays, 5.00 – 6.30pm
Camden Women’s Hearing Voices Group
Fridays, 2.00 – 3.15pm
Enfield Hearing Voices Group
Mondays, 3.00 – 4.00pm
Hackney I.R.I.E Mind Hearing Voices Group
Thursdays, 3.00 – 4.00pm
Hackney Women-Only Hearing Voices Group
Wednesdays, 3.30 – 5.00pm
Haringey Hearing Voices Group
Mondays, 2.00 – 3.00pm
Islington Hearing Voices Group
Fridays, 2.15 – 3.30pm
Lee House Hearing Voices Group (Hackney)
Fridays, 11.30am – 12.30pm
Westminster St Mungo’s Broadway Unusual Beliefs Group
Wednesdays, 11.00am – 12 noon
Even in my hometown in Galway, Ireland in the 1980s, there existed groups where people supported each other to successfully Recover from the “Severe Mental Illnesses” (of “Manic Depression” + “Schizophrenia”):-
I think the “Article Title” describes things fairly accurately. ‘Mental Illness’ is longterm – because the treatment approach guarantees this.
What can be done to improve the overall situation? I would say acknowledgement of the success of the Non Drug Approaches (Open Dialogue being one of these). And acknowledgement of the dangers of abrupt psychuatric drug withdrawal.
Great Broadcast.
I’ll definitely be getting the Book!
Some lovely videos on U tube of Steven as well.
Yes I support the motion. People that don’t consume “antipsychotics” live about 25 years longer!
Hi Elizabeth,
It doesn’t surprise me that people describe SSRI s as ‘Gateway Drugs’. I’m glad you survived to describe the horror.
How can anyone ‘diagnose’ anybody else as MAD when the drugs have this effect!
This is a Much Needed International Institute
THE ORIGINAL EFFECTS OF THE DRUGS
I think it makes sense that if a person regularly consumes a psychotropic drug, that the drug becomes part of the persons ‘Mental Balance’, and if the drug is abprubtly withdrawn that the persons System can imbalance.
I think it also makes sense that if a psychotropic drug is carefully withdrawn, a person is far less likely to run into trouble, as they can see where they are going at any given stage.
MY EXPERIENCE
I stopped taking my Long Acting Neuroleptic Injection in 1984 because of its Suicidal and Disabling (Akathisia) side effects and made Complete Genuine Longterm Recovery as a result.
I was initially given permission to ‘abprubtly’ withdraw from the Long Acting Neuroleptic Injection in 1983, but I didn’t last long. I checked myself into hospital after a short length of time and ended up back on the injection.
After a number of further hospitalizations a suicide attempt (and a near suicide), I decided to very carefully withdraw from the Neuroleptic Injection with the help of oral medication. My Disability and Suicidal hospitalizations ended as a result of coming off the strong medications, and I remained Long term Well (from 1984 to 2019).
HIGH ANXIETY
I suffered from Neuroleptic withdrawal “High Anxiety”, but fortunately for me, I was able to find psychological tactics to deal with this potentially disabling condition.
I was able to recognise that I was going into “Catastrophy Mode” when it was happening, and I could recognise that my thinking was locking me in, and that if I was able to allow the “Drama” to pass off, I would (with difficulty) revert back to normal.
Eckhart Tolle describes something similar to “High Anxiety” in his book “The Power of Now” and he recommends very good ways of dealing with it.
RELAPSE OR REBOUND
My Historical 1980s Psychiatrist ‘presented’ a number of Research Papers on the Long Acting Neuroleptic Injections – where he described the inability to withdraw abrubtly from these drugs as Relapse:- My Experience contradicts this.
I think its always been presumed that drugs taken to make people feel happier are likely to make them feel more unhappy in the long run. It’s only ‘recently’ that people have attempted to argue against this.
I think the “McMindfulness Approach” is about destroying, a very useful ancient practice.
In my opinion ‘Enduring Mental Illness’ shouldn’t be very enduring in ‘Psychology’. I remember Dr Peter Breggin (I believe) in one of his articles mentioning that a young person coming to him with Severe Diagnosis in the summer might be back at ‘school’ in the Autumn.
I believe a person can also make complete recovery with the help of a psychologist without confiding their ‘personal life’ to the psychologist.
‘Normalized’ is a good word. It’s part of the culture now for a person to ‘expect’ to maybe be killed in a hospital when they go in for routine medical treatment. People accept this as ‘just one of those things’.
With ‘Schizophrenia’ what people often suffer from when they attempt to Withdraw from strong Psychiatric Drugs is a condition described by Robert Whitaker as “High Anxiety”.
The way a person might deal with High Anxiety is the same way as someone might deal with normal anxiety:- “allowing the anxious feelings to pass off before examining the anxiety”. With High Anxiety this can be VERY VERY difficult BUT can be successful.
It’s also important to withdraw very SLOWLY from strong psychiatric medications.
If “Severe Mental Illness” IS a Long Term Mental Illness in Psychiatry requiring long term and Disabling Drug treatment ; I can’t understand how someone can Recover Completely* through Psychological means (and stopping the Disabling Drug treatment).
Examples of complete recovery throgh Psychology might be:-
You’re in a good position now to help your friends.
I think it was Dr Kelly Brogan that said that a person can develop symptoms so severe on SSRI drug withdrawal that they compare with Acquired Immunity Disorder Syndrome.
The slower the better was my own experience.
Thanks again.
What about all the companies, that rely on the Government to operate and to make money!
If you want to turn a a Well Person into a Severely Mentally Ill Person you can do so automatically with Neuroleptics (aka ‘antipsychotics’).
Dr Richard Bentall took some himself, and he went MAD.
“…Neuro-psychologist Dennis Staker had drug-induced akathisia for two days. His description of his experience was this: “It was the worst feeling I have ever had in my entire life…”
Hi Reed, thanks for the well written and very scary article. Normal Grief becomes Major Depressive Disorder, Potentially Bipolar and almost Schizophrenia.
I took the old tricylics and they made no difference to my mood, and it looks like the SSRI s don’t work for most people either.
I’ve experienced melancholoy, but I don’t think I have ever been clinically depressed, and I don’t know what I would do if I was.
As far as I can see the answer is within the Buddhist Approach, but this might be found under different headings. The Buddhist Approach wouldn’t at all stop me being “ambitious”, I’d have no problem following the two philosophies. But the Buddhist Approach does work!
Most so called madness in industrial societies wouldn’t be considered to be madness in the normal way, unless people wanted to take advantage. There’s also the need for social workers and other professionals to feed off
sick people for their own survival.
My own recovery from “Chronic Schizophrenia” was very quick once I got off drugs suitable for Chronic Schizophrenia and learnt to deal with my Withdrawal High Anxiety.
The Irish family might be one of the better type of families to become ‘sick’ in!
“..Whatever the exact cause or causes, it has also been suggested that the current Mental Health System is NOT adequately addressing the problem…”
“…Antidepressants Increase The Risk of Suicide, Violence and Homicide At All Ages
The FDA admitted in 2007 that SSRIs can cause madness at all ages and that the drugs are very dangerous; otherwise daily monitoring wouldn’t be needed: “Families and caregivers of patients should be advised to look for the emergence of such symptoms on a day-to-day basis, since changes may be abrupt” … “All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial few months of a course of drug therapy, or at times of dose changes, either increases or decreases. The following symptoms, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, and mania, have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants” (1).
Such daily monitoring is, however, a fake fix. People cannot be monitored every minute and many have committed SSRI-induced suicide or homicide within a few hours after everyone thought they were perfectly okay.
As the published trial literature related to suicidality and aggression on antidepressants is unreliable, we looked at 64,381 pages of clinical study reports (70 trials) we got from the European Medicines Agency. We showed for the first time that SSRIs in comparison with placebo increase aggression in children and adolescents, odds ratio 2.79 (95% CI 1.62 to 4.81) (2). This is an important finding considering the many school shootings where the killers were on SSRIs.
In a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials in adult healthy volunteers, we showed that antidepressants double the occurrence of events that the FDA has defined as possible precursors to suicide and violence, odds ratio 1.85 (95% CI 1.11 to 3.08)(3). The number needed to treat to harm one healthy adult person was only 16 (95% CI 8 to 100).
Based on the clinical study reports, we showed that adverse effects that increase the risk of suicide and violence were 4-5 times more common with duloxetine than with placebo in trials in middle-aged women with stress urinary incontinence (4). There were also more women on duloxetine who experienced a core or potential psychotic event, relative risk RR 2.25 (95% CI 1.06 to 4.81). The number needed to harm was only seven. It would have been quite impossible to demonstrate how dangerous duloxetine is, if we had only had access to published research. In accordance with our findings, the FDA has previously announced that women who were treated with duloxetine for incontinence in the open-label extension phase of the clinical studies had 2.6 times more suicide attempts than other women of the same age (5).
Looking at precursor events to suicide and violence is just like looking at prognostic factors for heart disease. We say that increased cholesterol, smoking and inactivity increase the risk of heart attacks and heart deaths and therefore recommend people to do something about it. Psychiatric leaders, however, routinely try to get away with untenable arguments. Many say, for example, that antidepressants can be given safely to children arguing that there were no more suicides in the trials, only more suicidal events, as if there was no relation between the two, although we all know that a suicide starts with suicidal thoughts, followed by preparations and one or more attempts. The same can be said about homicide. It can no longer be doubted that antidepressants are dangerous and can cause suicide and homicide at any age (5-7). It is absurd to use drugs for depression that increase the risk of suicide and homicide when we know that cognitive behavioural therapy can halve the risk of suicide in patients who have been admitted after a suicide attempt (8) and when psychotherapy does not increase the risk of murder…”
markps2,
Its extremely difficult to come off them!
“….The second-generation story: Prozac and other second-generation antidepressants are understood to provide, at best, a marginal benefit over placebo in the short term. In government-funded studies, the second-generation antipsychotics were not found to be any more effective than the first generation…”
I was placed 1st Generation Trí cyclic antidepressants many years ago and they made no difference whatsoever to my mood:- Going on them, being on them, and coming off them made no difference whatsoever to my mood!
In the tragic case below I notice the biomedical details are vague:-
The person consumes potentially lethal medication leaves the Psychiatric Unit and ends up DEAD – medically everyone knows the medication is potentially lethal BUT nothing more is said.
The Circumstances and Details are completely confused, BUT that’s OK.
In Civilian Life if a DEAD Body is Discovered It’s NORMAL To Investigate!
(Lethal in Psychiatry can = Intoxicating)
Eckhart Tolle the author of “The Power of Now” has stated (I believe) that a person can find “what he found” – purely from the information in his book. The book itself is cheap but the information in his book can be found also, for free (If necessary) on the internet. I’ve studied his book and what’s in it works.
It’s NOT the “Schizophrenics” that are killing people; its “normal people” under the influence of potentially harmful prescribed drugs.
Michael,
For me, (even beyond compassion) the reality of the situation is that the MH System is “Ineffective” ; and there are other very good ways of overcoming distress most of the time (even today) within the community.
Somebody told me that a lot of the natural healers were targeted as “witches”, and that we have lost a lot of natural healing as a result.
Just look at the ingredients in the food in the Supermarket!
Bamboozled
A doctor friend of mine told me he had a patient diagnosed with Bipolar and that this person wanted to stop taking their medication and that their family supported them in this.
My doctor friend told me that the person started a drug taper but it wasn’t successful and the person became unstable, and even their family wanted them back on the Drugs. I told him that a successful Neuroleptic Drug taper can be a rocky ride and take time.
NO 5. BAMBOOZLING
Thank you for this one Dr Levine. Dr Peter Breggin also has a description for this.
It’s very easy to get fooled by the Diagnosis, the Staff, and the System; but most of all by the Drugs. When I tried to come off these drugs I started to go MAD. So I reasonably came to believe in the Severe Diagnosis.
But I was happy to cut the drugs right down. They were changed along the way, and eventually I noticed that if I didn’t take them I slept less but I felt no worse.
When I checked the drugs out I found they had no ‘psychiatric’ effect at the level I was taking them. I knew then that the Problem had been the very convincing medically created drug dependency.
PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS CAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS AND I CAN SUBSTANTIATE THIS FROM MY OWN RECORDS:-
I think EVERYBODY knows somebody who was more or less okay, until they started taking psychiatric drugs (usually antidepressants), and went from there to being diagnosed more seriously; eventually becoming long term disabled and pathetically Psychiatric.
I “declined” “medication” on my introduction to Psychiatry in 1980. But when I was given permission to come off ALL “medication” in 1983, I quickly ended up in hospital and back on “medication”again.
In early 1984 I was back in hospital again following a suicide attempt.
Later on in 1984 I was suicidal and back in hospital again following an introduction of an alternative “medication”. The Prognosis on the Discharge Summary of this Hospitalisation stated that I would be back in hospital again before long. But I wasn’t.
THE PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS WERE THE PROBLEM
After 1984 I went on weaker oral “medication” and successfully tapered. Coming off strong “medication” meant that I became fit for work, and I returned to gainful employment.
I did develop a problematic HIGH ANXIETY condition as a result of coming off strong neuroleptics. But I was able to recognise the “CATASTROPHISATION” attached to the condition, and to build effective protection around this.
Many years later I wrote to the Registrar who had typed up the Discharge Summary to my last Hospitalization, and he wrote back: that they had been wrong, that I had been misdiagnosed, and that I could have been ‘condemned to disaster’.
The Diagnosis had been SCHIZOPHRENIA ; CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA; ‘SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER’
That’s what they do say!
Below is my own Experience of Long Acting Injections + Akathisia + Genuine Recovery + Medical Uselessness
There’s 2 million Americans in Jail, and 4.5 million Americans on Serious Mental Health Disability; and the
the American Non Mental Health System is also privately managed.
“…. (There are no anti-pediatrics, dermatology or orthopedics movements.) ..” I think one of these might develop some time soon.
“…The burden of mental illness has dramatically increased over the past 35 years, such that “neuropsychiatric disorders are now the leading cause of disability in the United States.” ..”
But once the drugs used to treat the disability are safely removed with some humane support, theres NO more disability! Its like MAGIC!
Thank You Leah, for the work you’ve put into this document. The sunny video promotion with the gay colours is very very smooth.
I personally identify with Akathisia.
Okay
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the great blog.
If the objective isn’t to exterminate at least half of the population; to mechanise all production and manufacturing; and to just have good-looking and obedient people serving the rich :- then it might be very possible to completely reform the Mental Health System.
I think we’d have to move on though, and have some type of non judgemental reconciliation procedure. And then to live in peace.
Advises distressed “schizophrenics” to go out for a walk!
A friend of mine that attends a “support group” said that if you gave a psychologist £50 or £100 and he told you to go home and iron your shirt you’d feel taken advantage off ( – but this is what works).
I came off LAI drugs suitable for “schizophrenia” with straight forward CBT/Buddhist Mindfullness Practice.
If I calculate my 4 grandparents age span years ago in Ireland, on average they lived to their mid eighties with little medical help.
Its sounds like the victims are being held to account. I would imagine the “experience” of pain to be much worse after professional opiod misuse.
Hi Rachel,
“Dry Drunk” is an AA expression not a medical expression, and the treatment for “dry drunkness” is not medication, its adherence to a “Spiritual” way of life.
Hi Rachel,
A person can be seriously browned off, without going out and killing lots of people.
Practically all the shooters are on psychiatric drugs.
Men’s amygdalas are different to women’s and this is why men are more geared up towards taking “action”. This is why men on psychiatric drugs and suffering from the ill effects of these drugs are more likely to commit suicide than women.
Young men again are more likely than older men to “act” as young men are geared up differently, and this is why only younger men can do certain types jobs.
Paxil Boosts Estrogen, May Promote Breast Cancer Growth – would not surprise me at all!
Paxil is not even an antidepressant!
Thanks Jane for relating your experience, and the very helpful “tips”.
“…The US system costs more than twice as much, per person, as the universal coverage provided by the UK’s NHS. Even the government-funded part of the US system costs more per capita than the NHS…
..Why so expensive? It’s because US doctors prescribe more treatments, and those treatments cost much more than they do elsewhere….
…American hospitals and drug companies have enormous leeway to raise prices — insurers have limited bargaining power, and uninsured patients even less…”
(Professor Angus Deaton + Economist Anne Case)
I’m inclined to agree. Any type of control in “Mental Health” is open to exploitation and abuse.
When I engaged in my own psychotherapy I was at least an equal member, and the trainee counsellors were not interested in diagnosis.
I had suffered from a type of anxiety that I had never experienced before – when I withdrew from “medication” “suitable” for “schizophrenia”. My anxiety levels are now very much reduced.
I recovered through my own direction, with good “psychotherapeutic” support.
oldhead
A “Dry Drunk” is an Alcoholic that doesn’t drink but isn’t getting help for their “mental illness”.
“Dry Drunks” are often monsters.
Of all the group’s I believe the Alcohol Abusers are proven to be by far the most “dangerous”. Jails are not full of “scizophrenic” people that have committed seriously violent acts but full of Alcohol Abusers that have committed these acts.
Genetically Donald Trump might be tied in with Alcoholism, and he could even be the worst type of Alcoholic – the Untreated or Dry Drunk Type (of Alcoholic).
…..though most quietly commit suicide.
I’m very sorry about this, but most of the people that Act Out in Public are “normal people” prescribed “antidepressants” for things like work related stress.
Screening + Drug Treatment = Increase in Veteran Suicides = Not a Good Advert.
I can identify with suicide attempts on drugs; and genuine recovery with routine non drug approaches.
I hope I’m not too far off topic:-
BBC News – Brain implants used to fight drug addiction in US
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50347421
You mean it’s about promoting the (very expensive) “electronic drugs”?
SCAPEGOATING
If “most people” carrying out “Mass Shootings” come from the “Normal” division of the population, NOT the “Severe Mentally Ill” division; then I don’t see how “Getting Tough” with the “Severely Mentally Ill” will reduce the “Mass Shootings”.
Thank You Leah for standing up effectively against Injustice.
“Mental Health” Misrepresentation
My Response to GP Delisting Letter:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/114Qjp47-TmI0LJWlyKRmrC7R4QLtHITq/view?usp=drivesdk
GP Delisting Letter (October 2018):-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VB1L7C7G87DNmS-uS3blngY3CMtOH5gl/view?usp=drivesdk
Dr Kelly,
Thank you very much, for your research and advice.
The holistic approach did work for me for Psychotropic Drug Withdrawal (Neuroleptic LAI), and for Mental Wellbeing and Happiness.
I rebounded several times and nearly killed myself, before deciding to taper carefully. The Rebounds were recorded as Relapses; or more Chronic Severe Mental Illness. And then I had 35 years of complete wellness.
My Name was Placed by my GP Surgery, on a Severe Mental Illness Register in 2002, while I worked on House of Parliament Building Norman Shaw House:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dIKVdMN5g0GzwfU_6iUKfudLSuKjmwf0/view?usp=drivesdk
https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/benefit-cheats
I wonder how this fits in with Person Centred Care
Thanks for highlighting an obvious source of human distress; it can’t be emphasised too often.
But, if “Global Mental Health” were to “acknowledge” Sociostructural determinates of distress – what might they do with them?
Factually, the average present day Psychiatrist has as much of an idea of a non tranquillisation approach, as does the average librarian, or taxi driver.
It would seem to me that a person can only be excluded by an exlusive group, and exclusive groups can exclude anyone, so everyone is vulnerable to being excluded. I think this is how a lot of the world operates, and this is one of the reasons why we have mental institutions.
In my own life I have experience of being in some generally inclusive groups. Some human environments naturally operate like this.
Thank you Dr Gnaulati,
It is an interesting question why people approve of ‘pride’ and ‘success’. I wonder how much difference there might be between men and women as observers on this.
A “Diagnosis of Schizophrenia” is on of the most Fatal things that a person can get!
Thanks for the Great Blog Eric
“Learning From the Voices in My Head” by Eleanour Langdon is available on Amazon (Ebook) for £2.95, and it is an excellent and very readable book.
I don’t know whether to laugh, or to cry:-
“…The researchers hypothesized that bipolar disorder itself might lead to Parkinson’s disease since both syndromes are theorized to be disorders of the dopaminergic system. However, the researchers acknowledge that the cause of both disorders is unknown and that bipolar disorder itself “is not associated with overt evidence of neurodegeneration…”
Myself I didn’t suffer longterm neurological difficulty until I came into contact with psychiatry.
But you try reporting this to a doctor or neurologist.
That’s what it might be in a sense “evil spirits” or “human ill will”, that surround a person. There’s no reason why a ceremony shouldn’t work – to chase out the demons.
“…and one which will tell a person, to their face, that their experience is not true, not real, and not valid.”
In my case Yes and No, the Academics and Neuro Scientists that looked after me completely omitted my recent historical experience in the summer of 1980. I had spent several months in Amsterdam prior to returning to London and ending up in the Maudsley Hospital for 2 months, and then returning to the Galway Ireland Regional Hospital.
But there was no mention of Amsterdam where I had worked and lived for several months and had been socially acquainted with a young Northern Irish “Born Again Christian” man who matches the description of the person below..
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_McGrady
(he had been concerned about a conversation we were supposed to have had, but that I couldn’t place)
.
The Maudsley Psychiatrist in 1980 though vague on nearly everything else had placed a strong emphasis on “street drug abuse”. Which I repeatedly denied.
(Retrospectively I would deny knowingly or willingly taking street drugs).
When I was transferred to Ireland in November of 1980 the Mental Health “History and Formulation” (without Amsterdam) was quoted by the UK accompanying Doctor and written and signed for by the Admitting doctor, rendering the information IMO, Unreliable.
This Standard was accepted by my 1980 Consultant Psychiatrist and Academic Researcher at Galway Ireland.
The UK accompanying Doctor from 1980 (I believe) ‘committed suicide’ around 2000; and the Admitting Doctor at Ireland from 1980 (based in the UK in 2000) was barred from practising medicine.
Dear Chris Maylea and Indigo Daya,
Thank you for this very worthwhile Article.
I believe the Facts On The Ground should indicate what works, and should be followed – not Academia.
I’ve been. “Diagnosed” as “Schizophrenic” “Chronically Schizophrenic” and “Schizo Affective”, but have many, many years of proven Wellness behind me, as a result of leaving the Mainstream Psychiatric system.
My “Severe Mental Illness Disability” the Hallmark of “Severe Mental Illness”, also left me very quickly when I left the Mainstream Psychiatric System.
Had I remained “Severely Mentally Ill” for the past 40 years I would have cost the Irish Taxpayer about €3.5 Million (€80,000/Yr X 40yrs);
I cost the Irish Taxpayer about €0.35 Million (€80,000 X 4Yrs), prior to taking charge of things myself.
Exactly!
This is as a result of the hard work and persistence of individuals and organisations like Mad in America.
Everyone can probably identify with a nervous breakdown (especially ‘under stress’). But people recover, don’t they?
During a ‘Nervous Breakdown’ a person might be incapable and full of fear. A person “diagnosed with schizophrenia” might know where they are, but be disturbed.
So what’s the difference between a “nervous breakdown” and “schizophrenia”?
My external circumstances are not too different over the years but I’m happier. But a lot of people might be trapped in impossible situations.
(I remember a doctor friend telling me when someone is in a job that’s full of stress and comes to see him he tells them that the solution might be to leave the job. But a lot of people feel like they can’t, and not necessarily for the money).
They are not Antipsychotics they are Neuroleptics.
“Antipsychotic” is a marketing term, but it is inaccurate as the drugs don’t do anything for “psychosis”, the drugs “switch the whole person off”.
Dr Peter
I admire any doctor that is prepared to help people trapped in “psychiatry”.
(..but I think mass murder in “Psychiatry” is realistic. Even My own Experience was
A Licence to Kill:-
https://www.madintheuk.com/2018/08/a-disorder-for-everyone/#comment-49 ).
To Automatically Recover from “Severe Mental Illness” like “Schizophrenia” or “Manic Depression” a person needs to:-
1. Taper from the drugs very carefully
2. Join a Relevant Peer Support Group (To deal with the effects of Drug Withdrawal)
3. Expect a Rocky Ride
Am I Schizophrenic, or is my Doctor Schizophrenic?
Schizophrenic Removal 1.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cP_smYn2khLimaiWaJdPO_vGcY-j9_Bl/view?usp=drivesdk
Schizophrenic Removal 2.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F6ArumseTVc3djX09hJf1kc0AJfRvg06/view?usp=drivesdk
Schizophrenic Removal 3.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u2u-VbCCg5BeDJk7H2xGoKqKgZM8qf-H/view?usp=drivesdk
Schizophrenic Removal Denial
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HPB_xRRJ1cdG0AmkyAXvwrphYYpEwNEe/view?usp=drivesdk
Under reported by who?
“….A lot of our conversation has to do with the fact that we have to open up institutions; we can’t let these people be on the streets.’”..”
The “Classic Mentally Ill” are not shooting people. Its a small proportion of the large percentage of “Mentally Well People” that take Psychiatric Drugs for convenience, that are going on the Rampage.
“..In 2013, the maid of honor in Tittl’s wedding committed suicide. Then his cousin committed suicide. Another relative was institutionalized with a serious mental illness that year….”
I’ve experienced the same thing myself regarding suicide and my own extended family; and I have also attempted suicide twice myself. My problem was Akathisia.
Hallucinations = Brain Damage?
I think the McMinfulness movement is about pulling Mindfulness down. I notice a lot of ‘catch phrases’ are used repeatedly, even though I doubt the people using them know what they mean.
Most of the ‘SMI’ recovery stories I’ve seen on MIA have the spiritual side of ‘Meditation’ included in them.
To prove the point:- When I was at school in Ireland, English was the 98% Official Language. Irish (Gaelic) was also taught and promoted at school for 12 years up to the school leaving age of 16. But the majority of students, after 12 years of schooling, were not up to standard in the language.
But any child can learn a language naturally in 6 months.
When I was at school (as an incentive) a good pass in Irish in the final exams was worth 2 credits which would guarantee a person entry into University. And anybody up to standard in Irish taking the final exams was more or less guaranteed this.
(But the students were still incapable of learning the language through the school system).
.
Doesn’t at all surprise me.
I notice lots of people who work in Mainstream Mental Health for some reason seem to live not too far away from “the Joker” they mightn’t act out, but its very much in there.
But the UK even acknowledges how hopeless the “Mental Health” System has become. Theres nothing of value to export.
Thanks Sarah,
Your Message is always extremely constructive and I’m very interested in your initiatives.
I was at a late night peer group myself (11PM to 12 AM), when I saw your Article and have been attempting to absorb it since.
Peer Groups Can Make a Big Difference.
….and there’s probably a Diagnosis for 1 in every 3.
Lancet is England I presume. And England seems to have far too many of its own “Mental Health Problems” to involve itself anywhere else.
For example 1 in every 4 adults in England have been prescribed a psychotropic drug in the past year.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/09/one-four-british-adults-prescribed-potentially-addictive-drugs/
..and it’s probably the same all over the ‘developed’ world.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Dear Dr Dainius Pūras,
Do “Schizophrenics” have the “highest” rate of Suicide?
I was diagnosed in 1980, at the age of 20; and between 1980 and 1984 experienced a series of Suicidal hospitalizations, culminating in 1984 with me discontinuing drugs (depot injection) suitable for schizophrenia – and made Recovery. The DRUGS had CAUSED the SUICIDAL Hospitalizations (and the DISABILITY).
In October 2018 I went (with my notes) to see Professor of Psychiatry Dr David Healy at Wales, who provided me with a Letter expressing that he was confident that I had never suffered from Schizophrenia to begin with.
Dr David Healy in 1984 had been Registrar to the Consultant Psychiatrist that had treated me between 1980 and 1984.
A LICENCE TO KILL
This was my Experience with Psychiatry:-
https://www.madintheuk.com/2018/08/a-disorder-for-everyone/#comment-49
That’s what it is Madmom.
Thanks for the Article Dr Scull,
I attended a Western Buddhist Group in London many years ago to learn Buddhist Breathing Meditation, and this has improved my ‘happiness in life’ over the years, very much. I would recommend it to anyone.
Meditation is something a person can do independently, and the ‘patience’ to do it can be developed very gradually.
As far as I know Buddhist Breathing Meditation has been reliably ‘proven’ to improve happiness and quality of life.
Why is “every” Hearing Voice Group in London ON during “Working Hours”?
Do people have to be “Disabled” to attend a group?
Are these groups run by Professionals or Peers?
Nearby Groups
Camden Mixed Hearing Voices Group
Tuesdays, 12.00 – 1.00pm
Camden Voice Collective 16-25 Group
Wednesdays, 5.00 – 6.30pm
Camden Women’s Hearing Voices Group
Fridays, 2.00 – 3.15pm
Enfield Hearing Voices Group
Mondays, 3.00 – 4.00pm
Hackney I.R.I.E Mind Hearing Voices Group
Thursdays, 3.00 – 4.00pm
Hackney Women-Only Hearing Voices Group
Wednesdays, 3.30 – 5.00pm
Haringey Hearing Voices Group
Mondays, 2.00 – 3.00pm
Islington Hearing Voices Group
Fridays, 2.15 – 3.30pm
Lee House Hearing Voices Group (Hackney)
Fridays, 11.30am – 12.30pm
Westminster St Mungo’s Broadway Unusual Beliefs Group
Wednesdays, 11.00am – 12 noon
Like this one:-
“Turning towards the Healing Power of Human Conciousness”
https://youtu.be/W3NmN1F_M1I
.
Even in my hometown in Galway, Ireland in the 1980s, there existed groups where people supported each other to successfully Recover from the “Severe Mental Illnesses” (of “Manic Depression” + “Schizophrenia”):-
https://www.tcd.ie/news_events/articles/the-transformative-power-of-peer-support-in-recovering-from-mental-illness/
These Groups operated on much the same lines as
(below)
https://www.madinamerica.com/2019/10/steven-c-hayes-liberated-mind/
..but the groups were self supporting.
Dear Ruth,
I’m very sorry for Alice and Your situation
I think the “Article Title” describes things fairly accurately. ‘Mental Illness’ is longterm – because the treatment approach guarantees this.
What can be done to improve the overall situation? I would say acknowledgement of the success of the Non Drug Approaches (Open Dialogue being one of these). And acknowledgement of the dangers of abrupt psychuatric drug withdrawal.
Great Broadcast.
I’ll definitely be getting the Book!
Some lovely videos on U tube of Steven as well.
Yes I support the motion. People that don’t consume “antipsychotics” live about 25 years longer!
Hi Elizabeth,
It doesn’t surprise me that people describe SSRI s as ‘Gateway Drugs’. I’m glad you survived to describe the horror.
How can anyone ‘diagnose’ anybody else as MAD when the drugs have this effect!
This is a Much Needed International Institute
THE ORIGINAL EFFECTS OF THE DRUGS
I think it makes sense that if a person regularly consumes a psychotropic drug, that the drug becomes part of the persons ‘Mental Balance’, and if the drug is abprubtly withdrawn that the persons System can imbalance.
I think it also makes sense that if a psychotropic drug is carefully withdrawn, a person is far less likely to run into trouble, as they can see where they are going at any given stage.
MY EXPERIENCE
I stopped taking my Long Acting Neuroleptic Injection in 1984 because of its Suicidal and Disabling (Akathisia) side effects and made Complete Genuine Longterm Recovery as a result.
I was initially given permission to ‘abprubtly’ withdraw from the Long Acting Neuroleptic Injection in 1983, but I didn’t last long. I checked myself into hospital after a short length of time and ended up back on the injection.
After a number of further hospitalizations a suicide attempt (and a near suicide), I decided to very carefully withdraw from the Neuroleptic Injection with the help of oral medication. My Disability and Suicidal hospitalizations ended as a result of coming off the strong medications, and I remained Long term Well (from 1984 to 2019).
HIGH ANXIETY
I suffered from Neuroleptic withdrawal “High Anxiety”, but fortunately for me, I was able to find psychological tactics to deal with this potentially disabling condition.
I was able to recognise that I was going into “Catastrophy Mode” when it was happening, and I could recognise that my thinking was locking me in, and that if I was able to allow the “Drama” to pass off, I would (with difficulty) revert back to normal.
Eckhart Tolle describes something similar to “High Anxiety” in his book “The Power of Now” and he recommends very good ways of dealing with it.
RELAPSE OR REBOUND
My Historical 1980s Psychiatrist ‘presented’ a number of Research Papers on the Long Acting Neuroleptic Injections – where he described the inability to withdraw abrubtly from these drugs as Relapse:- My Experience contradicts this.
A LICENSE TO KILL
https://www.madintheuk.com/2018/08/a-disorder-for-everyone/#comment-49
I think its always been presumed that drugs taken to make people feel happier are likely to make them feel more unhappy in the long run. It’s only ‘recently’ that people have attempted to argue against this.
I think the “McMindfulness Approach” is about destroying, a very useful ancient practice.
I don’t know if Deepak Chopra has any relevance
https://youtu.be/hngZAHKBbYA
In my opinion ‘Enduring Mental Illness’ shouldn’t be very enduring in ‘Psychology’. I remember Dr Peter Breggin (I believe) in one of his articles mentioning that a young person coming to him with Severe Diagnosis in the summer might be back at ‘school’ in the Autumn.
I believe a person can also make complete recovery with the help of a psychologist without confiding their ‘personal life’ to the psychologist.
‘Normalized’ is a good word. It’s part of the culture now for a person to ‘expect’ to maybe be killed in a hospital when they go in for routine medical treatment. People accept this as ‘just one of those things’.
With ‘Schizophrenia’ what people often suffer from when they attempt to Withdraw from strong Psychiatric Drugs is a condition described by Robert Whitaker as “High Anxiety”.
The way a person might deal with High Anxiety is the same way as someone might deal with normal anxiety:- “allowing the anxious feelings to pass off before examining the anxiety”. With High Anxiety this can be VERY VERY difficult BUT can be successful.
It’s also important to withdraw very SLOWLY from strong psychiatric medications.
If “Severe Mental Illness” IS a Long Term Mental Illness in Psychiatry requiring long term and Disabling Drug treatment ; I can’t understand how someone can Recover Completely* through Psychological means (and stopping the Disabling Drug treatment).
Examples of complete recovery throgh Psychology might be:-
Psychologist Dr Elanour Langden*
https://youtu.be/DjD6_mW7CUc
and
Psychologist Dr Rufus May*.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufus_May
Thank you for the story, Derek.
You’re in a good position now to help your friends.
I think it was Dr Kelly Brogan that said that a person can develop symptoms so severe on SSRI drug withdrawal that they compare with Acquired Immunity Disorder Syndrome.
The slower the better was my own experience.
Thanks again.
What about all the companies, that rely on the Government to operate and to make money!
If you want to turn a a Well Person into a Severely Mentally Ill Person you can do so automatically with Neuroleptics (aka ‘antipsychotics’).
Dr Richard Bentall took some himself, and he went MAD.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10565099
Julie,
Anyone who “earns” any money relies on the Government. Am I right or wrong.
AKATHISIA AWARENESS DAY
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Friday, September 20, was the first International Akathisia Awareness Day.
Deadly drug side effect recognized through first Akathisia awareness day
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/lifestyle/health/4672416-Deadly-drug-side-effect-recognized-through-first-Akathisia-awareness-day
James,
Your writing is too complicated for me.
“…In 2010, Webber was 43 years old and had no prior history of psychosis. However, she did have a longtime history of use of psychiatric drugs…”
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/09/one-four-british-adults-prescribed-potentially-addictive-drugs/
https://rxisk.org/akathisia/
“…How common is akathisia?
Significant symptoms of akathisia occur in:
around 20% of people on an antidepressant
at least 50% of people on low doses of an antipsychotic
up to 80% or more people on higher doses of an antipsychotic…”
Drugs used for ‘schizophrenia’ cause AKATHISIA which causes SUICIDE
Dr Philip Hickey
http://behaviorismandmentalhealth.com/2016/11/08/neuroleptic-drugs-akathisia-and-suicide-and-violence/
Dr Allen Frances 1983
https://pdfs.journals.lww.com/psychopharmacology/1983/08000/Suicide_Associated_with_Akathisia_and_Depot.6.pdf
Rxisk
https://rxisk.org/akathisia/
“..Significant symptoms of akathisia occur in:
around 20% of people on an antidepressant
at least 50% of people on low doses of an antipsychotic
up to 80% or more people on higher doses of an antipsychotic
healthy volunteers as well as “patients”..”
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akathisia
“…Neuro-psychologist Dennis Staker had drug-induced akathisia for two days. His description of his experience was this: “It was the worst feeling I have ever had in my entire life…”
Hi Reed, thanks for the well written and very scary article. Normal Grief becomes Major Depressive Disorder, Potentially Bipolar and almost Schizophrenia.
I took the old tricylics and they made no difference to my mood, and it looks like the SSRI s don’t work for most people either.
I’ve experienced melancholoy, but I don’t think I have ever been clinically depressed, and I don’t know what I would do if I was.
As far as I can see the answer is within the Buddhist Approach, but this might be found under different headings. The Buddhist Approach wouldn’t at all stop me being “ambitious”, I’d have no problem following the two philosophies. But the Buddhist Approach does work!
Most so called madness in industrial societies wouldn’t be considered to be madness in the normal way, unless people wanted to take advantage. There’s also the need for social workers and other professionals to feed off
sick people for their own survival.
My own recovery from “Chronic Schizophrenia” was very quick once I got off drugs suitable for Chronic Schizophrenia and learnt to deal with my Withdrawal High Anxiety.
The Irish family might be one of the better type of families to become ‘sick’ in!
“..Whatever the exact cause or causes, it has also been suggested that the current Mental Health System is NOT adequately addressing the problem…”
https://www.bmj.com/content/358/bmj.j3697/rr-4
“…Antidepressants Increase The Risk of Suicide, Violence and Homicide At All Ages
The FDA admitted in 2007 that SSRIs can cause madness at all ages and that the drugs are very dangerous; otherwise daily monitoring wouldn’t be needed: “Families and caregivers of patients should be advised to look for the emergence of such symptoms on a day-to-day basis, since changes may be abrupt” … “All patients being treated with antidepressants for any indication should be monitored appropriately and observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, and unusual changes in behavior, especially during the initial few months of a course of drug therapy, or at times of dose changes, either increases or decreases. The following symptoms, anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia (psychomotor restlessness), hypomania, and mania, have been reported in adult and pediatric patients being treated with antidepressants” (1).
Such daily monitoring is, however, a fake fix. People cannot be monitored every minute and many have committed SSRI-induced suicide or homicide within a few hours after everyone thought they were perfectly okay.
As the published trial literature related to suicidality and aggression on antidepressants is unreliable, we looked at 64,381 pages of clinical study reports (70 trials) we got from the European Medicines Agency. We showed for the first time that SSRIs in comparison with placebo increase aggression in children and adolescents, odds ratio 2.79 (95% CI 1.62 to 4.81) (2). This is an important finding considering the many school shootings where the killers were on SSRIs.
In a systematic review of placebo-controlled trials in adult healthy volunteers, we showed that antidepressants double the occurrence of events that the FDA has defined as possible precursors to suicide and violence, odds ratio 1.85 (95% CI 1.11 to 3.08)(3). The number needed to treat to harm one healthy adult person was only 16 (95% CI 8 to 100).
Based on the clinical study reports, we showed that adverse effects that increase the risk of suicide and violence were 4-5 times more common with duloxetine than with placebo in trials in middle-aged women with stress urinary incontinence (4). There were also more women on duloxetine who experienced a core or potential psychotic event, relative risk RR 2.25 (95% CI 1.06 to 4.81). The number needed to harm was only seven. It would have been quite impossible to demonstrate how dangerous duloxetine is, if we had only had access to published research. In accordance with our findings, the FDA has previously announced that women who were treated with duloxetine for incontinence in the open-label extension phase of the clinical studies had 2.6 times more suicide attempts than other women of the same age (5).
Looking at precursor events to suicide and violence is just like looking at prognostic factors for heart disease. We say that increased cholesterol, smoking and inactivity increase the risk of heart attacks and heart deaths and therefore recommend people to do something about it. Psychiatric leaders, however, routinely try to get away with untenable arguments. Many say, for example, that antidepressants can be given safely to children arguing that there were no more suicides in the trials, only more suicidal events, as if there was no relation between the two, although we all know that a suicide starts with suicidal thoughts, followed by preparations and one or more attempts. The same can be said about homicide. It can no longer be doubted that antidepressants are dangerous and can cause suicide and homicide at any age (5-7). It is absurd to use drugs for depression that increase the risk of suicide and homicide when we know that cognitive behavioural therapy can halve the risk of suicide in patients who have been admitted after a suicide attempt (8) and when psychotherapy does not increase the risk of murder…”
markps2,
Its extremely difficult to come off them!
“….The second-generation story: Prozac and other second-generation antidepressants are understood to provide, at best, a marginal benefit over placebo in the short term. In government-funded studies, the second-generation antipsychotics were not found to be any more effective than the first generation…”
I was placed 1st Generation Trí cyclic antidepressants many years ago and they made no difference whatsoever to my mood:- Going on them, being on them, and coming off them made no difference whatsoever to my mood!
In the tragic case below I notice the biomedical details are vague:-
BBC News – Ceara Thacker death: Mental health services ‘failed student’
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-49773263
BBC News – Student told University about Suicidal Thoughts
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-49730932
WHAT ABOUT: 11. LICENCE TO KILL
The person consumes potentially lethal medication leaves the Psychiatric Unit and ends up DEAD – medically everyone knows the medication is potentially lethal BUT nothing more is said.
The Circumstances and Details are completely confused, BUT that’s OK.
In Civilian Life if a DEAD Body is Discovered It’s NORMAL To Investigate!
(Lethal in Psychiatry can = Intoxicating)
Eckhart Tolle the author of “The Power of Now” has stated (I believe) that a person can find “what he found” – purely from the information in his book. The book itself is cheap but the information in his book can be found also, for free (If necessary) on the internet. I’ve studied his book and what’s in it works.
It’s NOT the “Schizophrenics” that are killing people; its “normal people” under the influence of potentially harmful prescribed drugs.
Michael,
For me, (even beyond compassion) the reality of the situation is that the MH System is “Ineffective” ; and there are other very good ways of overcoming distress most of the time (even today) within the community.
Somebody told me that a lot of the natural healers were targeted as “witches”, and that we have lost a lot of natural healing as a result.
Just look at the ingredients in the food in the Supermarket!
Bamboozled
A doctor friend of mine told me he had a patient diagnosed with Bipolar and that this person wanted to stop taking their medication and that their family supported them in this.
My doctor friend told me that the person started a drug taper but it wasn’t successful and the person became unstable, and even their family wanted them back on the Drugs. I told him that a successful Neuroleptic Drug taper can be a rocky ride and take time.
NO 5. BAMBOOZLING
Thank you for this one Dr Levine. Dr Peter Breggin also has a description for this.
It’s very easy to get fooled by the Diagnosis, the Staff, and the System; but most of all by the Drugs. When I tried to come off these drugs I started to go MAD. So I reasonably came to believe in the Severe Diagnosis.
But I was happy to cut the drugs right down. They were changed along the way, and eventually I noticed that if I didn’t take them I slept less but I felt no worse.
When I checked the drugs out I found they had no ‘psychiatric’ effect at the level I was taking them. I knew then that the Problem had been the very convincing medically created drug dependency.
PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS CAUSE MENTAL ILLNESS AND I CAN SUBSTANTIATE THIS FROM MY OWN RECORDS:-
I think EVERYBODY knows somebody who was more or less okay, until they started taking psychiatric drugs (usually antidepressants), and went from there to being diagnosed more seriously; eventually becoming long term disabled and pathetically Psychiatric.
I “declined” “medication” on my introduction to Psychiatry in 1980. But when I was given permission to come off ALL “medication” in 1983, I quickly ended up in hospital and back on “medication”again.
In early 1984 I was back in hospital again following a suicide attempt.
Later on in 1984 I was suicidal and back in hospital again following an introduction of an alternative “medication”. The Prognosis on the Discharge Summary of this Hospitalisation stated that I would be back in hospital again before long. But I wasn’t.
THE PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS WERE THE PROBLEM
After 1984 I went on weaker oral “medication” and successfully tapered. Coming off strong “medication” meant that I became fit for work, and I returned to gainful employment.
I did develop a problematic HIGH ANXIETY condition as a result of coming off strong neuroleptics. But I was able to recognise the “CATASTROPHISATION” attached to the condition, and to build effective protection around this.
Many years later I wrote to the Registrar who had typed up the Discharge Summary to my last Hospitalization, and he wrote back: that they had been wrong, that I had been misdiagnosed, and that I could have been ‘condemned to disaster’.
The Diagnosis had been SCHIZOPHRENIA ; CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA; ‘SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER’
That’s what they do say!
Below is my own Experience of Long Acting Injections + Akathisia + Genuine Recovery + Medical Uselessness
https://www.madintheuk.com/2018/08/a-disorder-for-everyone/#comment-49
There’s 2 million Americans in Jail, and 4.5 million Americans on Serious Mental Health Disability; and the
the American Non Mental Health System is also privately managed.
“…. (There are no anti-pediatrics, dermatology or orthopedics movements.) ..” I think one of these might develop some time soon.
“…The burden of mental illness has dramatically increased over the past 35 years, such that “neuropsychiatric disorders are now the leading cause of disability in the United States.” ..”
But once the drugs used to treat the disability are safely removed with some humane support, theres NO more disability! Its like MAGIC!
Thank You Leah, for the work you’ve put into this document. The sunny video promotion with the gay colours is very very smooth.
I personally identify with Akathisia.
Okay
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the great blog.
If the objective isn’t to exterminate at least half of the population; to mechanise all production and manufacturing; and to just have good-looking and obedient people serving the rich :- then it might be very possible to completely reform the Mental Health System.
I think we’d have to move on though, and have some type of non judgemental reconciliation procedure. And then to live in peace.
Dr Jill,
Yoga and support groups, what’s all that about?
Dr Rufus May
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufus_May
Advises distressed “schizophrenics” to go out for a walk!
A friend of mine that attends a “support group” said that if you gave a psychologist £50 or £100 and he told you to go home and iron your shirt you’d feel taken advantage off ( – but this is what works).
I came off LAI drugs suitable for “schizophrenia” with straight forward CBT/Buddhist Mindfullness Practice.
If I calculate my 4 grandparents age span years ago in Ireland, on average they lived to their mid eighties with little medical help.
Its sounds like the victims are being held to account. I would imagine the “experience” of pain to be much worse after professional opiod misuse.
Hi Rachel,
“Dry Drunk” is an AA expression not a medical expression, and the treatment for “dry drunkness” is not medication, its adherence to a “Spiritual” way of life.
Hi Rachel,
A person can be seriously browned off, without going out and killing lots of people.
Practically all the shooters are on psychiatric drugs.
Men’s amygdalas are different to women’s and this is why men are more geared up towards taking “action”. This is why men on psychiatric drugs and suffering from the ill effects of these drugs are more likely to commit suicide than women.
Young men again are more likely than older men to “act” as young men are geared up differently, and this is why only younger men can do certain types jobs.
Paxil Boosts Estrogen, May Promote Breast Cancer Growth – would not surprise me at all!
Paxil is not even an antidepressant!
Thanks Jane for relating your experience, and the very helpful “tips”.
US healthcare is literally killing people:-
https://www.ft.com/content/05f7fa82-a315-11e9-a282-2df48f366f7d
“…The US system costs more than twice as much, per person, as the universal coverage provided by the UK’s NHS. Even the government-funded part of the US system costs more per capita than the NHS…
..Why so expensive? It’s because US doctors prescribe more treatments, and those treatments cost much more than they do elsewhere….
…American hospitals and drug companies have enormous leeway to raise prices — insurers have limited bargaining power, and uninsured patients even less…”
(Professor Angus Deaton + Economist Anne Case)
I’m inclined to agree. Any type of control in “Mental Health” is open to exploitation and abuse.
When I engaged in my own psychotherapy I was at least an equal member, and the trainee counsellors were not interested in diagnosis.
I had suffered from a type of anxiety that I had never experienced before – when I withdrew from “medication” “suitable” for “schizophrenia”. My anxiety levels are now very much reduced.
I recovered through my own direction, with good “psychotherapeutic” support.
oldhead
A “Dry Drunk” is an Alcoholic that doesn’t drink but isn’t getting help for their “mental illness”.
“Dry Drunks” are often monsters.
Of all the group’s I believe the Alcohol Abusers are proven to be by far the most “dangerous”. Jails are not full of “scizophrenic” people that have committed seriously violent acts but full of Alcohol Abusers that have committed these acts.
Genetically Donald Trump might be tied in with Alcoholism, and he could even be the worst type of Alcoholic – the Untreated or Dry Drunk Type (of Alcoholic).
…..though most quietly commit suicide.
I’m very sorry about this, but most of the people that Act Out in Public are “normal people” prescribed “antidepressants” for things like work related stress.
https://www.madinamerica.com/2019/09/response-criticism-recent-article-antidepressant-suicide-risk/
In Psychiatry Suicide and Homicide are closely linked.