My impression is that very straightforward Psychotherapy works.
Non Drug “Schizophrenia” Potential Outcome:-
“..Next is the testimony of a twenty-nine year-old man.
He is virtually at the end of a process of full recovery from schizophrenia, a process that revolved around the gradual recovery of his sense of selfhood.
As I said earlier, the loss of selfhood experienced by people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia is catastrophic, therefore their recovery of selfhood takes correspondingly longer.
When he first attended me several years ago, he was taking fourteen tablets a day, stuck in a deep rut, constantly at home with his parents, with no external activities in his life and no prospect of any on the horizon.
Our work together revolved around the principles set out in this book. Twelve weeks ago, having been taking just a quarter of one tablet for the preceding three months, having discussed his situation in detail with me, he ceased taking medication.
Twelve weeks on, he continues to do and be well in his life. We will remain in regular and frequent contact, to ensure that he remains well.
He has just completed an honours MA university course, having obtained his degree last year…”
“Selfhood” page 278, by Dr Terry Lynch
TRM 123
In reference to Akathisia – this is a very disturbing case from Ireland that mentions “depression”, but with very little other background information attached.
By saving money I mean saving what a lifetime of “schizophrenia” might cost.
From the Book “Selfhood” by Dr Terry Lynch: Page 267: “Case Histories”.
“… I could see how Stephen was diagnosed as having paranoid schizophrenia…”
“…Stephen looked terrified, and I asked him why. He replied ‘I’m not sure I can get out of this place alive’. There were only the two of us in my office, and nobody in the waiting room….”
“…I focused on enabling Stephen to progressively raise his level of selfhood. In particular, I worked with him on self-protection and self-generated security, because his lack of these dominated his life,..”
“..This practise had the desired effect. His level of self-protection and self-generated security began to increase, slowly at first, then gathering pace. Stephen made considerable progress in raising his level of selfhood, of which, for him, self-protection and self-generated security were key factors…”
“.. Because he was doing well, his psychiatrist agreed to reduce his medication slightly, and I subsequently continued the process of gradually reducing Stephen’s medication…”
“..Stephen has been off all schizophrenia medication for over three years. He lives a full life, goes where he likes, thrives in social situations, and has a level of selfhood higher that at any previous time in his life…”
Corinna,
“…Everyone knows the system is broken..” Yes definitely, and it needs to be fixed by spending a lot less money. It’s a no lose situation!
It’s alway possible to produce drugs that disable. With “Schizophrenia” that’s all the drugs appear to do. The “Schizophrenia” “Disability Figures” reflect this.
The drugs damage the brain in such a way as to make a person more vulnerable to “anxiety”.
I think a person can expect their body to go out of synch once they stop all drugs – as the liver has nothing to chew on.
Seroquel at 75 mg has the effect of an antihistamine. Seroquel only begins to work on the dopamine system at 150mg.
Anyway, I got around the sleeping problem and have been off all drugs for years now.
I was regularly taking 6mg of Seroquel (1/4 of a 25mg tablet)/per night; and when I stopped taking this, my sleeping dropped from 7 hrs to 4 hrs per night.
Thanks for the information, this is a great development.
Nearly 100 percent of my Recovery came from Traditional “Asian” Practice (now widely recognised and available outside of “Asia”).
Maybe you introduced the word into normal practice.
As an ex consumer I don’t have any difficulty understanding the cutting down to 3mg of a drug that can be consumed at 2000 mg per day – but I think this would be beyond most doctors understanding.
Seroquels properties guarantee dreadful insomnia on discontinuation which is likely to guarantee Seroquel dependency.
Thanks a Lot Emily,
I agree with you on the benefit of the Polyphony of views available on MIA. Maybe you’ve invented a new word!
I also support your combating of paternalism. It was a bad practice even in Victorian times.
Dear Lucy,
Thanks for your informative Article.
The UK spends over £100 million on research into (mostly) chemical solutions for “Severe Mental Illness”. I believe this money could be better spent.
When I complained about disabling “medication” sideffects, and my Psychiatrist wasn’t able to do anything about this, I was given the option of abrupt withdrawal from the “medication”.
This option didn’t work for me. But a careful drug taper did.
The withdrawal anxiety I experienced when I eventually discontinued, stayed with me for quite a while after. I asked MIND for help at the time, and they provided me with trainee counsellors, who were very helpful.
My parting Psychiatric Diagnosis was as SEVERE as would be possible. But I recovered with the help of basic Psychotherapy.
Coming off strong psychiatric drugs meant an End to Psychiatric Disability; and an End to Taxpayer Cost (for many years now).
But, does it work?
You mention the Psychiatric Holocaust T4. I believe there are different assessments as to the scale of mass murder during this particular Holocaust.
But, I believe Dr Peter Gotzsche rates the present day “Loss of Life” from one particular “atypical antipsychotic” misused on the Vulnerable Elderly as being in the region of 200,000.
Christian, I’m very sorry about your dreadful experience, and thank you for writing this.
You remind me that the teenagers life is not an easy one. But the Psychiatric facilities as you describe them are hardly the solution.
Africa is mentioned above and I remember a friend of mine from Africa relating to me that his mother used to frequently go genuinely mad and end up in an Asylum. But he told me that she also used to, regularly recover and return to her job as a school teacher.
It doesn’t surprise me that children are frightened inside in their houses watching television. “CBT” worked for me for “anxiety” because it showed me how to see “what frightened me” in neutral terms.
But, it honestly was the effect of the pharmaceuticals that created my overwhelming fear of “everything”.
I wouldn’t make a major thing out of AAs so called “Disease” description. AA does not recommend “medication” as treatment and people that attend the AA should be attending of their own free will.
In the video clip I saw Tom Cruise was “supposed to be eccentric” because he contradicted the idea of depression as an illness.
For actor Stephen Fry identifying with “Bi Polar” might make him more popular, but for the average person “Bi Polar” could mean more than stigmatisation i.e. restriction to Civil Liberty.
Great idea, Lawrence.
I was very impressed with the way Tom Cruise stood up against psychiatric fraud – he was speaking from the heart.
This is the benefit of self help Groups.
I’ve got a friend who was on “minor” tranquillisers many many years ago. He spent 9 months in a psychiatric hospital coming off them, suffering all the symptoms of “lunacy”.
He’s pushing 80 now, and he’s fit and active but he graphically remembers the drug withdrawal experience.
The whole idea behind “tapering” is that the drugs have Rebound and Withdrawal Syndromes.
ended the lives of his vulnerable patients they were described as “having been killed”, but the dead people at Gosport are described as “having had their lives shortened.”
I’m from Southern Ireland.
Within the data on reported suicides that I have seen – a high proportion of people that attempt suicide are already tied up with the psychiatric services.
From my own experience listening to people in 12 Step fellowships speaking: the average person thinks about doing lots of different things, and this is normal.
To find out why people commit suicide – its important to ask the people that attempt suicide:-
These drugs can drive people mad and trigger suicide.
I was given permission to come off “my antipsychotics” but I ended up in hospital (- until I tapered).
I thought “schizophrenia” was a terrible “illness” until I met people that described themselves as “schizophrenic” – but there was nothing wrong with them!
The Brilliant Photograph appears to come from London in the UK, where 2nd/3rd generation Caribbean people are maybe 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with Severe Mental Illness than their non black counterparts, ending up dead many years before their time.
Apologies for digressing – the ‘countries’ might be different but the issue is the same.
NON CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS
From one of the Best Communicators in “Mental Health”
The Practice then moved me to Dr Gordon instead of Dr Simons. I asked Dr Gordon to write me up a brief Mental Health Summary so that I could see my own “Specialist”:-
But if a person recovers from a chronic condition as a result of stopping treatment, then they can’t have suffered from it to begin with.
Supersensitivity syndrome (drug brain damage) is mentioned in the link above.
I was disabled, I was attempting suicide and I was in and out of hospital.
Corinna,
I feel fine right now, I haven’t got much on my mind at all. But when I wake up in the morning I’ve got all kinds of realistic concerns – the trick for me is not to think about them in the morning.
I know that sometimes people are caught in longterm impossible situations, I don’t know what they can do then.
(I do suffer from longterm neuroleptic withdrawal syndrome).
Good Comment,
The only thing I would add to this is that it’s possible to recover from “Chronic Schizophrenia” / “Schizo Affective Disorder” through – non drug means.
I couldn’t have dealt with the Severe Anxiety I experienced on withdrawal, without “psychotherapy”.
Dear Dr Joanna,
It’s nice to see you back on Mad in America.
I recovered through tapering from “medication” with the help of Psychotherapy.
I can describe how the Psychotherapy worked, and why it worked, and my longterm Recovery can be substantiated.
I was “diagnosed” originally in 1980 with Schizophrenia then with Chronic Schizophrenia and finally in 1984 with Schizoaffective Disorder.
But in my own case, in my opinion, the drugs were not used to benefit.
Psychiatrys Right to Kill was Officially supported in parts of Europe 1935 -1945. But it still exists today, and certainly in Ireland and England.
What I’m saying in reference to Fluphenazine Depot is that Psychiatry takes it as their Right to Kill People (more or less). I have presented evidence of this in the Links above.
My own historical Psychiatrist and drug Researcher/Promoter honestly couldn’t tell the difference between genuine “mental illness” and the side effects of his own “medication”.
Ultimately, he ended up on the Irish Medical Council – who tried to make out they didn’t know him when I made the complaint. But when the complaint went through they backed him to the hilt.
“Antipsychotics” (in my experience) create a condition of long term dependency, and longterm “mental illness”.
“….Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects…”
“…extrapyramidal symptoms including pseudoparkinsonism, dystonia, dyskinesia, akathisia, oculogyric crises, opisthotonos, and hyperreflexia. Most often these extrapyramidal symptoms are reversible…!”
“….Extrapyramidal reactions may be alarming, and the patient should be forewarned and reassured. ..”
(Also:- Tardive Dyskinesia, and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome).
Vanilla,
A person once put on the drugs (even if they have very little “wrong” with them) could quite easily remain on the drugs and remain Psychiatric.
This is where the Epidemic comes from.
There are developments, that have eventually appeared in the mainframe and are likely to stay, Like:-
The acceptance that the psychiatric drugs are killing people 30 years earlier than normal.
The developing acceptance that “antidepressants” are of no value to Society.
The growing awareness of the huge cost of Psychiatric Disability in developed countries.
The Arrival of the Hearing Voices Network (with solutions that work).
The acceptance that systems like “Open Dialogue” can completely recover the majority of people that use them.
Other Solutions appearing that present complete recovery from longterm Psychiatric Diagnoses.
The British Psychological Societys encroachment on Psychiatric Territory in the UK – with psychological solutions that work.
FLUPHENAZINE DEPOT + AKATHISIA + SUICIDE + MEDICAL HOMICIDE
I believe there has been an “Arrangement” within Psychiatry to cover up/deny Fluphenazine Suicides.
My own Suicidal Reactions between 1980 and 1984 in Ireland, were covered up (putting me at future Risk); and many years later are still being covered up in the UK, by my present day Medical Providers.
I became “Schizo Affective” because every hospitalization I had bar the first was suicidal ( there were no more once I came off the “medication”).
Chris, I think that you’ve got the same right to be the second coming of Christ as the next person.
Oldhead,
Laurenne Slater points the physical damage that she says will soon kill her, AT the Psychiatric “Treatment” – NOT AT the “Illness” – that’s what I got out of it.
“..Now, 35 years and 12 drugs later, my kidneys are failing, I have diabetes, I am overweight and my memory is perforated. My lifetime seems seriously foreshortened, not because of a psychiatric illness but because of the drugs I have taken to treat it…”
Dear Daniel,
I found it very difficult to come off “Medication”:
I was given permission to discontinue Fluphenazine depot injection by my Consultant Psychiatrist Dr P A Carney in Ireland, in October of 1983.
But I didn’t last long. I ended up in hospital in December of 1983 and was re introduced to Fluphenazine while I was there.
I experienced a Suicide Attempt shortly afterwards (due to Acute Akathisia) in early 1984 and ended up in hospital again.
When I left hospital I attempted to discontinue the Fluphenazine again but I found this too difficult, so I asked for a “medication” with less side effects, and was offered Depixol depot injection as an alternative.
I was injected in April of 1984 with twice the introductory dose of Depixol Depot, but I reacted a day or two later (with Acute Akathisia). This was on a weekend and I attempted to gain admission to hospital as I knew I wasn’t safe.
The nursing staff at the hospital had been instructed not to admit me if I turned up again, but they admitted me anyway. I remained in hospital for less than 48 hours, and then left as the Acute Akathisia had abated. This was my last hospitalization.
I did manage to come off the injection (and the disability benefit) after this hospitalization in 1984, and was able to return to normal life as a result (- as the injection side effects had been very disabling).
I found I couldnt survive without any “medication” so I asked for Oral “medication”, and I tapered from there.
By 1990 I was taking 25 mg of thioradazine (similar to thorazine)/per day (suitable for hiccoughs), and this eventually became nothing.
In 1980 at my first hopitalization I had been very happy to refuse “medication”; and had asked for the “Talking Treatments”.
Ultimately the “Talking Treatments” were the Solution.
I have friend in London that Practice’s CBT and he reckons that it’s not possible to be depressed without thinking in a depressed way. He’s had his own serious life difficulties and that’s why he retrained as a therapist.
The thing about him is that over the years he has become very happy – the proof is there. He’s also a very compassionate person.
I believe the imbalance caused by the drug exposure is worse than any original situation. This imbalance is as a result of brain damage whereas the original situation is to do with “life”.
I’ve attempted suicide (for example) more than once on strong psychiatric drugs, but never off them.
“…My big brother died on Tuesday. It was a massive, horrible shock,..”
“…When I was 19 I took my first psychiatric drug, imipramine, for depression.
At the time, my body seemed to be healthy, even if I was cripplingly depressed.
Now, 35 years and 12 drugs later, my kidneys are failing, I have diabetes, I am overweight and my memory is perforated. My lifetime seems seriously foreshortened, not because of a psychiatric illness but because of the drugs I have taken to treat it.
Diabetes and kidney trouble are only two of the well-documented side-effects associated with the powerful antidepressant and anti-psychotic drugs which prop me up so that I can sail through my days, going as fast as I can in the hope I will get everything done before I die…”
Anybody could end up like this.
Hi Julie,
You’re an excellent writer yourself.
There are lots of ways of overcoming “mental illness” and returning to a good level of productive happiness.
But there’s no chemical cure for “mental illness” , what’s available is tranquillisation.
Long term Tranquillisation can turn anyone into a longterm “mentally ill” person because these drugs are disabling, dependency forming, and brain damaging.
I’ve experienced this situation myself, but I escaped from it through carefully reducing the tranquillisers; and engaging in “Buddhist Type Psychology”.
There should (hopefully) be a difference between the talking treatments and the neuroleptic treatments.
I’m not too sure what the Power Threat Meaning Meaning is; in the same way that I don’t understand how “talking to your family” can improve your “Health” – but Open Dialogue has definitely been proven to work.
I don’t support the term “Psychosis”, though.
There’s been a lot of money spent on these drugs on the basis of “expert medical opinion” so they have to be supported.
That’s what I’ve always thought.
There’s only a few thousand psychiatrists in the UK so they don’t spend much time with people anyway. It’s nurses that know the people personally.
Nurses are degree qualified people and they should practice the skills. If things work out everyone might be happy.
Thanks for this Better life. You certainly know your stuff.
Extreme Anxiety was my problem when I quit the neuroleptics, and it nearly had me back on them again. But thankfully, I found useful ways to accommodate it.
This is why I say that there’s no such thing as “Schizophrenia”, and any good therapist should be able to help a person along their way. My parting diagnosis was “Schizo affective Disorder”. The “affective” I believe was to explain my iatrogenic suicide attempts.
I consumed all the neuroleptics antidepressants and mood stabilisers and remained chronically “sick” – but I recovered through Psychothereuptic means (and stopping “medication”).
Thank You Philip.
I hope I’m not wandering off too much here:-
According to the British Psychological Society:
“..An overview of the current state of knowledge in the field, concluding that psychosis can be understood and treated in the same way as other psychological problems such as anxiety or shyness…”
I presume this would also Include “Depression” at all Psychological Levels.
THE UK GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL
Why didn’t the GMC fully investigate these deaths and take stricter action? Because this would be the Tip of the Iceberg of Medical Deaths in the Community.
FLUPHENAZINE DEATHS
Fluphenazine Depot Injection is accepted to cause Akathisia, which is accepted to cause Suicide. I can prove in my own case that my medical providers in Ireland suppressed my Adverse Drug Reactions to these drugs, placing me at future risk:-
About 40% of Fluphenazine consumers attempt Suicide, at least 10% successfully.
It’s very normal to believe what the Official Medical system tells us, especially if we are told, that what they tell us can be backed up with hard facts.
On the other hand I notice that the Official media don’t publish much by way of proven recovery by means other than medical intervention – especially within the “schizophrenia / bi polar” area.
“..In fact, I have even encountered psychiatrists who cautioned against informing clients of the risks of tardive dyskinesia and akathisia with neuroleptic drugs, on the grounds that nobody would agree to take them if they received this information! ..”
I purchased this book today “Breaking Down is Breaking Through” by Dr Russell Razzaque on Kindle for £5.03 and I would recommend it.
Dr Razzaque is the Psychiatrist that’s introducing Open Dialogue in the UK.
I was highly dependent on drugs suitable for “chronic schizophrenia” but I have to say the “Psychotherapeutic approach” worked.
As a result: I also stopped claiming disability benefit and ceased to cost anything.
Before the mid 1980s people were only normally prescribed anti depressants in hospital. Depression as an illness has now been turned into something very serious that anyone could have. Family doctors have also been sucked into the delusion.
When I came off a Long Acting Neuroleptic injection 35 years ago my recovery was of a self learnt “CBT” nature. My main problem at the time was “anxiety” and “CBT” worked completely, but it took time.
People might have the problem of accessing any useful Psychotherapy on the NHS, this is why I think there’s a need for people to set up their own Mutually Supportive Groups independent of the NHS.
Hi Julian,
I got the book “Breaking Down is Waking Up” today, from Kindle for £5.03. I read through some pieces and the insights are brilliant:-
It looks Very Good!
I attended a talk by Dr Russell a few years ago at Kingsley Hall. His message is one of Full Recovery.
In the 1980s HIV was considered to be a “death sentence”. But people got together and followed what worked and now HIV is very treatable.
I think it’s unfortunate that a “Mental Health” Diagnosis can still be a “Death Sentence” even though there are plenty of Excellent Solutions Now available.
Poisoned – Its difficult for someone to seriously misbehave in normal society and get away with it. But there are plenty of people around, that could seriously misbehave if they could get away with it – this becomes evident in times of War or Society Breakdown.
“..People hiding behind mirrors..”
A friend of mine was raised in a large 2nd generation Irish Family in the 1960s/70s in London, Uk. His father was having problems with work at the time, and my friend wanted to help his family, so he decided to steal some BREAD from the local bakery.
He got into the bakery but couldn’t find any bread, so he stole some CAKE – but he got caught on the way out, and was taken to the Police Station.
A social worker was called in, and the social worker wanted to find out why a child from a good family would break into a bakery to steal CAKE.
The Social worker put my friend into a room with lots of toys and a hobby horse and there was also a big MIRROR on the wall. My friend knew the Social Worker and a Psychologist were hiding behind the MIRROR, and he didn’t want to cooperate, but eventually his curiosity got the better of him and he jumped onto the hobby horse and started riding it.
Yes “psychosis” can be natural, but it’s rarely psychosis.
Most of the people described as “psychotic” are not really psychotic but “bothered”, and anyone can find themselves in this type of situation. If a person were genuinely “psychotic” they wouldn’t be able to communicate with people that specialise in non drug recovery – would they?
I believe Dr E Fuller Torrey in contradiction to the Good Recovery Rates in Non Developed Countries, claimed that it was normal for people to have temporary resolvable “crises” in these countries. But, its normal everywhere.
“…If a drug isn’t beneficial, what is it?…”
Its something that disables a person and makes them easy to control (- if it’s a Neuroleptic).
If Neuroleptics are of no benefit most of the time, then what would a person in crisis benefit from?
I think they would benefit from genuine Safety until the crisis resolves.
“….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. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”…”
This is why people attempt SUICIDE on Psychiatric Drugs.
The idea behind Severe Mental Illness is that it is very disabling. *But my own disability ended when I stopped taking strong psychiatric drugs.
You have mentioned Neuroleptic withdrawal “High Anxiety” syndrome in your writings. I certainly suffered from this, even though I tapered carefully from the drugs.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
What I found was that if I was able not to engage with the Anxiety it gradually diminished ; and when it diminished it was no longer a problem. This might be described as a Buddhist (or CBT) solution. But this Approach can be PROVEN to work (for Normal Anxiety and Severe Anxiety)
As regards Neuroleptic Danger:- the drugs I consumed had the acknowledged “side effect” of Akathisia. This side effect is recognised by the FDA as a potential cause of suicide, and every hospitalization I had (besides the first one) over a four year period was a Suicidal Event.
These drugs are also practically guaranteed by the manufacturer to cause Tardive Dyskinesia in the majority of consumers.
My historical Psychiatrist was also a University Researcher, who promoted these drugs through positive Research Papers.
The SUICIDE rate in Ireland at approximately 400 deaths per year is about 10 times the HOMICIDE rate at approximately 40 deaths per year. *My SUICIDAL Hospitalizations stopped when I stopped consuming Strong Psychiatric Drugs.
Stephen,
It was good that you found the solutions somewhere else.
More likely to be involuntary consumption of psychotropics in the womb.
Suggested Experiment:-
1. Consuming Processed/Fast Food for 6 months.
2. Consuming Natural/Traditional Food for 6 months.
Assessing the “Concentration”/”ADHD” Results.
TRM123,
AKATHISIA:- I had no control whatsoever when I attempted SUICIDE twice on Fluphenazine Decoanate Depot Injection. I’m also quite sure that if I FELT the same way again I could easily attempt SUICIDE again.
It’s not just that Prescribers in the UK don’t know “much” about AKATHISIA – its that they are NOT allowed to represent ‘patient reported’ AKATHISIA in Patients Records. The reason for this I believe, is the existence of an historical ‘ICEBERG’ of Neuroleptic Induced AKATHISIA DEATHS in the UK.
For me the emotional problems even though caused by Chemical Brain Damage, were the ones I could adapt too (thankfully, or I would never have gotten off the chemicals).
Sometimes a tendency like “anxiety” remains but it’s possible to adapt to it, over time. Other problems like Nonspecific Neurological Damage can remain without any solution.
littleturtle,
I know what you mean!
SCHIZOPHRENIA:-
It’s Possible to Completely Recover.
“..An overview of the current state of knowledge in the field, concluding that psychosis can be understood and treated in the same way as other psychological problems such as anxiety or shyness…”
Edited by Anne Cooke
Contributors include:
Thurstine Basset; Professor Richard Bentall; Professor Mary Boyle; Caroline Cupitt; Jacqui Dillon; Professor Daniel Freeman; Professor Philippa Garety; Dr David Harper; Dr Lucy Johnstone; Professor Peter Kinderman; Professor Elizabeth Kuipers; Professor Tony Lavender; Laura Lea; Eleanor Longden; Dr Rufus May; Professor Tony Morrison; Dr Sara Meddings; Professor Steve Onyett; Dr Emmanuelle Peters; Professor David Pilgrim; Professor John Read; Professor Mike Slade; Yan Weaver; Professor Til Wykes
I don’t mean to wander off here, it’s a “Point” that needs to be communicated.
There’s an awful lot of playing with words in Psychiatry.
Hi Francesca,
It’s nice to see you again.
I was only actually consuming 6mg per day of the Seroquel and I was addicted to this (but not dreadfully addicted to it).
I think at some stage Psychiatry in Unison “decided” that it was okay to KILL.
I asked Dr Simon Gordon at London W2 5LT to write me up a brief Mental Health Summary so that I could see my own “Specialist”:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y-kyqkOO8rZDqdvVyQPLo4-om9hRXXWk/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11fKYg33D7aHuSz0iOPVmbt1jUuzskgzR/view?usp=drivesdk
This is what I would say about my records, my experience and my delusions:-
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/05/antidepressant-withdrawal-can-trap-people/#comment-131809
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/05/antidepressant-withdrawal-can-trap-people/#comment-131871
(The “prescription” was 25mg Seroquel per day, which is not prescriptive for any mental health condition).
MY OWN EXPERIENCE OF MH OFFICIALDOM
My GP at London W2 5LT removes “Schizophrenia” in writing with explanation, 3 times :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cP_smYn2khLimaiWaJdPO_vGcY-j9_Bl/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F6ArumseTVc3djX09hJf1kc0AJfRvg06/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u2u-VbCCg5BeDJk7H2xGoKqKgZM8qf-H/view?usp=drivesdk
A month later I see “Schizophrenia” still on the system. So I complain to my GP and he Responds with this Rationale:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HPB_xRRJ1cdG0AmkyAXvwrphYYpEwNEe/view?usp=drivesdk
I complain to the General Medical Council; and in May of 2013 I am politely fobbed off:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pAQ-35raoR6-QfwKddQ4kgWU5FUbbkJY/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UtVo6amME3bRF4WZJqyis4zfHI-79fQO/view?usp=drivesdk
MY ORIGINAL MH EXPERIENCE
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/05/antidepressant-withdrawal-can-trap-people/#comment-131809
My impression is that very straightforward Psychotherapy works.
Non Drug “Schizophrenia” Potential Outcome:-
“..Next is the testimony of a twenty-nine year-old man.
He is virtually at the end of a process of full recovery from schizophrenia, a process that revolved around the gradual recovery of his sense of selfhood.
As I said earlier, the loss of selfhood experienced by people who are diagnosed with schizophrenia is catastrophic, therefore their recovery of selfhood takes correspondingly longer.
When he first attended me several years ago, he was taking fourteen tablets a day, stuck in a deep rut, constantly at home with his parents, with no external activities in his life and no prospect of any on the horizon.
Our work together revolved around the principles set out in this book. Twelve weeks ago, having been taking just a quarter of one tablet for the preceding three months, having discussed his situation in detail with me, he ceased taking medication.
Twelve weeks on, he continues to do and be well in his life. We will remain in regular and frequent contact, to ensure that he remains well.
He has just completed an honours MA university course, having obtained his degree last year…”
“Selfhood” page 278, by Dr Terry Lynch
TRM 123
In reference to Akathisia – this is a very disturbing case from Ireland that mentions “depression”, but with very little other background information attached.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/man-pleads-guilty-to-attempting-to-murder-four-children-1.3566694?mode=amp
By saving money I mean saving what a lifetime of “schizophrenia” might cost.
From the Book “Selfhood” by Dr Terry Lynch: Page 267: “Case Histories”.
“… I could see how Stephen was diagnosed as having paranoid schizophrenia…”
“…Stephen looked terrified, and I asked him why. He replied ‘I’m not sure I can get out of this place alive’. There were only the two of us in my office, and nobody in the waiting room….”
“…I focused on enabling Stephen to progressively raise his level of selfhood. In particular, I worked with him on self-protection and self-generated security, because his lack of these dominated his life,..”
“..This practise had the desired effect. His level of self-protection and self-generated security began to increase, slowly at first, then gathering pace. Stephen made considerable progress in raising his level of selfhood, of which, for him, self-protection and self-generated security were key factors…”
“.. Because he was doing well, his psychiatrist agreed to reduce his medication slightly, and I subsequently continued the process of gradually reducing Stephen’s medication…”
“..Stephen has been off all schizophrenia medication for over three years. He lives a full life, goes where he likes, thrives in social situations, and has a level of selfhood higher that at any previous time in his life…”
Corinna,
“…Everyone knows the system is broken..” Yes definitely, and it needs to be fixed by spending a lot less money. It’s a no lose situation!
It’s alway possible to produce drugs that disable. With “Schizophrenia” that’s all the drugs appear to do. The “Schizophrenia” “Disability Figures” reflect this.
The drugs damage the brain in such a way as to make a person more vulnerable to “anxiety”.
I think a person can expect their body to go out of synch once they stop all drugs – as the liver has nothing to chew on.
Seroquel at 75 mg has the effect of an antihistamine. Seroquel only begins to work on the dopamine system at 150mg.
Anyway, I got around the sleeping problem and have been off all drugs for years now.
I was regularly taking 6mg of Seroquel (1/4 of a 25mg tablet)/per night; and when I stopped taking this, my sleeping dropped from 7 hrs to 4 hrs per night.
Thanks for the information, this is a great development.
Nearly 100 percent of my Recovery came from Traditional “Asian” Practice (now widely recognised and available outside of “Asia”).
Maybe you introduced the word into normal practice.
As an ex consumer I don’t have any difficulty understanding the cutting down to 3mg of a drug that can be consumed at 2000 mg per day – but I think this would be beyond most doctors understanding.
Seroquels properties guarantee dreadful insomnia on discontinuation which is likely to guarantee Seroquel dependency.
Thanks a Lot Emily,
I agree with you on the benefit of the Polyphony of views available on MIA. Maybe you’ve invented a new word!
I also support your combating of paternalism. It was a bad practice even in Victorian times.
Dear Lucy,
Thanks for your informative Article.
The UK spends over £100 million on research into (mostly) chemical solutions for “Severe Mental Illness”. I believe this money could be better spent.
When I complained about disabling “medication” sideffects, and my Psychiatrist wasn’t able to do anything about this, I was given the option of abrupt withdrawal from the “medication”.
This option didn’t work for me. But a careful drug taper did.
The withdrawal anxiety I experienced when I eventually discontinued, stayed with me for quite a while after. I asked MIND for help at the time, and they provided me with trainee counsellors, who were very helpful.
My parting Psychiatric Diagnosis was as SEVERE as would be possible. But I recovered with the help of basic Psychotherapy.
Coming off strong psychiatric drugs meant an End to Psychiatric Disability; and an End to Taxpayer Cost (for many years now).
But, does it work?
You mention the Psychiatric Holocaust T4. I believe there are different assessments as to the scale of mass murder during this particular Holocaust.
But, I believe Dr Peter Gotzsche rates the present day “Loss of Life” from one particular “atypical antipsychotic” misused on the Vulnerable Elderly as being in the region of 200,000.
Christian, I’m very sorry about your dreadful experience, and thank you for writing this.
You remind me that the teenagers life is not an easy one. But the Psychiatric facilities as you describe them are hardly the solution.
Africa is mentioned above and I remember a friend of mine from Africa relating to me that his mother used to frequently go genuinely mad and end up in an Asylum. But he told me that she also used to, regularly recover and return to her job as a school teacher.
It doesn’t surprise me that children are frightened inside in their houses watching television. “CBT” worked for me for “anxiety” because it showed me how to see “what frightened me” in neutral terms.
But, it honestly was the effect of the pharmaceuticals that created my overwhelming fear of “everything”.
I wouldn’t make a major thing out of AAs so called “Disease” description. AA does not recommend “medication” as treatment and people that attend the AA should be attending of their own free will.
In the video clip I saw Tom Cruise was “supposed to be eccentric” because he contradicted the idea of depression as an illness.
For actor Stephen Fry identifying with “Bi Polar” might make him more popular, but for the average person “Bi Polar” could mean more than stigmatisation i.e. restriction to Civil Liberty.
Great idea, Lawrence.
I was very impressed with the way Tom Cruise stood up against psychiatric fraud – he was speaking from the heart.
This is the benefit of self help Groups.
I’ve got a friend who was on “minor” tranquillisers many many years ago. He spent 9 months in a psychiatric hospital coming off them, suffering all the symptoms of “lunacy”.
He’s pushing 80 now, and he’s fit and active but he graphically remembers the drug withdrawal experience.
The whole idea behind “tapering” is that the drugs have Rebound and Withdrawal Syndromes.
Someone Else,
Notice how when Dr Shipman
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Shipman
ended the lives of his vulnerable patients they were described as “having been killed”, but the dead people at Gosport are described as “having had their lives shortened.”
I’m from Southern Ireland.
Within the data on reported suicides that I have seen – a high proportion of people that attempt suicide are already tied up with the psychiatric services.
From my own experience listening to people in 12 Step fellowships speaking: the average person thinks about doing lots of different things, and this is normal.
To find out why people commit suicide – its important to ask the people that attempt suicide:-
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.researchgate.net/publication/16313058_Suicide_Associated_with_Akathisia_and_Depot_Fluphenazine_Treatment/amp
These drugs can drive people mad and trigger suicide.
I was given permission to come off “my antipsychotics” but I ended up in hospital (- until I tapered).
I thought “schizophrenia” was a terrible “illness” until I met people that described themselves as “schizophrenic” – but there was nothing wrong with them!
The Brilliant Photograph appears to come from London in the UK, where 2nd/3rd generation Caribbean people are maybe 5 times more likely to be diagnosed with Severe Mental Illness than their non black counterparts, ending up dead many years before their time.
Apologies for digressing – the ‘countries’ might be different but the issue is the same.
NON CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS
From one of the Best Communicators in “Mental Health”
https://youtu.be/PS25eht6C2o
37:20 (minutes in) Non Drug Recovery from Schizophrenia
Someone Else
“..A healthcare professional has been arrested on suspicion of murdering eight babies and attempting to kill six others at a hospital…”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-44696813
Gosport
“..During her 12 years at the hospital, Dr Barton signed 854 death certificates. Of the patients she treated, 94% received opiates..”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-44660105
Dr Richard Bentall went MAD (on a lot less).
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10565099
GALWAY IRELAND:-
17/11/1980 to 26/1/1981
100 mg of Haloperidol per day
+ 1000 mg of Largactil per day
for 2 months
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O9BI-lQbnDsWG4LF2DN3hk_8sG1vDij9/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R20LgbJwIDqd0VTp755vTBjeEI5hZDaD/view?usp=drivesdk
+ Modecate Depot injection every 2 weeks.
+ ECT + Lithium at the end.
Galway is in Southern Ireland:-
https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2018/0702/974652-nuig-biology/
Apologies:-
“A month later I see “Schizophrenia” still on the system. So I complain to my GP and he presents me with this Rationale”:-
14 January 2013
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HPB_xRRJ1cdG0AmkyAXvwrphYYpEwNEe/view?usp=drivesdk
MYTH METAPHOR AND MISCONCEPTION IN THE UK 2
The Practice then moved me to Dr Gordon instead of Dr Simons. I asked Dr Gordon to write me up a brief Mental Health Summary so that I could see my own “Specialist”:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y-kyqkOO8rZDqdvVyQPLo4-om9hRXXWk/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11fKYg33D7aHuSz0iOPVmbt1jUuzskgzR/view?usp=drivesdk
This is what I would say about my records and my experience and my delusions:-
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/05/antidepressant-withdrawal-can-trap-people/#comment-131809
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/05/antidepressant-withdrawal-can-trap-people/#comment-131871
(The “prescription” was 25mg Seroquel per day, which is not prescriptive for any mental health condition).
MYTH METAPHOR AND MISCONCEPTION IN THE UK 1
My GP Removes Schizophrenia 3 times:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cP_smYn2khLimaiWaJdPO_vGcY-j9_Bl/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F6ArumseTVc3djX09hJf1kc0AJfRvg06/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u2u-VbCCg5BeDJk7H2xGoKqKgZM8qf-H/view?usp=drivesdk
A month later I see “Schizophrenia” still on the system. So I complain to my GP and he presents me with this Rationale:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/180-kO1Ze-xdpjA-ssb5cM36JZl6K12DN/view?usp=drivesdk
I complain to the General Medical Council;
and in May of 2013 I am politely fobbed off:-
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pAQ-35raoR6-QfwKddQ4kgWU5FUbbkJY/view?usp=drivesdk
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UtVo6amME3bRF4WZJqyis4zfHI-79fQO/view?usp=drivesdk
But if a person recovers from a chronic condition as a result of stopping treatment, then they can’t have suffered from it to begin with.
Supersensitivity syndrome (drug brain damage) is mentioned in the link above.
I was disabled, I was attempting suicide and I was in and out of hospital.
Corinna,
I feel fine right now, I haven’t got much on my mind at all. But when I wake up in the morning I’ve got all kinds of realistic concerns – the trick for me is not to think about them in the morning.
I know that sometimes people are caught in longterm impossible situations, I don’t know what they can do then.
(I do suffer from longterm neuroleptic withdrawal syndrome).
Good Comment,
The only thing I would add to this is that it’s possible to recover from “Chronic Schizophrenia” / “Schizo Affective Disorder” through – non drug means.
I couldn’t have dealt with the Severe Anxiety I experienced on withdrawal, without “psychotherapy”.
Dear Dr Joanna,
It’s nice to see you back on Mad in America.
I recovered through tapering from “medication” with the help of Psychotherapy.
I can describe how the Psychotherapy worked, and why it worked, and my longterm Recovery can be substantiated.
I was “diagnosed” originally in 1980 with Schizophrenia then with Chronic Schizophrenia and finally in 1984 with Schizoaffective Disorder.
But in my own case, in my opinion, the drugs were not used to benefit.
Psychiatrys Right to Kill was Officially supported in parts of Europe 1935 -1945. But it still exists today, and certainly in Ireland and England.
What I’m saying in reference to Fluphenazine Depot is that Psychiatry takes it as their Right to Kill People (more or less). I have presented evidence of this in the Links above.
My own historical Psychiatrist and drug Researcher/Promoter honestly couldn’t tell the difference between genuine “mental illness” and the side effects of his own “medication”.
Ultimately, he ended up on the Irish Medical Council – who tried to make out they didn’t know him when I made the complaint. But when the complaint went through they backed him to the hilt.
“Antipsychotics” (in my experience) create a condition of long term dependency, and longterm “mental illness”.
https://www.rxlist.com/prolixin-side-effects-drug-center.htm
“….Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects…”
“…extrapyramidal symptoms including pseudoparkinsonism, dystonia, dyskinesia, akathisia, oculogyric crises, opisthotonos, and hyperreflexia. Most often these extrapyramidal symptoms are reversible…!”
“….Extrapyramidal reactions may be alarming, and the patient should be forewarned and reassured. ..”
(Also:- Tardive Dyskinesia, and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome).
Vanilla,
A person once put on the drugs (even if they have very little “wrong” with them) could quite easily remain on the drugs and remain Psychiatric.
This is where the Epidemic comes from.
There are developments, that have eventually appeared in the mainframe and are likely to stay, Like:-
The acceptance that the psychiatric drugs are killing people 30 years earlier than normal.
The developing acceptance that “antidepressants” are of no value to Society.
The growing awareness of the huge cost of Psychiatric Disability in developed countries.
The Arrival of the Hearing Voices Network (with solutions that work).
The acceptance that systems like “Open Dialogue” can completely recover the majority of people that use them.
Other Solutions appearing that present complete recovery from longterm Psychiatric Diagnoses.
The British Psychological Societys encroachment on Psychiatric Territory in the UK – with psychological solutions that work.
FLUPHENAZINE DEPOT + AKATHISIA + SUICIDE + MEDICAL HOMICIDE
I believe there has been an “Arrangement” within Psychiatry to cover up/deny Fluphenazine Suicides.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/16313058_Suicide_Associated_with_Akathisia_and_Depot_Fluphenazine_Treatment
My own Suicidal Reactions between 1980 and 1984 in Ireland, were covered up (putting me at future Risk); and many years later are still being covered up in the UK, by my present day Medical Providers.
DETAILS
(within links below)
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/05/antidepressant-withdrawal-can-trap-people/#comment-131809
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/05/antidepressant-withdrawal-can-trap-people/#comment-131871
I became “Schizo Affective” because every hospitalization I had bar the first was suicidal ( there were no more once I came off the “medication”).
Chris, I think that you’ve got the same right to be the second coming of Christ as the next person.
Oldhead,
Laurenne Slater points the physical damage that she says will soon kill her, AT the Psychiatric “Treatment” – NOT AT the “Illness” – that’s what I got out of it.
“..Now, 35 years and 12 drugs later, my kidneys are failing, I have diabetes, I am overweight and my memory is perforated. My lifetime seems seriously foreshortened, not because of a psychiatric illness but because of the drugs I have taken to treat it…”
Dear Daniel,
I found it very difficult to come off “Medication”:
I was given permission to discontinue Fluphenazine depot injection by my Consultant Psychiatrist Dr P A Carney in Ireland, in October of 1983.
But I didn’t last long. I ended up in hospital in December of 1983 and was re introduced to Fluphenazine while I was there.
I experienced a Suicide Attempt shortly afterwards (due to Acute Akathisia) in early 1984 and ended up in hospital again.
When I left hospital I attempted to discontinue the Fluphenazine again but I found this too difficult, so I asked for a “medication” with less side effects, and was offered Depixol depot injection as an alternative.
I was injected in April of 1984 with twice the introductory dose of Depixol Depot, but I reacted a day or two later (with Acute Akathisia). This was on a weekend and I attempted to gain admission to hospital as I knew I wasn’t safe.
The nursing staff at the hospital had been instructed not to admit me if I turned up again, but they admitted me anyway. I remained in hospital for less than 48 hours, and then left as the Acute Akathisia had abated. This was my last hospitalization.
I did manage to come off the injection (and the disability benefit) after this hospitalization in 1984, and was able to return to normal life as a result (- as the injection side effects had been very disabling).
I found I couldnt survive without any “medication” so I asked for Oral “medication”, and I tapered from there.
By 1990 I was taking 25 mg of thioradazine (similar to thorazine)/per day (suitable for hiccoughs), and this eventually became nothing.
In 1980 at my first hopitalization I had been very happy to refuse “medication”; and had asked for the “Talking Treatments”.
Ultimately the “Talking Treatments” were the Solution.
(My Diagnoses had been:- 1980 Schizophrenia; 1982 Chronic Schizophrenia ; 1984 Schizo affective disorder).
I have friend in London that Practice’s CBT and he reckons that it’s not possible to be depressed without thinking in a depressed way. He’s had his own serious life difficulties and that’s why he retrained as a therapist.
The thing about him is that over the years he has become very happy – the proof is there. He’s also a very compassionate person.
I believe the imbalance caused by the drug exposure is worse than any original situation. This imbalance is as a result of brain damage whereas the original situation is to do with “life”.
I’ve attempted suicide (for example) more than once on strong psychiatric drugs, but never off them.
“…My big brother died on Tuesday. It was a massive, horrible shock,..”
https://alastaircampbell.org/2016/08/my-brother-donald-please-spread-his-story-far-and-wide-and-join-the-fight-for-better-mental-health-services-and-understanding/
“..This is what ‘success’ looks like for many, many users of psychiatric “services,” and it is appalling..”
My heart bleeds for her as well.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5520025/The-REAL-legacy-lifetime-depression-pills.html
“…When I was 19 I took my first psychiatric drug, imipramine, for depression.
At the time, my body seemed to be healthy, even if I was cripplingly depressed.
Now, 35 years and 12 drugs later, my kidneys are failing, I have diabetes, I am overweight and my memory is perforated. My lifetime seems seriously foreshortened, not because of a psychiatric illness but because of the drugs I have taken to treat it.
Diabetes and kidney trouble are only two of the well-documented side-effects associated with the powerful antidepressant and anti-psychotic drugs which prop me up so that I can sail through my days, going as fast as I can in the hope I will get everything done before I die…”
Anybody could end up like this.
Hi Julie,
You’re an excellent writer yourself.
There are lots of ways of overcoming “mental illness” and returning to a good level of productive happiness.
But there’s no chemical cure for “mental illness” , what’s available is tranquillisation.
Long term Tranquillisation can turn anyone into a longterm “mentally ill” person because these drugs are disabling, dependency forming, and brain damaging.
I’ve experienced this situation myself, but I escaped from it through carefully reducing the tranquillisers; and engaging in “Buddhist Type Psychology”.
There should (hopefully) be a difference between the talking treatments and the neuroleptic treatments.
I’m not too sure what the Power Threat Meaning Meaning is; in the same way that I don’t understand how “talking to your family” can improve your “Health” – but Open Dialogue has definitely been proven to work.
I don’t support the term “Psychosis”, though.
There’s been a lot of money spent on these drugs on the basis of “expert medical opinion” so they have to be supported.
That’s what I’ve always thought.
There’s only a few thousand psychiatrists in the UK so they don’t spend much time with people anyway. It’s nurses that know the people personally.
Nurses are degree qualified people and they should practice the skills. If things work out everyone might be happy.
Thanks for this Better life. You certainly know your stuff.
Extreme Anxiety was my problem when I quit the neuroleptics, and it nearly had me back on them again. But thankfully, I found useful ways to accommodate it.
This is why I say that there’s no such thing as “Schizophrenia”, and any good therapist should be able to help a person along their way. My parting diagnosis was “Schizo affective Disorder”. The “affective” I believe was to explain my iatrogenic suicide attempts.
I consumed all the neuroleptics antidepressants and mood stabilisers and remained chronically “sick” – but I recovered through Psychothereuptic means (and stopping “medication”).
Thank You Philip.
I hope I’m not wandering off too much here:-
According to the British Psychological Society:
“..An overview of the current state of knowledge in the field, concluding that psychosis can be understood and treated in the same way as other psychological problems such as anxiety or shyness…”
I presume this would also Include “Depression” at all Psychological Levels.
DR SHIPMAN
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/06/21/hampshire-police-hand-investigation-gosport-hospital-deaths/
THE UK GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL
Why didn’t the GMC fully investigate these deaths and take stricter action? Because this would be the Tip of the Iceberg of Medical Deaths in the Community.
FLUPHENAZINE DEATHS
Fluphenazine Depot Injection is accepted to cause Akathisia, which is accepted to cause Suicide. I can prove in my own case that my medical providers in Ireland suppressed my Adverse Drug Reactions to these drugs, placing me at future risk:-
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/05/antidepressant-withdrawal-can-trap-people/#comment-131809
About 40% of Fluphenazine consumers attempt Suicide, at least 10% successfully.
It’s very normal to believe what the Official Medical system tells us, especially if we are told, that what they tell us can be backed up with hard facts.
On the other hand I notice that the Official media don’t publish much by way of proven recovery by means other than medical intervention – especially within the “schizophrenia / bi polar” area.
Dear Philip,
It’s still happening.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-least-450-patients-lives-12749435
“..In fact, I have even encountered psychiatrists who cautioned against informing clients of the risks of tardive dyskinesia and akathisia with neuroleptic drugs, on the grounds that nobody would agree to take them if they received this information! ..”
https://www.madinamerica.com/2016/11/neuroleptic-drugs-akathisia-suicide-violence/
https://www.madinamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Suicide-Associated-with-Akathisia-and-Depot-Fluphenzaine-Treatment-KShear-1983.pdf
I notice Depot Fluphenazine Decoanate is now being discontinued.
http://www.medicinesresources.nhs.uk/en/Medicines-Awareness/Press-and-Media/Press-and-media/Discontinuation-of-Modecate-fluphenazine-decanoate-injection-all-strengths-by-end-of-2018/
http://www.hps.com.au/knowledge-centre/drugalert/discontinuation-of-modecate-ampoules/
https://www.drugshortagescanada.ca/discontinuance/42850
Someone Else,
I purchased this book today “Breaking Down is Breaking Through” by Dr Russell Razzaque on Kindle for £5.03 and I would recommend it.
Dr Razzaque is the Psychiatrist that’s introducing Open Dialogue in the UK.
I was highly dependent on drugs suitable for “chronic schizophrenia” but I have to say the “Psychotherapeutic approach” worked.
As a result: I also stopped claiming disability benefit and ceased to cost anything.
Before the mid 1980s people were only normally prescribed anti depressants in hospital. Depression as an illness has now been turned into something very serious that anyone could have. Family doctors have also been sucked into the delusion.
When I came off a Long Acting Neuroleptic injection 35 years ago my recovery was of a self learnt “CBT” nature. My main problem at the time was “anxiety” and “CBT” worked completely, but it took time.
People might have the problem of accessing any useful Psychotherapy on the NHS, this is why I think there’s a need for people to set up their own Mutually Supportive Groups independent of the NHS.
Hi Julian,
I got the book “Breaking Down is Waking Up” today, from Kindle for £5.03. I read through some pieces and the insights are brilliant:-
It looks Very Good!
I attended a talk by Dr Russell a few years ago at Kingsley Hall. His message is one of Full Recovery.
https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2018/0616/971020-taoiseach-hiv-speech/
In the 1980s HIV was considered to be a “death sentence”. But people got together and followed what worked and now HIV is very treatable.
I think it’s unfortunate that a “Mental Health” Diagnosis can still be a “Death Sentence” even though there are plenty of Excellent Solutions Now available.
Poisoned – Its difficult for someone to seriously misbehave in normal society and get away with it. But there are plenty of people around, that could seriously misbehave if they could get away with it – this becomes evident in times of War or Society Breakdown.
“..People hiding behind mirrors..”
A friend of mine was raised in a large 2nd generation Irish Family in the 1960s/70s in London, Uk. His father was having problems with work at the time, and my friend wanted to help his family, so he decided to steal some BREAD from the local bakery.
He got into the bakery but couldn’t find any bread, so he stole some CAKE – but he got caught on the way out, and was taken to the Police Station.
A social worker was called in, and the social worker wanted to find out why a child from a good family would break into a bakery to steal CAKE.
The Social worker put my friend into a room with lots of toys and a hobby horse and there was also a big MIRROR on the wall. My friend knew the Social Worker and a Psychologist were hiding behind the MIRROR, and he didn’t want to cooperate, but eventually his curiosity got the better of him and he jumped onto the hobby horse and started riding it.
Yes “psychosis” can be natural, but it’s rarely psychosis.
Most of the people described as “psychotic” are not really psychotic but “bothered”, and anyone can find themselves in this type of situation. If a person were genuinely “psychotic” they wouldn’t be able to communicate with people that specialise in non drug recovery – would they?
I believe Dr E Fuller Torrey in contradiction to the Good Recovery Rates in Non Developed Countries, claimed that it was normal for people to have temporary resolvable “crises” in these countries. But, its normal everywhere.
“…If a drug isn’t beneficial, what is it?…”
Its something that disables a person and makes them easy to control (- if it’s a Neuroleptic).
If Neuroleptics are of no benefit most of the time, then what would a person in crisis benefit from?
I think they would benefit from genuine Safety until the crisis resolves.
https://www.madinamerica.com/2016/11/neuroleptic-drugs-akathisia-suicide-violence/
https://en.m.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. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”…”
This is why people attempt SUICIDE on Psychiatric Drugs.
This could be the next Money Making Scheme:-
Over 40s health check to include dementia advice – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-44502861
Dear Bob,
The idea behind Severe Mental Illness is that it is very disabling. *But my own disability ended when I stopped taking strong psychiatric drugs.
You have mentioned Neuroleptic withdrawal “High Anxiety” syndrome in your writings. I certainly suffered from this, even though I tapered carefully from the drugs.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS
What I found was that if I was able not to engage with the Anxiety it gradually diminished ; and when it diminished it was no longer a problem. This might be described as a Buddhist (or CBT) solution. But this Approach can be PROVEN to work (for Normal Anxiety and Severe Anxiety)
As regards Neuroleptic Danger:- the drugs I consumed had the acknowledged “side effect” of Akathisia. This side effect is recognised by the FDA as a potential cause of suicide, and every hospitalization I had (besides the first one) over a four year period was a Suicidal Event.
These drugs are also practically guaranteed by the manufacturer to cause Tardive Dyskinesia in the majority of consumers.
My historical Psychiatrist was also a University Researcher, who promoted these drugs through positive Research Papers.
The SUICIDE rate in Ireland at approximately 400 deaths per year is about 10 times the HOMICIDE rate at approximately 40 deaths per year. *My SUICIDAL Hospitalizations stopped when I stopped consuming Strong Psychiatric Drugs.
Stephen,
It was good that you found the solutions somewhere else.
https://www.empr.com/news/autism-spectrum-disorder-attention-deficit-disorder-hypertension-maternal/article/773208/
More likely to be involuntary consumption of psychotropics in the womb.
Suggested Experiment:-
1. Consuming Processed/Fast Food for 6 months.
2. Consuming Natural/Traditional Food for 6 months.
Assessing the “Concentration”/”ADHD” Results.
TRM123,
AKATHISIA:- I had no control whatsoever when I attempted SUICIDE twice on Fluphenazine Decoanate Depot Injection. I’m also quite sure that if I FELT the same way again I could easily attempt SUICIDE again.
It’s not just that Prescribers in the UK don’t know “much” about AKATHISIA – its that they are NOT allowed to represent ‘patient reported’ AKATHISIA in Patients Records. The reason for this I believe, is the existence of an historical ‘ICEBERG’ of Neuroleptic Induced AKATHISIA DEATHS in the UK.
For me the emotional problems even though caused by Chemical Brain Damage, were the ones I could adapt too (thankfully, or I would never have gotten off the chemicals).
Sometimes a tendency like “anxiety” remains but it’s possible to adapt to it, over time. Other problems like Nonspecific Neurological Damage can remain without any solution.
littleturtle,
I know what you mean!
SCHIZOPHRENIA:-
It’s Possible to Completely Recover.
https://www1.bps.org.uk/networks-and-communities/member-microsite/division-clinical-psychology/understanding-psychosis-and-schizophrenia
“..An overview of the current state of knowledge in the field, concluding that psychosis can be understood and treated in the same way as other psychological problems such as anxiety or shyness…”
Edited by Anne Cooke
Contributors include:
Thurstine Basset; Professor Richard Bentall; Professor Mary Boyle; Caroline Cupitt; Jacqui Dillon; Professor Daniel Freeman; Professor Philippa Garety; Dr David Harper; Dr Lucy Johnstone; Professor Peter Kinderman; Professor Elizabeth Kuipers; Professor Tony Lavender; Laura Lea; Eleanor Longden; Dr Rufus May; Professor Tony Morrison; Dr Sara Meddings; Professor Steve Onyett; Dr Emmanuelle Peters; Professor David Pilgrim; Professor John Read; Professor Mike Slade; Yan Weaver; Professor Til Wykes
I don’t mean to wander off here, it’s a “Point” that needs to be communicated.