Alternatives to psychiatry
The Open Paradigm Project, in collaboration with MadinAmerica.com, Occupy Psychiatry, and leading organizations in the movement to reform mental health care, announces a social media campaign showcasing video testimonials by individuals negatively impacted by the traditional psychiatric model, which focuses on pathology and illness rather than wellness and recovery. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
depression is always a mixture of many things…there is no such thing as a monolithic state called depression…the fact that people imagine that is the case, is a problem. (includes list of posts to rethink depression) … [click on title for the rest of the post]
Freaky weird sensations bubbling forth from deep in my body tonight. Releasing old traumatic stuff from the body never ceases to be fascinating…if also on occasion annoying. I’d rather be sleeping.
At this point I don’t differentiate between that which is “withdrawal” (iatrogenic injury) and that which is “trauma” it seems to help to just pay attention to all of it as though it has something to tell me regardless of origin. Also, withdrawal is trauma in any case. As Charles Whitfield, MD has said and established, psychiatric drugs are agents of trauma.
The only discipline that makes sense anymore is surrender. That and then paying attention. I continue to heal. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
I’ve learned what is spoken about in video this is true. Acute pain will never be easy, but it is possible to no longer suffer in many regards. Also as one moves into this much pain actually starts healing too. This is a wonderful talk for anyone who suffers from chronic pain and really any kind of pain, physical or emotional. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
Socrates’ admonition to “know thyself” flies in the face of many modern ideas that urge us instead to “change thyself!” If we’re not happy all the time, we have a collective tendency to think something is wrong with us, that we should alter our mood with Prozac, positive thinking, buying or acquiring, working harder or seeking solace in relationship. In order to be OK with ourselves, we have to change rather than become curious about understanding all parts of ourselves.
Worse yet, there is the notion that if only we can get rid of aspects of ourselves — our anger, hate, greed, envy, sadness, vulnerability, our shameful parts — all will be well. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
A collection of articles on the DSM in the news today and recently. We’re watching a house come down!! It looks like the publication of DSMV is — not at all by design — turning into a watershed event. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
There is a dance that only you know how to do, Gabrielle says. The Wave makes it fun to experience the ecstasy of your body in motion to some of the most irresistible high-energy dance music we’ve ever heard! … [click on title for the rest of the post]
Western psychiatry is in crisis. The direction taken by the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5), due to be published later this week, has received ample criticism. Moreover, in disagreement with the American Psychiatric Association, the United States National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the world’s largest research institute, has announced they will no longer fund projects based exclusively on DSM categories. Unfortunately, while Mental Health Europe considers the NIMH decision to be the right one, by focusing almost entirely on neuroscience and on so-called disorders of the brain, the NIMH is missing out on the critical importance of user experiences to psychiatric research and to the practice of psychiatry. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
3 principles crucial for the human mind to flourish — and how current education culture works against them. In a funny, stirring talk he tells us how to get out of the educational “death valley” we now face, and how to nurture our youngest generations with a climate of possibility. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
I am seeing an unfortunate trend in the psychiatric survivor community: People are saying cold turkey can be a perfectly fine way to go off psychiatric drugs.
We know many people get away with cold turkey, but others injure their nervous systems severely, for months or years. You don’t know in advance what will happen. Even a taper over a month reduces the risk of injury.
What’s more, if you do get withdrawal syndrome, you’re on your own. You cannot imagine how bad it can be. There’s no real medical treatment. You can’t count on a nice doctor with a pill to save you.
We need to get together to protect each other, the way the gay community united to encourage safe sex to protect people from HIV infection.
Please help spread the word: Friends do not let friends cold turkey. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
ALT
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Monica Cassani
Will Hall
