Denial? No, we need a paradigm shift

Grace,

At the end of your post, you used the words “just being too sensitive” – was not sure if you were referencing what I had written about some people being ‘more senstitive’ than others.

I didn’t mean to imply that these ‘mental illnesses’ are due to people being ‘too sensitive”. I would never say that.

My dad worked with a man who was so ‘sensitive’ to a bee sting, that if/when he got stung by a bee, he would have to head to the emergency room – he almost lost his life a couple of times due to this ‘sensitivity”.

He was also a Green Beret in VietNam – hardly a ‘timid’ soul.
The point is that people are ‘sensitive’ to various things – some, gluten, others – petrochemicals – and the list goes on.

How do we possibly do an EEG of the human brain, and find a ‘environmental allergy’? – It seems to me that if there was a true ‘chemical imbalance”, psychiatry would have found it by now – God knows they’ve spent enough money searching for it.

How do we run a test on a man or woman (blood, urine, or other) to show he/she is sensitive to a bee sting? I’m not sure, but I know that HE/SHE KNOWS how senstitive they are after they first get stung – and so it is with medication.

The larger point is that I was not saying people are ‘too sensitive’ – there is no such thing. And, I was not reducing the amount of empathy to a small matter of being senstive – rather, the large impact that sensitivities can have on the human experience.

This may sound like rambling, and forgive me if it does, but I think of the brain as part of the body – one unit – it came from one cell – it is not surprising therefore, that those who have allergies to processed foods, etc also have difficulty with emotional stressors – it would make sense that they go hand in hand – the brain’s chemistry is upset, because the body’s chemistry is upset – and because the brain IS THE BODY – always has been – always will be – one cell – multiplied.

And, if we look at this in spirutual terms (or ‘phenomenon’ terms, as science likes to call it) – we see plenty of room for mystery – plenty of room. When we look out at the stars in the sky – and increase the length of our glance (for instance, with a Hubble Telescope), we see a universe that is beyond our human comprehension.

When we look into each cell of our body – magnify it 10 to the power of 12 and beyond, we beging to see what looks very similar to the suns and stars in the universe outside. In other words, there is room for a spiritual view of all of this – room for “chaotic theory” for instance – room to see that science may be far too linear, and that many things are not meant to be understood – we simply don’t know.

So, the best any of us can do, is to find out for ourselves what works/what doesn’t work, and to support others who search for themselves – using the best research available. At the end of the day, much of it comes down to what it is we believe in – and what we search for. If we believe in a natural approach and we search for health, we are much more likely to find it.

If we believe in something else (that’s where the search will start) – however, (in my opinion), much of the science in conventional medicine, as it pertains to issues of ‘mental health’ points to a ‘chemical imbalance’ – that is treated in a barbaric way (similar to blood letting of a by-gone era). And, much of the search of groups like the AMA, NAMI, and others is to ‘understand illness’, ‘cope with illness’, and ‘eraticate illness’.

A much better search (in my opinion) is one that involves the search for health – we find (ultimately) what we search for.

“Life is not a problem to be solved, but rather a mystery to be experienced” – however wrote this speaks for my philosophy on this entire subject matter.

Duane

Gianna,

There will always be those who believe in ‘medication’ – unfortunately, there is a fall-out with the marketing of these meds for a great number of people – the ‘push’ to use them – the bombardment of television ads, etc.

The most upsetting part of it all is that the drug companies hide the data – they pay the major medical schools – research depts to conduct the studies – they throw away those that do not produce the intended result – they hide data, falsify reports to the FDA – these ‘clinical trials’ are done for a few weeks – not years, like they should be.

There may be a ‘benefit’ – slighly higher than placebo – for a few weeks, but the fallout comes months and years later – and this is the part that is hidden, and falsified to the FDA, Congress, etc.

As long as there is no proof in a a biological (chemical imbalance per say) – and there is NOT. As long as a significant number of people are injured – badly injured from them, and as long as there is nothing more than paid, and falsified documentation of their ‘effectiveness’ and ‘efficacy’, I say they need to be banned – and allowed only to those who are physically addicted to them, and/or working on withdrawing.

Am I ‘anti-psychiatry’?
I’m pro-psyche – pro human spirit, and pro-advocacy, and pro-natural, and pro-whatever works – without causing harm to others……and these psych drugs do not fit into the last category.

Duane
I think this website is a ‘must-read’ when it comes to the dangers of psychiatric medication.

you wouldnt be having this argument if someone said you had a chemical imbalance called diabetes, or migraine headaches, or kidney failure, all of which are organic illnesses which can result in different behaviors.

The stigma is so great on an organic illness which has the word ”mental” imbedded; it is a misnormer. It’s a physical illness that manifests primarily with thought disorders and resulting behaviors.

Due to this stigma, there are actually ORE people who do not receive any treatment at all vs more that are overmedicated. More who suffer greatly, and sometimes take their own lives.

Medication is imperfect but it has made many peoples’ lives manageable. Let’s find a new word and drop the mental illness, maybe that will shift this conversation. Your very own depressed, anxious or manic brain will produce chemicals that are drugs in themselves. Why the fight to manage this?

New technologies are coming (transcranial stimulation for example) that may be better, non drug remedies. In the meantime, let’s get out of the middle ages with this, and be rational and treat it as any other physical challenge.

If a person has been ill enough, had enough extemes in mood or behavior to result in being on permanent disability, this is not a mnor reaction to lifes ups and downs or just being too sensitive.

Hi all,

As someone who has kidney failure from psychiatric “treatment” and has experienced forced psychiatry, I would never judge someone for accepting disability for what they have gone through. My post in its entire context was very specific and about the danger in my state of Virginia to anyone who is enrolled in community mental health services, accepting disability on the basis of mental illness alone and has no other health problems and who does not believe he is mentally ill (and I don’t disagree with him) and tells providers that repeatedly. I am concerned that he and others like him are going to be first up on the expanded outpatient commitment train/law that is going to be passed and then he and others like him Will have health problems that he and others don’t have now.

In fact I would like to see the U.S. enact universal mininum income support as in some other countries so no one has to prove “disability” to have subsistence income and health coverage. It’s not as if anyone is getting rich on disability payments.

I would prefer if quotes from my posts not be taken out of context, I understand that things can trigger but I try as best I can to explain what I am talking about and to put things in context. Right now in Virginia, preparing folks to protect themselves from the coming expansion of forced treatment of all kinds is and has to be my major priority.

Gianna,

I feel bad also – had no idea that it was in this contect – it triggered me as well.

I don’t think anyone should ever be ‘forced’ into ‘treatment’ – especially, when ‘treatment’ has such a horrible track record, and in many cases is the ’cause’ of long-term suffering.

I should have read some of the other posts more carefully – and maybe would have seen the context.

I have such strong passion in these areas. I worked very hard most of my life, and then had a half-dozen major intestinal surgeries – the ‘bipolar’ of my youth came back to haunt me.

I must admit, there are times when I feel guilty about not working, but when I get down on myself about this, it only makes things worse.

I honestly believe that most every person (maybe with a few exeptions, but I wouldn’t want to be the one sent with the mission to find them) is doing the best they can with what they have at any given moment in time.

I also strongly feel that those who suffer from these symtpoms of anxiety, depression, mood swings, etc. have very strong consciences – in fact, I’ve come to understand that many people who are highly senstitive are the ones who suffer – emotionally and physically with these symptoms.

Ironically, sometimes their own conscience is very senstive – perhaps ‘more senstitive’ than most – this is what I have seen.
I have a brother-in-law who was diagnosed with ‘schizophrenia’ – he has one of the strongest consciences of any person I have ever met – always wanting to do the right thing – very senstitive about other’s feelings – never wanting to hurt anyone.

And yet, he works only part-time as a delivery driver, and is on benefits. I think if he had a full-time job (and got off benefits), he would likely end up in a hospital again. He does not take medication – hasn’t for years – is he ‘mentally ill’?

If being extremely senstive to the world around him – at an emotional level is ‘mental illness’, then I suppose he is. But, how could anyone judge such a wonderful human being.

My theory is simply this – (and it’s only a ‘best guess’) – there is probably a genetic predisposition involved with much of this – although, apparently not a true genetic component – in other words, nobody knows for sure.

Individuals who suffer do so because they are ‘passionate’ – the word passion means to ‘suffer’. In my opinion, they are not only extremely sensitive in an emotional sense, but also in a ‘physical’ sense – often, with environmental allergies, histamine problems, thyroid conditions, food/gluten sensitivities, and the list goes on – each person as unique as our fingerprints.

These same (highly sensitive individuals) are coerced, persuade, (and unfortunately) sometime legally forced into psychiatry – here, they are labeled, given toxic drugs, and often ‘hospitalized’ (which, I consider to be psychological rape) – AFTER this horrific harm has been done, they are then asked ‘why is it you can’t work’?

I understand that the original post has/had a context, and so I am not going after the author of the original post – my only desire is to see more understanding and compassion from those in the community (especially ‘conventional medicine”).

Very sensitive people often times seek the only help available, and this ‘help’ is what sends some people into a ‘disability syndrome’.

I was fortunate to have been able to work with disabled people for a dozen years – had my own rehabilitation counseling business, and even served as a vocational expert witness for a couple of hundred cases with the Office of Hearings and Appeals (SSA) – if I had a dime for every person I met whose spouse left them, whose family abandoned them, and whose insurance company left them in the cold after a worker’s compensation case, I would be one wealthy man.

I used to see oil field roughnecks five years after a back injury – in 16 foot trailers – alone – their wife left them, and they were flat-out broke. These guys worked harder in one day (while they were able) than many people do in a lifetime – but, suddenly after an L-5/S1 fusion to the lower spine, they were suddenly “faking it” – no evidence (medically) that they were in such pain – the pain must be all in their head….etc.

The human body and brain works as a single unit – and if there is pain, it is real – it is part of that individual’s life experience – so, it is (in my opinion) with emotional pain – whether anxiety, depression, phobias, OCD, and a host of other things…..

We don not have a medical system in place that treats the entire person – for those of us willing to research, and study, and learn, and grow – it is a ‘hunt-and-peck’ method – most of this stuff is not paid under medicare. And we are left in a situation where we feel almost all-alone, and there are people in our lives (or, who were once part of our lives) who are quick to judge – the truth is that no person has the moral authority to judge an individual who is suffering – suffering is real – a part of that individual’ life experience – to dismiss it is to dismiss them – and we are not in this position in life.

My own belief is that most of these ‘mental illnesses’ are symptoms of poor metabolism, nutritional deficiencies, cerebral allergies, and a number of other things.

I have to stand by my original post – we need to err on the side of the person suffering – especially, if they are doing all they can do/know to do to seek health and recovery.

I hope the person who wrote the original post will forgive me for any misunderstanding (regarding the context) – I am hardly in a position to ‘judge’ this person – I do feel passionately about what I have to say about those who suffer however – the God of my understanding asks me to be with them in their suffering – to listen, to reach out, to understand, and to offer hope.

I do not know what else to do.

Duane

Denial?

I believe a person can deny that they are ‘mentally ill”, and admit they are suffering.

Any combination of anxiety, depression, bipolar, etc – the pain can make it (temporarily) impossible to work.

As long as a person is making their best effort to study, research, and treat these symptoms to the best of thier ability – with a hope of recovery, I think they are doing the best they can. ‘Work’ can take many forms – helping others is a good way to contribute while recovering – taking care of our own children, our families.

I don’t know that any of us have a right to judge another about a best effort, and more imporantly beat ourselves up – that we are not ‘healing fast enough”.

Part of healing is acceptance of our own humanity – our own imperfections – being kind to ourselves throughout it.

A very imporant aspect of this is the one made about the damage of psychiatric medication – these drugs do great damage to many people, and take years to recover from – there is no ‘denying’ this fact – the ‘truth’ is hidden by the manufacturers of these ‘medications’, and the profits made by psychiatry. Heaven forbid, those who are injured by these DRUGS (and they are drugs, not ‘medicine’) be given adequate time to withdraw and recover from their toxic side effects – heaven forbid…..

We don’t have the ‘luxury of denial’? – I say none of us has the ‘luxury of judging ourselves’ – we do our best, and reach out to others who suffer – without judgement – this is a lot, and we each need to remind those who suffer that if they are doing these things, they are doing A LOT.

Only then, can we build the confidence up in those around us who suffer, adn continue to hope that each of us will continue to grow, and to recover, and to become more – to go on to do GREAT THINGS (however small or large).

Duane

Yes, you’re absolutely right — it is all of the above and I didn’t mean to dismiss mental anguish and “life disorders” as part of the problem. I’ll check out hymes’ full post.

Great post. Those who are suffering from psych drug harm are not in denial about mental illness — give me a break. They are facing the harm done to them by someone who told them they were ill when they weren’t and that doesn’t go away overnight. This harm is long lasting and disabling. We are talking iatragenesis here — not mental illness. And benefits are well deserved in these cases.