Paula Caplan’s work has been highlighted on this blog before. She has also been interviewed by Will Hall on Madness Radio here and here. She does consistently important work elucidating the chaos that is called psychiatry. This book reiterates at least one theme I’ve brought up several times on this blog. I’ve said it before this way, “War creates trauma for a sensitive soul and PTSD is a natural response to a heinous experience. PTSD after a war experience suggests ones humanity, not weakness.”
Sweet forgiveness meditation
When we learn how to truly forgive, both ourselves and others, we unlock tremendous energy and free ourselves from the bonds of the past. While many are aware of the need for forgiveness in their lives, they are not sure how to actually bring it about.
A portrait of poly psychopharmacology
Recap: 6 drugs 6 years of withdrawal…before that 39 drugs total: A Portrait of Poly Psychopharmacology You think maybe something wasn't quite right? This journey started the summer of 1985 and is about to end in the next couple of months.
Us and them, good and bad
We all love the struggle between good (us) and evil (them). It is, in its own way, deeply satisfying. Think of the plots of the James Bond films, the Star Wars films, the Indiana Jones films. In such movies, it’s quite obvious who the bad guys are. Caricatures of evil, they are ruthless, maniacal, without... Continue Reading →
Finding Peace in the Midst of a Storm
Nice piece on GoodTherapy.org on some ways to cope with difficult feelings. Below I've excerpted the beginning. Follow the link for practical coping suggestions. Being with pain and noting our experience through mindfulness truly helps. What do you do when you’re feeling anxious, depressed or stressed out? How do you treat yourself? Are you able... Continue Reading →
Stand by me (Saturday mellow)
Played by unknown street musicians all over the world. This video had me crying tears of joy.
Diet can profoundly effect mental wellbeing (any diagnosis can potentially be helped)
There was a Reuters article on Thursday reporting on a paper in the Lancet Medical Journal about restricting diets for kids with ADHD diagnosis. Changing diet is something that is wise to do for any children with any sort of behavioral issues or significant mental health problems. In fact it's a darn good idea to... Continue Reading →
Poem of Madness
This was at the end of the long and beautiful post by Grainne from the other day. I wanted to post it alone as I think it's beautiful and perhaps those of you who are not big readers missed it. ‘Let me emerge with my gift of wisdom Mysterious experience, a seed in dark soil I... Continue Reading →
Disability in the Age of Prozac – by Robert Whitaker
In my book Anatomy of an Epidemic, I investigated this puzzle: Why has the number of adults on government disability due to mental illness soared since Prozac's arrival on the market in 1987? Prozac was the first of the "second-generation" psychiatric drugs, and our society's use of these medications has exploded since that time, which presumably... Continue Reading →
Robert Whitaker responds to the critics
Robert Whitaker has a good piece on his blog today. Below are a few of the opening paragraphs. A very important debate is emerging and Whitaker has perhaps been the first to really scratch the surface of psychiatry as an institution. While I know a great many wonderful critics who have written important contributions to... Continue Reading →
Be in love…
The most important aspect of love is not in giving or receiving; it's in the being. When I need love from others, or I need to give love to others, I'm caught in an unstable situation. Being in love, rather than giving or taking love, is the only thing that provides stability. Being in love... Continue Reading →