National Service Users Executive - Supporting your Vision

Who in their RIGHT MIND is willing to guarantee with proof that they know 100% what exactly psychiatric drugs do to a persons mind?

If NO ONE can do this then psychiatric medication is open to suspicion and needs to be thoroughly examined.

This examination should be carried out by independant scientists and service users, who have no connection with, and who don't profit from selling those drugs.

Giving people psychiatric medication without knowing what those drugs do to a person's mind is criminal.

The best advice I've read in literature relating to withdrawing from psychiatric drugs is not to stop all drugs suddenly, but to taper off drugs slowly over a month for every year their on drugs, and to do it under supervision of an agreeable doctor.
That means if your on drugs 10 years they advise to taper off over 10 months.
Sudden withdrawl can be too much for the mind to cope with.

If people have no other alternative to relieve the torment of their minds except drugs then I myself think that they should have a choice to have it if they wish and a choice in the type of drug they find best suits them.

I think, where possible,talking therapies should be used first before medications.

Even when psychiatric drugs seem to work we are not sure how and why they do so. But we are sure that they can cause serious harm and can be very addictive esp. neuroleptics.
They are over prescribed and even forced on people in severe distress.

There are many other more humane ways to help people much more cost effective but unfortunately these are not found in the 'mental health' services today.

The latest research from the W.H.O. found out that poorer countries worldwide with very few psychiatric drugs have a much better recovery record than richer countries, such as Ireland, which consumes and exports the most psychiatric drugs worldwide.

We, who have psycho/social difficulties deserve better housing, good nutrition, mutual support, satisfying fruitful employment, relaxation etc. so we can have good self esteem and hold our heads high despite these difficulties.

Hiding and denying our problems with psychotropic drugs only increases our suffering and turns many of us into walking zombies while it profits others but at what cost?

"What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loose his soul?"

Medication has been a very controversial subject among Service Users / Cares and Mental Health Professionals.

The expert report " A Vision of Change" - clearing states that the traditional methods are failing greatly and that even the Inspector of Mental Health Services is greatly concerned with the use of polypharmacy where individuals may be on up to and more than four psychotropic dugs and the serious concern and problems this creates, including confusion between therapeutic efficacy and side effects. Polypharmacy also heightens the risk of drug interaction developing.

We all have to wake up and see the wood from the trees, and that this psychiatric drug industry is a mulitbillion industry where even our innocent children ie. USA today have 6 million children taking psychiatric drugs for ADHD. In Britain the rate increased by 9,200% between 1992 and 2000 in methylphenidate sales ( the generic name for the drug Ritalin). Not only are the sales of anti psychotic and antidepressants climbing into Billions, also the number of mental disorders within the DSM " Bible " have mushroomed - due the number of mental disorders increasing the use of psychiatric drugs are entering schools, nursing homes, drug rehabilitation centers, prisons - they are used for weight control, anxiety, sleeping problems, shyness, they have become the Universal Remedy of modern living.

Studies have been produced of the link of many school shootings today and the perpetrator on Psychotropic Drugs like Ritalin,
Peter Bergin produced a study on
" Suicidality, violence and mania caused by SSRI's.

Professor Awad produced a paper
- " The Thyroid and the Mind and Emotions" - Which show that the two commonest thyroid disorders exhibit the same symptoms as are noted as symptoms of bi-polar.

As far back as 1980 a Journal of Psychiatry reported that as high as 46% patients suffered from a medical condition ( hypothrodism - realting to the thyroid imbalance ) and that is often missed in standard medical laboratory test and resulting in being mis-diagonised.
In relation to ADHD and little children it has been proven through behavioural studies that a diet free of synthetic colourants, preservatives and natural occuring salicylates would reduce greatly " hyperactivity in children "

As laughter is the best medicine -

i'll finish with the newest DSM diganois
- Recession effective disorder -
Symtoms:- stomach problems, bank problems, repayment problems, sleeping problems, low self esteem, irregular heart beat, unemployed !

Medical Solution :- Mood stabilzing drugs - lithuim, valporate or carbamazepin.
Mood lowering, anti-psychotic dugs-
halopenidol, chlorpromazine, olanzapine and quetiapine, Benzoiazepim - diazepem; lorazepam
anti-drepressants - tricyclic-TCA's, SSRI's - SNRI's, MAOI's, Sleeping tablets - Zopicloze or Zolpidem !

The Choice is Endless!!!!
Have a nice LIFE!!

Hi

Talking therapies haven't worked. Self-help hasn't worked. I'm left with medication. Sometimes there is little choice.

Finn

I agree with above comments,psychiatry is the only 'medical' speciality, that excludes physical tests before diagnosis, to exclude other ailments.
I would say to previous commentator, hang on in there and stay with what you are comfortable with

Hi
I posted to this thread recently and I think that what I said was very negative about medication.
I suppose that I should balance the views contained in this aforementioned post with this: I continue to take and enjoy the benefits of antipsychotic medication. Nevertheless, what I said before I wanted to get off my chest. Thank you!

I was on medication rispirodal(short term) and lithium, lexapro following a breakdown for a year. My interaction with psychiatrists (public patient)over that period consisted of 5-10 minutes consultation monthly during this time. By appointment, I rarely saw the same psychiatrist and generally waited for an hour. The main content of appointments were side effects if any from medication.

Three months into my medication I enquired about availability of a counsellor and was told that if I needed sombebody to talk to I could talk to the nurse, not very helpful somewhat dismissive.

Thankfully I am well and off medication for a year, this was against advice from psychiatrist but in my case I felt I personally had enough supports in place with information and skills gained from talking therapist (which I sourced via GP, private patient) and was not and am still not in agreement with chemical imbalance origin.

I am not discounting the use/value of medication. But psychiatrists general recommendation for patients of bipolar is medication on a 3 year course initally! Chances are that whatever emotional/stress related crisis/personal behavior patterns that brought you to this crisis point would have resolved itself by then never mind medication.

http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/201...

This is an important link. I thought I could post it but it looks like you will have to copy and paste it. If anyone wants it you can email me at marymaddock@hotmail.com

www.mindfreedomireland.com