Comments on: Highlight: a piece of work by Robert Whitaker http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/ Psychiatric drug withdrawal and alternatives to medications Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:38:12 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Jim S http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-4638 Jim S Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:32:00 +0000 http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-4638 I love this article. I was one of the many subjected to the "wonder drug" Thorazine. Robert used some good logic in deriving the number of people disabled from mental illness today, as compared to the 1950's. His numbers really prove there is more mental illness today than years ago, despite all the medications that are supposed to work and all the people who believe that we understand how the pills work. In my experience, if you suggest to people that antidepresants are not too good they get defensive--like you are attacking their religion or their family. I was surprized that there was so much evidence from so long ago that antidepresants did not work very well. I remember when the study comparing different therapies came out. If the cognitive therapy produced the best long term results, why did we not push cognitive therapy on everyone? Of course, if we did, the drug companies would not have made much money. In many studies antidepresents cause a quick response. However, it is an effect that does not last, then creates various problems. Alcohol took a similar path with me. I was a bit shy, lacked confidence, and worried a lot. When I started drinking as a college freshman, I gained all sort of confidence. My shyness disappeared. And, it all happened quickly--instantly. I became more sociable. I attended more dances and parties. I functioned quite well for a time; then I suffered from side effects: pot belly, blackouts, falling down, fights, destruction of property, loss of control of body functions. Maybe, there is no chemical cure to life's problems. Maybe, we have to accept a certain amout of sadness and try to carry on as best as we can. Thank yo so much for having this article out there where we can study it. Jim S I love this article. I was one of the many subjected to the “wonder drug” Thorazine. Robert used some good logic in deriving the number of people disabled from mental illness today, as compared to the 1950’s. His numbers really prove there is more mental illness today than years ago, despite all the medications that are supposed to work and all the people who believe that we understand how the pills work. In my experience, if you suggest to people that antidepresants are not too good they get defensive–like you are attacking their religion or their family.

I was surprized that there was so much evidence from so long ago that antidepresants did not work very well. I remember when the study comparing different therapies came out. If the cognitive therapy produced the best long term results, why did we not push cognitive therapy on everyone? Of course, if we did, the drug companies would not have made much money.

In many studies antidepresents cause a quick response. However, it is an effect that does not last, then creates various problems. Alcohol took a similar path with me. I was a bit shy, lacked confidence, and worried a lot. When I started drinking as a college freshman, I gained all sort of confidence. My shyness disappeared. And, it all happened quickly–instantly. I became more sociable. I attended more dances and parties. I functioned quite well for a time; then I suffered from side effects: pot belly, blackouts, falling down, fights, destruction of property, loss of control of body functions. Maybe, there is no chemical cure to life’s problems. Maybe, we have to accept a certain amout of sadness and try to carry on as best as we can.

Thank yo so much for having this article out there where we can study it.
Jim S

]]> By: Antonin Zanetti http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-2550 Antonin Zanetti Sat, 08 Dec 2007 23:12:43 +0000 http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-2550 Robert Whitaker tells it like it is - a great writer. Thanks for posting - a must-read for all family members who encourge thier love ones to stay on meds...... Should be required reading for all psychiatric nurses and doctors - who only think they know what's best Antonin Zanetti Robert Whitaker tells it like it is – a great writer.

Thanks for posting – a must-read for all family members who encourge thier love ones to stay on meds……

Should be required reading for all psychiatric nurses and doctors – who only think they know what’s best

Antonin Zanetti

]]> By: Re-institutionalization? Nah! Kill ‘em with the drugs in their own communities « Fascism Advocacy Center http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-2544 Re-institutionalization? Nah! Kill ‘em with the drugs in their own communities « Fascism Advocacy Center Sat, 08 Dec 2007 07:57:46 +0000 http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-2544 [...] “However, since 1955, when this modern era of psychopharmacology was born, there has been an astonishing rise in the incidence of severe mental illness in this country. Although the number of hospitalized mentally ill may have gone down, every other metric used to measure disabling mental illness in the United States has risen dramatically, so much so that E. Fuller Torrey, in his 2001 book The Invisible Plague, concluded that insanity had risen to the level of an “epidemic” (Torrey, 2001). Since this epidemic has unfolded in lockstep with the ever-increasing use of psychiatric drugs, an obvious question arises: Is our drug-based paradigm of care fueling this modern-day plague” from Mad in America by Robert Whitaker. Read more of this poppycock here. [...] [...] “However, since 1955, when this modern era of psychopharmacology was born, there has been an astonishing rise in the incidence of severe mental illness in this country. Although the number of hospitalized mentally ill may have gone down, every other metric used to measure disabling mental illness in the United States has risen dramatically, so much so that E. Fuller Torrey, in his 2001 book The Invisible Plague, concluded that insanity had risen to the level of an “epidemic” (Torrey, 2001). Since this epidemic has unfolded in lockstep with the ever-increasing use of psychiatric drugs, an obvious question arises: Is our drug-based paradigm of care fueling this modern-day plague” from Mad in America by Robert Whitaker. Read more of this poppycock here. [...]

]]> By: giannakali http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-1387 giannakali Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:11:49 +0000 http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-1387 John, this is not Robert's blog. I highlighted his piece because I think it is an important piece of work. As far as your wife goes there are alternatives to medicine. There are ideas on this site, though I certainly can't know what is right for your wife. On the "About" page on this blog however are links to resources for natural care. You may find something useful there. The "about" page is on the upper left hand corner of the blog. My best to you and your wife. John,
this is not Robert’s blog. I highlighted his piece because I think it is an important piece of work.

As far as your wife goes there are alternatives to medicine. There are ideas on this site, though I certainly can’t know what is right for your wife.

On the “About” page on this blog however are links to resources for natural care. You may find something useful there.

The “about” page is on the upper left hand corner of the blog.
My best to you and your wife.

]]> By: John Perry http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-1376 John Perry Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:09:04 +0000 http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-1376 Hi, Robert I know personally that some of the anit psychotic drugs are causing my wife to slowly become disabled to the point to where she can't hardly work any longer. Then on the other hand if she wasn't medicated her Bipolar symptoms would come raging back. I feel like maybe we are just making a choice between the two evils .Stay medicated and risk loosing your natural abilities to function or just be crazy” after all look at Van Gogh “ if he would have been on Thorazine his work would have suffered and he probably would killed himself anyway. Hi, Robert

I know personally that some of the anit psychotic
drugs are causing my wife to slowly become disabled to the point to
where she can’t hardly work any longer. Then on the other
hand if she wasn’t medicated her Bipolar symptoms would
come raging back. I feel like maybe we are just making a choice
between the two evils .Stay medicated and risk loosing your
natural abilities to function or just be crazy” after all look at
Van Gogh “ if he would have been on Thorazine his work
would have suffered and he probably would killed himself anyway.

]]> By: markps2 http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-891 markps2 Mon, 13 Aug 2007 14:06:39 +0000 http://bipolarblast.wordpress.com/2007/08/10/highlight-a-piece-of-work-by-robert-whitaker/#comment-891 Thanks for publishing/getting the information out Gianna! Thanks for publishing/getting the information out Gianna!

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