How the Psychiatry Industry CREATES The Mental Health Epidemic

[[wi...]]

https://empoweredsustenance.com/psychiatry-industry-creates-mental-health-epidemic/

[[Sc...]]

Good post, i agree with everything written in that article. I am fully aware and knowledgeable about the fraud of psychiatry. It's a money making business in partner with pharmaceutical companies and government to sell drugs.

Edited November 24, 2023 by [Sc...]

[[Co...]]

On 31/08/2023 at 01:15, [[w...] said:

empoweredsustenance.com/psychiatry-industry-creates-mental-health-epidemic/

(I have disabled the link in the above quote.)

Hi @[wi...] and @[Sc...]

I see the webpage linked by @[wi...] references Peter Breggin (who is of dubious expertise); Robert Whitaker (who is a journalist/writer); and Kelly Brogan who is a serial source of dangerous disinformation (COVID conspiracy theories - that insulin kills diabetics - and attributing the death of AIDS patients to HIV treatments rather than the disease itself). Brogan is also one of the Disinformation Dozen:

https://counterhate.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/210324-The-Disinformation-Dozen.pdf

If a website or resource cites people of dubious expertise, or are obvious grifters, I suggest that we should attach no weight to the 'information' they attempt to 'share' with us. It should go straight into the same pile as Scientology/CCHR disinformation (AKA the wastebasket).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Brogan

SXSW Festival Slammed For Including HIV/AIDS Denialist In 2018 Wellness Expo (forbes.com)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_Commission_on_Human_Rights

https://mentalillnesspolicy.org/myths/mindfreedom-scientology-oaks-cchr.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Whitaker_(author)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianetics:_The_Modern_Science_of_Mental_Health

As many of you already know, Peter Breggin has past associations with CCHR. And I note that Peter Breggin has been more recently associated with Mindfreedom International, which is almost certainly a front group for CCHR (read the Mental Illness Policy page, linked above). I cannot shake those associations. For me, they do sully any valid points Breggin might make which I might otherwise agree. It hints at a hidden agenda. This is a big red light and no-no for me.

I have not read Whitaker's books. I have only read about them. The reviews have been mixed. My impression is that, although imperfect, he made a lot of useful and important observations from his investigations. I suppose I should get around to reading his books one day so that I can properly form a personal opinion. I note, though, that some of the team at Whitaker's website have (had) associations with CCHR, and that they allow for (dis)information which is transparently sourced from Scientology and CCHR (reference blog discussions at MIA's website).

In Anatomy of an Epidemic (2010), Robert Whitaker stated:

Quote

Thanks to Scientology, the powers that be in psychiatry had the perfect storytelling foil, for they could now publicly dismiss criticism of the medical model and psychiatric drugs with a wave of the hand, deriding it as nonsense that arose from people who were members of a deeply unpopular cult, rather than criticism that arose from their own research. As such, the presence of Scientology in the storytelling mix served to taint all criticism of the medical model and psychiatric drugs, no matter what the source.

The above is pitifully weak. Scientology has an agenda to replace psychiatry with their own religious/cultic alternative, Dianetics. Dianetics is pure, unadulterated bullshit. That Whitaker should attempt to elevate CCHR propaganda to the level of 'research' is problematic.

I suppose that Whitaker should be commended for leaving up this webpage:

https://www.madinamerica.com/2014/07/response-end-rethinking-psychiatry/

That page references some members of MIA's being involved with Scientology. This really should be a huge red flag.

As for Kelly Brogan - dreadful. Truly dreadful. Leave aside in-the-weeds arguments about Corona Virus, about what we should have done, when we should have done it, etc. (Though, there was huge amounts of disinformation around those things too). My opposition to Brogan is broader than this - it is her serial, deliberate and reckless spreading of disinformation (and conspiracy theories) for personal gain which I find truly objectionable.

Irrespective of my personal objections above, many of our members make use of and need psychiatry and psychiatric medications. Their use by members should be respected and accepted. Are psychiatry, psychiatric medications, and the pharmaceutical industry sometimes problematic? You bet they are. But the very nature of all medicine is difficult, and mental health possibly the most difficult specialty of all with respect to precision. We make use of all kinds of useful medicines to treat all kinds of diseases without fully understanding their mechanisms (and this was especially true in the past). Clearly, psychiatric meds do not 'fix imbalances in the brain'. That claim was surely a mixture of marketing hype AND dumbing-down for the public (and was taught to medical students too). But this does not equate to 'they do not work'. Most older medicines worked long before we understood their mechanisms. Psychiatric medicines sometimes make lives liveable/bearable. They also sometimes carry (unacceptable/intolerable) side effects. But this is probably true of every single medicine for some people.

Some members here feel so traumatised by their medical care that they understandably react very strongly against it. The problem is that such experiences are deeply personal - they do not necessarily translate to other people. For what it is worth, I too was very deeply negatively affected by my use of clonazepam to treat brainstem myoclonus. Use was problematic, withdrawal was dreadful, and it took me many years to reach a point where I could state that I felt reasonably recovered. But I would not suppose that my experience is typical, and certainly not universal - it even might be uncommon. Experiences will vary. And, ordinarily, universal poor responses surely would be noticed and the medicine withdrawn (or more likely, not even make it to market).

The important point here is that we make informed decisions, and this is very often not the case. We should be believed and treated accordingly when use of medicines goes astray. This is a problem within the wider medical profession. But it hardly can be attributed to all practitioners. The fight should be for establishing a new, better equilibrium - and not to throw out the baby with the bath water. We need medicines, and medicines which might individually cause us harm might be needed by others.

As for the the Empowered Sustenance website linked at the start of this thread, as far as I can tell, Lauren Geertsen holds no expertise in anything. She is a "body connection coach who helps women heal their relationship with food and body image". Sounds nice. But what are her qualifications? I also note that she is another COVID antivaxxer. She describes herself thusly at her coaching site:

For this reason, some people call me a "crazy conspiracy theorist," but I prefer the term "Truth Activist."

I also note that Geertsen has apparent endorsements from Kelly Brogan and Christiane Northrup (another member of the Disinformation Dozen). Lovely!

I am not meaning to pick out you @[wi...] and @[Sc...] - I just happened to check out this link for some random reason. I have seen a lot of grifting over the years, and it is getting worse. The irony is that these 'cures' and 'programs' from wellness gurus and coaches successfully appeal to people who are often dissatisfied with the scientific basis for their legitimate (tested) medical treatments by legitimate (qualified) doctors. But these gurus sell wares with no scientific basis, no published studies, and mostly without holding any relevant qualifications.* Whatever failings we might perceive within medicine and how medicine is practiced, the answer is to not instead go with unqualified grifters with wares plucked out of thin air.

* Some, are MDs, which just appals me. The very worst offender of the Disinformation Dozen is Joseph Mercola. He's an DO. But totally ignores science and has a thriving, massive online business selling worthless books and quack cures.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Mercola

[[An...]]

Colin said>>>

Quote

Irrespective of all this, many of our members make use of and need psychiatry and psychiatric medications. Their use by members should be respected and accepted. Are psychiatry, psychiatric medications, and the pharmaceutical industry problematic? You bet they are. 

I am in complete agreement. There is a place for these psychiatric meds and disorders like anxiety, panic, and depression can devastate your life and make living intolerable. I do think all drugs, not just the psychiatric ones, are overprescribed but when prescribed judiciously to those who truly need them after full informed consent, they save countless lives.  I think we are all in agreement that benzos should only be prescribed short-term and long-term only in the most dire cases where everything else has been tried and failed. Joseph Mercola is a medical quack IMO. Also, I am leery of the internet doctors like Eric Berg (chiropractor playing MD on the internet) and doctors like Dr. Ken Berry who are making enormous amounts of money from their youTube videos giving unsound nutritional medical advice. Please take any medical advice from these youTube docs with a grain of salt.

[[Sc...]]

I agree on some points you make Colin. Though i believe the majority of members here have been harmed by psychiatry and psychiatric medications that's why we are here. I have looked at the data and science behind psychiatry and there is none. I personally from my experience and what i have researched do not agree with psychiatry and it's practices. I believe there are safe ways to help those suffering that need some type of help.

[[Co...]]

On 26/11/2023 at 02:22, [[A...] said:

I am in complete agreement. There is a place for these psychiatric meds and disorders like anxiety, panic, and depression can devastate your life and make living intolerable. I do think all drugs, not just the psychiatric ones, are overprescribed but when prescribed judiciously to those who truly need them after full informed consent, they save countless lives.  I think we are all in agreement that benzos should only be prescribed short-term and long-term only in the most dire cases where everything else has been tried and failed. Joseph Mercola is a medical quack IMO. Also, I am leery of the internet doctors like Eric Berg (chiropractor playing MD on the internet) and doctors like Dr. Ken Berry who are making enormous amounts of money from their youTube videos giving unsound nutritional medical advice. Please take any medical advice from these youTube docs with a grain of salt.

I suppose someone might inquire, Well, what about BenzoBuddies and 'advice' given there by members? But there are fundamental differences between the likes of the Youtube channels and websites you describe, the grifters I described in my last post, and how BB operates.

1. BenzoBuddies is a discussion space
2. BB is about peer-support
3. At BB, we share ideas and experiences
4. And we disallow prescriptive writing styles.

Although members might sometimes go over the line and provide 'advice' (we correct such comments when we come across them), and it is certainly a difficult line for any of us here to draw sometimes, I think - on the whole - we do a pretty good job of this. It takes a bit of practice, but it becomes second nature after a time.

Part of this approach is avoiding generalities when it comes to commenting on medicine and medical practice, commenting on psychiatry, psychiatric medicine, and psychiatric care. We should not extrapolate from the specific (our personal experience) to the general (all of psychiatric medicine).

Eric Berg is new to me. But I am highly sceptical of chiropractic practice in general. There is no scientific basis (even statistical) for efficacy. It is not even a case of, well, even if there is no scientific basis to it, what harm can it do? A few years ago, a friend of friend was killed by a chiropractor attempting a neck manipulation. Chiropractic practice also routinely fleeces people who are desperate for relief but can often ill-afford the fee.

[[Co...]]

On 26/11/2023 at 06:43, [[S...] said:

I agree on some points you make Colin. Though i believe the majority of members here have been harmed by psychiatry and psychiatric medications that's why we are here. I have looked at the data and science behind psychiatry and there is none. I personally from my experience and what i have researched do not agree with psychiatry and it's practices. I believe there are safe ways to help those suffering that need some type of help.

Hi @[Sc...]. Well, it is a mixed bag. Many of our members take multiple medications, but of those, many (most?) are considering withdrawal only from benzodiazepines. And, actually, some members are not even considering withdrawal from benzodiazepines. They might be looking for general information, or suggestions about other benzos, a change in dose, etc. Our medical and personal situations are unique, and how we react to benzodiazepines varies wildly. And the same goes for all psychiatric medications.

For what it is worth, I do understand your perspective. I expect everyone here does. But what it is true for you, for me, and for many here, is not true for all. Far from it. And this is why we take this policy position.

I suppose all this is a little removed from the subject of this thread. My remarks here are more personal in nature, rather than reflective of community policy. And as such, I appreciate hearing your perspective, even if I might disagree with you on some points.

[Guest [...]]

Hi @[Co...] what is CCHR please?  Although I'm not sure I want to know based on what you say about it!

My take on all this for what its worth, there are good doctors and bad doctors, good alternative treatments and next to useless ones. We have to tread carefully among them all, not easy when we are suffering and often desperate for relief. I can honestly say I have never been successfully treated by a chiropractor for my neck pain. Never been to a psychiatrist but have tried a few psychotherapists over the years and came away confused and a whole lot poorer!  However I do think things are slowly changing as even in my out of the way GP practice they have a Chronic Pain Specialist who advises on much of the work first started by Dr John Sarno, the mind/body doctor. I was pleasantly surprised by this but unfortunately this all came too late as I was already on diazepam. Oh well, at least things are moving in the right direction.

And thank you for this site Colin, much appreciated

[[Co...]]

On 26/11/2023 at 16:20, [[G...] said:

Hi @[Co...] what is CCHR please?  Although I'm not sure I want to know based on what you say about it!

CCHR is the misleadingly named Citizens Commission on Human Rights, the anti-psychiatry organisation operated by Scientology. Their aim to is have psychiatry outlawed and be replaced with 'Dianetics', their totally bonkers 'mental health' alternative. You might gain a sense that I am not a fan. 

On 26/11/2023 at 16:20, [[G...] said:

My take on all this for what its worth, there are good doctors and bad doctors, good alternative treatments and next to useless ones. We have to tread carefully among them all, not easy when we are suffering and often desperate for relief. I can honestly say I have never been successfully treated by a chiropractor for my neck pain. Never been to a psychiatrist but have tried a few psychotherapists over the years and came away confused and a whole lot poorer!  However I do think things are slowly changing as even in my out of the way GP practice they have a Chronic Pain Specialist who advises on much of the work first started by Dr John Sarno, the mind/body doctor. I was pleasantly surprised by this but unfortunately this all came too late as I was already on diazepam. Oh well, at least things are moving in the right direction.

I agree on there being great, good, mediocre and bad doctors. It is the same with every profession of course. I'll have disagree with you about 'alternative treatments' - they are almost always useless, and some are even dangerous. It is waste of money and provides false hope to the desperate.

It is encouraging that your GP's practice employs a pain specialist. But as you seem to imply, GPs are still too ready to prescribe psychoactive medications after a brief consultation. I know many around here are very leery of the psychiatry profession, but I do think the prescribing of these medicines should be the preserve of psychiatrists and other relevant specialists. (My clonazepam was prescribed by a neurologist. Even so, he was surprised by the depth of the problems it caused me).

On 26/11/2023 at 16:20, [[G...] said:

And thank you for this site Colin, much appreciated

And thank for participating. BB would be nothing without members like you, @[Sc...], @[An...], @[wi...] and all the others.

[Guest [...]]

Thanks for the info @[Co...] It certainly is an "interesting" world out there,  using the word like the Chinese curse! Can you imagine what medicine and healing would be like with no profit motive? Ain't gonna happen of course but I like to ponder these things.

 

 

[[Co...]]

6 minutes ago, [[G...] said:

Thanks for the info @[Co...] It certainly is an "interesting" world out there,  using the word like the Chinese curse! Can you imagine what medicine and healing would be like with no profit motive? Ain't gonna happen of course but I like to ponder these things.

Ah. The Chinese curse. On the face of it, 'Interesting' to mean 'good', but in reality, it is intended as a curse and means 'terrible'. Except it an apocryphal curse/phrase/tale. There is no such curse in Chinese, but its origins are quite interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_you_live_in_interesting_times

[[Co...]]

13 minutes ago, [[G...] said:

Can you imagine what medicine and healing would be like with no profit motive? Ain't gonna happen of course but I like to ponder these things.

I am not against a profit motive in medicine. Free markets are great (or can be great) for efficiency (except when they are unregulated so that you do not get what you pay for and and end up with monopolies). Regulation is key, and probably true for all markets.

[[An...]]

True! Money motivates ppl to work hard, take risks, and drives innovation. Most humans are not going to work really hard unless they are rewarded in some way. If capitalism is left unregulated however, a few at the top get rich and richer while the poor working masses suffer. All one has to do is look at the Gilded Age  (American Industrial Revolution) of the 1870s to the early  1900s.

[Guest [...]]

Oh no @[Co...] you mean that Chinese curse isn't even true? Oh blimey, can't trust anything these days. 

I'm fine with profit too but I do think it has all got a bit out of hand now. The last doctor I saw back in January actually said to me "you wouldn't believe how much pressure we are under to prescribe".  Maybe he'll jack it all in and become an organic farmer or something, ah well.......

[[Co...]]

18 hours ago, [[A...] said:

True! Money motivates ppl to work hard, take risks, and drives innovation. Most humans are not going to work really hard unless they are rewarded in some way. If capitalism is left unregulated however, a few at the top get rich and richer while the poor working masses suffer. All one has to do is look at the Gilded Age  (American Industrial Revolution) of the 1870s to the early  1900s.

It depends upon how it is enacted. Clearly, the US system is broken, as huge numbers of people are not covered and end up with decidedly inadequate care and/or become bankrupt and/or lose their home, etc. The UK system (free at the point of delivery - it is funded through taxation) is now pretty broken. Other countries in Europe have various combinations of public money and insurance. In Switzerland, for example, it is a full insurance-based system, but properly regulated and with a proper safety net. Normally, everyone is insured. And you will not go untreated because you do not hold insurance for some reason. Insurance companies in the US have far too much power to deny treatment.

The NHS (in the UK) has huge backlogs for operations. Some of the queues for elective operations are well in excess of a year; if you go to A&E (that's ER for the Americans here), you are triaged and regularly wait many hours, or even over night before you will see a doctor; and it might take two weeks before your GP can see you (putting even more pressure on an already overstretched A&E service).

I've been a huge supporter of the NHS and how it is funded. But we see what happens (this is not the first time) when there is a Government who are unable or unwilling to fund it properly. Maybe European-style insured medicine would be better. But the fear is that the UK will instead end up with with US-style system - there are certainly MPs in the Tory Party who would love to see this.

[[Co...]]

17 hours ago, [[G...] said:

Oh no @[Co...] you mean that Chinese curse isn't even true? Oh blimey, can't trust anything these days. 

I'm fine with profit too but I do think it has all got a bit out of hand now. The last doctor I saw back in January actually said to me "you wouldn't believe how much pressure we are under to prescribe".  Maybe he'll jack it all in and become an organic farmer or something, ah well.......

As far as I am aware, the US and New Zealand are the only counties which allow direct marketing of medications to patients. And I know that GPs in the US are wined and dined by drug reps. It is all wrong.

[[Co...]]

I've edited my first reply to this thread for clarity.