Posted by jamie on November 25, 1999, at 4:13:49
In reply to Psychiatric drugs: Poison or panacea?, posted by Ali on November 24, 1999, at 23:55:49
> This may not be at all what people talk about but I am currently reading a book called "Your drug may be your problem" by a Dr. P.Breggin.The essence of this book, and of others he's written, as well as of a whole movement on the internet, seems to be that ALL psychiatric drugs are not only not helpful, they are harmful and should NEVER be used.
...A lot of us psychobaabblers have trouble with meds. But how does the author explain the millions of people who have vastly improved lives with psychiatric drugs? Not hundreds or thousands. Millions.
He (and others) claim that they CAUSE depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, psychosis etc. I used to be a great believer in biological psychiatry but suddenly find my faith rather shaken.
...Some meds will worsen depression in some people. Thats clearly the wrong med for that person. But to condemn all meds with a blanket conviction is completely unfounded and blind. Again, what about the millions of people with new lives on meds? Worldwide placebo response? Give me a break. A hundred suicides are prevented on meds for every one suicide caused by meds. Don't let one author shake your faith. There are hundreds of other authors who can support your faith with evidence, not just opinion.
> I find some of his suggestions for helping people in distress less than helpful; glorified ways of offering a shoulder to cry on and empathic ways of saying "get over it"!
...He sounds like one of those people that thinks only other bodily organs can have biological malfunctions, but that the brain is somehow immune. Ppppleasssse. His primary motive is $$$. Sales of that book fatten his wallet. There is no better profit strategy than to play on the fear emotions of people. Authors who write books on the stock market make a whole lot more money when they write about the coming crash, gloom & doom, than those who have correctly for decades written about the benefits of investing in USA stocks. Meanwhile those gloom & doom authors have watched their investments gather dust while everyone else has seen their money triple in the last ten years. But those gloom & doomers made a ton of money from sales based on the emotion of fear.
> It seems like most of the people here have been or are on psychiatric medications. Any thoughts? Is anyone else aware of the "anti-psychiatry movement"? Thoughts on that? (If you want to take a look at a representative sample of their ideas, go to www.antipsychiatry.org).
...Theres always an opposing view in any subject. But his views are not supported by statistical, scientific, or anecdotal evidence. He couldn't be more wrong if he tried. I'm sorry he took your money.
poster:jamie
thread:15754
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991123/msgs/15768.html