Posted by Adam on January 19, 2000, at 17:59:45
In reply to DSM labels, posted by judy on January 19, 2000, at 12:00:16
I am upset at times that I took the wrong drugs, instead of the one that would help me. I did waste a lot of time cycling through same/similar classes to no avail while the answer (an MAOI, available since the 1950s) wasn't even discussed until after I was hospitalized. This is not the fault of the drugs, though.I also don't go much for diagnostic catagories as they exist, because I think psychiatric nosology isn't as robust as it needs to be (almost no basis in physioligical features/phenomena, despite an assumption that mental disorders contain a large physiological component, at every level of complexity, from macroscopic brain structure down to molecular sequence), and often isn't of much use to people in finding the right medications. Again, this doesn't make drugs bad, or diagnosis, it just makes it harder for the uninformed patient/doctor to find the right one.
If a drug-free, purely psychological approach works for you, that's great. I'd much rather be drug-free than on an MAOI. Before getting the relief that I did from a drug, I honestly didn't think such a change was possible, so I doubt one could (as Breggin or his proponents might) plausibly suggest my response is "all in my head." I also can't imagine it would be rivaled by any kind of talk therapy. Psychotherapy for depression is pretty much a moot point for me now, though OCD symptoms and some interpersonal issues that stem mostly from childhood traumas, keep me going back to a therapist. The most efficacious approach for me is to use both where they will do the most good. It took about ten years to get to this point. That's way, way too long in my oppinion. Something clearly is wrong that needs to be fixed. I firmly believe that my own initiatives (enrolling in a research study on OCD rather than, say, accepting a diagnosis of psychosis) have largely saved me, and if left at the hands of at least three of the doctors I have had in the past I would surely be dead today.
But don't blame drugs. Blame an inadequate system. Support more research, and leave your options open. Most of all, find a good psychopharmacologist, if drugs are indicated. That's probably the most important thing you can do.
> I got all worked up with the whole pm-Scott debate about who's manic or not. Anyway I'm seeing this really great psychologist who was recommended by Dr. Breggin, that should get you all going, and he doesn't believe in psychiatric labels. I LOVE that, they change all the time anyway, aren't they coming out with ANOTHER DSM, what are we up to 4?, which will probably make millions and add more categories so that everyone can have their own little label and the accompanying billions of dollars in pharmaceutical drugs to cure them. I am so ANGRY about all the unnecessary drugs I've ingested and side effects and hospitals because of those side effects, does anyone out there feel like I do? I read about all the problems people have withdrawing from SSRI's and other drugs well that pales to what I've been going through getting off this anti- depressant, psychotic, anxiety, manic crap. There I feel better.
poster:Adam
thread:19211
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000112/msgs/19223.html