Posted by Christ_empowered on June 16, 2010, at 9:35:25
In reply to Re: im also rejecting meds..., posted by Huxley on June 16, 2010, at 4:37:45
I was on a lot of meds when I was younger (18-20) for "Bipolar"; I quit after ending up in a detox facility for what one doc said was a prescription amphetamine-induced psychosis and another said was a bipolar episode made worse by amphetamines. That was hard, but I went pretty much cold-turkey.
I was re-medicated when I was put into a mental hospital for (you guessed it) "bipolar" 3 years later. I'd been attacked (hit in the head during what I guess was a mugging), but that didn't matter: what did matter was that I tried to fight against being taken to the psych hospital, so they put me on depakote and antipsychotics.
I ended up in a "Christ-centered" program for people with "life-controlling problems." Most of them were drug addicts; my problems were of a psychiatric and social nature. I took meds during most of my stay there, but gradually came off of everything. I've been medication free for the past 3 months or so.
I think one reason the anti-psychiatry movement hasn't made a big comeback yet is that they don't have a treatment plan. Granted, the drugs don't work all that well, but...its a plan. Mental illness may not be due to brain problems, but they are problems nonetheless, and they need to be addressed. I was lucked out on getting what basically amounted to extended psycho-social rehabilitation PLUS religious education; this meant I got re-socialized AND I was spared the kind of mind-numbing psychobabble that characterizes most programs for the mentally ill.
Now I'm motivated to stay off meds b/c I realize that I had moral and social problems, but I never had a "brain disease." I see that the mental health industry pretty much seems to manufacture victims; they don't help people, they oppress them.
Good luck to you.
poster:Christ_empowered
thread:951199
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100615/msgs/951234.html