[__ Science __ ] the science of 'severe mental illness'

[Christ_empowered]

so, i've had some less than fabulous experiences with mental health, inc. lol. seriously. over billing, over drugging, labels, lies...blah. and thing is...it seems to happen to a lot of people, often.

the temptation is ever present to reject the entire concept. In the 60s, psychiatrist Dr.Thomas Szasz wrote a book, The Myth of Mental Illness. Its...pretty simple:: its not an illness, psychiatrists aren't really doctors, and it isn't medicine. social control, lies and myths and drugging for power and profit and social stability. and yet...

i do better -on- a moderate dose of Abilify than I do not on it. i now also take a low dose of Prozac because...I get anxious and really sad/depressed/whatever. OK.

now, from a Christian perspective...I keep thinking:: God blesses us with "...a spirit of power, a spirit of love, and a spirit of -sound mind- ...," so what gives? Then I think...

if, since getting genuinely saved, I've found relief in 'standard treatment,' easy breezy counseling...does that mean that He is making a way forward for me, a lowly 'mental patient,' saved by grace? And...He's using the same system that basically destroyed me, in years passed? -sigh-


ok. im also here asking for Science input because....what does the reputable science have to say on this? are these actual conditions? is long term treatment worth the adverse effects, costs, and risks? personally, ive decided to stick with 'standard treatment,' plus i take a ton of antioxidants, because...well, there's 1 or 2 new pills for 'tardive dyskinesia,' a surprisingly common condition mostly caused by the tranquilizers/antipsychotics, but its something like 2K/month, seriously...and the antioxidants seem to have kept me TD-free, so far (knock wood).

im also wondering if maybe the drugs--for the 'severely mentally ill'-- are less of a problem than the psychotherapy. check out this link: http://www.psychoheresy-aware.org/mainpage.html and tell me what you think, as a Christian.

That ministry is uber-skeptical of psychology, but their newsletter recently ran an article on the --biological roots-- of Schizophrenia and the other severe psych disorders/conditions. -sigh- so, they're not signing up for the antipsychiatry stuff anytime soon.


ok. thanks.

 

[Michael74]

Does therapy work?...the general answer could be stated this way: Whatever "therapy" one creates (and there are now over 475 approaches) in the hands of an amateur or professional appears to help certain individuals.

They seem to be saying that talking helps some people.

Based upon the outcome studies there is no moral justification for the high fees charged for psychotherapy.

They do seem to be outraged at fantastic prices being charged by some.

 

[Christ_empowered]

blah. i dunno. its like this...

i had horrible experiences, then i moved. better experiences. then i had to move back. not so good. then i got genuinely saved. and....

better? i mean, now the going diagnosis is somehow back to Bipolar I w/psychosis (not scary...I just get paranoid during depression...assuming this is the correct diagnosis, or that there is such a thing as a correct diagnosis, anyway), and...

?

im not big into what they have a lot of those with more severe labels/diagnoses do...mood charts and groups and periodic hospitalization, etc....not because im 'better,' but because I believe God's work in my life has been such that I have ample family support, a good living situation, good health, and the psych drugs 'work' without major side effects, and...and...

-sigh- i dunno. i'll stay on the meds. the counseling i receive is easy breezy, every 8 weeks or so. no big thing, but i am thankful for it...

ok. -simmer down now-- thanks.