Thursday May 8, 2008, 5:30 am
CCHR, the "Citizens Commission on Human Rights," is a Scientology front group: http://tinyurl.com/54mkba and http://tinyurl.com/4dhmmq

While the psychiatric profession is certainly flawed (like any other field of science and mental health), the words of CCHR should be taken with a large grain of salt.

Thursday May 8, 2008, 8:38 am
I have stated in a previous string that I am suffering from major long term depression and I am on medication - now here are a few thoughts on my part to the presentation:

I was put on Seropram & Tavor and later on Zoloft BECAUSE I had suicidal tendency and had tried to commit suicide. Since I am taking the drug these thoughts have not reoccurred, but once and much milder.
Dugs like these start to work AFTER approximately 3 months - they do not work sooner. During the first 3 months patients MUST be under close observation as patients are not put on these drugs for no purpose. Most patients have and had suicidal thoughts before and are put on the drug to PREVENT this to happen.
Patients must be undergoing psycho therapy and work on the causes, even though they are taking drugs. Drugs might help you like a crutch does, but will not replace therapy, as the crutch does not replace your leg.
Manic disturbances or episodes may occur - has happened to me as well. Again, especially at the onset of the drug therapy people most likely will experience manic episode and heightened agitation - hence the prescribed tranquilizers.
Headaches, blurry vision, funny taste, heart palpation, dry mouth, sweating, increase in appitite or loss of are all side effects listed on your medication packaging. Stay in touch with your doctor.
Do not take psychiatric drugs when prescribed to you by a GP (they are not qualified) - ALWAYS seek a PSYCHIATRIST only and a PSYCHOTHERAPIST for your therapy in order to get to the cause of your depression and to cure it. You MUST inform them of your medicl history as well, prior to taking these drugs.
DO NOT ORDER THEM OVER THE INTERNET ON YOUR OWN!
When you are under the treatment you MUST watch your diet closely. Diet induced mood swings can be more violent or pronounced - stay away from starchy foods or foods containing large amounts of simple sugars and high fat content. Stay away from all processed or semi processed foods.
DO NOT drink.
Inform your psychiatrist when you are put on any other meds or when and what you are taking as drugs might cancel each other out or increase strength.
Stay away and look for a different psychiatrist if you are not happy and comfortable with yours or your doctor is pill happy.
Join an online help group.
Have your dependents join a support group as well - they are in the same boat with you.
Learn as much as you can - beware of the source of your knowledge.
Exercise!!! Exercise is the best anti-depressant! (3 times a week for 20 minutes minimum - you can split up time as in 2x10min - first positive effects AFTER 20 days)
Live as healthy as you can.
Take care of you and your needs - you are worth it.
Learn meditation and other relaxing techinques.
Learn how to be heard, to make yourself be heard and understood.
Learn how to love and accept yourself.

I have listened to the videos - BE AWARE!!!!! These videos are dangerous as much as least as taking drugs. First of people talk of being on the drug for a short period of time. (time lack between onset of therapy) They are still in the adjustment phase.
People who had not had suicidal thoughts and took these drugs, might have experienced these thoughts as they underwent the adjustment phase. This phase is associated with an "added" depression as to speak - making it "official" to be in need of mental help.
Extreme mood swings are a sign of depression.
If you are not depressed in a clinical sense these drugs will NOT make you happier.
More pills does NOT make you happier.
THESE DRUGS DO NOT BELONG IN THE HANDS OF CHILDREN OR YOUNGSTERS AS WELL AS THE ELDERLY UNSUPERVISED!
Take your meds at the specific time you were advised of by your doctor.
These drugs ARE NOT THE SOLUTION - they only might help you in seeking to obtain mental health.
Be aware you might have to change your life and definitely will have to change the way you live. This recognition might bring on a depression or manic episode.
People in your family will respond to you differently. They need time to get to know you and might lash out in anger or say hurtful things. Your next of kin and friend circle will need time to adjust.

Articles as the above and video tapes should be taken with a sense of weariness.

Today's school shootings are not BECAUSE of psychiatric drugs! They are BECAUSE of the CAUSE and circumstances these children are living under. (lack of exercise, diet - the USA has some of the if not the worst dietary habits - 24/7 exposure to TV & video games - lack of concentration, increase in divorces and loss of role models, ever changing mother and father figures and siblings, soft drugs and alcohol, loss of hope and lack of mental stimulation .... THESE ARE THE REASONS for developing depression and starting of the vicious circle, between depression, drugs and mania.

DO NOT STOP your medication or the medication of your child without talking to your doctor and following rigidly your phase out plan. Failure to do so, might jeopardize your life!!!
Do NOT self medicate!


PLEASE BE GENTLE TO YOURSELF! YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Thursday May 8, 2008, 9:21 am

I always find it strange when antidepressants are accused of causing depression. How would anyone know ? - I mean, the people who are taking antidepressants are doing so because they are depressed. So, if the depression precedes the pills, how can the pills be accused of having caused it ?

Normally, people return to see their doctor if they feel that the pills are not alleviating the condition...in which case a stronger dose or another type are tried.

Thursday May 8, 2008, 9:50 am
Hi Jill,

this IS a VERY valid question. Most people do not know what depression is. this is why i deceided to come out and speak about it. The common idea is it is all about people who can not get out of bed in the morning - well not necessarily so. Many people actually are over active or manic. Depression then be caused or perceived when there is a radical change in behavior or mood. Plus lets keep in mind that the first effects of the drugs start after 2-3 months.
Anitdepressants should not be taken on self medication - same as heart or diabetes meds. Unlike painkillers so they need to be fine tuned to your needs in cooperation with your doctor similar to HRT or Hormone therapy.
Antidepressants do state that they might cause depression - just like pain killers actually can and eventually will cause pain.

Thursday May 8, 2008, 3:56 pm
Every journalist in the country is very aware that there is a special group dedicated to destroying psychiatry. Between the doctors affecting peopl'es brain and Scientology attacking the doctors, we are indeed living in 'interesting times'.

Thursday May 8, 2008, 6:32 pm
Come on! Get a reality check. I am a Psychiatrist and am happy to know that MANY lives have been saved by medication! People get better! This is great!

Medication cannot cause violence or suicide! If you need an explanation about this let me know.
These ridiculous assumptions that a drug causes violence may make it convenient for those who stigmatize mental Illness and who do not understand Psychiatry...This has to stop!

This only hurts people who need help. Is there any way this can be banned from this site as I can tell you....these beliefs could potentially stop people from getting the help they need! For God's sake, do we question the use of insulin or antihypertensives?? The brain is another organ. One we are researching to understand more and we have come a long way!
Jane

Thursday May 8, 2008, 6:57 pm
The only good over prescription drug is a placebo, Big Pharma wants you sick, do you really think they want you to get better so they can lose money. No, they want you to stay on "Meds" while they take some "doctors and "Pharmacists" for a Paid in the shade weekend at the Hilton. Use Natural medicine and remedies and eat organic or raw, unprocessed food. Read and research for a healthy life! Wake Up Please!

Thursday May 8, 2008, 7:15 pm
Guess What?? The studies can be biased and the one regarding placebo??? Read it? It is invalid on many fronts. Good research has been done showing antidepressants to be effective. So the pharmaceutical companies may be corrupt!!?? That has nothing to do with this discussion on what helps people!

Many "natural remedies" help and many don't or hurt. THere is research. Read it. We can't treat people without solid unbiased literature. Throwing out suggestions based on nothing is dangerous!
Jane

Jane

Jane

Friday May 9, 2008, 6:02 am
Thank you Jane, for writing what I wanted to really say - that stories like this one, should come with a perscription, as there was a time it could have sent me spiraling. It doesn't matter either wether the patient reads it or just a realative "meaning good" and not being able to accept that one of them has a "mental" illness. I am fighting a cause to stand up and say laud and clear: "I suffer from depression but I am not nuts" - you surly know what I mean. People can lead with some healthy effort on their part, combined with the desire to be well and with the help of drugs a productive, happy live.
I even go so far as to say "Thank God" I got it - it as made me more aware of life and all its mysteries - most of all I came to accept that nobody is perfect. The world we are living in is not perfect. We need acceptance.

I am sick and tired of some groups preaching mental health, who are not qualified in the least. I wonder are they aware that they might jeopardize peoples lives? Is there alterior motive to create a dependece to their contact person and brain washing?
If it comes down to it -I personally would rather be dependend on a drug than some unknown person who preaches kingdom come. But then that is me and I am weary of some believe groups.

Once again - people take drugs because they are sick - not because they taste good. There is no real difference between suffering from a heart condition or diabetes or a mental affliction. Many mental illnesses are or can be caused by chemical and hormonal inbalances in the brain. - Truth - we know very little about the human brain - but we do know more today than at the beginning of the past century - and that is a lot.

Friday May 9, 2008, 6:08 am
Ref Serge,

natural remedies such as St. John's Worth caused me to have extreme headaches. When taking this drug you should not consume red wine or red meat - can't remember why though.
One day the "remedy" works - next not - the doseage is not stable and as finely tuned as "commercial" drugs.

THERE is a HUGE profit in the PARAPHARMACA market - vitamins, dietary supplements, valerian, St. Johns' Worth, Echinea, Zinc, B12 - just to name a few "hip" drugs. Aspirin comes all natural or all synthetic - same chemical make up - one refined the other comparable to brown sugar.
Healthy eating - definately a must - agree with you 100% and if you talk about the states - definatly unprocessed.

Saturday May 10, 2008, 2:20 pm
Please note that those who have commented and given their opinion on this video are academic and medical professionals in their respected fields and those who have suffereed one way or the other. They are not part of CCHR nor are they Scientologists. Watch again just to clarify.

Saturday May 10, 2008, 3:48 pm
Who ever made this video or participated is irrelevant.
The information is wrong. Unfortunately, people get motivated to distort
information ( consciously or unconsciously) on any cause.
However, this is not a cause, not about opinion, not about subjective understanding.

This is akin to stating that the world is flat and attempting to have others believe it!
Deception is wrong. Please do not give it power.
Jane

Sunday June 1, 2008, 5:31 pm
Jane,
You are simply avoiding the facts that are stated in this video, just like psychiatrists do when they are asked simple questions such as, "how many patients have you cured." What you have done here is added insignificant, non-sequiter diatribe and then state that the information given is wrong. Please back up your comments with real information!

Sunday June 1, 2008, 5:44 pm
Paul,
If you would like to truly understand what we do know about the brain thus far and what we are attempting to do to help people who feel miserable, that would take a long time. I teach this on a daily basis if coming here for a year is an option?

I am no longer going to waste time on these web sites as the damage done by the denial and stigma people impose is appauling!

This is not avoidance. This is saying the evidence for good treatment is there and works for many people. 1 video, does nothing for me nor should it for others. It indicates a biased point of view which fortunately the vast majority don't buy into.
I am interested in health! Health of our planet and all species. If I need to quit this website due to this kind of thoughtless ignorance, I will.
I want only to help as I said.

Jane