Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs

Published by The Icarus Project and Freedom Center This guide brings together the best information we’ve discovered and lessons we’ve learned at The Icarus Project and Freedom Center. It is not intended to persuade anyone to stop taking psychiatric medications, but instead aims to educate people about their options if they decide to explore going off.

In a culture polarized between the pro-medication propaganda of pharmaceutical companies on the one hand, and the anti-medication agenda of some activists on the other, we offer a harm reduction approach to help people make their own decisions. We also present ideas and information for people who decide to stay on or reduce their medications.

0DQ\SHRSOHGRÀQGSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVKHOSIXODQGFKRRVHWRFRQWLQXHWDNLQJWKHP even with the risks, this may be a better option given someone’s situation and circumstances. At the same time, psychiatric drugs carry great dangers and can sometimes do terrible harm, even becoming bigger problems than the conditions they were prescribed to treat. Too often, people who need help getting off psychiatric drugs are left without guidance, and medication decisions can feel like ÀQGLQJ\RXUZD\WKURXJKDODE\ULQWK:HQHHGKRQHVWLQIRUPDWLRQWKDWZLGHQVWKH discussion, and we hope this guide helps people trust themselves more and take better care of one another. www.theicarusproject.net www.freedom-center.org The Icarus Project Freedom Center ZZZWKHLFDUXVSURMHFWQHW ZZZIUHHGRPFHQWHURUJ [email protected] [email protected] &R)RXQWDLQ+RXVH %R[ 425 West 47th Street 1RUWKDPSWRQ0$ 1HZ

7KH,FDUXV3URMHFWLVDZHEVLWHFRPPXQLW\VXSSRUW )UHHGRP&HQWHULVDQDZDUGZLQQLQJVXSSRUWDGYRFDF\DQG QHWZRUNRIORFDOJURXSVDQGPHGLDSURMHFWFUHDWHGE\ activism community based in Western Massachusetts. Run by DQGIRUSHRSOHVWUXJJOLQJZLWKELSRODUGLVRUGHUDQGRWKHU DQGIRUSHRSOHODEHOHGZLWKPHQWDOGLVRUGHUVVXFKDVELSRODU dangerous gifts commonly labeled as “mental illnesses.” The VFKL]RSKUHQLDDQGERUGHUOLQHRUZKRH[SHULHQFHH[WUHPH ,FDUXV3URMHFWLVFUHDWLQJDQHZFXOWXUHDQGODQJXDJHWKDW VWDWHVRIFRQVFLRXVQHVV)UHHGRP&HQWHUZRUNVIRUDFFHVVWR UHVRQDWHVZLWKRXUDFWXDOH[SHULHQFHVRIPDGQHVVUDWKHU holistic alternatives, compassionate care, and an end to forced WKDQWU\LQJWRÀWRXUOLYHVLQWRDFRQYHQWLRQDOIUDPHZRUN psychiatric treatment.

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Written by Will Hall. Published by the Icarus Project and the Freedom Center. Thanks to Amy Bookbinder, Dave Burns, Oryx Cohen, Mary Kate Connor, Marc Dinacola, Dianne Dragon, Sascha DuBrul, Empties, Vikki Gilbert, Chaya Grossberg, Richard Gilluly, Molly Hardison, Gail Hornstein, Mollie Hurter, Jonah, Krista MacKinnon, Ashley McNa- PDUD$OH[6DPHWV6HYHQ%RQÀUH0DGLJDQ6KLYH-HVVLFD0D[6WHLQ7HUUDPXJJXVDQGPDQ\RWKHUFROODERUDWRUVDQGDOOLHV Cover art: Ashley McNamara. Art design: Carrie Bergman. Contributing artists: Fly, Gheena, Miss Led, Ashley McNamara, Erik Ruin, Janice Sorensen, and Bec Young.

7KLVJXLGHLVDYDLODEOHIUHHDVDÀOHGRZQORDGDWWKH)UHHGRP&HQWHUDQG,FDUXV3URMHFWZHEVLWHV Contact us to order published book versions and multiple copies to distribute.

First edition, September 2007. &UHDWLYHFRPPRQVFRS\ULJKW\RXDUHIUHHWRFRS\DQGGLVWULEXWHZLWKVRXUFHDWWULEXWLRQZLWKRXWFRQWHQWDOWHUD- WLRQDQGZLWKRXWÀQDQFLDOJDLQKWWSFUHDWLYHFRPPRQVRUJOLFHQVHVE\QFQG Please contact us for other uses.

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Medical Disclaimer: This guide is written in the spirit of mutual aid and peer support. It is not intended as medical or professional advice. While everyone is different, psychiatric drugs are powerful and coming off suddenly or on your own can sometimes be dangerous.

2 Contents

Author’s Note ...... 5 Introduction ......  Harm Reduction For Mental Health ......  Key Resources For Further Learning ...... 8 Looking Critically At “Mental Disorders” and Psychiatry ...... 8 +RZ'LIÀFXOW,V&RPLQJ2II3V\FKLDWULF'UXJV" ...... 10 Universal Declaration of Mental Rights and Freedoms ...... 11 Principles Of This Guide ...... 12 +RZ'R3V\FKLDWULF'UXJV:RUN" ......  'R3V\FKLDWULF'UXJV&RUUHFW

 4 Author’s Note: 7KLVLVDJXLGH,ZLVK,KDGZKHQ,ZDVWDNLQJ psychiatric drugs. 3UR]DFKHOSHGPHIRUDZKLOH WKHQPDGHPHPDQLFDQGVXLFLGDO,ZDVVLFNIRUGD\V DIWHUFRPLQJRII=RORIWZLWKFRXQVHORUVWHOOLQJPH ,ZDVIDNLQJLW1XUVHVZKRGUHZEORRGVDPSOHVIRU P\OLWKLXPOHYHOVQHYHUH[SODLQHGLWZDVWRFKHFN for drug toxicity, and I thought the Navane and co-found Freedom Center, a support community in RWKHUDQWLSV\FKRWLFV,WRRNWRFDOPP\ZLOGPHQWDO Western Massachusetts that brings together people VWDWHVZHUHQHFHVVDU\EHFDXVHRIP\IDXOW\EUDLQ asking similar questions.

I used many different psychiatric drugs over several Through the Freedom Center I discovered that I \HDUVEXWWKHPHGLFDOSURIHVVLRQDOVZKRSUHVFULEHG ZDVGHQLHGDEDVLFPHGLFDOULJKWLQIRUPHGFRQVHQW WKHPQHYHUPDGHPHIHHOHPSRZHUHGRULQIRUPHG having accurate information about my diagnosis and 7KH\GLGQ·WH[SODLQKRZWKHGUXJVZRUNKRQHVWO\ PHGLFDWLRQ,OHDUQHGWKDWPLVWUHDWPHQWOLNH,ZHQW discuss the risks involved, offer alternatives, or help through is business as usual in the mental health PHZLWKGUDZZKHQ,ZDQWHGWRVWRSWDNLQJWKHP profession. I came across research ignored by the ,QIRUPDWLRQ,QHHGHGZDVPLVVLQJLQFRPSOHWHRU mainstream media, including studies by the UK LQDFFXUDWH:KHQ,ÀQDOO\EHJDQWROHDUQZD\VWR charity MIND and the British Psychological Society, JHWEHWWHUZLWKRXWPHGLFDWLRQLWZDVQ·WEHFDXVHRI ZKLFKFRQÀUPHGP\H[SHULHQFHPRVWSURIHVVLRQDOV WKHPHQWDOKHDWKV\VWHPLWZDVLQVSLWHRILW are not only ignorant about coming off drugs, but IUHTXHQWO\VWDQGLQSDWLHQWV·ZD\VRPHWLPHVHQGLQJ 3DUWRIPHGLGQ·WUHDOO\ZDQWWREHRQSV\FKLDWULF up harming them. drugs, but another part of me desperately needed KHOS0\VXIIHULQJZDVYHU\VHULRXV²PXOWLSOH 7KH)UHHGRP&HQWHUOHGPHWRZRUNZLWKWKH suicide attempts, hearing persecutory voices, Icarus Project, and together these communi- extreme mistrust, bizarre experiences, hiding alone ties of mutual support have helped many people in my apartment, unable to take care of myself. PDNHZLVHUGHFLVLRQVDERXWPHGLFDWLRQVLQFOXGLQJ 7KHUDS\KDGQ·WZRUNHGDQGQRRQHRIIHUHGPH exploring the possibility of coming off them. Many RWKHURSWLRQV,ZDVXQGHUSUHVVXUHWRVHHP\ RIXVDUHOLYLQJZLWKRXWSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVWKDW problems as “biologically based” and “needing” GRFWRUVWROGXVZHZRXOGQHHGRXUZKROHOLYHV medication, instead of looking at medication as one and despite a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder option among many. For a time medication seemed schizophrenia I have been medication-free for more OLNHP\RQO\ZD\RXW,WWRRN\HDUVWROHDUQWKDWWKH WKDQ\HDUV DQVZHUVDQGP\KRSHIRUJHWWLQJEHWWHUZHUHUHDOO\ ZLWKLQP\VHOI 7KLVJXLGHEULQJVWRJHWKHUWKHEHVWLQIRU- PDWLRQZH·YHFRPHDFURVVDQGWKHPRVW :KHQ,ÀQDOO\OHIWWKHKRVSLWDOVUHVLGHQWLDOIDFLOLWLHV LPSRUWDQWOHVVRQVZH·YHOHDUQHGDWWKH and homeless shelters I lived in for nearly a year, I )UHHGRP&HQWHUDQGWKH,FDUXV3URMHFW EHJDQWRGRP\RZQLQYHVWLJDWLQJ,VWDUWHGMXGJLQJ It’s not perfect, and I invite you to contribute your my options more carefully, based not on misin- experiences and research for future editions, but it’s IRUPHGDXWKRULWLHVWHOOLQJPHZKDWWRGREXWRQP\ a guide that I hope can be helpful. RZQUHVHDUFKDQGOHDUQLQJ7KDWSURFHVVOHGPHWR ²:LOO+DOO

5 HARM REDUCTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH Introduction:

Absolutist approaches to drug and sex education teach only abstinence and “just say QRµ7KH\ZRUNIRUVRPHSHRSOHEXWQRWPRVW We live in a world that, DQGSHRSOHZKRGRQRWIROORZWKHDEVWLQHQFH when it comes to drugs, model end up being judged, not helped. is quite crazy. “Harm reduction” is different: pragmatic, not dogmatic. Harm reduction is an international 2QWKHRQHKDQGWKHUHLVWKH:DURQ'UXJVZKLFK movement in community health education NHHSVVRPHGUXJVLOOHJDORYHUÁRZVRXUSULVRQVDQG that recognizes there is no single solution to hasn’t ended illegal drug use. Then there are the every problem. Abstinence is not necessar- acceptable drugs like alcohol and tobacco, advertised LO\WKHRQO\ZD\,QVWHDGRISUHVVXULQJWRTXLW HYHU\ZKHUHZLWKSURPLVHVRIKDSSLQHVVDQGSRZHU KDUPUHGXFWLRQDFFHSWVZKHUHSHRSOHDUHDW ZKLOHFDXVLQJZLGHVSUHDGGLVHDVHDGGLFWLRQDQG and educates them to make informed choices death. Legal prescription drugs, like anti-depressants, and calculated trade-offs that reduce risk sleep medications, and anti-anxiety pills, are just as and increase health. People need information, DGGLFWLYHDQGULVN\DVVWUHHWKLJKVZLWKDGRFWRU·V options, resources and support so they can seal of approval. And there are neuroleptics, lithium, PRYHWRZDUGVKHDOWKLHUOLYLQJ²DWWKHLURZQ DQGDQWLFRQYXOVDQWGUXJVZKLFKKDYHGDQJHURXV SDFHDQGRQWKHLURZQWHUPV effects on the brain but help manage consciousness ZKHQSHRSOHIHHORXWRIFRQWUROVRZHFDOOWKHP Applying harm reduction philosophy to anti-psychotics and mood-stabilizers. PHQWDOKHDOWKLVDQHZEXWJURZLQJFRQFHSW It means recognizing that people are already With drugs in the picture, lives are often at stake, taking psychiatric drugs, and already trying to ZKHWKHUIURPDGGLFWLRQDGYHUVHGUXJHIIHFWVRU come off them. It encourages examining all WKHULVNVWKDWJRDORQJZLWKHPRWLRQDOFULVLVDQG the different kinds of risks involved: the harm PDGQHVV&RPELQHGZLWKWKHFRQIXVLQJPHVVDJHV IURPHPRWLRQDOFULVLVWKDWJRHVDORQJZLWK from society about drugs, the result is a lot of fear. H[SHULHQFHVODEHOHGPHQWDOGLVRUGHUVDVZHOO Drugs become demons or angels. We need to stay DVWKHKDUPIURPWUHDWPHQWVWRGHDOZLWK on them at all costs, or get off them at all costs. We these experiences, such as psychiatric drugs, ORRNRQO\DWWKHULVNVRUZH·UHWRRIULJKWHQHGWR diagnostic labels, and hospitalization. Making look at the risks at all. There is no compromise: it’s harm reduction decisions means looking EODFNDQGZKLWHDOORUQRWKLQJ carefully at the risks of all sides of the equation: KRQHVW\DERXWZKDWKHOSGUXJVPLJKWRIIHUIRU ,W·VHDV\WRIDOOLQWRDEVROXWLVWWKLQNLQJZKHQLWFRPHV a life that feels out of control, honesty about to psychiatric drugs. Pro-drug advocates focus on the KRZKDUPIXOWKRVHVDPHGUXJVPLJKWEHDQG ULVNVRIH[WUHPHHPRWLRQDOVWDWHVZKLOHDQWLGUXJ honesty about options and alternatives. Any advocates focus on the risks of taking drugs. But it decisions may involve a process of experimen- is the belief of this guide, and the philosophy of our tation and learning, including learning from your SURFKRLFHZRUNDWWKH)UHHGRP&HQWHUDQGWKH RZQPLVWDNHV+DUPUHGXFWLRQDFFHSWVDOOWKLV Icarus Project, that either-or thinking around drugs is believing that the essence of any healthy life is a big part of the problem. WKHFDSDFLW\WREHHPSRZHUHG

 OLNHWKHRQO\ZD\WRUHFRJQL]HWKHSDLQDQGVHULRXV- QHVVRIRXUSUREOHPV$QGZKHQHYHU\RQHDURXQG EveRYOne’s XVKDVFRPHWRYLHZPHGLFDWLRQDVHVVHQWLDOWRRXU ExpeRiEnce is VXUYLYDOH[SORULQJDQHZSDWKFDQIHHOWRRULVN\WR even try. dIfFerEnt. Many of us get help from psychiatric drugs, but There is no formula for coming off psychiatric PLJKWQRWXQGHUVWDQGKRZWKH\UHDOO\ZRUNRU GUXJVVXFFHVVIXOO\:KDWWKHUHLVDQGZKDWWKLV ZKDWWKHRWKHURSWLRQVDUH6RPHRIXVQHYHU guide presents, is some common experience, basic found medications useful, or they even made our research, and important information that can SUREOHPVZRUVHDQGZHDUHUHDG\WRWU\OLYLQJ SRWHQWLDOO\PDNHWKHSURFHVVOHVVGLIÀFXOW0DQ\ ZLWKRXWWKHP6RPHWLPHVSHRSOHDUHWRUQEHWZHHQ SHRSOHVXFFHVVIXOO\FRPHRIISV\FKLDWULFGUXJVZLWK the risks of staying on them and the risks of going RUZLWKRXWJXLGDQFHZKLOHRWKHUVÀQGLWYHU\KDUG RIIRUZHWDNHPXOWLSOHGUXJVDQGVXVSHFWZHGRQ·W And many people end up staying on psychiatric QHHGDOORIWKHP2WKHUVPD\ZDQWWRJRRIIEXW GUXJVHYHQWKRXJKWKH\GRQ·WZDQWWREHFDXVHWKH\ LW·VQRWWKHULJKWWLPHRUZHPD\KDYHWULHGLQWKH GRQ·WNQRZDQ\RWKHUZD\ past, experienced a return of painful or “psychotic” symptoms, and decided to go back on them for :KHQZH·YHUHOLHGRQO\RQGRFWRUVWHOHYLVLRQDQG QRZ mainstream sources, it might seem impossible to GHDOZLWKRXUHPRWLRQDOH[WUHPHVZLWKRXWPHGLFD- Our paths to healing are unique. Some of us may WLRQ0D\EHZH·YHQHYHUKHDUGRIDQ\RQHJRLQJ not need to make any life changes, letting time and WKURXJKZKDWZHJRWKURXJKDQ\RWKHUZD\0D\EH patience make change for us. Others may need to DSUHVFULSWLRQZDVWKHEHJLQQLQJRISHRSOHWDNLQJ PDNHVLJQLÀFDQWFKDQJHVVXFKDVLQQXWULWLRQZRUN our need for help seriously, and medications feel RUUHODWLRQVKLSVZHPD\QHHGWRIRFXVPRUHRQ self-care, expression, art and creativity; adopt other

7 treatments like therapy, herbalism, acupuncture or ho- PHRSDWK\RUÀQGQHZOLIHLQWHUHVWVOLNHJRLQJWRVFKRRO RUFRQQHFWLQJZLWKQDWXUH:HPD\GLVFRYHUWKDWWKH ÀUVWVWHSLVJHWWLQJUHVWIXOVOHHSZHPD\QHHGVWUXFWXUH WRKHOSJHWXVPRWLYDWHGRUZHPD\QHHGWRVWRSWDNLQJ any recreational drugs or alcohol. Our priorities might be WRÀQGDKRPHRUDQHZMREZHPD\QHHGWRHVWDEOLVK VWURQJHUVXSSRUWQHWZRUNVRIWUXVWHGIULHQGVRUZHPD\ QHHGWRVSHDNXSZLWKJUHDWHUKRQHVW\DQGYXOQHUDELOLW\ DERXWZKDWZHDUHJRLQJWKURXJK

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8 simplistic sound-bites to persuade people to put Looking Critically at WKHLUIDLWKLQVFLHQFHDQGGRFWRUV7KHVHZRUGV are in fact much more complicated and unclear. “Mental Disorders” and Biological factors (such as nutrition, rest, and food Psychiatry DOOHUJLHV DIIHFWHYHU\WKLQJZHH[SHULHQFHELRORJLFDO cause or “basis” plants the belief that there is one Doctors put people on psychiatric medications for root or key cause of our problem. To say something experiences labeled “mental disorders”: extreme has a biological cause, basis, or underpinning is to HPRWLRQDOGLVWUHVVRYHUZKHOPLQJVXIIHULQJZLOG say that the solution must be a medical one and PRRGVZLQJVXQXVXDOEHOLHIVGLVUXSWLYHEHKDYLRUV “treatment” has to include psychiatric drugs. Once and mysterious states of madness. Currently people have a diagnosis and start taking medication, PLOOLRQVRISHRSOHZRUOGZLGHLQFOXGLQJLQIDQWV it is easy to think of the medications as physically DQGHOGHUVWDNHSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVZKHQWKH\DUH necessary for survival. GLDJQRVHGZLWKVXFKODEHOVDVELSRODUGLVRUGHU VFKL]RSKUHQLDGHSUHVVLRQDQ[LHW\DWWHQWLRQGHÀFLW 1RWRQO\LVWKHUHLVQRVROLGVFLHQFHEHKLQGYLHZLQJ or post-traumatic stress. The numbers are climbing mental disorders as caused by biology, but many every day. SHRSOHZLWKHYHQWKHPRVWVHYHUHGLDJQRVLVRI schizophrenia or bipolar go on to For many people, these drugs are UHFRYHUFRPSOHWHO\ZLWKRXWPHGLFD- very useful. Putting the brakes on tion. The experiences that get labeled a life out of control, being able mental disorders are not “incurable” WRIXQFWLRQDWZRUNVFKRRODQG RUDOZD\V´OLIHORQJµ)RUVRPHSHRSOH in relationships, getting to sleep, psychiatric drugs are helpful tools, and keeping a lid on emotional but they are not medically necessary extremes can all feel lifesaving. treatments for illness. And once you The sense of relief is sometimes DFNQRZOHGJHWKHVHIDFWVWKHULVNVRI dramatic, and the medications psychiatric drugs themselves deserve FDQVWLUYHU\SRZHUIXOHPRWLRQV greater scrutiny, because they are and even feelings of salvation. At very serious, including chronic illness, the same time, the help psychiatric drugs offer PHQWDOLPSDLUPHQWGHSHQGHQF\ZRUVHSV\FKLDWULF many people can sometimes leave little room to symptoms, and even death. recognize that many others experience psychiatric drugs as negative, harmful, and even life-threaten- Because psychiatric medications are a multi-billion LQJ$VDUHVXOWLWLVUDUHLQVRFLHW\WRÀQGDFOHDU dollar industry like big oil and military spending, XQGHUVWDQGLQJRIKRZDQGZK\WKHVHGUXJVZRUN companies have incentive and means to cover or an honest discussion of risks, alternatives, and up facts about their products. If you look more KRZWRFRPHRIIWKHPLISHRSOHZDQWWR carefully into the research and examine closely WKHFODLPVRIWKHPHQWDOKHDOWKV\VWHP\RXZLOO Doctors and TV ads tell people that psychiatric GLVFRYHUDYHU\GLIIHUHQWSLFWXUHWKDQZKDWSLOO medication is necessary for a biological illness, just FRPSDQLHVDQGPRVWGRFWRUVZDQWXVWREHOLHYH like insulin for diabetes. They promote the idea Companies actively suppress accurate assessments WKDWWKHGUXJVFRUUHFWFKHPLFDOLPEDODQFHVDQGÀ[ RIGUXJULVNVPLVOHDGSDWLHQWVDERXWKRZREMHFWLYH EUDLQDEQRUPDOLWLHV7KHWUXWKLVGLIIHUHQWKRZHYHU a mental disorder diagnosis is, promote a false “Biology” and “chemical imbalances” have become XQGHUVWDQGLQJRIKRZSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVUHDOO\ZRUN

9 keep research into alternative approaches unfunded DFWLYLVWVDQGKHDOHUVZKRDUHFRQQHFWHGZLWK and unpublicized, and obscure the role of trauma the Freedom Center and the Icarus Project. We and oppression in mental suffering. For the mental encourage you to use this guide not as the KHDOWKV\VWHPLW·VRQHVL]HÀWVDOOUHJDUGOHVVRIWKH GHÀQLWLYHUHVRXUFHEXWDVDUHIHUHQFHSRLQW KXPDQFRVWVFDQGDOVDUHJURZLQJDQGWKHIUDXGDQG IRU\RXURZQUHVHDUFKDQGOHDUQLQJ And corruption surrounding some psychiatric drugs are ZHKRSHWKDW\RXZLOOVKDUHZKDW\RXKDYHOHDUQHG reaching tobacco-industry proportions. ZLWKRWKHUVDQGFRQWULEXWHWRIXWXUHHGLWLRQV

In this complicated cultural environment, people need accurate information about possible risks and How difficult is coming off EHQHÀWVVRWKH\FDQPDNHWKHLURZQGHFLVLRQV7RR psychiatric drugs? RIWHQSHRSOHZKRQHHGKHOSJHWWLQJRIIWKHVHGUXJV ,QZRUNLQJZLWKKXQGUHGVRISHRSOHRYHU DUHOHIWZLWKRXWVXSSRUWRUJXLGDQFHDQGHYHQ PDQ\\HDUVZHKDYHIRXQGWKHUHLVQRZD\ treated like the desire to go off the drugs is itself a WRSUHGLFWKRZWKHFRPLQJRIISURFHVV VLJQRIPHQWDOLOOQHVV²DQGDQHHGIRUPRUHGUXJV ZLOOJR7KHUHLVUHDOO\QRZD\WRNQRZ LQDGYDQFHZKRFDQDQGZKRFDQQRWOLYH In discussing “risks” and “dangers,” it is important ZLWKRXWSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVZKRFDQOLYHZLWK to understand that all life involves risk: each of us IHZHUGUXJVRUORZHUGRVHVRUKRZKDUGLW makes decisions every day to take acceptable risks, ZLOOEH:H·YHVHHQSHRSOHZLWKGUDZVXFFHVV- VXFKDVGULYLQJDFDURUZRUNLQJLQDVWUHVVIXOMRE fully after more than 20 years, and people ,WPD\QRWEHSRVVLEOHWRSUHGLFWH[DFWO\KRZWKH need to continue to take them after being ULVNVZLOODIIHFWXVRUDYRLGWKHULVNVHQWLUHO\EXW on for just a year. Because it is potentially LWLVLPSRUWDQWWKDWZHNQRZWKHULVNVH[LVWDQG SRVVLEOHIRUDQ\RQHWKHRQO\ZD\WRUHDOO\ OHDUQDVPXFKDERXWWKHPDVZHFDQ/RRNLQJDW NQRZLVWRVORZO\DQGFDUHIXOO\WU\DQGVHH the risks of drug treatment also means looking at KRZLWJRHV(YHU\RQHVKRXOGKDYHWKHULJKW WKHULVNVRIHPRWLRQDOGLVWUHVV´SV\FKRVLVµLWVHOI to explore this. DQGPDNLQJWKHEHVWGHFLVLRQIRU\RXZKHWKHULW is that psychiatric drugs are the best option given The study of coming off drugs by MIND, \RXUFLUFXPVWDQFHVDQGVLWXDWLRQRUZKHWKHU\RX the leading mental health charity in the UK ZDQWWRWU\WRFRPHRII7KLVJXLGHLVQRWLQWHQGHG FRQÀUPVRXUH[SHULHQFH0,1'IRXQGWKDW WRSHUVXDGH\RXRQHZD\RUWKHRWKHUEXWWRKHOS ´/HQJWKRIWLPHRQWKHGUXJHPHUJHG educate you about your options if you decide to DVWKHIDFWRUWKDWPRVWFOHDUO\LQÁX- explore going off psychiatric drugs. HQFHGVXFFHVVLQFRPLQJRII)RXURXW RIÀYHSHRSOH SHUFHQW ZKRZHUH Because of the pro-drug bias in medicine and RQWKHLUGUXJIRUOHVVWKDQVL[PRQWKV science, there has been very little research on VXFFHHGHGLQFRPLQJRII,QFRQWUDVW SV\FKLDWULFGUXJZLWKGUDZDO:HEDVHGWKLV OHVVWKDQKDOI SHUFHQW RISHRSOH guide on the best available information, including ZKRZHUHRQWKHLUGUXJIRUPRUHWKDQ H[FHOOHQWVRXUFHVIURPWKH8.DQGZRUNHGZLWKD ÀYH\HDUVVXFFHHGHG -XVWRYHUKDOI group of health professional advisors (see page 40) RISHRSOHZKRZHUHRQWKHLUGUXJIRU including psychiatric doctors, nurses, and alternative EHWZHHQVL[PRQWKVDQGÀYH\HDUV SUDFWLWLRQHUVDOORIZKRPKDYHH[WHQVLYHFOLQLFDO VXFFHHGHG µ experience helping people come off drugs. We also  VHH5HVRXUFHVSDJH GUDZRQWKHFROOHFWLYHZLVGRPRIDQLQWHUQDWLRQDO QHWZRUNRISHHUFRXQVHORUVDOOLHVFROOHDJXHV

10 ,QVRPHZD\VWKHLVVXHRIFRPLQJRIISV\FKLDWULF drugs is deeply political. People of all economic and educational backgrounds successfully reduce Universal Declaration RUJRRIIWKHLUSV\FKLDWULFPHGLFDWLRQ+RZHYHU sometimes economic privilege can determine of Mental Rights and ZKRKDVDFFHVVWRLQIRUPDWLRQDQGHGXFDWLRQ Freedoms ZKRFDQDIIRUGDOWHUQDWLYHWUHDWPHQWVDQGZKR KDVWKHÁH[LELOLW\WRPDNHOLIHFKDQJHV3HRSOH That all human beings are created different. ZLWKRXWUHVRXUFHVDUHRIWHQWKHPRVWYXOQHUDEOH That every human being has the right to be to psychiatric abuse and injury from drugging. mentally free and independent. +HDOWKLVDKXPDQULJKWIRUDOOSHRSOHZHQHHG a complete overhaul of our failed “mental health That every human being has the right to system” in favor of truly effective and compas- feel, see, hear, sense, imagine, believe or sionate alternatives available to all regardless of H[SHULHQFHDQ\WKLQJDWDOOLQDQ\ZD\DWDQ\ LQFRPH3XVKLQJULVN\H[SHQVLYHGUXJVDVWKHÀUVW time. and only line of treatment should end; priority should be on providing safe places of refuge and That every human being has the right to treatments that do no harm. Numerous studies, EHKDYHLQDQ\ZD\WKDWGRHVQRWKDUP such as Soteria House in California and programs RWKHUVRUEUHDNIDLUDQGMXVWODZV LQ(XURSHVKRZWKDWQRQGUXJWUHDWPHQWVFDQ be very effective and cost less than the current That no human being shall be subjected system. And a medical and product regulatory ZLWKRXWFRQVHQWWRLQFDUFHUDWLRQUHVWUDLQW establishment honest about drug risks, effective- punishment, or psychological or medical QHVVDQGDOWHUQDWLYHVZRXOGKDYHQHYHUSXWPRVW intervention in an attempt to control, SV\FKLDWULFGUXJVRQWKHPDUNHWWREHJLQZLWK repress or alter the individual’s thoughts, feelings or experiences. ,QVWHDGRIYLHZLQJWKHH[SHULHQFHVRIPDGQHVV from: Adbusters.org DVD´GLVDELOLW\µZKLFKFDQEHDVWLJPDWL]LQJSXW GRZQLWLVKHOSIXOWRYLHZWKRVHRIXVZKRJR through emotional extremes as having “diverse- ability.” Society must accommodate the needs RIVHQVLWLYHFUHDWLYHHPRWLRQDOO\ZRXQGHGDQG XQXVXDOSHRSOHZKRPDNHFRQWULEXWLRQVWRWKH community beyond the standards of competi- tion, materialism, and individualism. To truly help SHRSOHZKRDUHODEHOOHGPHQWDOO\LOOZHQHHGWR UHWKLQNZKDWLV´QRUPDOµLQWKHVDPHZD\ZHDUH UHWKLQNLQJZKDWLWPHDQVWREHXQDEOHWRKHDU ZLWKRXWVLJKWRUZLWKOLPLWHGSK\VLFDOPRELOLW\ We need to challenge able-ism in all forms, and TXHVWLRQWKHZLVGRPRIDGDSWLQJWRDQRSSUHV- sive and unhealthy society, a society that is itself TXLWHFUD]\2XUQHHGVDUHLQWHUWZLQHGZLWKWKH broader needs of social justice and ecological sustainability. 11 Principles of This Guide: • Choice: Psychiatric medications affect the most intimate aspects of mind and FRQVFLRXVQHVV:HKDYHWKHULJKWWRVHOIGHWHUPLQDWLRQWRGHÀQHRXUH[SHULHQFHV DVZHZDQWVHHNRXWSUDFWLWLRQHUVZHWUXVWDQGGLVFRQWLQXHWUHDWPHQWVWKDWDUHQ·W ZRUNLQJIRUXV:HGRQ·WMXGJHRWKHUVIRUWDNLQJRUQRWWDNLQJSV\FKLDWULFGUXJV ZHUHVSHFWLQGLYLGXDODXWRQRP\:KHQSHRSOHKDYHGLIÀFXOW\H[SUHVVLQJWKHPVHOYHV or being understood by others, they deserve accommodation, supported decision- PDNLQJDQGSDWLHQFHIURPFDULQJDGYRFDWHVDFFRUGLQJWRWKHSULQFLSOHRI´ÀUVWGR no harm” and the least intrusion possible. No one should be forced to take psychi- DWULFGUXJVDJDLQVWWKHLUZLOO

• Information: Pharmaceutical companies, medical practitioners, and the media need to provide accurate information about drug risks, the nature of psychiatric GLDJQRVLVDOWHUQDWLYHWUHDWPHQWVDQGKRZWRJRRIISV\FKLDWULFGUXJV0HGLFDOHWKLFV require practitioners to understand the treatments they prescribe, protect patients from harm, and promote safer alternatives.

• Access: :KHQZHFKRRVHDOWHUQDWLYHVWRSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVDQGPDLQVWUHDP treatments, there should be programs, affordable options and insurance coverage DYDLODEOH&KRLFHZLWKRXWDFFHVVWRRSWLRQVLVQRWUHDOFKRLFH&RPPXQLW\FRQ- WUROOHGVHUYLFHVVKRXOGEHDYDLODEOHWRHYHU\RQHZKRQHHGVKHOSJRLQJRIISV\FKL- DWULFGUXJVRUVWUXJJOLQJZLWKH[WUHPHVWDWHVRIFRQVFLRXVQHVVZLWKRXWGUXJV:H XUJHDOOKHDOWKFDUHSUDFWLWLRQHUVWRRIIHUIUHHDQGORZFRVWVHUYLFHVWRDVKDUHRI WKHLUFOLHQWVDQGIRUHYHU\RQHZLWKHFRQRPLFDQGVRFLDOSULYLOHJHWRZRUNWRH[WHQG access to alternative treatments to all.

12 How Do Psychiatric Drugs Do Psychiatric Drugs Correct Work? Your Chemistry? Most people begin taking psychiatric medications People are told that mental disorders exist because because they are “distressed and distressing.” They brain chemistry levels are “abnormal” or “imbal- DUHHLWKHUH[SHULHQFLQJRYHUZKHOPLQJVWDWHVRI anced,” that this results from genetic “predisposi- emotional distress, or someone else is distressed tions” inherited from families, and that psychiatric ZLWKWKHLUEHKDYLRUDQGVHQGVWKHPWRDGRFWRU GUXJVZRUNE\FRUUHFWLQJWKHVHSUHH[LVWLQJEUDLQ ²RUVRPHFRPELQDWLRQRIERWK7KHUHDUHPDQ\ FKHPLFDOLPEDODQFHV+RZHYHUWKHVHFODLPVKDYH labels for these states, like anxiety, depression, QHYHUEHHQSURYHQE\VFLHQWLÀFVWXG\WREHWUXH mania, psychosis, voices, and paranoia, and labels change over time. Doctors Despite decades of effort and frequently tell people that billions of dollars in research, their emotional distress is no reliable and consistent due to a mental disorder evidence of preexisting ZKLFKKDVDELRFKHPLFDO chemical imbalances, genetic basis, that their distress is predispositions, or brain dangerous (such as the risk abnormalities has ever been of suicide) and must be IRXQGWRJRDORQJZLWKDQ\ stopped, and that medica- psychiatric disorder diagnosis. WLRQZLWKSV\FKLDWULFGUXJV (YHQWKHÀQHSULQWRIGUXJ is the most appropriate FRPSDQ\DGVQRZW\SLFDOO\ therapy. state that conditions are “believed to be caused by” Psychiatric drugs act on the or “thought to be caused by” brain to change mood and chemical imbalances, rather consciousness like any other mind altering drug. WKDQPDNLQJGHÀQLWLYHFODLPV*HQHWLFWKHRULHV Because many medications can blunt or control WRGD\WDONDERXWFRPSOH[LQWHUDFWLRQVZLWKWKH WKHV\PSWRPVRIHPRWLRQDOGLVWUHVV²E\HLWKHU environment that differ from individual to individual VSHHGLQJDSHUVRQXSVORZLQJDSHUVRQGRZQ based on experience, rather than genetic “blue- UHGXFLQJVHQVLWLYLW\RUJHWWLQJWKHPWRVOHHS²WKH\ prints” or causality. can take the edge off extreme states. They help some people feel more capable of living their lives. 1RHOHYDWHGRUORZHUHGOHYHORIDQ\QHX- ,WLVLPSRUWDQWWRUHDOL]HKRZHYHUWKDWSV\FKLDWULF URWUDQVPLWWHUKDVHYHUFRQVLVWHQWO\EHHQ drugs do not change the underlying causes of SURYHQWRFDXVHDSV\FKLDWULFGLVRUGHU A emotional distress. They are best understood as EDVHOLQHKDVQHYHUHYHQEHHQHVWDEOLVKHGIRUZKDW tools or coping mechanisms that can sometimes constitutes “normal” brain chemistry for all people, DOOHYLDWHV\PSWRPVZLWKVLJQLÀFDQWULVNVIRUDQ\RQH DQGQRSK\VLFDOWHVWOLNHXULQDO\VLVRUEORRGGUDZ ZKRWDNHVWKHP exists to detect mental disorders. Brain scans have never been able to distinguish consistently EHWZHHQ´QRUPDOµSHRSOHDQGSHRSOHZLWKSV\- chiatric diagnoses (though medications can cause EUDLQFKDQJHVWKDWVKRZXSRQVFDQV 7KUHHSHRSOH ZLWKDQLGHQWLFDOGLDJQRVLVPLJKWKDYHFRPSOHWHO\

 GLIIHUHQWEUDLQFKHPLVWU\DQGVRPHRQHZLWKYHU\ science can make no credible claim to have solved similar brain chemistry might have no diagnosis at the mystery of the mind-body relationship. all. Western medicine has not isolated any biological FDXVHVLQWKHVDPHZD\LWFDQGHVFULEHWKHSK\VLFDO Ultimately, psychiatric diagnosis requires a doctor’s mechanisms that cause illnesses such as tuberculo- subjective psychological evaluation of a patient, VLV'RZQ6\QGURPHRUGLDEHWHV DQGWKHGRFWRUUHOLHVRQWKHLURZQLQWHUSUHWDWLRQV fears, and preconceptions. Doctors often disagree Madness and mental disorder diagnoses do ZLWKHDFKRWKHUSHRSOHVRPHWLPHVKDYHPDQ\ sometimes seem to “run in families,” but so do different diagnoses over time, and discrimination child abuse and artistic ability. Because of shared based on class, race, and gender is common. learning and experience, family history can mean many things other than genetic determination. 7KHGHFLVLRQWRWDNHRUQRWWDNHSV\FKLDWULF Despite ambitious claims by researchers that are GUXJVVKRXOGEHEDVHGRQWKHXVHIXOQHVV sensationalized in the media, no genetic cause, RIWKHGUXJWRWKHSHUVRQZKRQHHGVKHOS marker or set of markers has ever been discovered UHODWLYHWRWKHULVNVLQYROYHGQRWDQ\IDOVH and isolated for mental disorders. In fact, the more EHOLHIWKDWWKH\´PXVWµEHRQWKHGUXJ that is understood about genetics, behavior and the EHFDXVHRIELRORJ\RUJHQHV brain, the more complicated the picture becomes, DQGWKHOHVVOLNHO\RIHYHUÀQGLQJDJHQHWLF´NH\µ Using genetics to explain the diverse range of KXPDQEHKDYLRULQDVLPSOLVWLFZD\LVDWKURZEDFN WRWKHGLVFUHGLWHGFRQFHSWVRIVRFLDO'DUZLQLVP and eugenics.

,GHQWLFDOWZLQVKDYHWKHVDPHJHQHVEXWGRQ·W DOZD\VKDYHWKHVDPHSV\FKLDWULFGLDJQRVLVZKLFK proves that genes alone cannot be causal. Studies VKRZWKDWWZLQVGRWHQGKDYHDVOLJKWO\KLJKHU chance of the same diagnosis, possibly indicating some genetic role, but these studies are often ÁDZHGDQGFODLPVH[DJJHUDWHG3DUHQWVFHUWDLQO\ NQRZWKDWFKLOGUHQKDYHGLIIHUHQWWHPSHUDPHQWV and qualities even at birth, but individual traits like sensitivity and creativity only become the experi- ences of madness and emotional distress after the very complicated social factors of experience, including trauma and oppression, have played a role.

Every mood, thought, or experience exists VRPHKRZLQWKHEUDLQDQGERG\DVH[SUHVVLRQVRI biology, but society, mind, and learning intervene to make any causal relationship impossible to establish. Philosophers and scientists have been puzzling over WKHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQFRQVFLRXVQHVVDQGWKH brain for hundreds of years. Psychiatry and neuro-

14 Who’s to Blame? Yourself? Your Biology? Or Neither? If biology and brain chemistry aren’t to “blame” for your anxiety, voices, suicidality, or other distress, GRHVWKLVPHDQWKDW\RX\RXUVHOIDUHWREODPH",VLWHLWKHU\RXUEUDLQ·VIDXOWRU\RXUIDXOW"

A mental disorder diagnosis and a prescription can be a huge relief if the only other option is blaming \RXUVHOIDVOD]\ZHDNRUIDNLQJLW:KHQSHRSOHKDYHQ·WEHHQWDNLQJ\RXUSDLQVHULRXVO\DGRFWRU·V decision that you have a mental disorder can feel liberating. Choosing to come off medication can WKHQVHHPOLNHWKHZURQJPHVVDJHWKDW\RXGRQ·WUHDOO\QHHGKHOSDQG\RXUVXIIHULQJLVQRWUHDOO\WKDW bad.

This is an unfair either-or trap that ensnares people in the mental health system. Pharmaceutical company advertising preys on this dilemma. Coming off medications and challenging the medical model of disorders and illness means educating yourself and the people in your life to think beyond WKLVQDUURZFRQFHSWLRQ

%HFDXVHPHGLFDOVFLHQFHGRHVQ·WKDYHGHÀQLWLYHDQVZHUVDERXWZKDWPDGQHVVDQGH[WUHPHVWDWHV DUHLWLVXSWRHDFKSHUVRQWRXQGHUVWDQGWKHLUH[SHULHQFHLQWKHZD\WKDWPDNHVVHQVHWRWKHP *URXQGLQJLQVROLGUHVHDUFKOLNHWKHVRXUFHVXVHGLQWKLVJXLGHFDQEHDSRZHUIXODQWLGRWHWRPDLQ- stream messages. For example, the British Psychological Society report, referenced in the Resources VHFWLRQDFNQRZOHGJHVWKHOLPLWVRIGLVHDVHPRGHOWKHRULHVDQGVXJJHVWVWKDWstress vulnerability may be DPRUHQHXWUDOQRQSDWKRORJL]LQJZD\WRXQGHUVWDQGZKDWJHWVFDOOHG´PHQWDOLOOQHVVµ2WKHUH[SODQD- tions, such as spirituality, abuse, trauma, environmental illness, or holistic health, are also possible. Con- QHFWLQJZLWKRWKHUSHRSOHZKRVKDUH\RXUH[SHULHQFHVFDQEHFUXFLDODQGWRGD\ZLWKWKHLQWHUQHWLWLV easy to gather supporters even from distant countries.

7DNLQJPHGLFDWLRQGRHVQ·WPHDQ\RXUVXIIHULQJLVPRUHVHULRXVWKDQVRPHRQHZKRGRHVQ·WWDNH medication. Looking to non-biological factors like trauma, sensitivity, or spirituality doesn’t mean your SUREOHPVDUHPRUH\RXURZQIDXOWWKDQVRPHRQHZKRSRLQWVWRELRORJ\JHQHVRUEUDLQFKHPLVWU\ You don’t need help any less just because you don’t see yourself as having a “disorder” or being “sick.”

15 What Do These Drugs Do to Your Brain? Like street drugs and any mood or mind altering substance, psychiatric drugs alter mental states and behavior by affecting brain chemistry.

Current medical theory is that most psychiatric GUXJVZRUNE\FKDQJLQJWKHOHYHOVRIFKHPLFDOV called neurotransmitters (anti-convulsants, anti-epileptics, and “mood stabilizers” like OLWKLXPDSSHDUWRZRUNE\FKDQJLQJEORRGÁRZ and electrical activity in the brain in general). 1HXURWUDQVPLWWHUVDUHOLQNHGZLWKPRRGDQG mental functioning, and all the cells of the nervous system, including brain cells, use neurotransmitters WRFRPPXQLFDWHZLWKHDFKRWKHU:KHQ neurotransmitter levels change, “receptor” cells, ZKLFKUHFHLYHDQGUHJXODWHWKHQHXURWUDQVPLWWHUV FDQJURZRUVKULQNWRDGMXVWDQGEHFRPHPRUH sensitive.

SSRI anti-depressants (“selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors”) for example are said to raise the level of the neurotransmitter serotonin present in the brain and reduce the number of brain serotonin receptors. Anti- SV\FKRWLFPHGLFDWLRQVOLNH+DOGROORZHUWKH level of dopamine and increase the number of dopamine receptors in the brain. This action on neurotransmitters and receptors is the same as for many street drugs. Cocaine changes the OHYHOVRIERWKVHURWRQLQDQGGRSDPLQHDVZHOODV noradrenaline, and alters receptors.

While these chemical changes are taking place, \RXUFRQVFLRXVQHVVZRUNVWRLQWHUSUHWDQG UHVSRQGLQ\RXURZQZD\ZKLOH\RXUERG\ UHVSRQGVLQLWVZD\DVZHOO%HFDXVHHYHU\RQHLV different, your experience of medication may not EHWKHVDPHDVRWKHUSHRSOHDQGZLOOXOWLPDWHO\EH XQLTXHO\\RXURZQ7UXVW\RXUVHOI

 Why do People Find Psychiatric Drugs Helpful? 8QOLNHWKHLUULVNVWKHEHQHÀWVRISV\FKLDWULFGUXJV DUHZLGHO\DQGORXGO\SURPRWHGLQWKHPHGLD7KH KHOSIXODVSHFWVRIWKHGUXJVKRZHYHUWHQGWREH PL[HGLQZLWKLQDFFXUDWHFODLPVDERXWELRORJLFDO causes and distorted by sensationalistic advertising K\SH7KHLQIRUPDWLRQEHORZLVDQDWWHPSWWRFXW WKURXJKWKHFRQIXVLRQDQGGHVFULEHWKHEDVLFZD\V WKDWPDQ\SHRSOHÀQGSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVKHOSIXO

• Sleep deprivation is one of the single biggest causes of, and contributors to, emotional crisis. Short term medication use can get you to sleep. • Short term medication can interrupt and “put sugar pill the patient thinks is real, or undergo- WKHEUDNHVRQµDGLIÀFXOWH[WUHPHVWDWHRI ing a “placebo surgery” believed to be real. In consciousness or an acute moment of crisis. clinical trials many psychiatric drugs have little Ongoing use can sometimes prevent episodes proven effectiveness beyond that of placebo, of mania or depression, or make them less EHFDXVHRIWKHSRZHUIXOPHQWDOHIIHFWDWZRUN severe. Some people report that extremes and The mind plays a central role in any healing, and symptoms feel less severe and more manageable WKHUHLVQRZD\WRGHWHUPLQHZKHWKHUHIIHFWLYH- on medications. ness for an individual comes from placebo or drug effects. • Interrupting crisis and getting some sleep can UHGXFHVWUHVVLQ\RXUERG\DQGVHWWOH\RXGRZQ • Compliance also contributes to the placebo ZKLFKFDQDOORZ\RXWRUHGXFHFKDRVLQ\RXU HIIHFWVRPHWLPHVSHRSOHZLOOIHHOEHWWHUZKHQ OLIHDQGWDNHFDUHRI\RXUVHOIEHWWHUZLWKIRRG WKH\ÀQGDFOHDURIÀFLDOH[SODQDWLRQRIWKHLU relationships, and other basic issues. This can VXIIHULQJWREHOLHYHLQDQGZKHQWKH\IROORZDQG OD\DJURXQGZRUNIRUJUHDWHUPHQWDOVWDELOLW\ get support from a doctor, family member, or and making changes that might not have been RWKHUDXWKRULW\ÀJXUH SRVVLEOHRWKHUZLVH • Advertising, especially direct-to-consumer televi- ‡0HGLFDWLRQVFDQVRPHWLPHVKHOS\RXVKRZXS VLRQDGYHUWLVLQJ DOORZHGLQWKH86DQG1HZ IRUDQGIXQFWLRQDWZRUNVFKRRODQGLQ\RXU =HDODQG LVH[WUHPHO\SRZHUIXODQGLQÁXHQFHV OLIHZKLFKLVHVSHFLDOO\XVHIXOLI\RXFDQQRW SHRSOH·VH[SHULHQFHWRÀWWKHLUKRSHVDQG change these circumstances. Work may require expectations. you to get up in the morning and avoid mood VZLQJVDQGUHODWLRQVKLSVPD\QHHG\RXWRDYRLG emotional reaction or sensitivity. ‡$OOGUXJVKDYHDSRZHUIXOSODFHERHIIHFWMXVW EHOLHYLQJWKH\ZRUNHYHQXQFRQVFLRXVO\FDQ PDNHWKHPZRUN5HFRYHU\IURPYHU\VHULRXV illnesses is possible just from receiving a placebo

17 Facts You May Not Know About Psychiatric Drugs

• Higher doses and longer term use of psychiatric be because dosages are often smaller, it can take drugs often mean brain changes can be deeper ORQJHUIRUQHJDWLYHHIIHFWVWRVKRZDQGLQGLYLGX- and longer lasting. The drugs are then often als have different expectations of different drugs. harder to come off and can have more serious • Sometimes people are told that adverse drug adverse effects. The human brain is much more effects are due to an “allergic reaction.” This UHVLOLHQWWKDQZDVRQFHEHOLHYHGKRZHYHUDQG is misleading: psychiatric drug effects do not FDQKHDODQGUHSDLULWVHOILQUHPDUNDEOHZD\V IXQFWLRQELRORJLFDOO\LQWKHERG\WKHZD\IRRGRU • Neuroleptic or major tranquilizer drugs are pollen allergies do. Calling drug effects “allergic claimed to be “anti-psychotic,” but in fact do reactions” treats the problem like it is in the QRWWDUJHWSV\FKRVLVRUDQ\VSHFLÀFV\PSWRP person taking the drug, not the drug’s effect or mental disorder. They are tranquilizers that itself. diminish brain functioning in general for anyone ‡%HQ]RGLD]HSHQH²9DOLXP;DQD[$WLYDQDQG ZKRWDNHVWKHP7KH\DUHHYHQXVHGLQYHWHUL- .ORQRSLQ²DGGLFWLRQLVDKXJHSXEOLFKHDOWK QDU\VFLHQFHWRFDOPGRZQDQLPDOV0DQ\SHRSOH SUREOHPDQGZLWKGUDZDOFDQEHYHU\GLIÀFXOW on these drugs report that their psychotic Use for more than 4-5 days dramatically symptoms continue, but the emotional reaction increases risks. to them is lessened. ‡3V\FKLDWULFGUXJVDUHZLGHO\XVHGLQSULVRQVWR • The psychiatric use of chemicals such as control inmates and in nursing homes to control 7KRUD]LQHDQGOLWKLXPZDVGLVFRYHUHGEHIRUH the elderly. WKHRULHVRI´FKHPLFDOLPEDODQFHµZHUHLQYHQWHG DQGGRQRWUHÁHFWDQ\XQGHUVWDQGLQJRIWKH • Sleep medication like Ambien and Halcyon can cause. EHDGGLFWLYHZRUVHQVOHHSRYHUWLPHDQGFDXVH dangerous altered states of consciousness. ‡1HZHUDQWLSV\FKRWLFGUXJVFDOOHG´DW\SLFDOVµ target a broader range of neurotransmitters, but ‡%HFDXVHWKH\ZRUNOLNHUHFUHDWLRQDOGUXJVVRPH WKH\ZRUNLQEDVLFDOO\WKHVDPHZD\VDVROGHU psychiatric medications are even sold on the drugs. Manufacturers marketed these drugs street to get high. Stimulants like Ritalin and ZKLFKDUHPRUHH[SHQVLYHWKDQROGHURQHV  VHGDWLYHVOLNH9DOLXPDUHZLGHO\DEXVHG%HFDXVH DVEHWWHUDQGPRUHHIIHFWLYHZLWKIHZHUVLGH of their easy availability, illegal use of psychiatric HIIHFWVDQGWKH\ZHUHKDLOHGDVPLUDFOHV%XW GUXJVLQFOXGLQJE\FKLOGUHQLVZLGHVSUHDG as reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry, • The “War on Drugs” obscures the similari- New York Times, Washington PostDQGHOVHZKHUH WLHVEHWZHHQOHJDOSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVDQGLOOHJDO WKLVKDVEHHQH[SRVHGDVXQWUXHZLWKVRPH recreational drugs. Anti-depressant “selective companies even covering up the extent of VHURWRQLQUHXSWDNHLQKLELWRUV 665,V µZRUN adverse effects like diabetes and metabolic FKHPLFDOO\VLPLODUWRVORZDGPLQLVWHUHGRUDO V\QGURPH+RZHYHUEHFDXVHQHZHUGUXJVDUH FRFDLQH&RFDLQHZDVLQIDFWWKHÀUVWSUHVFULS- VRPHZKDWGLIIHUHQWSHRSOHRQROGHUGUXJVPLJKW tion drug marketed for “feel good” anti-depres- IHHOEHWWHUE\VZLWFKLQJWRQHZHURQHV7KLVPD\ sion effects, before being made illegal. Coca, the EDVLVRIFRFDLQHZDVHYHQRQFHDQLQJUHGLHQWLQ Coca-Cola. 18 Health Risks of Psychiatric Drugs 0DNLQJDGHFLVLRQDERXWFRPLQJRIISV\FKLDWULFGUXJVPHDQVHYDOXDWLQJDVEHVW\RXFDQWKHULVNVDQGEHQHÀWV involved, including important information missing or suppressed from most mainstream accounts. Some risks may be worth taking, some risks may not be worth taking, but all risks should be taken into consideration. Because each person is different and drug effects can vary widely, the uncertainty involved should be met with your own best judgment and observations of how your body and mind are responding. This list cannot be comprehensive, and new risks are being uncovered regularly. Check a watchdog group (like www.ahrp.org) for the latest information.

Physical Health Risks

• Psychiatric drugs are toxic and can damage the FXUDWHO\NQRZQ7DNLQJSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVLVLQ body. Neuroleptic “anti-psychotics” can cause PDQ\ZD\VVRFLHW\ZLGHH[SHULPHQWDWLRQZLWK the life-threatening toxic reaction called neuro- patients as guinea pigs. OHSWLFPDOLJQDQWV\QGURPHDVZHOODV3DUNLQVRQ·V ‡&RPELQLQJZLWKDOFRKRORURWKHUGUXJVFDQ disease-like symptoms. Regular blood level tests dramatically increase dangers. are required of some drugs such as lithium and Clozaril to protect against dangerous ‡'UXJHIIHFWVFDQORZHUWKHTXDOLW\RIOLIH organ damage. Many drugs can lead to obesity, including impaired sexuality, depression, diabetes, sudden heart attack, kidney failure, agitation, and overall health deterioration. serious blood disorder, and general physical • Drug-induced body changes such as restlessness EUHDNGRZQ2WKHUWR[LFHIIHFWVDUHQXPHURXV or stiffness can alienate you from others and DQGLQFOXGHLQWHUIHULQJZLWKWKHPHQVWUXDO increase isolation. cycle, threats to pregnancy, and life-threatening ´VHURWRQLQV\QGURPHµZKHQDQWLGHSUHVVDQWV ‡/LWKLXPLQWHUDFWVZLWKVDOWDQGZDWHULQWKH DUHPL[HGZLWKRWKHUGUXJV ERG\DQGZKHQWKHVHOHYHOVFKDQJHVXFK as from exercise, heat, or diet, potency can • Psychiatric drugs can injure the brain. The rate ÁXFWXDWH(YHQZLWKUHJXODUEORRGWHVWVDQG of tardive dyskinesia, a serious neurological dosage adjustments, this means people taking GLVHDVHWKDWFDQGLVÀJXUHDSHUVRQZLWKIDFLDO lithium are sometimes at risk of exposure to WLFVDQGWZLWFKLQJLVYHU\KLJKIRUORQJWHUP damaging levels. patients on neuroleptic anti-psychotic drugs, and even short-term use carries some risk. • ADHD drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin can Anti-depressants can also cause brain injury. VWXQWJURZWKLQFKLOGUHQDQGSUHVHQWRWKHU Other effects can include memory damage and XQNQRZQGDQJHUVWREUDLQDQGSK\VLFDOGHYHORS- cognitive impairment. ment. Like any amphetamines, they can cause psychosis and heart problems, including sudden • Pharmaceutical company effectiveness and death. VDIHW\VWXGLHVDVZHOODV)'$UHJXODWLRQDUH H[WHQVLYHO\FRUUXSWHGDQGIUDXGLVZLGHVSUHDG • ADHD stimulants, sleeping aids, and benzodiaz- 7KHUHDUHIHZORQJWHUPVWXGLHVRUVWXGLHVRI epene tranquilizers are physically addictive like KRZGUXJVFRPELQHWRJHWKHU7KHUHDOH[WHQW street drugs, and benzodiazepenes are more of psychiatric drug dangers may never be ac- addictive than heroin.

19 Mental Health Risks Mental health risks are some of the least understood aspects of psychiatric medications, and can make drug decisions and the withdrawal process very complicated. Here are some things that your doctor may not have told you:

• Psychiatric drugs can make psychotic symptoms • Once you are on the drug, your personality and ZRUVHDQGLQFUHDVHWKHOLNHOLKRRGRIKDYLQJ critical thinking abilities may be very changed. It psychotic symptoms. Drugs can change PLJKWEHGLIÀFXOWWRSURSHUO\HYDOXDWHWKHGUXJ·V receptors for such neurotransmitters as usefulness. You may need to get off the drug, dopamine, making a person “supersensitive” EXWQRWUHDOL]HLWEHFDXVHRIKRZWKHGUXJLV WREHFRPLQJSV\FKRWLFDVZHOODVLQFUHDVLQJ affecting your thinking. sensitivity to emotions and experiences in • Psychiatric drugs can interrupt and impair JHQHUDO6RPHSHRSOHUHSRUWVRPHRIWKHLUÀUVW the mind’s natural ability to regulate and heal psychotic symptoms occurred after starting to emotional problems. Many people report take psychiatric drugs. KDYLQJWR´UHOHDUQµKRZWRFRSHZLWKGLIÀFXOW ‡0DQ\GUXJVQRZFDUU\ZDUQLQJVDERXWWKH HPRWLRQVZKHQWKH\FRPHRIISV\FKLDWULFGUXJV increased risk of suicide and violent behavior. ‡6RPHSHRSOHHYHQH[SHULHQFLQJWKHZRUVW • Many people experience negative personality depths of madness, say that by going through changes, including not feeling themselves, feeling their experiences rather than suppressing them, drugged, emotional blunting, diminished creativ- they emerge stronger and healthier in the end. LW\DQGUHGXFHGSV\FKLFVSLULWXDORSHQQHVV 6RPHWLPHV´JRLQJFUD]\µFDQEHWKHGRRUZD\ to personal transformation, and some people ‡3HRSOHZKRWDNHSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVHVSHFLDOO\ are thankful for even the most painful suffering anti-psychotics, are often more likely to become they have been through. Drugs can obscure this long-term and chronic mental patients. People in possible positive side. Artists, philosophers, poor countries that use less medication recover SRHWVZULWHUVDQGKHDOHUVRIWHQDWWULEXWH much faster than in rich countries that use a lot tremendous value to the insights gained from of medication. Many people recover faster and “negative” emotions and extreme states. GRPXFKEHWWHUZLWKRXWGUXJV 20 Other Drug Risks and Considerations Understanding the coming off drugs process means taking into account many different factors you may not have considered before:

‡:KLOHQRWSXEOLFL]HGZLGHO\E\DFXOWXUH • Taking psychiatric drugs can mean being seen dominated by pharmaceutical companies, as mentally ill in society and starting to see alternative treatments, talk therapy, and even the yourself in that role. The stigma, discrimina- placebo effect can often be more effective than tion, and prejudice can be devastating, and even SV\FKLDWULFGUXJVZLWKRXWWKHULVNV FUHDWHDVHOIIXOÀOOLQJSURSKHF\'LDJQRVWLFODEHOV FDQQRWEHVWULFNHQIURPWKHUHFRUGWKHZD\ ‡.HHSLQJXSZLWKWDNLQJSLOOVHYHU\GD\LVGLIÀFXOW FULPLQDOKLVWRULHVFDQ6WXGLHVVKRZWKDWWU\LQJ for anyone. Missing doses of psychiatric drugs to convince people that “mental illness is an FDQEHGDQJHURXVEHFDXVHRIWKHZLWKGUDZDO illness like any other” is a counterproductive effects, making you vulnerable if the drug is strategy that actually contributes to negative interrupted. attitudes. • Doctors typically see patients infrequently for ‡3V\FKLDWULFGUXJVFDQFRQYH\WKHIDOVHYLHZWKDW short visits, making it less likely to spot poten- “normal” experience is productive, happy, and tially serious adverse drug reactions. ZHOODGMXVWHGDOOWKHWLPHZLWKRXWPRRGVKLIWV ‡3HRSOHZLWKDPHQWDOGLVRUGHUGLDJQRVLVIUH- bad days or suffering. This encourages a false TXHQWO\KDYHGLIÀFXOW\JHWWLQJLQVXUDQFH VWDQGDUGRIZKDWLWLVWREHKXPDQ • Taking psychiatric drugs often means giving up • Taking psychiatric drugs can put a passive hope FRQWUROWRWKHMXGJPHQWVRIDGRFWRUZKRPD\ in a “magic bullet” cure rather than taking not make the best decisions for you. personal and community responsibility for action to change.

21 How Withdrawal Affects Your Brain and Body

$OOSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVZRUNE\FDXVLQJRUJDQLFEUDLQFKDQJHV7KLV LVZK\JRLQJRIIOHDGVWRZLWKGUDZDOHIIHFWV\RXUEUDLQJHWVXVHG WRKDYLQJWKHGUXJDQGKDVDKDUGWLPHDGMXVWLQJZKHQWKHGUXJ is removed. When you go off the drug, it takes your brain time to bring the activity of receptors and chemicals back to the original VWDWHEHIRUHWKHGUXJZDVLQWURGXFHG:KLOHPHGLFDODXWKRULWLHV sometimes use confusing terms like “dependence,” “rebound,” and “discontinuation syndrome,” the psychiatric drug action that FDXVHVZLWKGUDZDOV\PSWRPVLVEDVLFDOO\WKHVDPHDVDGGLFWLRQ Tapering off slowly is usually bestLWDOORZV\RXUEUDLQWLPHWR EHFRPHDFFXVWRPHGWREHLQJZLWKRXWWKHGUXJV*RLQJRIIIDVW GRHVQRWXVXDOO\DOORZ\RXUEUDLQHQRXJKWLPHWRDGMXVWDQG\RX PD\H[SHULHQFHPXFKZRUVHZLWKGUDZDOV\PSWRPV

,PSRUWDQWWKHV\PSWRPVRISV\FKLDWULFGUXJ ZLWKGUDZDOFDQVRPHWLPHVORRNH[DFWO\OLNHWKH ´PHQWDOLOOQHVVµWKDWWKHPHGLFDWLRQVZHUH SUHVFULEHGIRULQWKHÀUVWSODFH

People can become “psychotic,” anxious, or any Psychiatric drugs are not like insulin for a diabetic: RWKHUSV\FKLDWULFV\PSWRPIURPGUXJZLWKGUDZDO they are a tool or coping mechanism. itself, not because of their psychiatric “disorder” or condition. Scientists used to believe that the brain could QRWJURZQHZFHOOVRUKHDOLWVHOIEXWWKLVLVQRZ When someone goes off a psychiatric drug they NQRZQWREHXQWUXH(YHU\RQHFDQKHDO$VWURQJ can have anxiety, mania, panic, depression and DQGKHDOWK\ERG\ZLWKJRRGOLIHVW\OHDQGSRVLWLYH other painful symptoms. These may be the same, RXWORRNZLOOKHOSVXSSRUWDQGQXUWXUH\RXU RUHYHQZRUVHWKDQZKDWJRWFDOOHGSV\FKRVLV brain and body to heal. When you have been on RUPHQWDOGLVRUGHUEHIRUHWKHGUXJZDVWDNHQ SV\FKGUXJVIRU\HDUVLWFDQKRZHYHUVRPHWLPHV Typically people are then told that this proves take years to successfully reduce or go off them. their illness has come back and they therefore Many people on these drugs, especially long-term need the drug. However, it may be the withdrawal neuroleptic anti-psychotics, develop brain injury effect from the drug that is causing these symptoms. and damage. This may not be permanent, but VRPHWLPHVSHRSOHOLYHWKHUHVWRIWKHLUOLYHVZLWK :LWKGUDZDOV\PSWRPVGRQRWQHFHVVDULO\SURYH WKHVHEUDLQFKDQJHVdelirium after stopping instead to reduce your medication or stay at the DOFRKROVKRZV\RXQHHGWRGULQNDOFRKRO,WMXVW VDPHGRVDJHDQGIRFXVRQRWKHUZD\VWRLPSURYH means your brain has become dependent on the your life. drug, and needs time to adjust to being off it. 2222 Why Do People Want to Stop Using Psychiatric Drugs? 3HRSOHDUHRIWHQWROGWKDWZKDWHYHUWKHQHJDWLYHVLGH HIIHFWVWDNLQJSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVLVDOZD\VEHWWHUWKDQ suffering from “untreated” mental disorders. Some doctors claim that mental disorders have a “kindling” effect, and that the earliest possible medication is DOZD\VEHVW7RGD\WKHVHYLHZVDUHEHLQJGLVFUHGLWHG 0DQ\SHRSOHZLWKHYHQWKHPRVWVHYHUHPHQWDO LOOQHVVGLDJQRVLVKDYHJRQHRQWRÀQGZD\VWRUHFRYHU ZLWKRXWSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVDQGWKH\UHSRUWWKHLUOLYHV DUHPXFKEHWWHUZLWKRXWWKHP0DQ\SHRSOHZKRJR LQWR´SV\FKRWLFµRUH[WUHPHHPRWLRQDOVWDWHVGHDOZLWK WKHPVXFFHVVIXOO\ZLWKRXWPHGLFDWLRQ'LYHUVHQRQ ZHVWHUQFXOWXUHVRIWHQUHVSRQGWRDQGXQGHUVWDQG these experiences differently, even sometimes seeing them as positive and spiritual.

It’s not an either-or choice between taking psychiatric drugs or doing nothing about your problems. There are many alternatives you can try. In fact, some of the problems that are called “mental disorders” might for some people actually turn out to be caused by the drugs they are taking.

 Harm Reduction and Staying on Psychiatric Drugs

• /HDUQZKDW\RXFDQIURPDYDULHW\RIVRXUFHVDERXWWKHDGYHUVHHIIHFWVRI\RXU medications. Use nutrition, herbs and supplements to reduce these effects.

• &RQVLGHUH[SHULPHQWLQJZLWKORZHULQJWKHGRVDJHRI\RXUGUXJHYHQLI\RXGRQ·W intend to go off it completely. Remember that even gradual dosage reduction can FDXVHZLWKGUDZDOHIIHFWV

• ,I\RXDUHVWDUWLQJDPHGLFDWLRQIRUWKHÀUVWWLPHPDQ\SHRSOHUHSRUWWKDWDQ H[WUHPHO\VPDOOGRVHPXFKORZHUWKDQUHFRPPHQGHGFDQVRPHWLPHVEHHIIHFWLYH ZLWKIHZHUULVNV

• Try to reduce the number of different medications you take to those you feel are UHDOO\HVVHQWLDOXQGHUVWDQGLQJZKLFKRQHVFDUU\WKHJUHDWHVWULVNVDQGVWLFNLQJWR WHPSRUDU\XVHZKHQ\RXFDQ

• Take an active interest in your overall health, alternative treatments, and holistic ZHOOQHVVDSSURDFKHVLQFOXGLQJWKRVHGLVFXVVHGLQWKLVJXLGH)LQGLQJQHZVRXUFHVRI VHOIFDUHPLJKWUHGXFH\RXUQHHGIRUPHGLFDWLRQDQGDOORZ\RXWRORZHU\RXUGRVDJH

• 0DNHVXUH\RXKDYHWKHSUHVFULSWLRQVDQGUHÀOOV\RXQHHGEHFDXVHPLVVLQJGRVHVFDQ add stress to your body and brain.

• &DUHIXOO\IROORZ\RXUVFKHGXOHRIDQ\EORRGGUDZVOLYHUNLGQH\DQGRWKHUWHVWVWKDW monitor dosage and toxicity.

• *HWUHJXODUSK\VLFDOH[DPVDQGFRQVXOWDWLRQVZLWKKHDOWKFDUHSURYLGHUVHVSHFLDOO\ KROLVWLFSUDFWLWLRQHUVWRZDWFK\RXURYHUDOOKHDOWK

• ,I\RXDUHWDNLQJRWKHUPHGLFDWLRQVORRNRXWIRUDQ\SRVVLEOHLQWHUDFWLRQZLWK\RXU psychiatric drugs.

• %HZDUHPL[LQJSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVZLWKUHFUHDWLRQDOGUXJVRUDOFRKROZKLFKFDQ ZRUVHQDGYHUVHHIIHFWVDQGEHGDQJHURXV

• 'RQ·WMXVWUHO\RQ\RXUGRFWRUIRUJXLGDQFH&RQQHFWZLWKRWKHUSHRSOHWDNLQJWKH same medications you do; the internet, local support and discussion groups can help.

24 I Want to Come Off My Psychiatric Drugs, But My Doctor Won’t Let Me. What Should I Do? 0DQ\GRFWRUVKDYHDFRQWUROOLQJDWWLWXGHWRZDUGVSDWLHQWVDQGZLOO not be supportive of a decision to reduce or go off psychiatric drugs. They may hold the fear of hospitalization and suicide over patients as a danger. Some see themselves as custodians and feel OLNHZKDWHYHUKDSSHQVWR\RXLVWKHLUUHVSRQVLELOLW\,I\RXUGRFWRU doesn’t support your goals, ask them to explain their reasons in GHWDLO&RQVLGHUZKDWWKH\KDYHWRVD\FDUHIXOO\²\RXPD\ZDQW to reevaluate your plan or put it off if the doctor is making sense.

The UK charity MIND, in their study on coming off psychiatric drugs, found that ´3HRSOHZKRFDPHRIIWKHLUGUXJVDJDLQVW WKHLUGRFWRU·VDGYLFHZHUHDVOLNHO\WRVXFFHHGDVWKRVH ZKRVHGRFWRUVDJUHHGWKH\VKRXOGFRPHRIIµ As a result RIWKLVÀQGLQJ0,1'FKDQJHGLWVRIÀFLDOSROLF\DQGQRORQJHU recommends that people attempt to go off psychiatric drugs only ZLWKWKHLUGRFWRU·VDSSURYDO

25 Before You Start Coming Off

Everyone is different, and there is no cookie-cutter RUVWDQGDUGZD\WRZLWKGUDZIURPDQ\SV\FKLDWULF drug.

7KHIROORZLQJLVDJHQHUDOVWHSE\VWHSDSSURDFK that many people have found helpful. It is intended to be shaped and changed to suit your needs. %HREVHUYDQWIROORZZKDW\RXUERG\DQGKHDUW DUHVD\LQJDQGORRNWRWKHDGYLFHRISHRSOHZKR FDUHDERXW\RX)LQDOO\NHHSDUHFRUGRIKRZ\RX UHGXFHG\RXUPHGLFDWLRQVDQGZKDWKDSSHQHG so that you can study the changes you are going through and others can learn from your experi- ence. Get Information About Your Drugs and Withdrawal

Prepare yourself by learning all that you can about ZLWKGUDZLQJIURP\RXUSV\FKLDWULFGUXJ0HHWDQG GLVFXVVJRLQJRIIZLWKSHRSOHZKRKDYHVXFFHHGHG Read about your drugs from mainstream, holistic, • Do you have stability in your housing, and a and alternative sources. Additional resources are UHJXODUVFKHGXOH":RXOGLWEHEHWWHUWRIRFXVRQ listed at the end of this guide. WKHVHÀUVW"

Timing • Are there big problems or issues that need DWWHQWLRQ\RXKDYHEHHQSXWWLQJRII"$UHWKHUH :KHQLVDJRRGWLPHWRVWDUWFRPLQJRII":KHQLV WKLQJVWKDWDUHZRUU\LQJ\RXWKDW\RXVKRXOG DEDGWLPH" SULRULWL]H"6HWWOLQJRWKHUPDWWHUVPLJKWKHOS\RX feel more in control. ,I\RXZDQWWRUHGXFHRUJRRIIPHGLFDWLRQWLPLQJ LVYHU\LPSRUWDQW,WLVXVXDOO\EHWWHUWRZDLWXQWLO • 'LG\RXMXVWFRPHRXWRIDKRVSLWDORUZHUH\RX \RXKDYHZKDW\RXQHHGLQSODFHLQVWHDGRIWU\LQJ UHFHQWO\LQDFULVLV",VWKLVDEDGWLPHWREHJLQ to come off unprepared, though sometimes the ZLWKGUDZDORULVWKHGUXJSDUWRIWKHSUREOHP" GUXJVWKHPVHOYHVPDNHWKLVGLIÀFXOW5HPHPEHU coming off may be a long-term process, so you • $UH\RXQRWLFLQJZRUVHQLQJRIGUXJHIIHFWVRU PD\ZDQWWRSUHSDUHMXVWOLNH\RXZHUHPDNLQJ have you been on the drugs for a long time DQ\PDMRUOLIHFKDQJH&RPLQJRIIGUXJVZLOOOLNHO\ DQGIHHO´VWXFNµ"7KHVHPLJKWEHJRRGWLPHVWR QRWEHDVROXWLRQLQLWVHOIEXWWKHEHJLQQLQJRIQHZ prepare to come off. learning and challenges.  FRQWDFWDQGKRZWRKHOSDVZHOODVWUHDWPHQW Plan Support and medication preferences. Hospitals and pro- fessionals may look to your advance directive for • *HWKHOSLI\RXFDQ:RUNLQJZLWKDGRFWRURU guidance, and eventually they may be legally en- KHDOWKFDUHSUDFWLWLRQHUZKRLVRQ\RXUVLGH IRUFHDEOHOLNHDOLYLQJZLOO

27 Attitude Believe that you can improve your life. With the it is okay to have negative feelings sometimes: such ULJKWDWWLWXGH\RXZLOOEHDEOHWRPDNHVRPH feelings may be part of the richness and depth of SRVLWLYHFKDQJHVZKHWKHULWLVFRPLQJRIIUHGXFLQJ ZKR\RXDUH7DONZLWKRWKHUVDERXWZKDW\RXDUH \RXUPHGLFDWLRQVRULQFUHDVLQJ\RXUZHOOEHLQJ JRLQJWKURXJKWU\WRVWD\FRQQHFWHGZLWKVHQVD- Many people, even if they’ve been on high doses tions in your body, and gradually build up your of psychiatric drugs for decades, have gotten off, VNLOOV$OHUWSHRSOHFORVHWR\RXKRZWKH\FDQKHOS and others have reduced drugs or improved the TXDOLW\RIWKHLUOLYHVLQRWKHUZD\V%HOLHYHLQ\RXU Plan Alternative Coping ability to take greater control of your health and Strategies ZHOOEHLQJ0DNHVXUHSHRSOHDURXQG\RXEHOLHYHLQ your ability to make change. ,W·VQRWDOZD\VSRVVLEOHEXWLI\RXFDQFUHDWHDOWHU- natives before you start reducing. You have been 5HPHPEHUWKDWMXVWORZHULQJ\RXUGRVDJHFDQEHD UHO\LQJRQWKHGUXJWRFRSHDQG\RXPD\QHHGQHZ ELJVWHSDQGPLJKWEHHQRXJKZKDWLVLPSRUWDQWLV coping mechanisms. There are many alternatives, that you believe in your ability to improve your life such as nutrition, holistic health, exercise, support by taking charge of your medication choices. groups, therapy, spirituality and being in nature. (YHU\RQHLVGLIIHUHQWVRLWZLOOWDNHVRPHWLPHWR GLVFRYHUWKH´SHUVRQDOPHGLFLQHµWKDWZRUNVIRU Prepare to Feel Strong Emotions \RX

Working With Fear 0DQ\SHRSOHZKRKDYHFRPHRIISV\FKLDWULFGUXJVUHSRUWWKDWIHDULVWKHJUHDWHVWREVWDFOHWR EHJLQQLQJWKHSURFHVV

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The future doesn’t necessarily have to be the same as the past: don’t let a label of “disorder” or a dire prediction from a doctor convince you recovery is impossible.

28 What are the Alternatives to Intermittent Use: Using Psychiatric Drugs? Taking Drugs From Time To Time ‡)ULHQGVKLSVZLWKSHRSOHZKREHOLHYHLQ\RXU FDSDFLW\WRWDNHFKDUJHRI\RXUZHOOQHVVFDQEH Some drugs take time to build up to FUXFLDO,GHDOO\WKHVHVKRXOGEHSHRSOHZKRKDYH effectiveness in the body, but others seen you on your “bad days,” are there for you ²HVSHFLDOO\WRKHOSZLWKVOHHSDQG ZKHQ\RX·UHLQWURXEOHDQGDUHSUHSDUHGIRUGLI- HSLVRGHVRIDQ[LHW\²ZRUNULJKWDZD\,W ÀFXOWLHVWKDWFDQFRPHIURPZLWKGUDZDO$WWKH PLJKWEHZLVHWRRFFDVLRQDOO\XVHWKHP VDPHWLPHWKH\VKRXOGEHIULHQGVZKRNQRZWKH to get rest, prevent crisis, or protect you OLPLWVRIZKDWWKH\FDQRIIHUDQGNQRZKRZWR IURPRYHUZKHOPLQJHPRWLRQDOH[WUHPHV say “no” to protect themselves from burnout. :KLOHPDQ\SHRSOHZKRJRRIIGUXJV do go back on them after some time, • Consider going off recreational drugs and WKHUHLVKRZHYHUYHU\OLWWOHUHVHDUFKRQ DOFRKRO0DQ\SHRSOHZKRJRWKURXJKH[WUHPH the possible risks of going off and then HPRWLRQDOGLVWUHVVDQGHQGXSZLWKSV\FKLDWULF back on neuroleptics, lithium, or anti- labels are much more sensitive than others, so convulsant medications. ZKDWDIIHFWV\RXUIULHQGVRQHZD\PD\DIIHFW\RX more strongly. Abstaining from drugs and alcohol FDQGUDPDWLFDOO\LPSURYH\RXUPHQWDOZHOOEHLQJ consider taking proven supplements that nourish Even milder drugs like marijuana and caffeine the brain and help the body’s ability to detoxify, can undermine health, stability, and sleep for VXFKDVYLWDPLQ&ÀVKRLOHVVHQWLDOIDWW\DFLGV VRPHSHRSOH6XJDU LQFOXGLQJVZHHWMXLFHV DQG and b-vitamins. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and FKRFRODWHFDQDOVRDIIHFWPRRGDQGZHOOEHLQJ YHJHWDEOHVDQGEHZDUHRIMXQNIRRG6RPH Some people even have reactions to blood sugar SHRSOHDUHVHQVLWLYHWRDUWLÀFLDOVZHHWHQHUVOLNH levels or caffeine that get mistaken for psychosis aspartame or saccharin, and to preservatives or mental disorders. and other chemicals in processed foods. If you take herbs or medical drugs for physical illness, ‡5HVW'RZKDW\RXFDQWRHQVXUHDKHDOWK\VOHHS FRQVXOWZLWKDQKHUEDOLVWDERXWLQWHUDFWLRQV routine, and discover tools to help you sleep. especially if you are pregnant or nursing Medical sleep prescriptions, such as short-term psychiatric drugs like benzodiazepenes, might ‡'ULQNSOHQW\RIIUHVKZDWHU QRWKLQJDGGHG  EHJRRGDVDEDFNXSEXWVWDUWÀUVWZLWKKHUEV WKURXJKRXWWKHGD\ZDWHULVFUXFLDOWR\RXU like valerian and skullcap or homeopathics. If body’s ability to detoxify. It is recommended you you have trouble sleeping, consider eliminating GULQN\RXUERG\ZHLJKWLQRXQFHVSHUGD\ caffeine such as coffee and sodas. Caffeine can PLQLPXP LHVRPHRQHZHLJKLQJOEVQHHGV disrupt your sleep and make the sleep you do WRGULQNR]RIZDWHUHYHU\GD\ (DFKJODVV get not as restful. Remember that even if you get RIZLQHDOFRKROLFGULQNFRIIHHEODFNWHDRUVRIW plenty of hours of sleep, staying up late means drink you drink dehydrates you, and needs to be the sleep might not be as good; if you don’t feel UHSODFHGZLWKDQHTXDODPRXQWRIZDWHU,I\RXU rested, try to get to sleep before 11pm. WDSZDWHULVQRWJRRGTXDOLW\FRQVLGHUDÀOWHU ,I\RXDUHRYHUKHDWHGRUVZHDWLQJRUEHFRPH • Nutrition can play a huge role in mental stability dehydrated, make sure to replenish sodium, sugar, DQGRYHUDOOKHDOWK([SORUHZKDWIRRGV\RX and potassium electrolytes. might be allergic to such as gluten and milk, and

29 • Chemical exposure and toxins in the environ- • A counselor, therapist, or support group can be ment can stress the body and cause physical and YHU\KHOSIXO$OORZ\RXUVHOIWLPHWRVHWWOHLQDV mental problems, sometimes very severe. If you DQHZFOLHQWRUSDUWLFLSDQWEHIRUHEHJLQQLQJD can, reduce your exposure to such pollutants medication reduction plan. such as furniture and carpet fumes, household ‡0DQ\SHRSOHÀQGDVSLULWXDOSUDFWLFHKHOSVWKHP FOHDQVHUVKDUVKQRLVHDQGÁXRUHVFHQWOLJKWV)RU endure hardship and suffering. Find a practice some people, going off psychiatric drugs might WKDWLVQRQMXGJPHQWDODQGDFFHSWV\RXIRUZKR make them even more sensitive to toxins for a you are. ZKLOH • Being in nature and around plants and animals • Take a careful look at other medications you are can be very helpful to calm you and give you a taking for physical diagnoses. Some, such as the bigger perspective on your situation. steroid Prednisone, can themselves cause anxiety, sleep disturbance, and psychosis. ‡$UWPXVLFFUDIWVDQGFUHDWLYLW\FDQEHDSRZHUIXO ZD\WRH[SUHVVZKDWLVEH\RQGZRUGVDQGFUHDWH • Many holistic practitioners such as homeopaths, meaning out of your ordeal. Even a crayon sketch naturopaths, herbalists, and acupuncturists are LQDMRXUQDORUDVLPSOHFROODJHZLWKWKHWKHPH skilled in assisting people reduce psychiatric ´ZKDWGR,IHHOULJKWQRZµFDQEHYHU\SRZHUIXO GUXJVDQGFDQSURYLGHSRZHUIXOQRQWR[LFDOWHU- QDWLYHVWRKHOSZLWKDQ[LHW\DQGRWKHUV\PSWRPV ‡([HUFLVHVXFKDVZDONLQJVZLPPLQJELF\FOLQJ Find a recommendation from someone you trust. yoga, or sports can dramatically reduce anxiety Be prepared to make recommended lifestyle and stress. Exercise also helps the body to detox. changes such as diet and exercise and quitting ‡&RQVLGHURQOLQHVXSSRUWQHWZRUNVVXFKDV drugs and alcohol. Be persistent if money is an ZZZEHQ]RRUJXNDQGZZZWKHLFDUXVSURMHFWQHW obstacle: some providers have sliding scale or as an addition to, but if possible not replacement offer barter or other options. If you do take for, direct support. herbs, make sure to check for drug interactions if you are taking medical drugs.

 Coming Off: Reducing Drugs and Doses Safely The following are general considerations, and no one Step by Step SDWWHUQÀWVHYHU\RQH • 8VXDOO\LWLVEHVWWRJRVORZDQGWDSHURII gradually. Though some people are able to Identifying and Managing Withdrawal VXFFHVVIXOO\JRRIIDOODWRQFHZLWKGUDZLQJ Symptoms from psychiatric drugs abruptly can trigger GDQJHURXVZLWKGUDZDOHIIHFWVLQFOXGLQJVHL]XUHV 1RWDOOSDLQIXOV\PSWRPV\RXH[SHULHQFHZKHQ and psychosis. As a general principle, the longer FRPLQJRIIDUHSDUWRIWKHGUXJZLWKGUDZDOHIIHFW \RXZHUHRQWKHGUXJWKHORQJHU\RXVKRXOG You may be experiencing emotions and distress take going off of it. You may need to take as WKDWH[LVWHGSULRUWRWKHGUXJDQGZKLFKWKHGUXJ ORQJUHGXFLQJWKHGRVHDV\RXZHUHRQWKH KDVEHHQKHOSLQJWRVXSSUHVV7KHUHLVQRGHÀQLWLYH GUXJEHIRUH\RXVWDUWHGUHGXFLQJ7KLVZRUNV ZD\WRGLVWLQJXLVKWKHWZRWKRXJKPDQ\SHRSOH up to about 18-24 months. So if you’ve been on report that the quality of the anxiety or depression PRQWKVUHGXFHRYHUPRQWKV,I\RXZHUH LVGLIIHUHQWDQGWKH\FDQWHOOZKLFKLVWKHGUXJDQG on for 18 months reduce over 18 months. For ZKLFKLV´WKHPVHOYHVµ:LWKGUDZDOV\PSWRPVDV longer periods on drugs (e.g. 5 years or more), opposed to prior emotions, tend to be those that aim to reduce over 18-24 months. begin right after a dosage reduction, and change more quickly over time as the brain adjusts to not • 6WDUWZLWKRQHGUXJ&KRRVHWKHRQHWKDWLV KDYLQJWKHGUXJ:LWKGUDZDOV\PSWRPVDUHDOVR JLYLQJ\RXWKHZRUVWQHJDWLYHHIIHFWVWKHGUXJ much less like true emotions or states of con- you feel is the least necessary, or the one that is VFLRXVQHVVDQGVRPHWLPHVOHVVPDQDJHDEOHZLWK likely to be easiest to get off. emotional and psychological approaches. You need WRZDLWLWRXWDQGJLYH\RXUEUDLQWLPHWRDGMXVW • 6ZLWFKWRDQHTXLYDOHQWGRVHRIDGUXJZLWKD If the symptoms are unbearable or too disruptive, ORQJHUKDOIOLIH²PRUHJUDGXDOWLPHOHDYLQJ\RXU you may be going too fast. Consider increasing the system. See the section on half-lives and the dose GRVDJHDJDLQDQGWU\LQJPRUHVORZO\ comparison chart. Give yourself time, at least 2 ZHHNVWRDGMXVWWR\RXUQHZGUXJRUORQJHULI ,WLVSRVVLEOH\RXZLOOH[SHULHQFHORQJWHUPZLWK- WKHUHLVGLIÀFXOW\VZLWFKLQJ

 agitation, and other psychiatric symptoms. 6\PSWRPVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKDQWLGHSUHVVDQWVFDQ include severe agitation, “electrical jolts,” suicidality, self-harm such as cutting, and aggression. Often SHRSOHUHSRUWWKHZRUVWZLWKGUDZDOHIIHFWVDWWKH HQGRIWKHFRPLQJRIISURFHVVZKHQWKH\KDYH reduced their dosage to zero or nearly zero.

:LWKGUDZDOIURPOLWKLXPDQGDQWLVHL]XUH´PRRG stabilizer” drugs does not appear to act on QHXURWUDQVPLWWHUVEXWRQHOHFWULFDODQGEORRGÁRZ WRWKHEUDLQZKLFKFDQOHDGWRZLWKGUDZDOHIIHFWV VLPLODUWRRWKHUGUXJV6XGGHQZLWKGUDZDOIURP anti-convulsant or anti-seizure medications can trigger seizures.

$OORIWKHVHHIIHFWVPD\VXEVLGHLQDIHZGD\VRU ZHHNVVRLWLVLPSRUWDQWWREHDVSDWLHQWDV\RX can. Emotional adjustment and tension can last months or even a year or more, as you learn to GHDOZLWKIHHOLQJVDQGH[SHULHQFHVWKDWKDYHEHHQ suppressed by the drugs. )RUPDQ\SHRSOHWKH PRVWGLIÀFXOWSDUWLVDIWHU\RXDUHRIIWKHGUXJV your dosage. It appears that the longer you have DQGVWUXJJOLQJZLWK\RXUHPRWLRQVDQGH[SHUL- EHHQRQWKHPWKHPRUHOLNHO\\RXZLOOKDYHVLJQLÀ- HQFHVLQFOXGLQJORQJWHUPGHWR[LÀFDWLRQDQG FDQWZLWKGUDZDO7KHKHDOWKLHUDQGVWURQJHU\RXU KHDOLQJ body is, and the more coping tools you have, the PRUHOLNHO\\RXDUHWRWROHUDWHZLWKGUDZDOHIIHFWV Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is a very serious ZHOOEXWWKHFKHPLFDOFKDQJHVLQ\RXUEUDLQFDQEH FRQGLWLRQZKLFKVRPHSHRSOHKDYHGHYHORSHGRQ dramatic, and everyone is potentially vulnerable. GUXJZLWKGUDZDOEXWFDQDOVRRFFXUDVDVLGHHIIHFW Support your body’s natural healing ability, and keep of the drugs. It can be life-threatening and involves LQPLQGWKDWWLPHLVRQ\RXUVLGHLQDQ\GHWR[LÀFD- changes in consciousness, abnormal movements tion process. Preparation for possible problems, and fever. If you have been on neuroleptic anti-psy- LQFOXGLQJKRZWRGHDOZLWKFULVLVLVNH\ FKRWLFVDQGKDYHDQ\RIWKHVHV\PSWRPVZKHQ\RX reduce your dosage, it is important to seek medical 7KHPRVWFRPPRQZLWKGUDZDOHIIHFWVDUHDQ[LHW\ treatment immediately. If there is extreme agitation, and trouble sleeping. Other effects cover a YRPLWLQJPXVFOHWZLWFKLQJDQGSV\FKRWLFV\PSWRPV ZLGHUDQJHDQGFDQLQFOXGHEXWDUHQRWOLPLWHG WKDWSHUVLVWZKHQ\RXZLWKGUDZIURPQHXUROHSWLF to: feeling generally ill, panic attacks, racing anti-psychotics, you may be experiencing tardive WKRXJKWVREVHVVLRQVKHDGDFKHVÁXOLNHV\PSWRPV psychosis from the drugs. These symptoms usually GHSUHVVLRQGL]]LQHVVWUHPRUVGLIÀFXOW\EUHDWKLQJ GLPLQLVKZKHQWKHGRVHLVLQFUHDVHGDJDLQ2QFH memory problems, extreme emotions, involuntary \RXIHHOEHWWHUVWDUWDJDLQZLWKDPRUHJUDGXDO PRYHPHQWVPXVFOHVSDVPVDQGWZLWFKLQJ reduction. DQGQDXVHD:LWKGUDZDOFDQDOVRWULJJHUFULVLV personality changes, mania, psychosis, delusions,

 Special Children and Psychiatric Drugs More and more young adults and children, and even infants, are being given psychiatric diagnoses Considerations and put on psychiatric drugs. Most prescriptions are stimulants for ADHD, but also anti-psychotic QHXUROHSWLFVDQGRWKHUGUXJV7KLVLVDQHZWUHQG Drugs in Liquid Form, Half-Life, and WKDWUHÁHFWVDJJUHVVLYHPDUNHWLQJE\SKDUPDFHXWLFDO Custom Pharmacies companies. 6ZLWFKLQJWRWKHOLTXLGIRUPRIDGUXJJLYHV\RX No long term studies exist on the impact of JUHDWHUFRQWURORYHUUHGXFLQJWKHGRVDJHVORZO\ psychiatric drugs for children. Some prescribed ask your pharmacist. You can also go to a “custom drugs are not even approved for child use by SKDUPDF\µ IRXQGRQWKHLQWHUQHW WKDWZLOOPL[ the FDA. Only recently has psychiatry accepted \RXUGUXJLQWRGRVHVRI\RXUVSHFLÀFDWLRQV$SLOO GLDJQRVLQJFKLOGUHQZLWKPHQWDOLOOQHVVHVLQWKHSDVW cutter can also be useful. WKH\ZHUHFRQVLGHUHGVWLOOGHYHORSLQJZLWKFKDQJLQJ ´+DOIOLIHµPHDQVKRZDEUXSWO\WKHGUXJZDVKHVRXW personalities, and not subject to the same criteria RI\RXUV\VWHPZKHQ\RXVWRSWDNLQJLW6KRUWHU as adults. KDOIOLYHVPHDQVWKHGUXJZHDUVRIIIDVWHUEHFDXVH LWWDNHVOHVVWLPHWROHDYH\RXUERG\:LWKGUDZDO The exact extent of drug risks to children is HIIHFWVZLOOOLNHO\EHPRUHGLIÀFXOWRQGUXJVZLWK XQNQRZQDQGFRPSDQLHVKDYHQRWEHHQKRQHVW VKRUWHUKDOIOLYHVVR\RXPD\ZDQWWRVZLWFKGUXJV For example, it took years of pressure before RIHTXLYDOHQWGRVDJHZLWKORQJHUKDOIOLYHVEHIRUH anti-depressant packaging started carrying the reducing, so that you are on the same dosage ´EODFNER[µZDUQLQJWKDWWKH\FRXOGFDXVHVXLFLGH EXWRQDGUXJWKDWZLOOOHDYH\RXUV\VWHPPRUH RUZDUQLQJVRQ$'+'GUXJVWKDWWKH\FDQFDXVH JUDGXDOO\&RQVXOWWKHIROORZLQJOLVW IURP0,1'  addiction and psychosis. but make sure to get the advice of a doctor and pharmacist. Child behavioral problems are very real, and IDPLOLHVGRQHHGKHOSLQGHDOLQJZLWKWKHP Fluoxetine (Prozac) has a longer half-life and tends +RZHYHUWU\LQJWRVROYHWKHVHSUREOHPVZLWKGUXJV WREHHDVLHUWRZLWKGUDZIURP&KDQJHWRPJ raises serious issues. Unlike adults, children do not OLTXLGÁXR[HWLQHIURPSDUR[HWLQH 3D[LO6HUR[DW  have the legal right to refuse drugs if their parents 20 mg., venlafaxine (Efexor) 75 mg., citalopram tell them to take them. The brains and bodies of &HOH[D&LSUDPLO PJVHUWUDOLQH =RORIW/XVWUDO  children are still forming and are exceptionally 50 mg. YXOQHUDEOH&KLOGSHUVRQDOLWLHVDUHYHU\LQÁXHQFHG by their surroundings and the support they receive, Diazepam (Valium) has a longer half life and tends PDNLQJLWHYHQPRUHGLIÀFXOWWRDVVHVVWKHQDWXUHRI WREHHDVLHUWRZLWKGUDZIURP&KDQJHWRPJRI behavioral problems and the effectiveness of drug 'LD]HSDP9DOLXPIURPFKORUGLD]HSR[LGHPJ treatments. Children can also be more sensitive loprazolam 0.5-1.0 mg., lorazepam 500 mcg. (0.5 to factors such as diet, exercise, and chemical mg.), lormetazepam 0.5-1.0 mg., nitrazepam 5 mg., H[SRVXUH6RPHIDPLOLHVDUHXQGHUJURZLQJ oxazepam 15 mg., temazepam 10 mg. pressure to compete and perform at school, including getting the additional help and support that medication and a “special needs” status can provide.

 Confusing matters more is that sometimes “Insight” and Forced Drugging FKLOGUHQZLWKEHKDYLRUDOSUREOHPVJHWDWWHQWLRQ ²SXQLVKPHQWDQGVFROGLQJ²ZKHQWKH\GRWKH The mental health system sometimes forces people YHU\EHKDYLRUVWKHLUSDUHQWVZDQWWRFKDQJH7KLV WRWDNHSV\FKLDWULFGUXJVDJDLQVWWKHLUZLOOZLWKWKH can end up inadvertently reinforcing the behavior, MXVWLÀFDWLRQWKDWWKH\ODFNLQVLJKWDQGULVNKDUPLQJ DQGWKHFKLOGEHFRPHVWKH´LGHQWLÀHGSDWLHQWµRI themselves, harming others, can’t take care of the family system. themselves, or are incompetent. In practice, the GHÀQLWLRQRIZRUGVOLNH´LQVLJKWµDQG´ULVNWRKDUP Because of their youth, the relative short time to self or others” is very blurry and subjective. they are usually on drugs, their physical resilience It can depend on the doctor you get, the facility DQGWKHZD\WKHLUOLYHVDUHVXSHUYLVHGFKLOGUHQ \RXDUHLQRUHYHQZKDW\RXUSDUHQWVWKLQNLV are often very suited for reducing and going off best, rather than any objective standard. Being in psychiatric drugs. Creating alternatives to help FRQÁLFWRUDFWLQJLQZD\VRWKHUVGRQ·WNQRZKRZ these children often means addressing the needs to control, can lead to forced drugging, and force is of parents and changing the circumstances the RIWHQDFRQYHQLHQFHIRURYHUZRUNHGVWDIIXQWUDLQHG children are living in. While many pressures on KRZWRKHOSLQRWKHUZD\V6RPHWLPHVSHRSOHDUH families are economic and circumstantial, parenting forced onto drugs just for yelling, or for cutting skills classes and family therapy have proven ZKLFKLVXVXDOO\QRWDVXLFLGHDWWHPSW %LRORJLFDO effective and helpful, as are many other alternatives theories that say people “need their medication” including diet, exercise, sleep, and being in nature. are used to support forced drugging, and in many

 court settings, “lacking insight” amounts to dis- DJUHHLQJZLWKDSV\FKLDWULVWZKRWKLQNV\RXDUHVLFN and should be medicated.

The legacy of psychiatric treatment is violent and abusive. Today, thanks to patients’ rights activism DQGWKHSV\FKLDWULFVXUYLYRUPRYHPHQWODZVRIWHQ do recognize the harm that can be done by forced drugging, and there are protections that mandate the least intrusive, and least harmful, treatments be XVHG7KHVHSURWHFWLRQVKRZHYHUDUHUDUHO\IXOO\ IROORZHG

Forcing people to take drugs and go into treatment often traumatizes them and makes the situation ZRUVHDQGLWYLRODWHVWKHPRVWEDVLFKXPDQ ULJKWVWKHULJKWWRWKHLQWHJULW\RI\RXURZQPLQG consciousness, and sense of self. Drugging and This does not mean people don’t need help, but ORFNLQJVRPHRQHXSEHFDXVHRI´ULVNµLQVRPHZD\V KHOSVKRXOGEHEDVHGRQZKDWWKHSHUVRQGHÀQHV amounts to punishing them because authorities KHOSWREHQRWZKDWRWKHUVGHÀQHIRUWKHP)URP EHOLHYHDFULPHZLOOEHFRPPLWWHGLQWKHIXWXUH the outside, cutting, suicidal thoughts, or recreation- While some people can feel helped by a forced al drug use might seem like the most important hospitalization or drugging, the dangers of abuse issue, but the person themselves may decide they and the infringements of rights are too great, espe- QHHGKHOSZLWKKRXVLQJDQDEXVLYHER\IULHQGRU FLDOO\ZKHQDOWHUQDWLYHYROXQWDU\DSSURDFKHVFDQEH access to health care. This means a mental health tried but aren’t. system based on voluntary services, compassion, and patience, not force, control, and paternalism. It Sometimes other people seem to “lack insight” or also means communities taking more responsibility EHXQDEOHWRDFNQRZOHGJHWKHLUSUREOHPVEXWWKLV to care for each other. is one person’s opinion about someone else, and QRWJURXQGVWRODEHORWKHUVZLWKDPHGLFDOGLVRUGHU If people have a hard time communicating, they and deny them basic rights. Spiritual states of QHHGVXSSRUWLYHKHOSHUDGYRFDWHVZKRFDQWU\WR FRQVFLRXVQHVVQRQFRQIRUPLVWEHOLHIVFRQÁLFWVZLWK EULGJHWKHJDSEHWZHHQPDGQHVVDQG´RUGLQDU\µ abusive family members, or trauma reactions might reality. Because forced drugging often takes place be considered “lacking insight,” but they deserve to ZLWKWKHFODLPWKDWLWLVLQWKHSDWLHQW·VEHVWLQWHUHVW be listened to, not made into illnesses. Even people many advocates are suggesting people use “advance ZKRDUHWUXO\LQWURXEOHDQGPDNLQJEDGFKRLFHV GLUHFWLYHVµWRVWDWHEHIRUHDFULVLVZKDWWKH\ZDQW VKDUHHYHU\RQH·VULJKWWROHDUQIURPWKHLURZQ DQGGRQ·WZDQW$GYDQFHGLUHFWLYHVDUHNLQGRIOLNH PLVWDNHVDQGZKDWRWKHUVPLJKWFRQVLGHU´VHOIGH- DOLYLQJZLOOIRUFULVLVZKHUH\RXJLYHLQVWUXFWLRQV VWUXFWLYHEHKDYLRUµPD\EHWKHEHVWZD\VRPHRQH RQZKDWWRGRZKRWRFRQWDFWDQGWUHDWPHQW NQRZVKRZWRFRSHJLYHQRWKHUWKLQJVWKH\DUH preferences, including leaving you alone, in case you VWUXJJOLQJZLWK)RUFHGWUHDWPHQWPD\EHPRUH are in crisis and having a hard time communicating. damaging than their “self-destructive” behavior. $GYDQFHGLUHFWLYHVDUHQRWOHJDOO\ELQGLQJ ZKLFK may change through movement advocacy), but do VRPHWLPHVFDUU\ZHLJKWLQKRZSHRSOHDUHWUHDWHG

 Lawsuits If you have taken a psychiatric drug and experienced DQ\QHJDWLYHHIIHFWVLQFOXGLQJGLIÀFXOW\ZLWKGUDZLQJ \RXPD\EHHOLJLEOHWRÀOHVXLWDJDLQVWWKHGUXJ manufacturer if they acted improperly. This is HVSHFLDOO\WUXHDERXWQHZHUGUXJV2YHUWKH\HDUV thousands of people on psychiatric drugs have received settlements totaling more than a billion GROODUV&RQWDFWDUHSXWDEOHODZ\HUDQGEHVXUHWR get a second opinion.

Future Drugs 3KDUPDFHXWLFDOFRPSDQLHVSODQWRLQWURGXFHDZLGH UDQJHRIQHZGUXJVLQWKHIXWXUH0DQ\RIWKHVH GUXJVZLOOEHPDUNHWHGDVLPSURYHPHQWVRYHUSDVW drugs.

The industry’s record should make us skeptical about these innovations. Repeatedly drugs are brought WRPDUNHWDV´QHZDQGLPSURYHGµ7KHQVHULRXV problems and toxic effects are revealed, corruption LVH[SRVHGDQGODZVXLWVDUHÀOHG7KHQWKHQH[WF\FOH EHJLQVZLWK´QHZDQGLPSURYHGµGUXJVLQWURGXFHG once again.

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Evelyn Pringle ZZZRSHGQHZVFRPDXWKRUDXWKRUKWPO  Health Professional Advisors :KLOHQRWFRDXWKRUVWKHIROORZLQJKHDOWKFDUHSURIHVVLRQDOV DUHH[SHULHQFHGZLWKKHOSLQJSHRSOHFRPHRIISV\FKLDWULF GUXJV7KH\UHYLHZHGWKLVJXLGHIRULWVXVHIXOQHVVDQGZH thank them for their involvement:

$OH[DQGHU%LQJKDP3V\' -RDQQD0RQFULHII0' Full Spectrum University College London author, The Myth of the Chemical Cure: A 3DWULFN%UDFNHQ0' Critique of Psychiatric Drug Treatment University of Central Lancashire co-author, Post-Psychiatry, Mental Health in a 0DWWKHZ0RUULVVH\0$ Postmodern World Full Spectrum

'DYLG&RKHQ3K' &DWKHULQH3HQQH\51 co-author, Your Drug May Be Your Problem Dante’s Cure: A Journey Out of Madness

'DQLHO)LVKHU0' 0D[LQH5DGFOLIIH51 1DWLRQDO(PSRZHUPHQW&HQWHU Action Medics

3HWHU/HKPDQQ -XGLWK6FKUHLEHU/&6: Editor, Coming off Psychiatric Drugs: Soteria Associates Successful Withdrawal from Neuroleptics, Antidepressants, Lithium, Carbamazepine and &ODXGLD6SHUEHU Tranquilizers Licensed Acupuncturist

%UXFH/HYLQH3K' 3HWHU6WDVWQ\0' author, Surviving America’s Depression ,QWHUQDWLRQDO1HWZRUN7RZDUGV Epidemic: How to Find Morale, Energy, and Alternatives for Recovery Community in a World Gone Crazy 3KLOLS7KRPDV0' %UDGOH\/HZLV0' University of Bradford 1HZ

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