An excerpt:

Of all the research that has been done in the past 20 years on psychotic disorders, Martin Harrow’s ongoing study of long-term outcomes in such patients is, in my opinion, the most important work. He and his colleagues have now published their 20-year results. Given the 15-year outcomes data he published in 2007, his latest findings should not be surprising. The schizophrenia and schizoaffective patients who took antipsychotics regularly during the 20 years, compared to those who quit taking the medications usually within the first two years, experienced more psychosis, more anxiety, and markedly fewer periods of “sustained recovery.”� They were also more cognitively impaired.The same dramatic difference in outcomes was seen in patients diagnosed with a mood disorder with psychotic features: �those who stayed on antipsychotics fared markedly worse over the long-term.The psychiatric establishment mostly ignored Harrow’s 2007 report, or tried to explain away his findings. But with the publication of the 20-year results, I think the time has come for psychiatry—and our society—to take a close look at his research, and to try to honestly assess what is going on. A full-bodied inquiry is essential for another reason too: We are now prescribing antipsychotics to an ever larger number of children, and to many non-psychotic adults as well, and if antipsychotics are worsening the long-term outcomes of people with a psychotic disorder, which is the obvious concern raised by Harrow’s findings, then we really need to rethink the use of these medications in those other populations.Here is a review of the study’s design, and the findings from the two papers.

Read the studies and outcomes here:  Interpreting Harrow’s 20-Year Results: Are the Drugs to Blame? | Mad In America.

via Interpreting Harrow’s 20-Year Results: Are the Drugs to Blame? | Mad In America.

The FDA gets to decide that potatoe chips can be marketed as health food, that Pizza is a vegetable and walnuts, cherries and other natural forms of unaltered food – are drugs?

Lions and tigers and bears…

Oh my…

Read here: Tell The FDA That Cherries—And Now Walnuts—Are NOT Illegal Drugs! | Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health – USA.

via Tell The FDA That Cherries—And Now Walnuts—Are NOT Illegal Drugs! | Welcome to the Alliance for Natural Health – USA.

Another great topic and post….The Empathic Civilisation: the human family – Beyond Meds.

via The Empathic Civilisation: the human family – Beyond Meds.

Antidepressants Useless: FOIA Request Gets Data That Proves It | Gaia Health.

So now – please understand that when you feel worse if you try to go off these drugs is not because you are one of the unfortunates who really is “mentally ill” but that your body is physically addicted and now you must go through withdrawals.

Truth sets us free but sometimes it hurts.

Yes; we have been bamboozled.

Please share far and wide…via Antidepressants Useless: FOIA Request Gets Data That Proves It | Gaia Health.

UPDATE: please note that just because the FDA has the information that does not mean they will act on it or change anything. As in all things it is up to individuals to come to their own conclusions and create their own proactive plan to incorporate these changes. For more info please drop by one of my other resource Blogs and let me know if you have questions or need resources: www.proactiveplanning.org

via The best therapy for mental illness… – Beyond Meds.

As one who has exerienced the pain of abrupt, forced withdrawal induced by an very unethical and uniformed physician (following 15 years of being chemically altered/drugged and believing that everything from my heart health to my head health was “genetic” and that I needed a pill if not for a cure then for prevention).…that resulted in some very nasty physical outcomes, I don’t often talk about the physical pain that I live with yet I think it is important for readers to have the knowledge that I am living with the same or similar life issues as you are.

Its not that I’m so special or that I’m one of the lucky ones. I’ve simply learned how to live beyond the physical, cognitive (thoughts) and emotional distress that once ruled my world.

Connecting with all of “me” was the beginning of learning to live beyond the injuries caused by others that I cannot control or change. Understanding that in mindless living I was and felt powerless over my emotional, cognitive and physical distress.

It has been through making a conscious choice to no longer live in avoidance that I found awareness and acceptance that allow me to see that regardless of my past – my future is determined how I let my past affect me today.

Today…wisdom from another who travels this path….thank you Gianna for sharing the journey….at Gianna’s blog today…Pain and suffering – Beyond Meds.

via Learning to Live Well While Suffering.

Peter Lehmanns website where you can purchase his books: http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/

You can watch the related video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qxNqgthCsM&feature=player_embedded#!

The pdf file of this paper is here: http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/articles/lehmann/pdf/warningsigns.pdf

The paper follows here…

By Peter Lehmann

34

Note about liability: I do not provide medical advice. Although this is the first paper to summarize early warning sings of chronic or lethal diseases due to the administration of neuroleptics, it is not intended as a substitute for pro- fessional help. Should you have any health care-related question, please call or see your physician or other health care provider promptly. I am not respon- sible if you decide against this advice. Nor am I responsible for any damage you may experience from a medical or psychiatric treatment.

Peter Lehmann

____________________________________________________________

November 27, 2011

Peter Lehmann

Early warning sings of chronic or lethal diseases due to the administration of neuroleptics

What if you want to withdraw from neuroleptic drugs and do not know how to proceed? What if you want to prevent the increased risk of conditions such as apoptosis1, priapism2, vaginism3, circulatory collapse, pneumonia, or sud- den cardiac death, which might result from the administration of neuroleptics and be from some interest especially for psychiatric patients, whose life ex- pectancy is shortened by more than two to three decades compared with the general population? What if doctors do not do preventative or on-going check-ups (such as blood count, lipid profile4, liver values, EKG, examinati-

1 Atrophy of the brain cells and decomposition of the DNA 2 Pathological,painfulandprolongedstiffeningofthepenis,whichmayrequireurologi-

cal surgery and create impotence 3 Pathological, painful and prolonged vaginal spasms 4 Alipidprofileistheoutlinedresultofbloodfats(cholesterinesandtriglycerides)toes-

timate the risk of development of vascular diseases (especially the coronary and cere- bral vessels) and the danger that plaques (parietal deposits) from altered cholesterine- and lipid drops can generate in the arteries, so that the vessels get less elastic and nar- row, which reduces the blood flow and may lead to high blood pressure, overweight and diabetes.Peter Lehmann: Early warning sings of chronic or lethal diseases 35

on of the ocular fundus (eyeground), EEG, and tongue protrusion test1) and do not check if you have health preconditions that preclude the administrati- on of neuroleptics? And what if you experience the early warning signs and precursors of emerging dangerous “side”-effects of psychiatric drugs seri- ously and want to withdraw, whether you are a doctor or a person taking the drugs?

Based on experience, there are early warning signs that may suggest poten- tially irreversible or even lethal damages and may suggest reducing the dos- age of the neuroleptics or withdrawing them at once or gradually: • Lossofenergyandlackofinterestintalkingandsocialcontact:precursors

of a possible chronic deficit-syndrome (neuroleptic apathy syndrome /

“broken wing”-syndrome2 • Parkinsonism3, apathy, lack of willpower and depressed mood: possible

precursors of suicidality • Feelingsofweakness,fatigue,lossofenergy,indifference,temporarynau-

sea, movement disorders like tremor and muscular rigidity as precursors of states of confusion, which begin with inner restlessness, agitation, feeling driven and anxiousness and end in states of delirium4 which might turn le- thal in individual cases

1 Test to check the ability to maintain tongue protrusion; abnormal movements inside or around the mouth suggest that abnormal tongue movements may prove a more helpful sign for early detection of tardive dyskinesia (Simpson et al., 1984, p. 98).

2 Persistent listlessness and reduced will power, spontaneity, grant to the surroundings and emotional impulses

3 Symptom complex of shaking palsy, mainly hypokinesia up to akinesia, tremor and muscle stiffness as well as increased salivation

4 Alongwithreducedcerebralperfusionandoxygenuptakeofthebrainwithsubsequent syndromes like the inability to fall or stay asleep, persistent sleeplessness, physical in- firmity and massive fatigue, persistent Korsakoff syndromes (a profound loss of the abi- lity to hold something in the mind and hence the completion of memory gaps by compo- sitions, memory disturbances up to memory loss and a brain-organic psychosyndrome [possible condition after leucotomy or administration of neuroleptics, characterized both by disinhibition and being aimless on the go as well as, more frequently, by exten- sive loss of energy, fussiness, emotional and intellectual retrogression, poverty of thoughts, affective flattening, euphorically toned weakness of criticism, tactlessness,

36

• Increased prolactin level1 as a possible precursor of neoplasm in the mam- mary glands which can develop into breast cancer

• Fatigue, sugar excretion in the urine, increased amount of urine, dry mouth, increased thirst along with inappetence, impotence, menstrual dis- orders, reduced resistance against infections, fatty liver, cirrhosis of the liver and sight disorders: signs of reduced glucose tolerance (pathological alterations of blood sugar balance, especially increased blood sugar lev- els), which might result in chronic diabetes2

• Increased hip size and body mass index: precursors of possible chronic obesity, along with increased mortality.

• Temperatureriseconnectedwithneurologicalsymptoms:possibleprecur- sors of malignant hyperthermia3

• Increase of noticeable muscular problems (characterized by disorders of muscle tension and movement), polypnea (enhanced respiratory rate, con- nected with reduced oxygen supply), tachycardia, increased salivation, in- creased sweating, impaired consciousness and light fever, general lability of the autonomic nervous system, muscle stiffness and other noticeable muscular problems: possible precursors of neuroleptic malignant syn- drome4

• Stress-inducedcardiacinsufficiencyasariskfactorfor—incaseofneuro- leptics three times increased—massive and life-threatening heart compli- cations of all kinds.

and egocentrity]) 1 Prolactin is a hormone which mainly increases growth of the breasts during pregnancy

and lactation. In men and women it also affects the regulation of sex hormones in the

hypothalamus and in the pituitary gland. 2 Alongwithdamagetothevessels,eyesandnerves,especiallythenervesofinnerorgans 3 Disorder of the regulation of the body temperature with life-threatening fever, which

may result in heatstroke with circulatory failure and irreversible central-nervous dama-

ges 4 Life-threatening symptom complex of fever, muscle stiffness and clouding of con-

sciousness

Peter Lehmann: Early warning sings of chronic or lethal diseases 37

• Overweight, disorders of fat metabolism, high blood pressure and insulin resistance as the underlying causes of the metabolic syndrome1, which is associated with a high risk of massive vascular diseases and in this combi- nation exceptionally dangerous and may trigger a myocardial infarction or apoplectic stroke

• Dry mouth, gingivitis and reduced oral hygiene: possible precursors of caries and parodontopathies (inflammation of the gums and periodontium [tissues that both surround and support the teeth] with loss of teeth)

• Increased liver values and fatty liver are possible precursors to chronic jaundice and persistent liver cell damages. If untreated or if one continues to take drugs toxic to the liver, one may develop hepatic fibrosis (alteration of liver cells in connective tissue) and eventually irreversible cirrhosis of the liver with massive complications including liver failure2.

• Delayed wound healing, angina, “flu without flu” (unexplainable malaise in connection with unclear symptoms in the autonomic nervous system), symptoms like fever, shivering attack, inflammation of the tongue, oral mucosa, gums, neck, pharynx and ears, sore throats, sweating, weakness, infirmity, rash, joint pain, ulcers in the anal region, jaundice, lassitude, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, swelling of the lymph nodes, liver cell damage: possible precursors of a life-threatening agranulocytosis3

• Thickening of the blood, disturbed blood flow and alterations of the natu- ral consistency of the blood in connection with longer restraint: precursors and risk factors for life-threatening thromboses and embolisms4

• Pigmentdepositsintheeye:possibleprecursorsofchronicdamagetothe retina, the cornea and the optic nerve

1 Also known as “deadly quartet,” “Reavan’s syndrome” or “syndrome X” 2 Death rate probability within five years: 50%. Most common death cause in advanced cirrhosis of liver: bleeding of varicose veins of the gullet, acute hepatic failure and liver

cell cancer 3 Dying of the white blood cells, often with extremely rapid onset, with life-threatening

consequences (blood poisoning, pneumonia and bleedings) 4 Blockages of the administration of blood and oxygen, which is vital for the single or-

gans, by clots, which can stick at the narrow point of the bloodstream

38

• Difficulty swallowing, feeling of nasal congestion, feelings of anxiety, slight respiratory distress, appetite disorders with nausea or vomiting, col- icky pains and crampy diarrhea, general feeling of weakness, muscular pain, abnormal feelings of tingling, dizziness and finally the onset of a “Pseudo-Parkinsonism” with tremor and muscle stiffness, propulsion (dis- turbance of gait in which the patient, during walking, steps faster and faster with progressively shorter steps and passes from a walking to a running pace) and may fall forward), salivation, seborrhea oleosa (moist, oily skin disorder with the formation of yellow-brown crust) and rigor of the facial muscles possible precursors of aspiration (suctioning of blood or vomit in the trachea or bronchial tubes) with subsequent asphyxia (life-threatening state of suffocation)

• Tremor and other muscle disorders: possible precursors of tardive dyski- nesia1

Also troublesome symptoms when withdrawing from neuroleptics can be warning signs of persistent damage. The quick onset of psychotic symptoms when reducing psychiatric drugs can indicate a developing supersensitivity psychosis (of organic nature, which—in case of ongoing administration of neuroleptics—can result in a tardive (chronic) psychosis.

Thus, what if someone decides in a reflective way to abstain from neuro- leptics? What if, despite existing risk factors like reduced glucose tolerance, elder age, obesity, fatty liver, reduced physical activity or disorders of the fat metabolism, neuroleptics are administered initially or further on? What if fe- male psychiatric patients get pregnant and are concerned about the potential risks of neuroleptics to their babies? What if parents or guardians of adults would decide it is best for the health of their wards to come off psychiatric drugs? What if psychiatric professionals want to protect their patients from toxic risks because of medical responsibility? Or if they want to protect them- selves from the risk of legal liability due to reckless prescription of drugs when warning signs of harm are present. What is psychiatric professionals do

1 Symptomcomplexwithpotentiallyirreversibleinvoluntarymusclemovements(move- ment stereotypes, muscle cramps or hyperkinesia [movement disorders characterized by profuse activity of the musculature]) and reduced life expectancy

Peter Lehmann: Early warning sings of chronic or lethal diseases 39

not attempt to withdraw their patients from neuroleptics to prevent possible suddenly occurring or undetected developing diseases?1 There are many rational reasons to educate oneself about the issues associat- ed with withdrawal from neuroleptics and on ways to minimize their use.

Sources Garner, B. (Ed.) (2005). Black’s law dictionary (8th ed.). Boston: West Publishing Compa-

ny. Simpson, G. M. / Pi, E. H. / Sramek, J. J. (1984): Neuroleptics and antipsychotics. In M. N.

G. Dukes (Ed.), Meyler’s side effects of drugs (10th ed.) (pp. 95-108). Amsterdam / New York / Oxford: Elsevier.

Find more information about coming off psychiatric drugs on

http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/comingoff.htm

© Peter Lehmann, Berlin. All rights reserved. No part of this chapter may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or utilized in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, record- ing, or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

Thanks to Darby Penney, Peter Stastny and Harold Maio for support in trans- lation matters.

1 The US Black’s Law Dictionary defines as recklessness: “Conduct whereby the actor does not desire harmful consequence but… foresees the possibility and consciously takes the risk,” or alternatively as “a state of mind in which a person does not care about the consequences of his or her actions” (Garner, 2005, p. 1053). In US, German, Swiss and many other courts, a wrongdoer who recklessly causes harm can be held to the same liability as a person who intentionally does so. Also, to be held responsible under civil law, the second-degree intention is sufficient. The chance of a conviction (respectively dosage reduction or termination of an unwanted prescription) increases if you—under the eyes of a witness!—hand over a writ about the observed effects of psychiatric drugs (which might be early warning signs of chronic or lethal damages) to the prescribing or administrating person with the request to “rethink the prescription” and attach the writ to the “medical record.” But be aware: most psychiatrists hate documents—like the de- vil the holy water—and will try to tap the writ back into your hands.

Peter Lehmanns website where you can purchase his books: http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/

You can watch the related video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qxNqgthCsM&feature=player_embedded#!

The pdf file of this paper is here: http://www.peter-lehmann-publishing.com/articles/lehmann/pdf/warningsigns.pdf

via Drug Withdrawal and Emotional Recovery – Dr. John Breeding – Beyond Meds.

I’m sharing it here because writing is a great way for anyone to heal themselves.

Yes.

I said “heal themselves”

We can heal ourselves.

While its great to have someone to help and support us…not everyone has that option. So while I appreciate that many benefit from seeking “help”….the idea that healing can ONLY occur in a “theraputic” setting I believe is very damaging for more than a few reasons.

The first – most “therapies” are aimed at symptoms control; managing “symptoms” I don’t see is a helpful long term solution. A great short term solution but not helpful over the long haul. At some point we have to be able to get beyond the cause of the symptoms so we can move on.

And second – too many therapists are really not qualified and are simply working out their own issues in the lives of their clients.

I know. I know….there are therapists who are qualified…but sadly, and especially in the public mental health system…they are few and far between.

Thus – my passion to teach self empowerment to those who may have already spent a lifetime seeking “therapy” only to still be right where or about where they started.

Yes. Residual income is nice but it should not be an option for those who make their living by creating dependence on those who see themselves as unable to go on without this kind of professional help.

Its not rocket science. Once I figured out how to do this I healed myself in a few short years. And a huge part of that was in writing…

So todays link…good stuff for anyone seeking to escape the idea that healing takes a lifetime…

As this story goes…deal with them demons and move on:)

There IS light at the end of the tunnel and trauma is not a disease.

Telling the story is how the healing begins. So write your story and find a place to share it – or not. But in the writing is where it begins as we stop trying to contain it within ourselves.

Read on here…Owning your story: How writing helps veterans heal | Soldiers Magazine.

via Owning your story: How writing helps veterans heal | Soldiers Magazine.

Join the mailing list to get updates along the way by going here: Proactive Planning.

Susan