13 years on psychotropics

[Junior]

I couldn't agree more Sheila. Even for me, just the last few days has been a kind of spiritual awakening. Here in OZ people are getting ruder and more self-absorbed. I had been putting it down to cultural change and poor parenting practices. No doubt that is part of it but I'm now thinking that much of is these damn drugs. Every 2nd person seems to be on something and it's just wrong. Some of us DO benefit from them - I have been one - but we should NOT be kept on them for years and years. Unless - one has severe schizophrenia or bipolar. My sister - who has bipolar - cannot NOT take her lithium. If she does - and we've seen this in the last few years - she just winds up in hospital. So there is a place for psych drugs. Allen Frances said this - he said 20% of the population DOES benefit - the people I've just described. But the other 80% just don't need them. Again, I could NOT agree more.

I must see if his lecture has been posted here. If not, I'll post it now.

BTW - I know Luc is writing a book about his experiences. Maybe we will hit a zeitgest where a few of us write about it and people all over the world really begin to understand?

[Luc]

The most important thing is that you keep trying, Stan. Step by step.

[Sheila]

Stan -- Did you read that account by Susan Alport of her one-month experiment increasing her Omega-6? It made it clear that it makes a big difference if you can get free-range chicken and beef, and eggs and milk from free-range chicken and cow. I was shocked at what a big difference that made.

Also, do you eat nuts? They are a healthy food theoretically, but not good if you are trying to lower your Omega-6. Peanuts are especially bad. Walnuts are OK.

[Sheila]

Junior – I definitely think it’s scary how many people are on these meds, and a book about the insidious, unrecognized effects on relationships would be *very* good.