tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post5734411305200498433..comments2023-11-14T20:22:36.929-08:00Comments on Knowledge Is Necessity: My Top Ten Mental Health StoriesJohn McManamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-68395954449067723352009-08-04T08:12:26.356-07:002009-08-04T08:12:26.356-07:00Hi, Suzy. I can address both yours and Shoshanna&#...Hi, Suzy. I can address both yours and Shoshanna's comments here:<br /><br />1. Our meds leave a lot to be desired, but it is possible to get decent outcomes with smart meds strategies.<br /><br />2. For smart meds strategies to work, we need both educated patients and doctors who listen.<br /><br />3. Unfortunately, we have way too many quack psychiatrists, whose tendency is to over-medicateJohn McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-5003648484259793152009-08-04T02:25:14.253-07:002009-08-04T02:25:14.253-07:00Hi John,
I think Ms Shafer's comments bring u...Hi John,<br /><br />I think Ms Shafer's comments bring up several good points that no one else seem to mention.<br /><br />Does the Anitpychiatry movement have any real power? Does anyone really take them seriously?<br /><br />If you really think about it aren't there most serious problem? Isn't it realistic to worry about the fact that if you have bipolar or any other mental problemsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-4650447900475976552009-07-31T15:36:20.537-07:002009-07-31T15:36:20.537-07:00Dear John...Thank you for your inciteful comments....Dear John...Thank you for your inciteful comments. I didn't think anyone would answer.<br /><br />I would love to advocate...I'm not one of these people who enjoy whining. I done it for kids, before I brain sizzled. Just tell me where to start.<br /><br />My wonderful therapist holds me accountable - no breaks from her. When I allowed my Psychiatrist to prescribe Cymbalta without a mood Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-18541058797334231032009-07-31T08:41:05.723-07:002009-07-31T08:41:05.723-07:00Hi, Shoshanna. I agree with your general points, b...Hi, Shoshanna. I agree with your general points, but with some serious qualifications, namely:<br /><br />1. Mental illness is endemic, in large part I believe because the world we live in can turn normal people crazy. Remove people from the craziness and there's a good chance they will become whole.<br /><br />2. But, unfortunately, that's not practical. Also, many of us will stay brokenJohn McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-89841146482204146462009-07-31T01:46:17.645-07:002009-07-31T01:46:17.645-07:00Mental illness certainly exists...I know because I...Mental illness certainly exists...I know because I have been diagnosed certificable. I believe that the treatment of most common mood disorders - depression and particularly bipolar 1, 2, Nos and whatever is discovered next - is appalling...Why if this disease is supposedly one of the oldest known maladies - do we still have treatments that are so inefficent? Treatments that may work, but make Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-33396848255104206012009-06-14T20:34:55.370-07:002009-06-14T20:34:55.370-07:00Thanks, Anonymous. I totally agree. Denying that m...Thanks, Anonymous. I totally agree. Denying that mental illness exists is totally irresponsible, and we can't make rational choices based on fantasy. Facing reality is a challenge, but it's the crucial step to moving our lives forward.John McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-4398590527842280692009-06-14T20:10:11.868-07:002009-06-14T20:10:11.868-07:00The well-meaning idealism that Pat so articulately...The well-meaning idealism that Pat so articulately spews forth could have had me fooled, a year ago, when I went off my meds. As well-balanced and informed as they may sound, Pat's words are seriously irresponsible and downright dangerous. They shamelessly appeal to the mentally ill in the midst of finding the right combination of medication and meditation. Pat acts as if the two are mutuallyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-74811830424986302272009-06-10T15:21:20.939-07:002009-06-10T15:21:20.939-07:00Hi, Cat Scout. Absolutely in accord. If what Pat R...Hi, Cat Scout. Absolutely in accord. If what Pat Risser and the rest of the antipsychiatry movement had to say were absolutely true then we'd all be sitting around in a circle singing Kumbyah. Life would be that easy.<br /><br />The reality, as we all know, is far different.John McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-41109496314157036802009-06-10T13:13:57.607-07:002009-06-10T13:13:57.607-07:00I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder about 10 yea...I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder about 10 years ago and although I'm open to any advice regarding possible treatment whether by conventional pharmaceutics or even the unconventional herbal remedies etc I find Pat risser's blog disturbing and ill-informed. His rant suggests that spirituality and controlling our behaviour are paths to mental health. It is because we as Bipolar Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08985605018389176964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-34029213376911724582009-05-12T08:32:00.000-07:002009-05-12T08:32:00.000-07:00Hey, Pat. To reply point by point:
1. "The brains...Hey, Pat. To reply point by point:<br /><br />1. "The brainscans are wrong." What? They accidentally snapped a shot of someone's kidney? PubMed Minzenberg and get back to me.<br /><br />Re plasticity: No lectures, please. Been writing about it for years, both in relation to brain science and recovery.<br /><br />Re "nearly 100 percent ... abuse." So deficient anterior cingulate structure and John McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-88063075094648614092009-05-12T06:50:00.000-07:002009-05-12T06:50:00.000-07:001. Regarding "borderline," brainscans are wrong. ...1. Regarding "borderline," brainscans are wrong. First of all, biology isn't destiny. More and more findings indicate that there is a certain plasticity or resiliency in the brain. Coupled with the fact that nearly 100% of people diagnosed with Borderline are survivors of abuse, neglect and trauma, pathways in the brain may have been altered as a learned or survival mechanism but, those Pat Risserhttp://home.att.net/~LetFreedomRingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-51009184870460169302009-05-11T09:19:00.000-07:002009-05-11T09:19:00.000-07:00Many thanks, Tami. Also check out the four pieces ...Many thanks, Tami. Also check out the four pieces I did starting 10 or so days ago on borderline personality. <br /><br />In support groups and elsewhere, I encounter bipolar patients who have a lot more going on than bipolar. These people may get better, but they don't get well.<br /><br />Possible reasons:<br /><br />1. One in five individuals with bipolar have co-occurring borderline. In many John McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-71218854400989120302009-05-11T07:39:00.000-07:002009-05-11T07:39:00.000-07:00Wow! This is really good stuff. Awesome.
Tami Gre...Wow! This is really good stuff. Awesome.<br /><br />Tami Green<br />www.borderlinepersonalitysupport.comTami Greenhttp://www.borderlinepersonalitysupport.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-45790557202499237282009-05-10T21:48:00.000-07:002009-05-10T21:48:00.000-07:00Hey John, this top ten list is fantastic. It is in...Hey John, this top ten list is fantastic. It is intersting to see the progression of findings in mental health over the years. What is so sad though is that there are still so many that go undiagnosed or untreated. There should definitely be more funding for research and for treatment, there's no excuse. You can post this to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/ and link back to your site. We Vincetastichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09367800857300755203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-22459188916466592182009-05-08T11:23:00.000-07:002009-05-08T11:23:00.000-07:00Hi, Anonymous. I'm just the messenger, so please d...Hi, Anonymous. I'm just the messenger, so please don't shoot me. :)<br /><br />Pharma has to contend with some $84 billion in lost revenues from blockbuster drugs going off-patent, with nothing to replace them. At the same time, Pharma has largely gotten out of the research and discovery business. These days, they only get involved after a smaller company has come up with something that looks John McManamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11857174305041382349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1098361547792425611.post-12038828192183020582009-05-08T11:00:00.000-07:002009-05-08T11:00:00.000-07:00Beginning of the end for drug companies? I certain...Beginning of the end for drug companies? I certainly hope not. While big pharma is indeed arrogant and stupid they are still the ones supplying us with our much needed bipolar meds. The current crop of meds works somewhat but it is far from perfect. Who is going to make the next-gen of meds if not the drug companies?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com