Showing posts with label treatments for depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label treatments for depression. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 12, 2012



AWAKE TO THE SHOCKING TRUTH

By

Katherine Tapley-Milton

"Men think in herds, go mad in herds, but recover their senses one by one." -- Charles Mackay

"When a well-packaged web of lies has been sold gradually to the masses
over generations, the truth will seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic." -- Dresden James


“Electroshock is violence” -- Ramsey Clark former U. S. Attorney General 1983

“If the body is the temple of the spirit, the brain may be seen as the inner sanctum of the body, the holiest of places.  To invade, violate and injure the brain, as electroshock unfailingly does, is a crime against the spirit and the destruction of the soul.” – Leonard Roy Frank, editor, writer, and shock survivor


     Electroshock therapy was first invented in 1934 by Italian psychiatrist, Ugo Cerletti. and since then it has had a dark history of human suffering and torture. Unfortunately, it is more popular among psychiatrists than ever, especially because in the U.S. doctors make over $3,000,000,000 a year on it.  Patients are told that shock therapy is good for them and that it is harmless, however many mental health consumers have severe and permanent memory loss as a result of being shocked.  Many consumers have three- quarters of their long term memory gone forever.  In  the United States during one year over 88,000 psychiatric patients are given electroshock and in Canada about 15,000 a year have been receiving it.   Women and the elderly are the chief targets for shock therapy and it is administered by psychiatrists as a treatment for clinical depression.
       Forty percent of shock therapy is given to those over sixty and often shock is forced on patients or they are tricked into signing a consent form.  Another seldom talked about side effect of shock therapy is death, a fact which is mostly covered up by professionals. Psychiatrist and mental health activist Peter Breggin estimates that, “the general ECT death rate as one death for every 1,000 patients shocked, and a much higher rate of one death per 200 for elderly patients.”  Professionals justify shock therapy because they say that it lowers the suicide rate in bipolar patients and those with clinical depression.  However, Dr. Donald Black did a study on 1,000 depressed patients in Iowa and found that shock therapy did not prevent suicides.  He discovered that those patients who were shocked had an 85% higher death rate over a two year period. Clearly, having been electroshocked contributed to their deaths.  The famous Earnest Hemingway who lived from 1899-1961 and was a Nobel Prize-winning author, “… allowed himself to be talked into receiving 20 electroshock treatments. The result devastated him. As he told a friend, “Well, what is the sense of ruining my head and erasing my memory, which is my capital, and putting me out of business? It was a brilliant cure but we lost the patient….” Indeed we did. He committed suicide shortly afterwards.” http://www.cchr.org/electroshock_and_psychosurgery/history_of_electroshock.html     In the article, “Electro Shocking Elderly People: Another Psychiatric Abuse” by Don Weitz, the author writes, “Together with many shock survivors and other shock critics, Peter Breggin wants electroshock banned, because psychiatrists routinely fail to warn patients about the serious risks of permanent memory loss and brain damage (a serious violation of informed consent), and because elderly, sick, and frail patients are being increasingly targeted for electroshock.  He explained his position in a recent phone interview with me last March, ‘The escalating rate of shocking the elderly is one reason why I have come out in recent years for a complete ban on the treatment. The elderly are less able to defend themselves against shock treatment, and their brains are more susceptible to devastating damage.’ .”http://www.cchr.org/electroshock_and_psychosurgery/history_of_electroshock.      The “No Force Coalition” at   http://www.qsos.ca/qspc/nfc/fact3.html warns that, “There is no such thing as "informed consent" to electroshock because: a) psychiatrists and other doctors routinely refuse to inform patients about the common and serious risks of permanent memory loss and brain damage, b) psychiatric hospital wards and "mental health" centres where electroshock is usually administered are inherently intimidating and coercive, and c) psychiatrists and other doctors routinely fail to mention safe and humane alternatives such as self-help or support groups, community crisis centres, diet, exercise, meditation, friends.... .”    How then can a mental health consumer protect him or herself from forced electroshock?  The organization called, “Mind Freedom” directed by David Oaks in Eugene, Oregon, is dedicated to helping patients with civil rights and stopping electroshock. http://www.mindfreedom.org/shield/introduction-to-mindfreedom-shield .  On their website MindFreedom explains what they do: “The MindFreedom Shield Program is a coordinated registration system and solidarity network of current MindFreedom members who want to have as much protection as possible from coerced or forced psychiatric treatment. The MindFreedom Shield is not meant to replace a formal psychiatric "advance directive," which is a legal document we highly recommend people fill out. MindFreedom does not have the resources to assist in completing an advance directive. If a member who has registered a MindFreedom Shield is, to the best of our ability, verifiably found by MindFreedom to be subjected to coerced or forced psychiatric treatment, an alert will be sent to the MindFreedom Solidarity Network on that person's behalf. Everyone in the MindFreedom Solidarity Network is expected to participate in constructive, nonviolent action recommended in the alert received to support the person for whom an alert has been issued.  The MindFreedom Shield program is not an advocacy system, and is no substitute for advocacy. The MindFreedom Shield does not have the resources to do research, advocate on specific details of your care, or provide legal or medical advice. The MindFreedom Shield is basic and focused, similar to Amnesty International's alert system: A number of people speak out in a civil way to a decision-maker about a basic allegation of human rights abuse because of psychiatric coercion. While no one can guarantee the results of issuing human rights alerts, it has been our experience that public awareness can often reduce, if not end, situations of coerced or forced psychiatric treatment. In any case, the MindFreed Shield serves to educate the public that coerced and forced psychiatric procedures continue to harm the human rights of people internationally. And the MindFreedom Shield helps a survivor of psychiatric abuse know they are not alone, and others are remembering and speaking out for their human rights.”  Mindfreedom asks a modest fee of $35 for a 12 month membership, however, if you have a low income they suggest $20.00 for joining. This organization has proven to be very effective in getting shock therapy stopped on certain individuals.
Other organizations that campaign against forced shock are: “Support Coalition International” http://www.ect.org/resources/resolution.html, “Coalition Against Psychiatric Assault” http://capacanada.wordpress.com/2007/06/28/resolution-against-electroshock/ , and the “The No Force Coalition”http://www.qsos.ca/qspc/nfc/fact3.html.  More websites on shock are: breggin.com, ect.org, mindfreedom.org, capa.oise.utoronto.ca, endofshock.com, icbe.wordpress.com, banshock.org, psychrights.org . Additionally, psychiatric rights advocate  Sue Clark’s phone number is .sueclark@gmail.com or call her at: 613-721-1833 .
     Electroshock is an instrument of torture and has not proven any long term benefits.  Instead of benefiting psychiatric patients it disables them more, taking away significant parts of the victim’s memory and personality.  In the future society will look back and see shock therapy as barbaric.  Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) seems to be a more humane treatment and is currently being studied in clinical trials. However, today, we all need to unite and show our moral outrage about shock therapy and the web of lies surrounding it. We need to be awake to the shocking truth.

*  For further reading on electroshock you can go to the following websites.

http://www.cerebromente.org.br/n04/historia/shock_i.htm

LIST OF RESOURCES IN THE INTERNET

Compiled by: Renato M.E. Sabbatini, PhD, Faculty of Medical Sciences and Center for Biomedical Informatics, State University of Campinas, Brazil.
Last updated: February 17, 1997.
From: The History of Shock Therapy in Psychiatry
By: Renato M.E. Sabbatini, PhD
Source: Brain & Mind Magazine, August/September 1997

To Know More

  • Endler, N.S. - The origins of electroconvulsive therapy. Convulsive Therapy 1988; 4: 5-23.
  • Fink, M. - Meduna and the origins of convulsive therapy. Am J Psychiatry 1984; 141: 1034-1041.
  • Abrams, R. - Electroconvulsive Therapy. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988.
  • Fink, M. Convulsive Therapy. New York: Raven Press, 1985.
  • Mackay, R.P. - Ladislas Joseph Meduna 1896-1964. Recent Adv Biol Psychiatry 1965;8:357-358
  • Sakel, M. - The methodical use of hypoglicemia in the treatment of psychoses. Reproduced in: Am J Psychiatry 1994 Jun;151(6 Suppl): 240-247
  • Ugo Cerletti and the discovery of Electroshock. An imaginary interview by Francesco Bollorino*, Rossella Valdre*, Maria Vittoria Giannelli Ph.D**.University of Genoa
  • Presentation Speech: Julius Wagner-Jauregg, The 1927 Medicine and Physiology Award, The Nobel Foundation



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NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR DEPRESSION

     Depression has been called the common cold of psychiatric illnesses.  About 13-20% of the population has a touch of it at any given time.  However, only 2-3.5% of us suffer major depression.  Women get depressed more than men, but bipolar disorder affects the sexes equally.  How do you know that you’re depressed?  Syd Baumel in his book “Dealing With Depression Naturally” comments, “Passive negativity – being stuck – is the hallmark of depression, the heart is a barren chamber, devoid of positive feelings and impulses.  It may even feel like you’ve lost your soul.  In psychotic major depression, the negativity becomes delusional.  The rich believe they’re bankrupt; the healthy that they’re dying (or dead), the virtuous that they’re guilty of unspeakable sins, even that they’re the Devil himself.  Physically, the negativity of depression manifests itself in tiredness and fatigue, in an increased sensitivity to body aches and pains, and in a neuropsychological dulling of the mind’s edges (enough to make some elderly persons seem senile).  The severely or psychotically depressed may think, say and do everything in extreme slow motion, and may even be catatonically “paralyzed.”  People who have major depression may sleep too much or suffer from insomnia.  They may overeat or starve themselves.  They feel hopeless, sad, and in despair.  I suffer from depression and I cannot get life insurance because of it.  Major insurance companies consider depressed persons to be too much of a risk of suicide.

Should I Take Antidepressants?

     There are many antidepressants on the market that are prescribed for depression – Effexor, Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Elavil, Sinequin, etc..  However, the side effects may include weight gain, loss of libido, dry mouth, memory impairment, and many other unpleasant effects.  If you suffer from major depression your mental health professional will probably insist on you taking antidepressants.  I suffer from bipolar disorder so I have to take medication for depression or I would not be able to function.  The frustration I have with medication though is that for the first few weeks the antidepressants seem to lift me up and then, as my body becomes accustomed to the drugs, I find that the therapeutic effects are diminished.  What I’m going to talk about in this article are natural supplements that can brighten a dark mood and can be taken while you are taking antidepressant medications.  If you suffer from mild to moderate depression you may be able to use herbs and supplements exclusively and forgo the drug treatments all together.  You have to decide if your depression is severe enough to put up with the side effects of the antidepressant drugs or not. Certainly, if you are suicidal you should seek counselling, a help line, or professional help.




Mood Sabilizing and Enhacing Supplements

     I found an interesting Internet site at:   http://www.pendulum.org/articles/articles_misc_lisaalt.html which discusses some supplements that may boost the mood stabilizing effects of psychiatric medications.

Lecithin and Bipolar Illness

 It recommends taking Lecithin (Phosphatidyl Choline) to help bipolar depression.  The site comments, “A fairly convincing number of studies suggest that this substance has significant effects on the manic-depressive, with some claiming that it stabilizes moods while others suggesting that it serves as a mood depressant.  It is probable that it actually as both actions.  For that reason, although lecithin may be useful in helping to stabilize moods, it should probably be used cautiously, with the patient starting at a fairly low dosage (perhaps 2 capsules of a 35% concentration of the substance per day) and then
Increasing gradually until moods are stabilized or mild depression is encountered. … The recommended amount of this substance for this use seems to vary widely – some people suggest that relatively small amounts (perhaps 3-12 capsules per day) can be quite effective, while others suggest that only much greater amounts tend to be fully effective … .  Even if lecithin is only particularly successful in reducing mood swings, however, this may still be helpful for those who want to reduce their dosages of prescription medications (for instance, because of side effects at higher amounts) or for those who suffer  less mood swings.  Most writers seem to recommend splitting the doses of lecithin over the course of the day (2-3 times per day), or taking the full dosage at night.  With bipolar illness eliminating the manic phase is important in controlling the depressive phase, because what goes up must come down.

Phenylalanine for Depression

     In “Dealing With Depression Naturally” Syd Baumel reports, ‘L-phenylalanine’s antidepressant effect first became apparent in 1966 when intravenous infusions induced euphoria in patients with Parkinson’s disease.  Nearly 20 years later, low doses of LPA were added to the regimen of 155 depressed patients unresponsive to an antidepressant drug.  Sixty-nine recovered; 15% improved.  That same year, at a major Chicago medical center, large doses of LPA were administered to 40 mostly ‘refractory’ (treatment resistant) depressives.  Eleven recovered; 20 improved.  Shortly thereafter, a psychiatrist reported that half of the depressed bipolar patients he treated with a low dose of LPA recovered rapidly.’  You may be a candidate for phenylalanine supplementation if you are suffering from severe mental or physical stress, are hypothyroid, have Parkinson’s disease, have chronic pain, or are addicted to stimulants.

L-Trpytophan


     Depression is thought to result from a shortage of serotonin and taking L-Tryptophan can enhance antidepressant medication.  Syd Baumel comments, ‘Depressed persons tend to have low blood levels of tryptophan, the amino acid from which serotonin is made, and low levels of tryptophan relative to other amino acids that compete with it for passage across the blood-brain barrier.  More importantly, abundant laboratory research suggests there is a deficiency of serotonin or serotonin activity in the brains of most depressed (and bipolar) persons, especially those who are (or were) violently suicidal … In about six out of seven clinical trials, tryptophan has performed equally well with antidepressant drugs against major depression.  I take 3 grams of L-Tryptophan at night to help me sleep and to augment my antidepressant medication.  My doctor gives it to me on prescription.

Fish Oil

     On the Internet site: http://www.omega-3.us/omega-3/bipolar-omega-3-fish-oil-research.html it points out that, ‘All valid studies show that people who get less fish oil have significantly more depression and bipolar and those who get more fish oil have less mental disorders.  Here are a few examples: Depression is 60 times higher in New Zealand, where the average fish consumption is 40 pounds a year compared to Japan, where it’s 150 pounds a year … An Israeli study of 20 patients with major depression found fish oil resulted in ‘highly significant benefits’ by week three compared to a placebo.’  I have found that taking fish oil has helped me not to crash as much.  Some people recommend taking pharmaceutical grade fish oil.  You would have to get that from a pharmacy or an Internet company.

Conclusion

     For mild to moderate depression it is worth trying things like St. John’s Wort or SAMe.  However, for severe depression a combination of medication and supplements are needed.  If anxiety is a problem with the depression the B vitamin Inositol will help in the dosage of 500 mgs. up to 4,000 mgs. .  I find that 500 mgs. is plenty for me and it is just as good as an Ativan under the tongue.  Some people who are stressed out and depressed find that taking a high potency B 50 complex helps them deal with stress.  Depression can be endogenous or related to stressful circumstances.  If it is coming from a physical illness like bipolar depression then supplements and psychotropic drugs are needed. However, if the depression is stemming from events around you like grief from a loss you may need specialized grief counselling.  Whatever the cause of depression other self-help things that are important are regular exercise, a healthy diet, light therapy, recreation, and adequate rest.   If your depression is threatening your life, then please reach out for professional help.

Source of Help in a Suicidal Crisis

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