Just Say Yes...

[violinsofangels]

You need weed, not pills, only at the end of the day tho, smoke a joint, around 8 pm, trust me! Get laid, then eat some ice cream and pass out!

[reallysecretusername]

@violinsofangels fucking moron.

[violinsofangels]

@reallysecretusername sure, nice comment, you've proven how intelligent you are.

[venushalley]

I respectfully disagree. One should have a choice... is it not the point of drugs to make you feel better? So why should one *have to* take them if it makes them feel worse? That just does not make sense... When it comes to human psyche... it goes far beyond the "biological illness model".

informed choice should be the key here.

[mat5813]

absolutely right. people have depression because they dont have enough serotonin, not because they're crazy.

if you have problem with sex btw try bupropion ;)

[MrCancerdanger]

can i chat with u i am going to have ect

[soilmanted1]

You keep on saying "nothing works." Nothing works to do what? Make you feel better? Help you to function better? Make you look better to others? All you say is they "address your illness." Addressing is not the same as ameliorating. I don't think you should expect "meaningful employment," or "pets" to do anything beneficial, for feeling depressed, having periods of ill-focused energy. Drugs don't usually help people w schizophrenia to live w/o goverment assistance, be productively employed.

[soilmanted1]

Imatrex did nothing for my head pain.

If the drugs make you feel better, you can just take them WITHOUT needing to postulate the existence of an illness, and the idea that the drugs treat the illness. Nor do you need to postulate the non-existence of an illness. You can ignore the whole subject of biological illness and you can instead simply say: I FEEL depressed; I take a drug that makes me feel LESS depressed.

[susas99]

Good video, but I disagree with the opinion. There may actually be better solutions. Maybe not for you yet, but you should always keep your eyes open for other possibilities. Not taking medication is a choice many people deserve to make (as long as they are mentally able). For some medication isn't really necessary. Sometimes you do have to pay attention to your feelings, because sometimes you feel wrong because the medication is really wrong for you. I was on the wrong medication for too long.

[vince7777]

Birth control? Really? Are you really having sex, and what's that like?

I mean really.

[Painnnnful]

You;re funny and have charisma! :)

[soilmanted1]

Take all the "psychiatric medications" you like; you have a biological illness. I do Not. I may have symptons similar to your; but there is no evidence that I have a biological illness. No-one has shown me any evidence that I do. And it IS my choice. I don't force you Not to take drugs, do I? I allow you to make your own choices. Don't you DARE tell me that what I do with my body, is not my choice. When you come up with a remark like that, you are being rude and offensive.

[susas99]

@soilmanted1 Good point, I hope. Hope you are well now. Cheers!

[oldboatclub]

Bipolar II - ECT & drugs didn't help me - I was pulled out of a 2 year depression by a great manic episode. Now I maintain with Lamictal & Cymbalta. Exercise - & I play music daily. We could live together & have a ball driving eachother mad. I take Flonase too. So, now the money question - Are you fascinated with yourself?

[TWFsalaciousness93]

I. LOVE. YOU.

[SurvivalZombie]

I don't ever comment on video's like this but you have a beautiful energy not just beautiful looks and I'd like to wish you the best with everything! I hope good things come to you!

[Aloxic]

do you ever do meditations and yoga? I think every person with an emotional illness should at least consider and try them

[Nightfelluponme]

Yes it's true.You seem to get preetier,but you seem to get better too(that's the reason you look prettier),and that's a good thing.

I do take Effexor XR daily.I totally agree with you,drugs is the only way out of depression.

[Andieshrink]

I am sorry.

But you are on drugs.

I wish I could help you.

[torgomax]

(Saving this video )

[thawks12095]

Thank you for posting. I take meds too. It's brave of you to out yourself.

[DudeMattBovenzi]

yes, drugs work. no holding of the hands or Nancy talk will get you out of a state of cognitive dysfunction or similar state of mind, at least for me ;).

I wish you the best and keep fighting.

[LeeAnne2001]

No one criticizes people for taking meds with loads of side effects for physical illnesses. My mom takes an antimarial drug for Lupus and it has side effects. Let's tell her not to take these evil meds.

When your brain is ill your quality of life goes down the tubes too, moreso in fact with a severe mental illness. So why is it bad to take a medication for that? Paxil, augmented with an anti-psychotic saved me from a nasty episode,

[TheNielsenFamily]

Drugs have saved my life too, but it's certainly not saving my marriage...lol.

[vivalaleta]

I completely agree. My daughter is in college studying to be a psychologist or therapist and we have been having arguments about the efficasy of therapy alone for B.P.; I have a brain disfunction - how is "talk" going to cure it?

[xarmy35]

the only thing worse than side effects are the tolerance built up and the withdrawl. my thing was opiates for pain.which the pill helped with more than just the pain. they helped with motivation,depression,Adult ADD,everything until my body biult up a tolerence and i had to take more. the pain over time healed, but the addiction stayed around for a long time. i have stopped but now the lack of motivation is back as well as depression.i always think of the meds. i wish i never started taking them

[saltyeggs71]

THE DRUGS SAVED ME TOO!!!

Please stay on medication and tolerate the side effects.

To not take my medications would kill me.

You know what I know, the stigma sucks, and to look down into death, a truly thinking individual would take medications.

I dare every naysayer to NEVER fill any Rx again.

[DOCTOROFMINDMD]

wow, omg, I love you!!! you are perfect, PLEASE SEE MY SITE DOCTOROFMINDMD

[id1331]

You sound totally whacked out. You don't even realize it. It's sad what drugs do to people.

[akfuzero]

The drugs are not working for you. Keep trying. For the record ouside support does help. Drugs are just a small portion of recovery.

[thrh66]

Hi just wanted to say couldn't agree more. My life was hell before anti-depressants. People think that by changing circumstances or with therapy you can get over your depression, not true. Depression. psychosis and anxiety are caused by a poorly functioning brain which can be changed with psy drugs. good luck

[augustina91]

you sound very kind.you deserve better than this..

I wish you well..take good care..

[BedheadBlog]

thanks for sharing you opinion.

[q703]

why take drugs.

[q703]

crazy.

[q703]

why take drugs woman.

[3dbeing]

Why are you so concerned with being pretty, most people are trying extra hard to be attractive, and you are making an effort not to because people find you attractive?

[helpplease27]

ge on change

[helpplease27]

people dont chance your right on that but they do chance there mind willpower is a stroung drug. trust me.

[gredennia]

Hey just wanted to add to the chorus! Medication saved my life.  People need to work on finding the right one instead of giving up, it's a process. Oh yeah, and you are gorgeous, thoughtful and funny.

[Angelaten]

I think it takes a good deal of courage and considerable self-possession to discuss something that most people would consider stigmatizing. You do a great service to young people (relatively speaking) like yourself who either refuse to recognize the illness as an illness or focus exclusively on the painful side-effects of medication as ways of rationalizing their desire not to deal with a severe, chronic illness.

[samicxi]

u do look pretty

[Givemeafinname]

I'm not trying to put you down its just time people started admitting the world sucks and we need to change our ways. Life is getting too demanding we work for less money and longer hours the demands laid on us are more and more and more, sound bites of doom and gloom on the TV everyday and these privileged university professors of mental health are witting reports with funding from drug companies telling us how to think is part of the problem.

[Givemeafinname]

Well it may work for you But you have more drugs around you than a crack head. I regret the day I started taking these drugs.

Prozac made me a psycho. Psyc drugs have serious problems and in My opinion these drug companies could care less about us and treating asthma is not exactly the same as treating depression. it won't be long before we start seeing the REAL effects of these drugs.

[Addydawn]

Do you ever have any episodes even on the meds? I find that situations also cause my mood swings, in addition to the biochemical basis - even despite my total compliance with the emds.

[markox333]

i cldn't agree more. no hello kitty though.

[linkadge]

Hey, I'm all for medications if they help you. The problem is that for many people, the medications simply don't work. People should never be forced to take meds because the only one who knows how they feel on them is the person. Esp. since some people become more suicidal on certain drugs. I wouldn't call it a psudo science, but its not quite as established as some would like to believe.

[Jsmooth7444]

SSRIS: suicidal thought, being a zombie, sexual dysfunction, depersonalization, Brain zaps during/and or after.

So you're trying to tell people drugs are the only answer? Get out of here.

I use to think I had asthma, I too was taking the inhaler for about 4 years. One year I get sick of puffing on it. Guess what? Mybreathing got better, maybe it was all in my HEAD, or maybe I did have asthma who knows.

Just dont try and tell everyone antidepressants are the only way to relieve the symptoms

[Jsmooth7444]

Oh and by being no proof meaning :

1. there arent any blood tests that can confirm a mental illness.

2. there arent any CAT scans that can confirm you are depressed.

3. The medication you are taking is supposed to be Treatment. Not a cure for anything. 6 months taking it is probably pushing it.

Seems to me like you dont know shit. Please stop writing about mental health for the good of mankind.

[tarquin08]

I agree with you 100%,

I love the crap about CHEMICAL IMBALANCE.

I want to see the test that's done to

prove it, I'm Detoxing now off Effexor,

Life might as well be over.......

[Jsmooth7444]

Have fun with the side effects of long term use hunny. Start to try and think for yourself. Sounds harsh but its what a lot of us need to do instead of popping a pill for nearly every goddamn thing on earth.

Theres no proof of being bipolar or any other mental illness or is there any cure. Stop labeling yourself, youll feel better.

[jerryaltman]

Brain can be prbloms about the chemistry that controll emotions, and sometimes require medicaments. The problems is the wrong prescriptionof exagerated, or even prescription when not necessary. There are doctor than can do mo more tha precribe medications. It's very hard find a good doctor. There must be a support to patients, to talk with them, incentivate, and not just treat like animas.

[jerryaltman]

Are you member of Scientology??? I agreee that there are lot's of shit in psychiatry, and most doctors are freak bastards, but some things are necessary.

[koreamy]

Good video!

[e97zsa]

Dear lspikol. You are a fake. However; i will do you without a second thought.

[Faerie75]

I totally agree w you... I had panic attacks, agoraphobia and aftrwrds... psychotic deliruim... medication worked for me great, and i don't even feel horrible side effects at all... at first i was really sleepy, but now I'm fine... it's been like this for many yrs now... I'm great... what's more, I wanna lower it all soon.

Loadsa luv!

[42ADENT]

what a nice person below . friendly ,warm and yet mybe ?

[slitsatansthroat]

it's all about you isnt it, your a nut and a waste of life. people have really screwed up lives and your a negative bitch. max out your dose on effexor didn't you? you should have a vineyard i hope i caused you to kill yourself

[CB9112121]

Your still a hottie spikol!. I always wanted to stay clear of crazy woman, but you actually make me want to date crazy girls!. We would have so much fun together, I just decided Im crazy too & I like it!!!

keep up the great videos & remember you look pretty in all of them!

[lordsovereign]

turn the volume up love. we can hardly hear you.

[lizbetfree]

she's a journalist

[arnell21]

i think she's a actor, i cheaked out her website

[lynch03]

Medication would be appropriate for severe cases, but when they are pushed on patients with problems that maybe temporary, could be resolved with therapy, it is a crime considering the life threatening side effects these medications have. I was 14 prescribed when I took paxil for mild depression, I am now much worse then I ever dreamt would be possible due to these fucking drugs

[hran6868]

Take more ssri make you worse. Try to find a good Licenced "Chinese" Acupuncturist in US or go to big city of China to get help of Chinese Herb Medicines. It may save your damaged organs and improve your conditions. It works for me.

[Arjita]

WTF? Your crazy...Keep changing the chemical in your body...Try street drugs less painful in the long run...Nature has the answer...You are very cute I'll give you a 7 that's all I can do for you...Thank you for reaching out...Medication is another word for Drugs...

[cat12muffin]

I luv watching all your videos they crack me up. I also have bipolar and I have had ECT as well. Your videos make me feel more "normal". Drugs can be good until they numb ya out. Im on four right now and eventually I will find the perfect "cocktail"! Anyway keep the videos coming:)

[divinemood]

It may well be true that medication is the major part of the package--but it's not all of it. That's where the polarization comes in. Just as no amount of family support could bring health (agreed) is it possible that no amount of medication (without other forms of "support" ) can bring health either? You raise crucial issues. Thanks for having the courage to put yourself out there.

[divinemood]

Thank you for your excellent video. When I was eighteen I started to have major moodswings-- It was clear to me that I had bipolar. I went to the doctor and asked for Lithium. They told me they felt my problems were psychologically based. I knew they weren't. I then went through seven years of unecessary hell only to be told that I had bipolar and HAD to go on Lithium for the rest of my life. It's kind of ironic that the word that the word that comes to mind watching your (to be continued..)

[psychpatient101]

your way of dealing with someone that disagrees with u is by trying to discredit them by insinuating there a scientologist or exremist, that would be like me saying your a nut, how can you believe anything she says.

[seth082]

How long have you been on meds? Not long I presume. You look and act like someone whose artificially "happy".

[entitlement]

Wow, that's a enviably big package of Imitrex! Good stuff, I take sumatriptan and other triptans for migraines also. Medication for a brain disorder. Funny nobody protests about that.

Good for you for taking a stand, considering all the negative comments, those annoying internet antipsychiatry advocates, whio never seem to be in the hospital or support groups or advocacy groups I go to. I only meet people who are helped by meds. I'm glad you're having a benefit too.

[sashyte]

Depression is a pysiological illness. The TRUE way out is right medication, not placebo nonsense. When you tap the feel good chemicals, you are on the other side.

[drainbamaged78]

Oh, exciting! What great biological tests have you, if you're suffering, taken showing how your condition is pathological?

[drainbamaged78]

Now jey, that's harsh. I think Liz looks pretty good and comes across as quite sharp.

[drainbamaged78]

Now jey, that's harsh. I think Liz looks pretty good and comes across as quite sharp.

[ichbinkeinberliner]

jeywolf...can't you just agree that there are some good things and some bad things about psychiatry? or are you an all or nothing person?

[ichbinkeinberliner]

She does NOT look and sound drugged/brain damaged. You are just being mean. She looks and sounds smart, witty and nice.

[lspikol]

Thanks for the pity. For more of my horrible life of meaningful employment, living with someone in a beautiful romantic relationship, good friends and stimulating hobbies, go to www.thetroublewithspikol.com. It's indeed a sad commentary on my medical care.

[lspikol]

Don't you think that's getting a little mean-spirited? Let's keep this conversation civil and try to dialogue in a meaningful way.

[ichbinkeinberliner]

Is it your choice if you are born with brown eyes? NO. And it isn't your choice if you are born with or acquire mental illness either!

[pmflaherty]

What were the nutritional and supplimental alternatives that you tried before trying the drugs? How long have you been on your drugs? BTW I'm not critical in any way, just curious.

[lspikol]

I've been on medication for 15 years.

[ichbinkeinberliner]

A voice of reason! Wonderful video. I love the hello kitty pill box too! Where can I get one? hehe. I have schizophrenia and medications and medications alone saved me from becoming a wandering street person trapped in a hell of delusions. These other ppl on here are idiots. Thanks!

[drainbamaged78]

Well, we're not idiots according to data. You should check the data for yourself. The WHO studies aren't that bad to start with.

I'm not trying to say drugs aren't beneficial for you, only that they're harmful for most.

[ichbinkeinberliner]

They aren't harmful for most. You have nothing to back up your statements except your own opinion. Medications help millions of people live more normal lives everyday.

[drainbamaged78]

I referred you to studies. For a good summary, see the Robert Whitaker article I referred to above.

[ichbinkeinberliner]

I don't need to waste my time reading some yahats dumb articles. I'm not going to change my mind about this. I know A LOT about psychology and psychiatry and I know enough not to waste my time with anti-psychiatry people or other people who still believe the world is flat. By the way, I'm sure you can find "experts" who will argue that the Earth is flat too, but there is no reason to believe them or waste my time with them either.

[drainbamaged78]

Wow, aren't you the believer. I am referring you to World Health Organization and National Institute of Mental Health studies. If they are "yahats" to you, I wonder who are not. NIMH and WHO may well suffer from commercial and governmental bias towards being _positive_ to drug treatment, but I wouldn't think of them as "yahats".

[ichbinkeinberliner]

I never said the WHO and NIMH are yahats. I'm not a "believer" like it is some cult or something, because it's not. Get a clue.

[drainbamaged78]

You are a believer because you don't even bother to examine data.

[ichbinkeinberliner]

Whatever. You don't know what I have or haven't read. You are being completely ridiculous. Besides, it is better to believe in something that works than to go around spouting a bunch of nonsense that doesn't do anybody any good.

[drainbamaged78]

Oh, and on Tom Cruise's questioning of psychiatry: http: slash slash www dot yoism dot org slash ?q=node slash 120

[drainbamaged78]

Sorry for the silly format. :-)

[drainbamaged78]

The drugs may ease the symptoms of distressed persons for a while, but what is the long-term outcome of drug treatment? Data tell us it is worse than that of non-drug treatment! An excellent introduction to the data is Robert Whitaker's "Anatomy of an Epidemic: Psychiatric Drugs and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America" (Google for EHPPPsychDrugEpidemic(Whitaker­).pdf).

[drainbamaged78]

Liz, I'm not going to tell you or anyone else drugs cannot possibly be of any benefit to anyone, but, certainly, to most they are of harm, and to no small fraction of those of great harm.

No neuroimagining study has ever reproducibly shown any differences between drug-naive subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia and control subjects. There is no biological test for mental unhealth, and there is no proven pathology of mental unhealth.

[lspikol]

Also good to look at is an article from the New Orleans Times-Picayune, by a post-Katrina depression sufferer who didn't believe in depression--until meds saved his life.

[lspikol]

I'm having trouble getting YouTube to post my comments. Jeywolf, for "proof," check out "The Neurobiology of Mental Illness" (available on amazon). Also, the British Journal of Psychiatry has some interesting articles about neuroimaging and schizophrenia.

[lspikol]

Not so. I struggled for years taking them without any benefit—despite the fact that I believed in them the whole time. I finally found the right class of drugs to address my psychosis.

[lspikol]

Mental illness most certainly can be measured biologically.

[lspikol]

Well, obviously we disagree about this stuff. You say you're not a Scientologist, but your favorites include Scientology videos. CCHR is a front for Scientology.

[comradevodka]

Liz, didn't "Touched.." say composer Robert Schumann starved himself to death? Wikipedia/other sources say syphillis. Which in those pre-pencilin days was trated with mercury and arsenic! Egads...

[rumplestilskin99]

If someone feels they need to take a psychiatric drug, that's no threat to me. It's the people who want to force these drugs on someone else who are the threat. Before I watched these videos and read the blog, I was pretty sure the chemical imbalance theory of psychiatry was baseless (after all, there is no objective proof). But if someone feels it's true about themself, well, maybe they're right. Each person should be free to decide for themself if this is something they want to do or not.

[holden190]

Hey LS,

I think taking psych meds boils down to this: if I did not take them, I would be housebound. Even though I believe in psychotherapy and have been in and out of it for almost 20 years, it is not enough. Without meds and even with talk therapy I shake, shiver, sweat and become so incredibly dizzy that I am functionally useless. Sure my meds have side effects (all 6 of them), but they give me a *life* I'll take the side effects in return for my functioning in society.

Dennis

[beagles2deux]

Yes, I have bipolar. I have never had a severe manic episode turn psychotic when medicated. I have had these episodes unmedicated. During the last one, I was arrested, as so many bipolars are, and I suffered in other ways. To my mind, it is absurb to question why someone with bipolar takes medication. Like Liz said, I can't afford another episode.

[lspikol]

Thanks for commenting, beagles2!

[TroubleSquad]

Now, to Ispikol. I have emailed, asking for additional information (three times). This is irritating. I sent them to the paper as you asked. I write this open comment to ask "why" and with the understanding I am not fustrated with you.

[lspikol]

I'm not sure I understand. What additional information do you need? I promise to provide it. Maybe email me now, so I won't miss it?

[TroubleSquad]

I am gong to make two bold statements of opinion.

First, ECT is archaic and should as extinct as the Doo Doo bird. Second, ingesting more than one physchotropic medication will create unexpected side effects.

[lspikol]

Yeah, you have to be really careful with that. I never combine meds without getting an OK from my psychiatrist--and that includes over-the-counter stuff too.

[Freshette]

Oh that wasn't so bad that you should anticipate a bad reaction. Pills are necessary sometimes just like birth technology is necessary sometimes. Certainly you deserve to feel great, and your committment to your life is obvious, so clear, the side effects are an acceptable price to pay for being able to be who you need to be. It seems so valuable that you are willing to say what your truth is, think of the others your example might inspire to take the trouble to find a way into their lives.

[lspikol]

Well, thanks. It's just I get really angry mail from people who think I'm a big pharma fan, which I'm most certainly not. But I do feel strongly about getting the right people the right cures.

[sleasch]

'continued'

I ask for a supporting treatment: Dipiperon, Ritalin, Barbs, Risperdal, Seroquel, whatever. Especially within the kind of disorders or diseases that you talk about one should not underestmate the importance of the chemistry that is going on in the brain (and body). So come on, let's take a stand in favour of medicins! By the way, where are your glasses? And yes, you do look tired :)

[lspikol]

I'll answer your last question first: I wasn't wearing my glasses because I was about to go to bed. Now that I see how prominent my nose is without them, I'm going to wear them when I sleep.

[sleasch]

;p yeah, that'll work out fine

[sleasch]

Hey Liz,

Why do you expect angry reactions? What is it? I mean, your explanation why drugs do the job is so clear. So. Clear! I am (in my profession also) a pragmatist, what works, works. I don't sit and watch some youngster of mine breaking down a complete living or cuts herself over and over again. 'continued'

[tooncesrules]

Oh and by the way, I'm not an anti-psychiatry extremist, a scientologist, or anything else that you referred to. I'm a music therapist- who knows from experience, that side effects and experimental medications are damaging. You sound like a paid spokesperson for Pfizer or Wyeth or soemthing. Telling people to take drugs- pretty horrible!

[lspikol]

I'm sorry you think it's horrible. I know a lot of people agree with you, and I'm really open to creating a dialogue about it, which is what this video is about. But my professional history has given me a certain point of view, just as yours has. And I'd never advocate that people take "experimental" drugs. That's a bad idea.

[tooncesrules]

Again, you aren't even addressing the issue. All psychiatric medications on the market today ARE experimental, because they haven't been on the market long enough to test side effects, and they're given out to correct "chemical imbalances" that were never proven to exist in an individual in the first place!

[lspikol]

Well, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree, as my parents always say to each other. We're clearly coming at this from very different places.

[lspikol]

Also, it seems like a lot of the anti-psych videos on here are actually from Scientologists, even if the connection is veiled. Everyone: Don't be deceived. The Scientology agenda is far from genuine.

[tooncesrules]

that was definitely not a scientology video. maybe if you watched it you would have realized that. its not about "agreeing to disagree"- you cant even back up any of your statements! You just change the subject. you're blindly listening to psychiatrists, whose educational materials are all produced by the pharmeceutical industry. So basically, you're brainwashed. Sorry about that.

[lspikol]

You mean the video on your page? The one with Fred Baughman who is most actively a spokesman for Scientology? Your youth and naivete is probably good for right now. When you grow up, and can show me some NON-SCIENTOLOGY-BASED evidence, and we'll talk. Meanwhile, for clarification and seven years' worth of solid backing up of my statements go to www.philadelphiaweekly.com.

[tooncesrules]

Maybe you forgot the part where about 20 different psychiatrists at the API convention claim they've never cured a patient.

Oh but you're all about making sure people get the right "cures."

As you stated, "But I do feel strongly about getting the right people the right cures."

[lspikol]

I do. I also want to say, in no uncertain terms, that I cannot continue a conversation based on information put out by Scientologists.

[Pyosisification]

Take a hypochondriac suffering from some phantom illness. They have no pathological identifiers and the pain they feel is not reproducible. However, you can't play music for them or take them for a jog and expect the brain tumor to go away. What you can do is begin the patient on a regimen of drugs. Why, because they work. I'm a GlaxoSmithKline endorser, and I approve this message.

[tooncesrules]

Haha. of course you would "endorse" glaxosmithkline. Did you forget that they've been sued countless times and been forced to pay millions of dollars in damages for fraud? Oh and not to mention that their researchers have been caught on video punching, kicking, screaming and laughing at the beagles they experiment with the drugs on.

[Pyosisification]

Tongue-in-cheek tooncesrules. I'm not an endorser for GlaxoSmithKline. Pay attention to what I was arguing. Liz is right. Drugs are the only slution to MANY debilitating psychological disorders. You stated that she sounded "like a paid spokesperson for Pfizer or Wyeth..." Hence my remark.

[SarahMcLellan]

Until I watched my brother develop a major schizophrenic disorder, I would have agreed that drugs did more to harm psychiatric patients than help them. But Spikol is right - the medication that works is the right medication. My brother has been off his pills for about 6 months, which makes me nervous, but he seems to be functioning ok. Medication has been a major element of my brother's ability to engage in anything like a normal life.

[tooncesrules]

everyone in my family has been on a cocktail of psychiatric medications at one point or another, including myself. the drugs always seemed to help at first, until their effect wears off and you start noticing the side effects. Especially Venlafaxine- similar to the destructive effects of Paxil, its almost impossible to deal with the withdrawal effects. Drugs should be used as a last resort and I'm glad your brother was able to get off of them before developing tardive dyskinesia or something.

[SarahMcLellan]

Pills aren't perfect, but they certainly work better than they did 10 years ago. Or 5 years ago. Just like advances in diabetes or cancer research, psychiatric drugs are something to take seriously, and take advantage of. I find it troubling that you would dismiss such a helpful and integral part of so many people's therapy.

[lspikol]

Thanks, Sarah, for contributing to the conversation. Just as an FYI for anyone reading, tardive dyskinesia is a motor disorder that can be a result of long-term use of neuroleptic drugs, which are most commonly prescribed for mental health issues, but are also used for neurological disorders and G.I. problems.

[kittons]

drugs + talk therapy (esp. CBT) = the empirically proven combination that helps most people.

[sayokokisses]

actually Prozac has been tested since the early 1980's at Walter Reed because my mother was one of the first guinea pigs in the tests and she is still part of the experiment. Lithium has been tested since the 1940's. you are correct that alot of the newer drugs are not tested long enough before put on market but it's not right to discredit the thousands of scientists who have tested ways to treat depression.

[orangestoneface]

i think rats on prozac in youth had very wrong sexual behaviour as adults in tests, but i take it and it works.

[tooncesrules]

Sure, it makes sense to take medication for something like asthma, but with so called "psychological issues", they don't do any sorts of physical tests to show that you do have a chemical imbalance. Check out the research, you'll see that they STILL don't know how prozac interacts with the brain, and how it works. Not to mention the long term side effects.

[lspikol]

I'm not into the DSM, which is ethically compromised and kind of ridiculous, but I do believe that certain psychiatric illnesses do share clinical profiles that are identifiable by a good empathetic shrink. Psychosis is a good example, but I'll have to go into that more in a future video.

[entitlement]

They don't do all sorts of physical tests for asthma either.

[tooncesrules]

Medications are most certainly NOT a necessity. I'm sorry that you've been totally brainwashed by the psychiatric industry. I've been on several different medications with horrible side effects like dizziness, brain zaps, increased blood pressure, weight gain, and lots of other horrible stuff.

[shiftloads]

Out of everything you tried, Scientology, NLP, Chinese medicine, or any other alternative therapy or new age trend for that matter, one is exceptional, at rare cases. Most people that goes through depression are missing one concept, 99% of the treatments we have are all based on the psychological basic premise of praising the Ego, the Self. Buddhism has figured it all out thousands of years ago. The irony of it, what our culture praises, is what buddhism sees as the source of suffering.

[lspikol]

My ex is a Buddhist, and it's changed his life in only positive ways. I respect it as religion, but I question its application in a scientific context.

[shiftloads]

It's OK to question, and even necessary. The Buddha said "It is essential to doubt, to question all things deeply, to inquire, examine, inspect and experiment."

[lspikol]

It's interesting that Judaism also demands this kind of skepticism as well, especially as interpreted by forward-thinking Reconstructionists. But wait! That's a different subject. Sorry. I got all blog-y for a minute.

[lspikol]

I'll look for some old photos like that. And I'll try to dredge up the old memories. Yeah, it is hard.

[basstard]

oh, and i'm an undergrad psych student, so i'm pretty biased. but, i've personally dealt with mdd for the past 12 years.  i had tried about 10 different meds, none of which affected me in any noticable way (except abilify, which had only neg. effects), so i could easily say that the drugs are a lie, and that they don't work. however, for the past 2 years i have been on venlafaxine, which has really helped me, and i've been able to accomplish a lot on it, so i feel very greatful.

[basstard]

lately, i've grown quite weary of all the anti-psych people, but honestly, i only come into contact with them on the internet, so it's not so bad. i think maybe they fail to recognize that a majority of the people being 'stigmatized' as mentally ill, are in fact suffering, and which is why they've sought help.

well, i really enjoy your videos. thanks.

[lspikol]

The anti-psych people--Scientologists in particular--were dominant on Google video for a long time. I don't know if that's still true, but they're indefatigable.

[Pyosisification]

Thank you for showing me know that I'm not alone. You are brave and conquered your illness. Someday, I hope to be just like you. Your journals are my inspiration and I anticipate each new one. Thank you Liz.

~Anthony

[Pyosisification]

*omit "know"*

[lspikol]

Thank you!

[Griffox]

I just picked up my prescription today. Sisters unite!

I think more people than we realize are living proof of the meds, only no one knows about them because they can't tell they have mental issues. Most aquaintances of mine would be shocked to know that I take medication for depression and most people who take meds don't talk about it because they (I) feel like the only one out there. I think more people should talk about it.

[lspikol]

I completely agree. Thanks for posting this comment; perhaps it'll encourage people.

[TJ1973]

These videos just get better and better. Liz you are

an inspiration to all us folks with screwy brains! :)

[lspikol]

Thank you so much. Everyone is just so nice.

[SalvorAsimov]

I have no experience of "real" depression, same goes for my friends. But I can see what you went / are going through but I think you are a marvelous persson. I heard people suffering from bi polar disordes are very creative. You are. At least there is one "good" side effect, or maybe it's just the way you are naturally. But isn't personality made on the experiences one had ?

[lspikol]

I do think the mental illness has changed me for the better. I'm more compassionate, for one thing. There's a book on the subject of creativity and madness: "Touched By Fire."

[SalvorAsimov]

When I saw the title of your new video, I first thought you'd ask me to marry you. Too bad...

Anyway Thanks for responding and I'll check that book. (hope its translated in french).

[ichbinkeinberliner]

I believe the author is Kay Redfield Jamison for that one.

[robrobbins]

I see a lot of people on YouTube who take medication and they clearly aren't doing very well on it. Then there are many people who make complete recoveries without anyone's assistance.

[lspikol]

I'd argue that those who make such recoveries may have been misdiagnosed originally. People perceived as difficult or dangerous frequently get slapped with erroneous psychiatric labels. As for YouTube, I'll bet there are many more people on here whose meds are working; you just don't know they take any.

[robrobbins]

Yes a complete recovery that the experts can't explain is always called a misdiagnosis. Psychiatrists don't even believe in the possibility of complete recoveries and dismiss all evidence to the contrary as a misdiagnosis. Generally I think the public has too much confidence in scientific and medical "expertise" because people don't realize there are considerable debates going on in these fields and the consensus opinion may be highly questionable.

[lspikol]

Most psychiatrists I know do believe in recovery. Check out the various mental health associations around the country; all have such psychiatrists affiliated with them.

[robrobbins]

I have no interest in mental health associations. I am intrigued by the work of Carl Jung and study transpersonal psychology. I deplore the tendency to pathologize any and all experience of the psyche.

[littleleobabe]

I really like your videos and I agree with everything you say. My mother and my sister both have depression and anxiety. Medication is the only thing that helps. I'm so thankful that our technology is so great that it can help my mother, sister, and you. I can't wait for your next update! (I hope that made sense. Lol)

~Sarah

[lspikol]

Thank you so much, Sarah. It's so good to hear other people speaking out about their experiences.