The Myth of Schizophrenia.wmv

EleMental Ireland.

The myth of schizophrenia. We are a growing collective of visionaries around the world who call for the non-medicalisation of human suffering. EleMental Ireland promotes a wellness model, not an illness model.

Alternative realities, alternative belief systems, extreme terror, extreme states of mind, confusion, severe emotional turmoil, deep insecurity, altered states of consciousness, visions, hearing voices, paranoia and difficulty trusting are some of the phenomena encountered and experienced by trauma survivors/ psycho-warriors as a response to trauma/ abnormal circumstances and by spiritual adventurors in psycho-spiritual crisis or on a search for deeper meaning.

There is a general mis-understanding about so-called schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is NOT a brain disease. It is a deeply symbolic and meaningful experience. John Weir Perry and Carl Jung are among the most brilliant writers on this subject, in my view. They view "schizophrenia" as a natural healing process, as transformational.

In the words of R.D.Laing it 'is a special strategy that a person invented in order to live in an unlivable situation.'

'How is it that some spiritually passionate people become labelled 'schizophrenic' and find themselves being treated as 'mental patients'? How is it that a spiritual crisis becomes diagnosed as a disease?' Peter Breggin, Toxic Psychiatry.

The label of schizophrenia implies a life-long sentence of 'mental illness' to be managed by major neuroleptic drugs. We live in a culture where trauma is taboo and where we prefer to label human distress than look extreme trauma in the eye.

People who experience so-called schizophrenia are largely misunderstood and silenced. I find it astonishing just how much of the general public has been brainwashed by the bio-medical model and believes that so-called schizophrenia is a simplistic chemical imbalance of the brain. It is in fact a highly complex coping strategy, a movement towards growth and a breakthrough into a new level of consciousness.

Just to clarify, though the term 'mental illness' is quoted on this video, I myself prefer the term 'mental/ emotional distress' or 'overwhelm'. It is important that we change language.

Google CASL (Campaign to Abolish Schizophrenia Label) and sign the petition.

There are lots of wonderful blogs and websites around this subject on the net.

"When I talk to God, it is called praying. When God talks to me, it is called schizophrenia."

Music; 'You Cross My Path' by The Charlatans. They rock!

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[maryconlonmaddock1]

Brilliant! TO MEDICALISE SUFFERING IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE FORM OF LYING AND DECEIT TODAY. Unfortunately most of the western world are falling for it. Joh,n Grainne, Hazel and Josh are turning the wheel. They are giving it a MASSIVE jolt. We Irish are so MadProud of them. Let us all give that wheel a jolt with our support. Start by signing the petition to free John.

[digitaltango]

@maryconlonmaddock1 Thanks so much, Mary. Our BAN ECT/ FREE JOHN Protest against Forced Treatment was well supported I felt. Here's to the Love Revolution... we need Love, not Force.

[stefanierose88]

I love this video! I was a victim of psychiatry from ages 14-20, I'm not crazy...they made me worse. Since I left the system and meds, I am so much more "stable" and way happier.

[digitaltango]

@stefanierose88 Thanks so much. I'm so happy to hear that you disentangled yourself from the system and meds. Thanks for sharing and giving others hope.

[digitaltango]

It's not your fault that you are gifted, Thayne... it's everyone's response to your experiences that is crazy, not you. x

'When I talk to God it's called praying, when God talks to me it's called schizophrenia'

Xxx

[digitaltango]

Marion, I love that C.S. Lewis quote you posted. I know only too well the devastating effects of the power politics of psychiatry on those in distress, and the red herring of brain disease and chemical imbalance. The years it wastes... the extra added layers of more trauma. The damage the drugs do.

[IronicallyVague]

@cheezmo722 - Judging by your rant here & on other Schizophrenia videos I'd say Psychiatry isn't your field my friend...May I suggest something in the fast food industry?

[daizee106]

We should not be so quick to label people who have been traumatized.

[Acheyfeet]

My girlfriend had a mental/emotional breakdown at age 20. She eventually could not take care of herself, relate to her loved ones at any constructive level, or keep herself from harm. I married her because I was the only person who could take care of her. We knew nothing about mental illnesses and treated it as a spiritual trouble. I'm not sure whether she made any progress in the two years before I finally gave her up to the psychiatrists. Medication allowed her to function better, but it hurt.

[samhill1970]

another survivor here read an oath to hell

[JNathanK2011]

Like, depending on the time frame, whether it was mass witch, UFO, or dragon sightings, the observers were all experiencing a collective hallucination. However, the powers that be, rather than let people know how powerful their minds are, suppress it by saying its either a delusion or a physical threat that they need to protect people from. I'm not saying hallucinations are all real, but Im not saying they're all illusory either. Its similar to how not all mainstream cultural notions are true.