Being Bonkers (part 2)

Part two of a film about my personal experience at the hands of the psychiatric profession. Made for AltTV on Channel 4 in 2002.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• psychiatry
• bonkers
• psychiatric
• mental
• anti-psychiatry

[TwisterB]

I had the same sort of mental breakdown. I'm from Canada, and while we don't have a good public mental health system, I did get a psychologist through uni. I was on campus having a panic attack in the middle of the sidewalk. Totally despondant, no one stopped to help me. I looked up, and I was right outside the office for students with disabilities. Talk about coincidence. I went in and was fortunate enough to get this really calm buddhist counsellor who talked me out of the fear.

[tearecords]

@TwisterB you were very lucky indeed. If every councellor were a buddhist it would put a lot of psychiatrists out of business!

[KitsuneCharmed]

Great videos! Psychiatry is some scary stuff, and the hospitals are enough to drive anyone around the bend. Living well is the best revenge, they say, but making a documentary has to be at least the second best!

[tearecords]

Thanks. My thoughts, exactly.

[fifeetrixibelle]

excellent vids. Wish it wasn't a true experience for you. One question, sheer curiousity. Do you have HIPPA laws? No one should have access to those records, even doctor to doctor you have to sign a release of information to my knowledge and experience.

[tearecords]

You're right, the records aren't public but there are situations where I could be asked to give permission for someone to look at them. Certainly for health insurance and some jobs will want you to pass a medical examination.

It's actually not really relevant in my case, but the commissioning editor at the broadcaster wanted that line in. Clearly, I don't care who knows!

[Jethrol2]

Wow....amazing, tragic and afirming all at the same time. Great job on your documentary...I really enjoyed it. Thanks for posting it.

[TwisterB]

I had the same sort of mental breakdown. I'm from Canada, and while we don't have a good public mental health system, I did get a psychologist through uni. I was on campus having a panic attack in the middle of the sidewalk. Totally despondant, no one stopped to help me. I looked up, and I was right outside the office for students with disabilities. Talk about coincidence. I went in and was fortunate enough to get this really calm buddhist counsellor who talked me out of the fear.

[Isisbridge]

I think I meant brilliant expose-ay. (I can't think of my words sometimes) People who have never been involved with the psychiatric system often have a naive belief that psychiatrists are experts on the mind, and so videos like this are important to educate them as to the true state of affairs. Psychiatrists are not interested in trying to understand people's minds. They are just looking for signs and symptoms, so that they can put a label on you and drug you up.

[tearecords]

Thanks, I'm glad it connected. In fact, I also paid for my own MRI scan in 1999 when I finally got my diagnosis. I hope you are doing ok now and staying clear of psychiatrists!

[spazzium]

But the fact that responses to drugs still change between each individual is an indication of how complex the brain really is. Further, lots of psychological states can be modified just as effectively with changes in diet and exercise.

[spazzium]

It's the responsibility of psychiatrists everywhere to prescribe drugs responsibly. And the fact that nobody has any real insight into the black box chemical interactions of the brain is a serious problem, and once solved will probably be the biggest medical breakthrough of my lifetime. That said, anti-depressants do help a number of people. I have personal witness to the successful prescription treatment of bipolar.

[spazzium]

Wow, what a well made presentation. I just have a small BLA in Psychology, but I can agree and have seen accounts that would agree with every part of your account.

[Seabrook78in]

Thanks for posting this.