I advocate for positive mental health that promotes healing with minimal or preferably no medication. I advocate for a more positive way of treating mental illness than harmful drugs through lifestyle changes. I advocate for a healthier lifestyle, diet, and exercise. I advocate for money going to evidence-based treatments.
I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic features in 2001 The long-term side effects started making me much worse starting about 2013. It is also important to note that I have had multiple MMPI tests that all showed "functioning within normal limits" Starting in the early '90s. I have also had three Neuropsychological Evaluations.
The whole thing started in 1999. I had a severe cervical spine injury and was given an SSRI for Chronic Pain as the increase in Seratonin is supposed to help with the pain. A month later I had a complete nervous breakdown and missed my first anniversary. That was my first Psychiatric hospitalization.
I had been hospitalized previously twice for substance abuse. 1987 because suicidal ideation was involved. After they realized I was not suicidal they transferred me to a chemical dependency unit. In 1992 after I had to have my dog put to sleep because of a lady who, knowing my dog was not safe unless I was present, gave her little girl potato chips and sent her to my yard where the dog was chained to feed him. Both times I was drunk. I was self-medicating with alcohol to deal with stress.
The Neuropsychological Evaluation in 2008 said I had superior intelligence. The test in 2018 said I had average intelligence with a 15 point downward slide. The test in 2021 said there were improvements in my processing speed and other areas since quitting the medications. I have more emotional control. I can think more clearly and many of the symptoms attributed to the brain injury have disappeared.
What was more surprising!! This one clearly stated there was no sign of "psychological or behavioral dysfunction". I have PTSD from an auto accident and a resulting 17-day coma with emotional control issues in 1978. I did not develop, socially like everyone else. Under periods of high stress, I have some emotional control issues from frontal lobe damage.
CBT helped me more than anything. The two psychiatrists told me it was better to be mentally Ill, their words than have a brain injury and medications were the best courses of action. I have been tried on all of them to no effect (medication resistance is what they call it now).
At one time I was on 6. The average dose of Seroquel is 100 - 300 mg. They had me on 800mg. Seroquel and Risperdal (two antipsychotics) Simultaneously. Also - Zoloft, Depakote, Roserum, and clonazepam. The theory, I was told, was that I was having micro seizures that were causing the occasional outbursts. Nothing helped and they kept on piling them on and switching from this to that.
This type of thing is far too common and needs to change.
