Am I "Depressed" or Am I having a Perfectly Normal Reaction to the Global S**tshow?
Information to help you review sleep and mental health challenges.
Recently I have seen Ed Dowd focus on the increasing numbers of prescriptions being written for mental health drugs, such as antidepressants: which reminded me of the other health issues that are important at the moment.
My book “Alarming Sleep Secrets": Your Doctor is Making an ASS Out of You": published in 2017, expressed my alarm at the number of people who were being prescribed dangerous, addictive and harmful medications in the name of sleeping better, improved mental health, and “to balance a chemical imbalance in the brain”.
Apparently your lack of sleep due to emotional and other problems, and your unrest at the challenges in your life, is worthy of a medication that comes with significant risks, including the increased possibility of suicide.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, medically trained, statistician nor medical expert. Do NOT under any circumstance vary or stop taking your medicines without expert help and supervision. Withdrawing or changing doses of medications comes with significant risk, which you should be aware of. I am not giving advice, this is purely an opinion piece. (Having said that, where are the doctors writing books like this? And where are the doctors helping people, responsibly, to come off medications safely? It appears to be a one-way street.)
Warning: This information is disturbing for the uninitiated. I am sharing it, because I believe it to be the right thing to do. The selected world experts have numerous videos, books, peer reviewed information, international court testimonies, published reports, international podcasts, movie features, etc.
HOW MANY AUSTRALIANS ARE TAKING ANTIDEPRESSANTS?
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) over 44 million prescriptions were written for mental health related conditions to 4.7 million Australians in 2021-22.
This represents about 18 percent, of Australia’s 26.2 million, filling a mental health prescription in that year. 74 percent of those prescriptions were for an anti-depressant medication. Source: https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/topic-areas/mental-health-prescriptions
When you know more about these medications, you will understand exactly why I’m very concerned.
After watching the videos on this page and knowing more about these medications, you will understand exactly why I’m very concerned about:
the broadening of the concept of having a “mental health problem”,
the lack of attempt to diagnose the underlying problem that presents as a sleep and/or mental health problem,
the glib way that medical professionals are prescribing addictive and dependence forming medications with serious, even life-threatening side-effects,
the total lack of informed consent when medications are prescribed, with little or no explanation of the numerous side effects of the medications, nor disclosure of their addictiveness.
LET’S HEAR DIRECTLY FROM THE EXPERTS
Please look up their backgrounds, as they are world leaders in their field. I have not accompanied these people with their lengthy and impressive backgrounds, but I’m sure if/when you look further you will understand they know something of what they are talking about.
Professor Peter C. Gotzsche
I first heard Professor Peter Gotzsche speak in Australia in February 2015, here is the talk I attended, which is important:
Professor Gotzsche, who co-founded Cochrane, has now been expelled from Cochrane. He is now at the Institute of Scientific Freedom.
His blog is: https://www.deadlymedicines.dk/ and you will find some of his books, even in free download form, at https://www.scientificfreedom.dk/books/
Robert Whitaker
Author “Mad in America” and “Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America”. Claimed to have the best longitudinal data on the effects of mental health drugs.
https://www.MadinAmerica.com
Dr. Peter Breggin
Dr Peter Breggin is known as “the conscience of psychiatry” and has written many books to help people. This short video is disturbing, but it needs to be included.
Dr. Ann Blake-Tracy
International Coalition for Drug Awareness, and Antidepressant Nightmares/SSRI Stories. Includes serious concerns over violent behaviour.
Her YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo-6uMPDOtwaPe1ec3Rhr3A
Professor David Healy
Professor David Healy was a key witness in the Dolin vs GSK court case, set up the website https://rxisk.org/ where consumers (not doctors) report adverse drug effects, and was a contributor to Restoring Study 329. His interview with BBC Panorama on the definitions of addiction and/or dependence is also recommended.
https://davidhealy.org
You will notice that the video below has been flagged on YouTube. Wonder why. And please excuse the audio.
Emeritus Professor C. Heather Ashton
No longer with us, unfortunately. She spent her life educating people about benzodiazepines, dependence, etc.
https://www.benzo.org.uk and https://www.benzo.org.uk/manual
Sue Dengate and Dr Howard Dengate.
Australia’s Food Intolerance Network.
There are a numerous food additives, colourings, even natural additives, that are associated with sleep disorders, symptoms of ADHD, oppositional defiance in children, aggression, etc.
More information can be found at https://www.FedUp.com.au. This Aussie woman is legendary, known globally, twice nominated for Australian of the Year (nothing to see there). No it is not depression, it could be additive 282, etc…
WITHDRAWAL CARE
James Moore, Let’s Talk Withdrawal - a series of podcasts dedicated to helping you withdraw. By James Moore, who had difficulties himself, so it is an exceptionally good program.
https://www.letstalkwithdrawal.com/
Here is Episode 15 with Robert Whitaker:
“OPEN DIALOGUE”
A most successful mental health process, which began in Finland in the 1980s. I attended a presentation at Sydney University a number of years ago, with Jaakko Seikkula, having seen the information in Robert Whitaker’s Anatomy of an Epidemic book.
https://opendialogue.org.au/
Unfortunately this is not yet developed significantly in Australia, but there is more information here: https://opendialogue.org.au/resources/
Mad in America supports Open Dialogue. Find more information here: https://www.madinamerica.com/2020/10/what-is-open-dialogue-today/
Anything tagged “Open Dialogue” on Robert Whitaker’s Mad in America website, can be found here: https://www.madinamerica.com/tag/open-dialogue/
You may even want to learn how to be a practitioner? It appears that the number of practitioners in Australia has not developed enough yet, but I would review the resources page to check, and to find out more.
SIDE EFFECTS OF SLEEPING PILLS AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH DRUGS
A. They never address the underlying issue. Which could range from bullying, sexual abuse, addiction, illness, violence… through to some random food additive that is sending you off… So mask the symptom and never address the underlying issue?
B. Include - but not limited to - suicide, suicidal ideation, addiction/dependence, brain damage, panic attacks, blurred vision, sexual dysfunction, nightmares, hypersensitivity, bizarre behaviours, sleep walking, violence, homicide, driving while asleep, increased risk of depression, increased rates of cancer, loss of memory, withdrawal problems, shakiness, irritability, impaired driving and impaired use of heavy machinery, akathesia, depressed respiratory function, foggy thinking, increased falls and fractures in the elderly, congenital abnormalities/birth defects, overdose deaths, increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, difficulty walking, decreased libido, yawning while having sex, aggression, increased interest in alcohol, chemical imbalance in the brain (yes), autism in babies born from mothers taking antidepressants, shortened life span, cessation of role function, long term employment challenges, tardive dyskinesia, etc.
MISSD
Ever heard of akathisia? One of the side effects of varying your drugs.
https://www.missd.co/
YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@MISSDFoundation
GENERAL SOLUTIONS
Solutions begin with addressing the underlying problem that is causing the insomnia, stress, depression, etc. This part really can’t be avoided, as much as it might be challenging.
Other supporting activities and strategies might include:
Exercise, just start off with something… anything.
Talking to people, your friends, opening up, finding new friends if your current ones aren’t supportive, and fun.
Spending time in the sun.
Do some research, listen to the videos above.
Healthy, pure food - as best as you can manage.
Avoid nasty food additives, sugar-hyped foods, etc.
Get adequate sleep.
Concentrate on the positives in your life. Spend time each week on things you love doing.
Review all your present drug, alcohol, gambling and other addictive behaviours.
Spend time in nature.
There are many solutions to investigate, many outlined in my book.
HELP LINES, HOTLINES, CONFIDENTIALITY
You may be disturbed to know that in the US, their claims that making contact with a mental health hotline will be confidential, is NOT confidential. In fact, you could end up with someone coming to your house and taking you elsewhere. (The US’s dedicated Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988, commenced in July 2022, and had 4 million contacts between July 2022 and April 2023 - on pace to double the average calls 2017-2021.) “In April 2023, compared to April 2022, calls answered increased by 52%, chats by 90%, and texts by 1022%.” The texts increase is particularly chilling to see.
Here is the story about psychiatric detentions rising in the US. (I have chosen this US website for this story, because there is NO equivalent reliable source of information in Australia - possibly the world. This website, Mad in America, is the world leader in my opinion, started by Robert Whitaker.)
Source: https://www.madinamerica.com/2023/05/psychiatric-detentions-rise-988/ Accessed July 3, 2023.
COCHRANE INFORMATION 2021
https://australia.cochrane.org/news/new-cochrane-review-explores-latest-evidence-approaches-stopping-long-term-antidepressants
I have just looked at this article, and it does include messaging about slow tapering, which the article indicates is not being adhered to at the moment. Good to see. Is anyone reading it? Is your doctor reading it?
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Disclaimer again: I am not a medical doctor, practitioner, nor scientifically trained. (I just got interested in this topic after inventing the Compatibility Blanket some time ago.)
We’re all having a rough time at the moment, there are so many issues to get on top of, while we navigate continual change, that we may or may not agree with. Sleep and mental attitude are being effected for everyone, that’s for sure.
However we have learned the most amazing amount of information, often from the best in the world, to strengthen us into the future and to move through these challenging times.
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(If you do want to read my book, it is available in physical and e-book styles, see the publications section on this Substack. Availability is not restricted to Amazon and Kindle … but the above is a good place to start with…)