Want to Share Your Experience?

I am not sure if I will get in trouble for posting this, but haven't seen anything against it. If I am wrong I am so sorry and am not really looking to get in trouble or cause problems. So, just let me know and I will remove it...but I have met another psych survivor on another board and we have been talking about gathering all of our stories in one place to have more of an impact. Let me know if you are interested. The introduction type of letter we have come up with follows with our contact info (and yes...I do have Amy's permission to post this ) Thanks for any feedback!

"Dear Fellow Psychiatric Survivors and Families:

As personal survivors of the adverse side effects SSRIs and other mental health medications can cause, we are compelled as many of you to raise awareness and wish to take the next step of compiling our experiences with those of other survivors. The hope is to put these experiences together as a book to expose the side effects from a personal level by giving real life accounts of those affected.

By gathering our experiences and pulling our stories together in one place we will have a greater impact than we can possible have individually. We cannot keep our stories to ourselves any longer. We owe it to ourselves, to those unknowingly suffering right now, and to those who have lost their lives or the lives of a loved one to the mind-altering effects of these medications to make our experiences known. In essence, we need to be a voice for those who have lost theirs.

To begin the process, we have created a basic questionnaire to evaluate how many may be interested. To request a questionnaire by email, please send your request to either jryankowsky@aol.com or amyphilo@yahoo.com. We will send you the questionnaire via email and upon return receipt will contact you as soon as possible to further discuss your story and this project overall.

As always, if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact either of us at the above email addresses. We appreciate your interest and involvement and look forward to talking with you further.

With many thanks,

Julie and Amy"

I think you work for the drug companies and are compiling a list of people who have had problems with the drugs so you can send out assassins to kill them so they stay quiet. Maybe you aren't. Maybe I'm just a little...paranoid. Maybe..it could just be the side effects of all the SSRIs I took. You'll never know cause you ain't never gonna get me SmithKline Beecham and Eli Lilly! Screw you too Pfizer!

Weakpoint wrote:I think you work for the drug companies and are compiling a list of people who have had problems with the drugs so you can send out assassins to kill them so they stay quiet. Maybe you aren't. Maybe I'm just a little...paranoid. Maybe..it could just be the side effects of all the SSRIs I took. You'll never know cause you ain't never gonna get me SmithKline Beecham and Eli Lilly! Screw you too Pfizer!

Weakpoint,
I am sorry you think that I work for the drug companies...nothing could be further from the truth and if you read any of my previous posts I would hope that you see that. I suffered at the hands of the drug companies and would like nothing better than to see them fall on their profit seeking faces. The truth be known...I don't work anywhere right now and am trying to get back on my feet after having to go on disability due to the effects of these drugs. They ruined my career that I had worked hard for and was successful at (at a nonprofit museum thank you...not a drug company!!!!). I would like nothing more than to have my life back with prior to mental health medications. It was the worst 3 yrs of my life starting with the SSRI Celexa and going down a road of so many other meds I can't even remember them all and ending in one last overdose on Lexapro (and yes...have to remember to scatter the many, many ECT shock therapies in there too). If you think that I work for the drug companies go to my website below in the signature section and read my story, read my mission to bring these companies down and expose the truth that they are hiding, read the links that I have attached for other sites from people doing the same thing, and lastly look at the poetry/art section of the disturbing writings and images done while under the influence of meds. Although I have always liked to draw I have never been a poet yet these scary poems just flew off my pen onto the black pages giving a metaphor for the darkness that I felt I could not escape. No...I don't work for the drug companies and couldn't ever imagine doing so unless it was to spy on them and report on what they are doing. It is fine if you or anyone else doesn't want to share your story. I am leaning now towards writing a book with just my own story maybe unless there is more of an interest expressed. I realize that our stories are very personal and it has taken me a lot of reflection and searching within to make the decision to share my experience here online and possibly in print. I have just found that there are so many books out there from a personal perspective of people helped by the mental health community and now there is such a infusion of people who have been 'helped' by meds... I just want to show the other side of the story that is suppressed by the very drug companies you think I work for. Agghhh...the very thought of working for them makes me physically sick! I am not alone...I have met another person affected by the meds (after only taking zoloft for 3 days she was in the hospital begging to be admitted). We both experienced that even though we now know it was the meds since we are better not taking them...that option was never explored by our doctors...they just wanted to try higher doses or newer meds. Just to make myself clear...I abhore the drug companies and think of them as no better than people who sell illegal drugs on the streets. That may sound harsh, but it is my feeling after falling victim to their marketing and lying.

stopthemadness,

I admire your strength and good on you.

Logic denotes that the truth will eventually bring the drug companies to their knee's.

Anonymous wrote:stopthemadness,

I admire your strength and good on you.

Logic denotes that the truth will eventually bring the drug companies to their knee's.

Thank you for your support. It is amazing that more people don't see that those of us negatively affected is probably greater than those 'helped'. I am finding that many who have stood by these meds are now changing their view and realizing that their life isn't really that much better if at all than prior to medication. It is a myth that is effectively being put into our societal psyche. Now I may be the one sounding paranoid , but I closely watch the television ads by the drug companies and have been compiling magazine advertisements and it is so evident the manipulation they are doing. Yes, it is our responsibility as the consumer to do our research, etc. but how can we do that if the information is being hidden? Thank God they have at least admitted to the harmful effects for children and teens and have given a black box warning, but there is so much more that needs to be done for the children and for the adults. There was a public warning this summer by the FDA for the harmful effects (i.e. suicidal and psychotic behaviors and actions) for adults, but have we heard any more about it than the 2 seconds it got on the national news? They issue a public warning, but then don't work very hard at publicizing it more and further. I recently checked their website to see when the public hearings on this might be (if a could I would very much want to be a part of that) and didn't see them scheduled at this point at all! Talk about working at a snail's pace while each and every day people are unknowingly surviving in a living hell made by these drugs or losing their lives to them. It boggles my mind the coverup going on with this. I was a very trusting person that believed that I was protected by my government and related agencies....boy, has that view changed over the past couple of years! Once again thank you for your support...it gets kind of hard to keep pushing about this and at times I just want to give up. Then something else happens that makes me realize that I can't. Someone has to be a voice for those who have lost theirs to death or imprisonment. Many family members who have lost loved ones and doctors with this antimed view are involved, but I haven't found many actual survivors who can give a first hand account of what it is like to be under the influence of the meds and then come out on the other side of it. I think many feel guilt and shame or simply don't know that it is the meds (that was how I felt and had no idea that it could be the meds until I saw an ad for a class action suit against neurontin one of the many meds I was on...I wouldn't want the drug companies dirty $ though unless it was to put it back in the effort to expose them further ). Because of these feeling and lack of public knowledge of the severity and reality of the harmful effects of these drugs reaching higher numbers than anyone is willing to see, many who have similar stories haven't come forth in great numbers. This will change however as more and more do come out. I just have to think about how anyone who has fought for any cause worth fighting for has had opposition. It can be frustrating though and tiring in the process . Thanks again for your support and comments. All the best....
Julie

stopthemadness,

Yes it will take a lot of time. I've been involved in a lot of fights on many fronts, some have been won, some are on-going but I rarely tire. For me it feels good to fight, it puts distance between me and the issues/people I oppose. It's good for the soul! This is what keeps me going.

The Mindfreedom mob are a great thorn is the side of the bio-psychiatry industry. I look forward to the outcomes of the court battle they are organising, it will take a long time for a result.

http://psychrights.org/Education/2005Ac ... Report.htm

Any objective judge will see bio-psychiatry hasn't got a leg to stand on.

I like your site too, there is a lot of good info and advice, well done!

Thanks again for the lifting words and comments on my site. I do get very fired up about this , but this is one of the reasons I say that I do relate to bipolar symptoms is that I can 'crash' sometimes too and have to work at keeping the 'balance'...but I think that is true for so many and the reason that so many are being wrongly diagnosed. I don't think they have mental illness in many cases, just emotional issues or other stressors. If people think that they can keep living at such a rapid and nonstop pace then it is no wonder the numbers of people reaching for meds is rising by the minute. This society wants their cake and eat it too (to be a bit cheesy sounding )...they want their technology and lives filled to the max with the best of everything, but also want to feel happy and relaxed. It doesn't work! Maybe for some...not trying to start an argument with anyone, but we do have to look at the why and not just the quick surface fix 'solution'. Anyway, I don't mean to get on my soapbox...lol! Just wanted to ask you about the link you just posted. I read it and have looked at the homepage you had posted a link to another time for mindfreedom. It looks interesting to me and I noticed mention of personal testimonies. Is this something they are still looking for (it didn't look like it on the homepage when I had looked before). I also noticed that some of the addresses were in Syracuse, Rochester, Sterling, and Albany New York for the organizers. Since I live in the Syracuse area (right between there and Sterling actually ) I was wondering if there is any way to get more involved with helping other than donating $? Right now I have time but limited funds if you know what I mean . The result of being on disability due to these meds...even though I am working on that it is also taking time and I am pulled between doing something in my past profession or looking towards the future with the mission of helping with this issue. I have a vision of creating a ministry to help promote that there are other ways besides medicine to get yourself on track. Something like a resource center (thought I would start it first online and then hopefully get a physical location). I have the basics all down, but have more to do that is for sure . Ok...sorry to ramble...just wondering if you know of any of these people in the NY area and if it would be worth while to contact them? Any info/advice would be more than appreciated. Thank you!

Hey, at least Bi-Polar can be treated. Me? I've gotta take 50 ml of that $%&#$@ Ritalin into my veins , no bigy. Seriously though, I've found that the drug companies in New Zealand are rather leinient, and usually make an attempt to remove any tax or addictive material in 'treatment' drugs. Maybe your drug companies just need to die? (On a similiar note, the Yanks need to remove their nuclear warheads, I say we can kill two birds with one stone... )

Seriously thought: Study Neuroscience and Human chemistry, make your own Drug company! Imagine a poor little Aspergers sufferer who has to continously inject... Naa, I'm being Narcistic again . But give it a try! Usually peace comes from those who've only experience war, so we just need one sufferer on the CEO or BOT to change things.

Stay strong, peeps.

stopthemadness,

Here is a link to the mindfreedom home page http://www.mindfreedom.org/

There is a join or get involved links to click on if your interested. The mindsheild would be a good thing for you to join and promote on your site.

The mindfreedom site is extensive, there is a lot of information. I think mindfreedom or the Support Coalition International is probably the peak body challenging bio-psychiatry. It's where the momentum is.

If you get a chance click on the hungerstrike link and have a look at the scientific panel of ethical Psychiatrists and Doctors that are involved with the fight, supported the hungerstrikers and responded to the APA and the NAMI. Fantastic!

Since the hungerstrike the SCI has mainly concerntrated on developing the mindsheild. Now that is up a running they are now concerntrating on getting bio-psychiatry into court.

I am not a resident of the USA, I am involved in another group in my country. The organisation I am involved in here has a great amount of power. No psychiatrist would dare take us on in a fight. It's a great feeling to know I'll never be forcefully treated again, I have too much support. This support enables me to speak out without fear. And I certainly do speak out, I am working on 3 community projects right now, government funded projects as well, and yes they are all anti bio-psychiatry projects.

I doubt if bio-psychiatry will fold in the US first. Bio-psychiatry was born in the USA and is a bio-psychiatry strong hold unfortunately. It will only take psychiatry one country to dismiss bio-psychiatry for the nonsense it is, then it will snow ball throughout the world.

Keep up the good work but don't burn out.

I hear you . Thanks for the info on mindfreedom again...I will go back and see what more I can find about being able to help. Maybe I will send a letter to those listed on your other link in my area...couldn't hurt could it? You are so right about the fact that the US won't be the first to admit their mistakes...it just doesn't work that way here unfortunately. I used to be so much more trusting, naive...whatever you want to call it...but that made it so I almost lost my life without even knowing the reason why. Needless to say I am more cautious now...I spoke my mind about this to such an extent to my new dr. (we moved around the same time I stopped meds) that she questioned if I would use nasal spray for a recent sinus/congestion problem . At least I got my point across for once...they never listened to me about my mental health meds that is for sure. I also just wanted to address the previous poster about the bipolar diagnosis. It is my 'official' diagnosis, but I take it with a grain of salt (for another cheesy saying ). They had me on the road to a dissociative disorder diagnosis too...but that was obviously only true while on the meds. I just admit that I do relate to some of the symptoms related to bipolar, but no one would even know it while I am off the meds...and it wasn't just antidepressants that set me off like the public is being pulled into believing now. I just really think that it is my personality...I can be creative, I can be passionate, I can be driven to the point of going a little to fast, and I can also crash to the point that I have to drag myself through the day...but if I am truly bipolar I don't think that it is at a serious enough level to require meds. And I don't think that I am the only one out there like this. It is astonishing how the drs. and drug companies are pushing what in my opinion is an exagerated myth for most people that if you have an adverse reaction to antidepressants then you are automatically listed as bipolar and now require a lifetime regimen of mood stabilizers to mute your personality. I have seen some very real cases where the mood swings are destructive to a person's life (my husband's 2 closest friends - a father and son both diagnosed bipolar specifically), but still wonder greatly about their quality of life while on the meds too. It seems like picking one evil over another. But, I do agree that bipolar is treatable...but I go more towards the fact that I think that at times it can be done without meds. I was told I needed them for the rest of my life along with maintenance ECT treatments...the life I have today is a better quality than those 'treatments' (meds and ECT) could ever provide or sustain. All the best to you both....