When discussing mental or physical illness, health and nutrition cannot be overlooked.Many physicians are much too anxious to write a prescription for the least ailment.A sore knee and out comes the prescription pad for Oxycontin.A teen-age break up with a girlfriend or boyfriend and out comes the prescription pad for an anti-depressant.
These drugs and many like them may give temporary release from mental or physical anguish.The long term and addictive effects can be brutal.Much of what we are experiencing, particularly in North America, are harmful toxins that are constantly put into our bodies via the foods that we eat and drink and the stale air that we breathe.These things can all too easily affect our moods and how we handle the stress of life.
Numerous doctors and psychiatrists over the years have looked for other ways than drugs to help their patients alleviate various mental conditions.The late Dr Sydney Walker, in his book, A Dose of Sanity, insists that he could find the physical source for whatever mental issue was manifesting.He was extremely successful in this regard.
The insistence of some that there is a chemical imbalance in the brain causing illnesses like depression and bipolar issues has yet to be proven.There exists no research validating this idea.
So, what then?How does our immune system affect our mental health?And how do the chemicals in our environment affect our immune system?
Below is a excerpt from and link to Dr. Zach Bush’s website.This section is titled ‘The Innate Immune System’. Read through the articles and watch the video.There is a lot of information in this section of his website.Going through this material will give you a greater understanding as to how the microbes in your environment can benefit your health.How you can revitalize your physical and thus your mental health.
"During this most extreme collapse of human health in our history, we have made a startling discovery: human cells are not at the center of human health. Instead, it’s the cells within our microbiome, functioning as the life-giving soil within our gut and internal organs, which is at the core. The microbiome guides human health and is one of the most important contributors to the functioning of our immune system."
- Dr Zach Bush
In 2006 and 2007 there were some surveys done showing that 80% or more of the people surveyed considered the theory of chemical imbalance in the brain as fact.
If you want to read a lengthy article on how this fallacious idea came to be, read this articlePsychiatry Under the Influence
By survey in 2006, 80% of Americans believed that a chemical imbalance in the brain is what causes depression.Ronald Pies calls this concept, an urban legend.
“…in a 2007 survey of 262 undergraduates, psychologist Christopher M. France of Cleveland State University and his colleagues found that 84.7 percent of participants found it “likely” that chemical imbalances cause depression.” - Scientific American
In my years of research, I have found no evidence, no white paper proving this theory.Numerous psychiatrists, doctors and professors, etc., that actually work in the industry, have found no evidence to support this.
“I don’t think there’s any convincing body of data that anybody has ever found that depression is associated, to a significant extent, with loss of serotonin.”-Alan Frazer, University of Texas Health Science Center, 2012
“In truth, the chemical imbalance notion was always a kind of urban legend, never a theory seriously propounded by well-informed psychiatrists.” - Ronald Pies, July 11, 2011 in Psychiatric Times
“We have hunted for big simple neurochemical explanations for psychiatric disorders and have not found them.” Kenneth Kendler, Psychological Medicine, 2005
In an article in Deadly Medicines and Organized Crime, Dr Peter Groeche talks about the myth of the chemical imbalance:
“It has never been possible to show that common mental disorders start with a chemical imbalance in the brain. The studies that have claimed this are all unreliable.” Prof. Peter C. Gøtzsche, June 28, 2019
In this article Professor Gøtzche points out that at least one psychiatrist claimed, when being interviewed that the profession no longer stood by the theory of the ‘chemical imbalance of the brain’ causing depression or other issues.And some weeks later this same doctor lectured about ‘chemical imbalances’.Hmmm!?
“It is a lie that you have a biochemical imbalance and that psychiatric drugs will rebalance your brain. It was a marketing ploy not based upon science. It was designed to sell drugs and it has worked all too well.” Dr Kim West
For example, Pfizer’s television advertisement, years ago for Zoloft states that “depression is a serious medical condition that may be due to a chemical imbalance”, and that “Zoloft works to correct this imbalance.” (This video is easily found on Youtube if you would like to check it out.)
The ‘original’ Zoloft ad, I think seen at a Super Bowl, promoted the drug for depression claiming that it corrected an imbalance of chemicals between nerve endings.There is absolutely no science behind this claim.Another statement that is made in the ad is that Zoloft is not habit forming.If this last statement were even close to the truth, there would not be any number of websites telling how to come off this and other types of drugs. And how difficult it is to do!
I’m not sure if Pfizer was ever held accountable for the lies told in that Television ad.Sad.So, can a pharmaceutical company like Pfizer get away with blatant lies in their advertising?I guess so!
If you or one you love or know is on a drug like Zoloft and wants to stop, then please read through the material at this link first.VERY IMPORTANT
The article references Dr Peter Breggin’s method for coming of these drugs.He suggests coming off at increments of 10%.Some doctors will suggest 1% increments for certain drugs. So much for the statement that drugs like Zoloft aren’t addictive.
Here is a great, short video by UCLA Professor David Cohen, PhD.Titled ‘Sadness Is Not a Brain Disorder’
You can do your own homework but here is a list of Doctors, professors, psychiatrists and scientists and their opinion of the Myth of Chemical Imbalance in the Brain:
“The spurious chemical imbalance theory of depression is arguably the most destructive thing that psychiatry has ever done.” By Philip Hickey, PhD
“To this day, there exists not a single biological test for any mental disorder, despite claims to the contrary.” -Mark L. Ruffalo
"However, there is one (rather large) problem with this theory: there is absolutely no evidence to support it.[Chemical imbalance in the brain] Recent reviews of the research have demonstrated no link between depression, or any other mental disorder, and an imbalance of chemicals in the brain." (Lacasse & Leo, 2005; (Valenstein, 1998).
“There’s no biological imbalance. When people come to me and they say, ‘I have a biological imbalance,’ I say, ‘Show me your lab tests.’ There are no lab tests. So what’s the biochemical imbalance?” —Dr. Ron Leifer, New York psychiatrist.
“If a psychiatrist says you have a shortage of a chemical, ask for a blood test and watch the psychiatrist’s reaction. The number of people who believe that scientists have proven that depressed people have low serotonin is a glorious testament to the power of marketing.” - Jonathan Leo, Western University of Health Sciences
“First, no biological etiology [cause] has been proven for any psychiatric disorder...in spite of decades of research....So don’t accept the myth that we can make an ‘accurate diagnosis’....Neither should you believe that your problems are due solely to a ‘chemical imbalance.’” - Edward Drummond, M.D
“Remember that no biochemical, neurological, or genetic markers have been found for attention deficit disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, compulsive alcohol and drug abuse, overeating, gambling, or any other so‐called mental illness, disease, or disorder.”- Bruce Levine, Ph.D/Psychologist
“Biopsychiatrists have created the myth that psychiatric ‘wonder’ drugs correct chemical imbalances. Yet there is no basis for this model because no chemical imbalance has ever been proven to be the basis of a mental illness,” -Ty C. Colbert, Psychologist.
The stated Aims of Psychiatry are not in alignment with the general medical profession. The medical profession has the Hippocratic Oath; you can read the entire oath here: Doctor's Oath
And then there are the intentions of the Industry of Psychiatry. Here is a quote from Brock Chisolm, first head of the World Federation of Mental Health
"The re-interpretation and eventually eradication of the concept of right and wrong which has been the basis of child training, the substitution of intelligent and rational thinking for faith in the certainties of the old people, these are the belated objectives of practically all effective psychotherapy."
- Brock Chisholm (1946) The Psychiatry of Enduring Peace and Social Progress. p. (1896-1971) Canadian World War I veteran, medical practitioner, first Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), first head of the World Federation of Mental Health. Your Dictionary
Eradicating the concept of right and wrong? That allows for any immoral or illegal act to become justified.If that is the actual goal of the psychiatric industry, then I believe any sane person knowing this would justifiably throw the whole industry into the scrap heap.
At the end of one article elucidating the above he closes with this:
“There is something to be said for taking charge of our own destiny, for gently putting aside the mistaken old ways of our elders if that is possible. If it cannot be done gently, it may have to be done roughly or even violently--that has happened before.“
(Brock Chisolm Quote)
Brock Chisolm is justifying force to make you or me, or more specifically our children, think and behave the way that he sees fit.Maybe that is what justifies such barbaric practises as electro-convulsive therapy, lobotomies, or drugs like lithium.
And then there are some less violent definitions.
What is the goal of psychiatry?
“Psychiatry is a medical specialty dealing with the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of mental illness. Its primary goal is the relief of mental suffering associated with disorder and improvement of mental well-being.”
“Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.”
“Mental illness, also called mental health disorders, refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.”
I have several issues with the above definition.‘Health Conditions’ and ‘Disorders’.It is kind of broad. And it allows far too many things in life to be included as “disorders” or ‘health conditions’.Additionally, in the real world, mental illness has been redefined as a disease.
If we are going to define mental illness as an actual disease or some sort of physical illness, then there needs to be a test for it. Otherwise, the door opens to all sorts of misdiagnosis and the application of the incorrect solutions.If you read Dr Sydney Walker’s ‘A Dose of Sanity’, you will find that he was pretty much always able to find some physical problem behind a mental one. From that correct diagnosis, he was able to prescribe the correct procedure.Whether it be removing the brain tumour that Prozac had been prescribed for or something as simple as removing a child’s allergens from his or her environ.This particular child having been prescribed Ritalin due to being ADHD.With the allergens removed from the environment, the symptoms disappeared as well.
There are numerous psychiatrists and doctors that would also argue that often there is nothing wrong at all with the child in the first place.Peter Breggin MD in his book ‘Reclaiming Our Children’ gives numerous examples of helping parents and kids work things out with communication and understanding and various agreements.He doesn’t automatically assume there is a disorder or a disease.And again he consistently solves family issues.He is seen to be an extremely warm and caring individual as can be seen by reading any of his books.
Here we have two psychiatrists that have consistently solved ‘mental illness’ without prescribing drugs.These doctors among many many others, fulfill the above stated goal of psychiatry: “Its primary goal is the relief of mental suffering associated with disorder and improvement of mental well-being.”
Urban Legend?
“disorders that affect your mood”
And then what do you consider a disorder?Any emotion? Extreme emotions?What constitutes ‘clinical depression’?There is no physical test in existence for this ‘disorder’.The ‘chemical imbalance in the brain’ is right up there with the ‘Lemmings committing mass suicide’.In case you are wondering about the Lemmings thing, it never happened.It is an urban legend.So is the ‘chemical imbalance in your brain’ statement.If it were true, then a doctor or psychiatrist could do a test or series of tests and show exact results.
I think it is amazing that in spite of the fact that there has never been a valid physical test for things like depression and other mental illnesses, the idea that there is a chemical balance behind them all persists throughout society.
Ask your doctor.Or your shrink.Get him or her to tell you what the exact physical test is for these so called diseases.If there is something physically wrong, what is the test to show this?
If you really feel there is something physically wrong, persist in asking your doctor to help find out what the problem is.Do not just let him or her ask you a few questions and write a prescription for some drug or other.
Both doctors and psychiatrists are bound by The Hippocratic Oath.And thus they are supposed to do you no harm.If they are giving you a drug it may have no effect on the problem or may do more damage and could very likely be addictive. In this case, then, these medical professionals aren’t being so professional! They are doing you more harm than good.
You have a responsibility to your own health and well-being to ask questions.
"The specious enterprise of healing ‘brain diseases’ is based on a faulty understanding of neuroscience and the brain. The biological orientation has mistaken parts of the brain for the whole. Separate elements of the brain operate mechanically, and are not the cause of psychiatric symptoms. The parts all work in concert to create the Play of Consciousness."
It has been proven hundreds of times over that there is no test for a chemical imbalance in the brain. Every once in a while some article will suggest that scientists are on the cusp of discovering one to give some credibility but to date there is no such test.
Psychologist Bruce Levine, Ph.D., concurs: “Remember that no biochemical, neurological, or genetic markers have been found for attention deficit disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, compulsive alcohol and drug abuse, overeating, gambling, or any other so‐called mental illness, disease, or disorder.”
