Toxic Psychiatry: Why Therapy, Empathy and Love Must Replace the Drugs, Electroshock, and Biochemical Theories of the "New Psychiatry"

This book saved my life! Thanks to Dr. Breggin, I cured myself from being bipolar and have now been normal and creative without going crazy for twenty-five years. The problem was when I would write I would spiral into a manic high, then become psychotic. The next thing I knew, I was being picked up by the police and put in the proverbial rubber room. The last time was the worst. The police shot me down with four tasers. When I got out of the hospital that time I said, "Never again." I was told I was bipolar.I examined my life for the beliefs I had (the problem stemmed mostly from my religious beliefs and brainwashing growing up) and a combination of circumstances that caused me to have problems. (Divorce, job losses, etc.) I took charge of my life without doctors, and without drugs. I started directing myself doing what I loved so I could be creative as a writer and normal without going crazy. Psychiatrists were not helpful, drugs were not the answer (lithium to stay down, and Prozac when I got so far down I wanted to commit suicide). Now days I think people are better off having a coach to focus on what one wants and taking steps to achieve one's goals. I didn't have help being on a poverty income. However, I did write and I would write my "Dear God Letters," and from that got answers.Well, this is long, but I hope it helps anyone who is interested to know that no matter who you are, you have everything you need to thrive as you. That's basically what its all about. Be the great creative you. Find your voice, and a way to express all the beauty of who you are. I believe everyone has something special to contribute to this world. Basically, your job is to be you and make your love visible through who you are and what you do.

I've only recently received my copy of Toxic Psychiatry, and as yet not finished the whole book, but the information within is very informative and well researched. Psychiatry is a plaque on Mankind. Psychiatric medications frequently cause more damage than they help, and often produce the very symptoms of the 'illness' they are supposed to treat.There are much more effective means of helping individuals experiencing emotional or mental distress. Psychology for example uses the same research, yet offers non-drug treatments that are often more effective than the drug treatments, and come with less withdrawal symptoms or relapse.I've not yet read the section on autism but have read several negative responses from people about this particular section. While my own personal knowledge surrounding autism is limited, there has been a vast increase in those diagnosed as autistic. I will not comment on if I believe this to be a physical brain dysfunction or mental dysfunction, the increase in autism has been linked to vaccines containing mercury (under the name Thimerisol/Thimerosal, a mercury derivative).The modern mental health system is soon to change. The truth of what these 'mental illnesses' are is soon to come to light, and they are not, nor ever were diseases. I personally experienced more than a dozen of these so called 'illnesses' for a period of over 10 years, so I understand what they feel like, and I have recently become interested in the research so also have the scientific data (which includes a vast amount more than just Breggin's research alone).I applaud Dr. Breggin for his many years of working with people to help them heal, for his many years of intensive research, and his unwavering drive to expose the dangers of the menace that is biological psychiatry.

This is an extremely important book for anyone seeking mental health services, for anyone who knows someone doing the same, or for anyone working in or planning a career in mental health; i.e., for anyone today. I teach undergraduate psychology, and plan to increasingly incorporate this book and its information into my courses.The trends observed by Breggin in this 1991 book, toward the dominance of mental health by biopsychiatric views, have increased during the 1990's, as Breggin's more recent books (e.g., Talking Back to Prozac, and Talking Back to Ritalin) attest. Toxic Psychiatry is a more comprehensive work, providing evidence that both mild and severe psychosocial problems may in fact be exacerbated by the biopsychiatric approach. Details of specific drugs and their effects, as well as alternative theoretical and treatment perspectives round out this book. Breggin possesses the expertise to discuss these issues in depth and specificity, but also the clarity of writing to make this information accessible to the general reader.While making no pretense of presenting a "balanced view" in itself, this book provides the necessary balance in a culture where media and political forces so strongly promote the other side. Breggin's extensive inside knowledge of the political and economic forces driving the mental health "industry", and his documentation of those forces, should command everyone's attention.

A revealing look at the Psychiatric Pharmicological Complex, how each supports the other. Still, if you have a relative who is in need of treatment, the alternative to not using medications is not a very pretty one. Your relative can be on medications, be able to function as a normal part of the community, drive a car, keep a job, rent or own your own home. Or your relative can refuse to take medication, live in the street, get mugged, assaulted, or worse because they cannot effectively operate in the real world. Avoid the use of Haldol. It is the worst! Latuda seems to be the best.

Excellent History of the abuse of people by the psychiatry profession over the past century. Each page has horrifying details and personal stories from an author who had the integrity and wisdom as a young man to question what was being done to individuals in 'asylums'. We are going to look back in ten years time and be appalled by allowing people to be lobotomised with chemicals. The author quotes Thomas Szaz who said 'Restraint by chemical means does not make us guilty; herin lies the danger to the patient' . A lobotomy by any means is, in my opinion, evil. How individuals are still able to do this to vulnerable people is incomprehensible. This book also offers an insight into alternative strategies which help individuals without harming them.

It's good to see that there are other options, that are less toxic and drug free, but take work effect change. This books sheds light on what is not being told, and that the "cure is worse than the illness". Is it coincidence that the DSM symptoms for mental illnesses match up to most Psychiatric drugs side effects?Unfortunately, we live in a quick fix society primed to believe medical professionals, and these "Doctors" are influenced & educated by Big Pharma on so many levels it is scary. I am grateful that Dr. Peter Breggin did not allow his Ego to get in the way of truly trying to help patients, and to "do no harm" first.It makes me question who is actually insane and who really needs a Psychiatrist?

This book contains facts and bitter truths that psychiatry has buried for soo long...no frills attached.This book is for keepsakes.

Have wanted this book for so long ,reading or trying to very slowly as had the works ECT-Neuroleptic Mallignant Syndrome -Got me nowhere other than Epilepsy and nearly killing me off ...Anyone thinking off going into the buisness off being any kind off Dr (Should read this sometimes you wrongly diagnose we are humans not experiments ,and you should be responsible for your Actions ....We have names are diagnosis should apparently not define us (Wise Words from a nice RMN)However he did not carry the 55 Diagnosis given to me and as none off the treatments worked -just caused more problems ...I think that everyone should read this ..

because of my work, it is a sobering lookat the world I live in. I love the work of Bregginbut he is very real in the unreal and unkindworld of mental illness.if you need to look further into the world ofabandonment and pain just read Thomas Szaszand CRUEL COMPASSION (also availablethrough AMAZON).