When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
theguardian.com
When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
1–10 of 72 posts
Re: When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
#2So the solution is to provide drugs that somehow deaden random neurons in somewhat random parts of the brain, and hope they don't cause massive side effects down the line?
Just like that dental article a few days ago, doesn't the current psychiatric medicine seem like using a backhoe on a flower pot? Sure, you move the soil, but you trash the porch.
Re: When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
#3I often have intense fantasies about conversations with personal mentors, historical figures and/or deities (what would Buddha say? How about Einstein? etc). Obviously I can't reproduce their thoughts, but knowing a little about them, I can try to think like them
Surely they're not as visceral or reflexive as the author's voices. But I have always found value in empathizing with fantasized mentors, which has given me confidence in my opinions.
Re: When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
#4So the solution is to provide drugs that somehow deaden random neurons in somewhat random parts of the brain, and hope they don't cause massive side effects down the line? Just like that dental article a few days ago, doesn't the current psychiatric medicine seem like using a backhoe on a flower pot? Sure, you move the soil, but you trash the porch.
It depends which medications you're talking about, and which conditions you're treating with them. A lot of them are more like using a shovel on a flowerpot. Still not precisely the right tool, but they get the job done and the porch is still in good shape.
Re: When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
#5I have this thing where I wake up at 5:00 AM and my internal monologue sounds like someone twisting the tuning knob back and forth on a radio. Anyone know a name for that?
Re: When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
#6So the solution is to provide drugs that somehow deaden random neurons in somewhat random parts of the brain, and hope they don't cause massive side effects down the line? Just like that dental article a few days ago, doesn't the current psychiatric medicine seem like using a backhoe on a flower pot? Sure, you move the soil, but you trash the porch.
The author sure seems to appreciate it. Even if there's a tradeoff, I would gladly accept senility in old age in exchange for sanity now, especially when doing nothing will certainly mean senility in old age regardless.
Re: When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
#7I have this thing where I wake up at 5:00 AM and my internal monologue sounds like someone twisting the tuning knob back and forth on a radio. Anyone know a name for that?
Kind of a horrifying cacophony? Mind is racing but unfocused, and you can't force it to focus? Makes it difficult to go back to sleep?
Yeah, I get that every so often. Every couple months, maybe. No idea what it might be called.
Re: When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
#8So the solution is to provide drugs that somehow deaden random neurons in somewhat random parts of the brain, and hope they don't cause massive side effects down the line? Just like that dental article a few days ago, doesn't the current psychiatric medicine seem like using a backhoe on a flower pot? Sure, you move the soil, but you trash the porch.
> So the solution is to provide drugs that somehow deaden random neurons in somewhat random parts of the brain, and hope they don't cause massive side effects down the line?
The author didn't share a diagnosis, nor did he or she share the specific medication(s) that helped. Given that, how can you conclude that the drugs "deadened neurons"?
I share your skepticism of modern psychiatric medicine, and yet I think you might be missing some understanding and/or empathy for the patient. He or she is describing schizophrenia and major depressive disorder [1], and while often found together, either one can be utterly debilitating. It would not surprise me if the patient had the same concerns as you and I, but was so desperate, so hopeless that they were willing to take the risk.
[1] not a doctor, therapist, counselor or anything close
[edited to fix footnote]
Re: When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
#9So the solution is to provide drugs that somehow deaden random neurons in somewhat random parts of the brain, and hope they don't cause massive side effects down the line? Just like that dental article a few days ago, doesn't the current psychiatric medicine seem like using a backhoe on a flower pot? Sure, you move the soil, but you trash the porch.
It depends which medications you're talking about, and which conditions you're treating with them. A lot of them are more like using a shovel on a flowerpot. Still not precisely the right tool, but they get the job done and the porch is still in good shape.
Point well made.
With my ex-fiancee, a psychiatrist had her on prozac and abilify. She had a complete breakdown in her senior year of university classes. They put her on a cocktail of stuff and weren't honest in their dealings (parents and doctor).
She had quite a few voices and things in her head. And the drugs helped that, to a point. It was when she started getting tics that I investigated more, and saw the 3-5 pages of "adverse conditions". Tics (tardive dyskinesia) was a permanent adverse condition, and could be gained at any time after starting just Abilify.
When you're trading one set of nasty stuff for another set of nasty stuff, and then eventually have to quit, is it worth it? Especially if you end up getting the initial set of nasty plus whatever the drugs have induced as well?
Hopefully, better research will target neurons directly or properly calculate for hormonal deficiencies.
Now admittedly, I'm for proper disclosure and informed consent. There's times in which a drug/surgery can cause more damage than what you're trying to fix. And in the case of my ex, it was that she was developing adverse conditions, and she wasn't told. I've taken antidepressants along with other medicines. Nothing wrong with taking drugs to help fix problems. If you're thinking about quitting, talk to your doctor. Some of those drugs are dangerous to quit cold turkey.
Re: When I stopped hearing the voices in my head
#10It should be noted that studies looking at normal vs no/reduced antipsychotic therapy in patients with psychotic dieases have indicated that in the long term patients may do significantly better without antipsychotic therapy.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23824214 http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/director/2013/antipsychotics-t...