My psychosis and meds

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this article is to provide, personal testimony that psychiatric medications are not scientifically necessitated as the primary means to treat psychosis. There are alternatives to psychiatric medication, and, particularly, the long-term use of these medications should not be assumed. Psychosis is nominally diagnosed as ‘severe mental illness’, ‘disease’, and ‘chronic’. These labels are toxic, too, and the system of diagnosis creates unintended stigma that hinders community inclusion, acceptance and recovery. The emphasis upon psychiatric medication treatment – and the system design – therefore, is debated. The medical-model of impersonal classifications of chronic diseases denies and/or slows recovery, and proper healing. The medical-model is a constructed (false) narrative, when looked at scientifically, lacks serious credibility and shows apparent unsustainability. An alternative approach is necessary to displace the outdated and, presently, conventionally utilized medical-model. New treatments and other approaches must address the reality that people can and do recovery, without medication. In conclusion, treatment for psychosis must give attention to understand one’s experiences in the context of life’s events and interpersonal narratives, to provide meaning, acceptance and purpose.

KEYWORDS:

• Biological reductionism
• dissociation
• schizophrenia
• diagnosis
• experience of using services

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.