Mad in America

JULY 29, 2024

In this blog, a therapist who works with children and young people expands on some of these worrying consequences, including the imposition of identities, the co-option of the neurodiversity movement for personal and professional gain, the restrictions on therapeutic work, and the silencing of dissenting views. In Part 1 and Part 2 , we—e.g.

Trauma and the brain 144

Trauma and the brain Construction Education Eating disorders 144

Mad in America

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

T he text that follows is the English translation of a speech I gave at The Danish Psychiatry Top Summit in 2024. A video of the speech, with English subtitles, is available here. The summit features professionals, politicians, and people with lived experiences. This year more than a thousand people attended. Every year, the summit has a theme.

Trauma and the brain 133

Trauma and the brain 133

Mad in America

MARCH 6, 2025

T his historical record of Oregons first state hospital, the Oregon State Insane Asylum, from its opening in 1883 until the mid-1950s, will focus on the experiences of patients there. This is in contrast with the typical chronological history of who served as superintendent, for how long, the date new buildings were opened and other such changes.

Hospitality 78

Hospitality Trauma and the brain Aging and mental health Self-awareness 78

Mad in America

JANUARY 22, 2024

In this blog, he addresses increases in suicide and homicide caused by antidepressant drugs. Editor’s Note: Over the next several months, Mad in America is publishing a serialized version of Les Ruthven’s book, Much of U.S. Healthcare is Broken: How to Fix It. Y ou bet it is!

Healthcare 134

Healthcare Trauma and the brain Insurance 134

Mad in America

NOVEMBER 18, 2024

I can think of many examples throughout my early career where I saw many people admitted to psychiatric wards having suffered an adverse life event, recent or past trauma, only to leave with prescriptions for multiple drugs to treat their new presumed diagnoses.

Trauma and the brain 141

Trauma and the brain Sleep and mental health Personality disorders Self-awareness 141

Mad in America

NOVEMBER 18, 2023

A fter years of work involving hundreds of people in dozens of countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have released their joint production, Mental Health, Human Rights and Legislation: Guidance and Practice ( WHO/OHCHR , 2023, referred to as the Guidance.

Genetics and mental health 145

Genetics and mental health Biopsychosocial model Legal Trauma and the brain 145

Mad in America

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

According to Moncrieff, mainstream psychiatry’s theory of drug action is that psychiatric drugs work by healing some underlying brain abnormality, thus supporting the concept of biological psychiatry. C urrently, antidepressants are among the most commonly prescribed drugs for a wide range of diagnoses, not just depression and anxiety.

Trauma and the brain 125

Trauma and the brain Family dynamics Bipolar disorder Community support 125

Mad in America

DECEMBER 1, 2023

“T he only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” said Edmund Burke. This is as true on a world stage as in a playground setting, where the bully holds sway over numerous kids who are too afraid to challenge their behaviour. It is how and why the tyrants prevail.

Hospitality 145

Hospitality Trauma and the brain Personality disorders Pharmaceuticals 145

The London Psychiatry Centre

JANUARY 3, 2025

When first-line treatments havent worked, sufferers and their loved ones often begin to wonder about the science of it all, asking: how does mental health affect our brain (and vice versa)? Read on to learn more about how mental health affects the brain. Brain function is key to both physical health and mental health.

Neurotransmitters and mental health 52

Neurotransmitters and mental health Trauma and the brain Bipolar disorder 52

Mad in America

FEBRUARY 18, 2025

I will always wonder whether I got worse because of me or because of damage to my brain? T his is all written to the best of my memory. I worked, I had a life. But then I languished on disability for twenty-six years. Dystonia, kidney failure, possibly the hypothyroidism was my lot for serving as a drug whore for psychiatry.

Trauma and the brain 127

Trauma and the brain Sleep and mental health Aging and mental health Legal 127

Mad in America

AUGUST 17, 2024

By Friday, the effects of K2 had turned his brain into a monster, a stark contrast to the gentle young man we knew. Told by his mother, Pamela, and his oldest brother, Joe, it’s also a story of resilience, loving commitment, and a push for change against a system riddled with discrimination and harms.

Hospitality 120

Hospitality Trauma and the brain Mental health advocacy Mental health policy 120

Mad in America

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Editor’s Note: This blog is also being published on our affiliate site, Mad in the UK. T he one-size-fits-all autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, as configured in the Revised Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM- 5-TR), is a clinical catastrophe. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Autism spectrum 128

Autism spectrum Trauma and the brain Education Hospitality 128

Mad in America

JANUARY 16, 2024

S ince the onset of the pandemic, misery and mental disorder have increased, raising considerable concern about mental health. It has become obvious that we need to be better at addressing issues related to our psychological well-being. In short, ten years ago the WHO called for a paradigm shift in mental health care. That has not happened.

Genetics and mental health 145

Genetics and mental health Trauma and the brain Anxiety disorders Construction 145

The Art of Healing Trauma

NOVEMBER 17, 2019

This is the earliest somewhat coherent journal entry I can find that I wrote after the traumas as I was too ill and in too much chaos to write anything down for a couple years. This short story about a train trip shows how the many symptoms of PTSD combine to have a devastating impact to one’s Sense of Self.

Trauma and the brain 52

Trauma and the brain Self-awareness Hospitality 52

Roland Bal - Resolving Trauma and PTSD

DECEMBER 3, 2024

Self-defeat is a common symptom of Complex Trauma or PTSD. Unfortunately, these shutdown states and self-defeating thoughts are all too common with PTSD and Complex Trauma. A 15-30-minute mandatory daily walk, no matter what, can help clear a lot of brain fog. The Next Step Is Action! That gets your energy moving again.

Trauma and the brain 52

Trauma and the brain Self-awareness 52

Mad in America

AUGUST 10, 2024

I am typing this blog in the back of a taxi wending its way to the airport through the hilly landscape of Sardinia, my beautiful daughter sleeping in the seat beside me. I am typing this blog in the back of a taxi wending its way to the airport through the hilly landscape of Sardinia, my beautiful daughter sleeping in the seat beside me.

Sleep and mental health 110

Sleep and mental health Trauma and the brain Social Services Aging and mental health 110

Mad in America

DECEMBER 15, 2023

The following is the second excerpt adapted from Healing Companions , a book by the MIA author Sam Ruck (his pen name) that describes his life with, and love for, his wife and her “alters.” His earlier installment addressed the problems with “psychosis.” I’ve repeatedly seen this with my wife. For instance, what are “delusions”?

Trauma and the brain 76

Trauma and the brain Childhood trauma Self-awareness 76

Mad in America

OCTOBER 22, 2024

The real question is whether the “brighter future” is always so distant. When mundane events increasingly take on the character of the surreal or the apocalyptic, what does it mean to be normal or sane? I believe these kinds of questions will shape our understanding of the future of mental health. Yet these things are not acts of God.

Trauma and the brain 120

Trauma and the brain Legal Self-awareness Technology 120

Mad in America

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

In my last piece , I wrote about various neuro-rehab therapies I engaged in with Dr. J, the functional brain injury specialist, and that there came a point when my husband and I knew we’d reached the end of what medical science could offer me. I sat down to write this article with the experience of severe akathisia fresh in my mind.

Nutrition and mood 114

Nutrition and mood Trauma and the brain Sleep and mental health Bipolar disorder 114

Mad in America

JUNE 13, 2024

I was still only 17 years old but it was a great relief after the horrendous years I had spent at an all-girls boarding school. My fellow students and I started our first year ‘pre-clinical’ training with 4 ½ days a week of lectures. Those who failed would have one chance to re-sit and if unsuccessful, they would have to leave medical school.

Trauma and the brain 145

Trauma and the brain Pharmaceuticals Hospitality Sleep and mental health 145

Mad in America

OCTOBER 3, 2024

Recovering from protracted withdrawal was a huge challenge, and I had to approach it wisely, doing everything I could to survive the process and help my body and mind heal. In this article, I will outline what helped and what hindered my healing process. After moments of temporary improvement, sudden setbacks can occur.

Trauma and the brain 125

Trauma and the brain Breathing techniques 125

Now Psych

MAY 14, 2024

Defining Psychosis Psychosis is a condition that affects the brain, causing a person to experience symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. It is characterized by symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thinking. It can also occur after a woman gives birth ( postpartum psychosis ).

Bipolar disorder 52

Bipolar disorder Genetics and mental health Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Early intervention 52

Mad in America

DECEMBER 9, 2023

Science has a pretty good grasp of how the body and brain work, right? Psychologists help people who feel bad and doctors prescribe medicine for broken brains with a lack of one or another neurotransmitter. The brain may be controlled by neurotransmitters, but neurotransmitters are affected by the life you live.

Neurotransmitters and mental health 97

Neurotransmitters and mental health Poverty and mental health Trauma and the brain Pharmaceuticals 97

Mad in America

JULY 25, 2024

I was never given an official diagnosis. Back in the early 1980s in the UK no one would have thought to ask what their doctor was writing in our file. It was for them, not us, full consent wasn’t in our consciousness. I had been sent to a psychiatrist at Manchester Royal Infirmary after my 2 nd violent mugging; I wasn’t eating or sleeping.

Resilience and coping 141

Resilience and coping Genetics and mental health Sleep and mental health Trauma and the brain 141

Dr. Sagnik Mukherjee Blog

FEBRUARY 28, 2025

” It is a traumatic experience that can deeply affect brain development, emotional regulation, and overall mental health. ” It is a traumatic experience that can deeply affect brain development, emotional regulation, and overall mental health. ” But what if they dont?

Resilience and coping 52

Resilience and coping Trauma and the brain Anxiety disorders 52

Mad in America

DECEMBER 10, 2024

Waking dreamsallowus to dream while awake, significantly enhancing self-awareness, creative problem-solving, andthe ability to findmeaning in life experiences. Indigenous culturesaround the worldrecognize and intentionally cultivate waking dreams for both personal and communitywell-being.

Sleep and mental health 99

Sleep and mental health Self-awareness Trauma and the brain Aging and mental health 99

Mad in America

FEBRUARY 25, 2025

T he way psychiatry treats those who deviate from the norm is akin to the outdated and unhelpful way that industry used to understand the assembly linesomething that manufacturing started moving away from by the mid-20 th century. Good product was shipped. At the time, it was common for management to blame the operators. Or the machines.

Manufacturing 70

Manufacturing Trauma and the brain Construction 70

Lightwork

DECEMBER 26, 2024

Introduction Research consistently shows that women experience anxiety disorders at nearly twice the rate of men. This stark difference isn’t just a statistical anomalyit reflects complex biological, social, and cultural factors that shape women’s mental health experiences.

Anxiety disorders 52

Anxiety disorders Resilience and coping Aging and mental health Sleep and mental health 52

Lawyers with Depression

DECEMBER 3, 2023

Norton, including, The Ten Best-Ever Depression Management Techniques: Understanding How Your Brain Makes You Depressed and What You Can Do to Change It and Anxiety + Depression: Effective Treatment of the Big Two Co-Occurring Disorders. Wehrenberg is a clinical psychologist in Naperville, Illinois. What is depression a response to?

Genetics and mental health 52

Genetics and mental health Nutrition and mood Trauma and the brain Neurotransmitters and mental health 52

Dr. Sagnik Mukherjee Blog

OCTOBER 14, 2024

There are a few potential causes and shared symptoms that may explain why these two disorders often coexist: Biological Factors: Both bipolar and anxiety disorders are linked to imbalances in brain chemistry. Have you noticed them feeling anxious during their manic episodes or perhaps experiencing panic attacks while feeling down?

Bipolar disorder 52

Bipolar disorder Anxiety disorders Genetics and mental health Neurotransmitters and mental health 52

Mad in America

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Can we identify them before they start an antidepressant? With so much debate and discussion about “how many” (including the previous two essays in this series), it’s surprising that so little has been written about “why some and not others?” Yes, being on an antidepressant for a long time increases the risk of severe withdrawal when stopping.

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Bipolar disorder Trauma and the brain 100

The London Psychiatry Centre

JULY 24, 2024

Both the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system are activated by signals from the brain (which of course itself responds to stimuli). Are you stuck in survival mode? overeating or forgetting to eat) Survival mode is an informal term to describe when a person is affected by a prolonged stress response.

Trauma and the brain 52

Trauma and the brain Sleep and mental health 52

Mad in America

FEBRUARY 6, 2025

Who knows more about the subject of this blog, they or I? W hen I had my first schizophrenic hallucination 61 years ago, I told myself that I was in the privileged position of having the terrifying knowledge of what such a hallucination actually is. I had seen the Light and it was divine. I told myself that this was surely a Beatific Vision.

Hospitality 115

Hospitality Trauma and the brain Bipolar disorder Education 115

Montana Psychiatry

JANUARY 25, 2025

Its not about willpower or effortits a medical condition that affects your brain chemistry, energy levels, and emotions. Heres why self-help might not be enough: Brain Chemistry : Depression often involves chemical imbalances in the brain that self-care alone cant correct. Its safe, effective, and doesnt require medication.

Sleep and mental health 40

Sleep and mental health Trauma and the brain 40

Zencare

JANUARY 3, 2025

Note that this blog post is full of spoilers youve been warned! We left off at Episode 6: In a Lonely Place. Sean just landed in the hospital after getting into a fight. Paul and Jimmy try to connect with Sean's dad Tim. Alice finds out about Brian and Louis. Mac, an old flame of Liz's, is introduced and there's tension.

Self-awareness 52

Self-awareness Trauma and the brain Hospitality 52

The London Psychiatry Centre

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Neuroscience has demonstrated that outrage can arouse the brains reward centres. Or maybe youve been feeling flat but you suspect that underneath that sensation is ongoing frustration, anger and irritability. If youre concerned about anger and mental health, youre not the only one. But what happens when you get angry too much?

Construction 52

Construction Trauma and the brain 52

Mad in America

AUGUST 5, 2024

T his is the fourth and final part of our blog series on neurodiversity. T his is the fourth and final part of our blog series on neurodiversity. Editor’s Note: Mad in the UK and Mad in America are jointly publishing this four-part series on neurodiversity. The series is being archived here.

Trauma and the brain 143

Trauma and the brain Genetics and mental health Self-awareness Personality disorders 143