Approximately 15-20% of adults in the United States currently takes a medication for a diagnosed mental health concern. Over 6 million children nationwide ages 0-17 are also on medication.
This is a very important podcast that I’d encourage everyone listen to.
In brief:
A diagnosis means payment to the health professional by the insurance companies.A diagnosis is subjective (ie: there are no laboratory tests identifying a mental health disorder), and the DSM is an outdated methodology (chemical imbalances are not something trackable) used primarily for payment purposes.Memorable quote from the podcast:Whitaker: But, of course, people were being encouraged to say your problems are due to this chemical imbalance as opposed to what’s going on in your life. That’s such a profound shift in self-understanding.
Horwitz: You’re not going to sell many drugs by saying your problem is your life experiences. It’s far more effective to say your problem is in the brain. It’s an imbalance, we can correct that imbalance, just take our product.
Worth the listen
xoxo~ liz
(PS: one thing I wish they had covered but did not….. many physiological imbalances will certainly cause mental illness type symptoms. These (incomplete list) CAN be found often through an adequate and thorough lab workup… ex: magnesium, ferritin, B12, D deficiencies, hormone imbalances, thyroid disorders etc. Become your own best advocate! )
