Replies to '09/28 Overmedicating America: The Cruise Controversy'

Quote From: srawlings

I am a registered nurse, have worked in a psychiatric hospital and have suffered from post partum depression and anxiety disorder.  I was also diagnosed as having obsessive compulsive personality disorder and have a son who is autistic and another with ADHD.  So to say the least I have dealt with this issue on many grounds.  I know diet and exercise work for post partum depression because it helped me.  When you exercise your body release endorphins that elevate your mood.  Also our poor diet in America has led to a host of autoimmune diseases and could be the cause of many of our chemical imbalances.  Proper diet, exercise and vitamin therapy has done wonders for both my autistic son and my adhd son.  I have never medicated either one and am now glad I haven't.  There are many studies being done now that show that ADHD people have tremoundous gifts and talents that non-adhd people do not have.  They have incredible imaginations and the ability to multi-task better then others do.  Now on the other hand there are real psychiatric disorders that need medication.  I truly believe that when someone becomes at threat to themselves or others through homocidal or suicidal thoughts, then as a society, we would be irresponisble to not help those people and it is seen through evidence that many people have been helped by medication.  I have seen bipolar manics and schizophrenics off their meds and trust me, you wouldn't want them living next to you when they are having psychotic breaks.  I have had schizophrenics try to injure me when they are in the midst of a psychotic episode and trust me the only way to bring them back to reality is to medicate them.  That isn't the only thing though, there should be counseling and other group therapy to help them as well.  I agree with Dr. Phil, using terms like never or always is wrong, there is a time and a place for medicating someone but you don't just take medication, you should get the correct diagnosis and try non medical treatment first.  Least invasive is always better if it helps.  Take care all.