Listed here are the books that have informed my position on emotional distress, the current mental health system and my own wellness. I highly recommend these to anyone questioning the popular biological paradigm and seeking alternatives for themselves or a loved one.
Your Drug May Be Your Problem by Dr. Peter Breggin explains in layman’s terms the damage done to the brain by all psychiatric drugs and lays out a safe tapering plan for patients to consider with their doctors.
Medication Madness also by Dr. Breggin explains the phenomenon of medication spellbinding and how psychiatric medications can drive people to violence, suicide and murder. A fascinating, but chilling read.
Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker asks one important question – if psychiatric medications cure the chemical imbalances that cause mental illnesses why have disability rates for these same illnesses skyrocketed since the introduction of these very drugs? Lauded by so many who have found freedom and health outside traditional biologically based psychiatry as pivotal in their journey, this book is a must read for anyone currently on or considering a psychiatric medication.
The Book of Woe: The DSM and the Unmaking of Psychiatry by Gary Greenberg tells the highly unflattering story of the development of the “bible” of psychiatry, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, particularly it’s most recent version, the DSM 5. Learn where terms such as bipolar disorder, ADHD and OCD come from and what they mean for our health and our perception of who we are.