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In this episode of The Functional Medicine Radio Show, Dr. Carri’s special guest Dr. Peter Breggin talks about treating depression without medication.
Dr. Breggin is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist. He is called “The Conscience of Psychiatry” for his many decades of successful efforts to reform the mental health field. His work provides the foundation for modern criticism of psychiatric drugs and shock treatment, and leads the way in promoting more caring and effective therapies.
Dr. Breggin’s books include “Toxic Psychiatry”, “Talking Back to Prozac”, and his newest book is “Guilt, Shame and Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming Negative Emotions”. It presents a new theory about the origins of our most painful emotions and how to triumph over them.
Main Questions Asked:
- Can you tell us about the background behind psychiatry and all their medications?
- How is a drug compared to a placebo? What does it all mean?
- Can you talk about the antidepressants? Do they work better than placebo? What are their long-term effects?
- What are the alternatives for people who need help? Can you talk about treating depression without medication?
- Can you give us an example from your private practice?
Key Points made by Dr. Breggin:
- This whole wave is fundamentally driven by the profit motive of pharmaceutical industry – including the structure of the diagnostic manuals and the scientific research written by ghost writers paid by the drug companies. It’s hard to wrap your mind around it.
- Many of the studies done on these drugs are only weeks long (example, Prozac research was 6 weeks long on the drug), and yet people are being put on these drugs for years and we have no idea about the long term effects.
- Adderall crushes a child’s spontaneity, their sparkle, their sociability. And they don’t learn, they don’t grow, and their growth is stunted.
- Often then they cannot sleep and get ‘depressed’ and are put on antidepressants.
- Drug companies can do as many studies as they want, and then choose the one or two that favor their drug to help get FDA approval.
- It doesn’t take much to get drugs approved – the standards of the FDA have become too loose.
- Long term effects of antidepressants cause a huge amount of depression; a loss of interest in life, sex, love, life, play, and occupation. This happens without you even realizing it so you should ask a close family member if this is happening to you.
- Numerous studies have shown that all the drug classes of antidepressants actually atrophy and shrink the brain. Except these effects are being ignored.
- There are no long term positive studies for any psychiatric drug. For every class of drug there are long term studies showing loss of quality of life and increased disability.
- First and foremost, it is your right to refuse to take these drugs. Just don’t start antidepressants.
- I have a book to help people understand how back their drugs are and how to get off their medications called “Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal – A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and their Families”.
- For treating depression without medication you must open your mind to all the ways you can overcome all the things that distress you, including: psychotherapy, marriage and family counseling.
- It’s very important for spouses and families to work together in counseling.
- For parents who want to help their kids: develop your sense of moral authority which most parents lack nowadays plus lavish unconditional love on them.
- You the parent hold the key to your child’s success. Be sure you are the cure for your child’s problems.
- For adults you probably have some issues from your childhood that need to be explored and dealt with.
- Other things that can help with treating depression without medication: meditation, relaxation, spirituality and connection with God, nature and immersion in nature, among others.
- Even if you have damage to your brain know that you are NOT your brain. You have a God-given spirit and being and essential human worth. You are a source of love.
- It’s important to take charge and take responsibility for your life. Become the loving person you want to become.
- My new book contains a whole new theory about guilt, shame, and anxiety in our lives, and how to become the person you want to be.
- Don’t put up with being drugged into submission. Life is about love and doing and being.
Resources Mentioned:
Book – Guilt, Shame and Anxiety: Understanding and Overcoming Negative Emotions
Book – Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal: A Guide for Prescribers, Therapists, Patients and their Families
Book – Reclaim Your Energy and Feel Normal Again
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