Addressing the real causes of mental pain

[Guest guest]

http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/opinion/Full_Story/did-sgniav6AVPIVYsg7IQHSmeYh\

NE.asp

01/11/04

Addressing the real causes of mental pain

I WOULD like to respond to Hyland’s letter (Irish Examiner, October 25) in

which my view that genetics do not play a significant role in behaviour or in

‘mental illness’ was criticised.

The scientific evidence in support of ’s view is very sketchy indeed and

far from conclusive.

I would acknowledge though that some people may have a genetic predisposition

towards certain behavioural or emotional problems.

Some studies have suggested this but there is no convincing evidence as yet. I

believe that societal/environmental factors exert a far greater influence and

that these problems are best addressed through counselling and caring or

supportive services.

Neurotoxic and disabling psychiatric drug ‘treatments’ do not address these

problems though, as they largely have a mental and emotional deadening effect.

There is no evidence that they correct brain chemical imbalances which

psychiatry believes is a primary cause of what it would judge to be ‘mental

illness’. The chemical imbalance theory is unfounded because we have no

understanding of what constitutes a chemically-balanced brain in the first

place.

Hyland should also remember that psychiatry has never been able to prove a

biological cause to even one of the so-called behavioural disorders or mental

illnesses.

Psychiatry’s inference that psychiatric patients are genetically defective or

are suffering from a brain chemical imbalance is one that must be challenged.

A social and humanistic model of psychiatry which addresses the real causes of

their mental and emotional pain is, I believe, the best way forward. Instead of

negating people’s life experiences, it would give this primary importance. The

profits and prestige of the psychiatric-pharmaceutical complex would simply not

feature.

Fleming,

Leafonney Cottage,

Kilglass,

Co. Sligo

[Guest guest]

So do I. There are still psychiatrists who refuse to acknowledge the

role of early childhood trauma and the onset of mental illness (which

is really mental injury) in adulthood. These morons completely

overlook the reality of the attachment bond between child and family

and as a result completely overlook and ignore the mental illness

that results when these early attachment bonds are interrupted or

never form; not to mention the actual brain damage that occurs when a

child is violently abused.

" Some studies have suggested this but there is no convincing evidence

as yet. I

believe that societal/environmental factors exert a far greater

influence and

that these problems are best addressed through counselling and caring

or

supportive services. "

> http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/opinion/Full_Story/did-

sgniav6AVPIVYsg7IQHSmeYhNE.asp

>

> 01/11/04

> Addressing the real causes of mental pain

>

> I WOULD like to respond to Hyland's letter (Irish Examiner,

October 25) in which my view that genetics do not play a significant

role in behaviour or in `mental illness' was criticised.

>

> The scientific evidence in support of 's view is very sketchy

indeed and far from conclusive.

>

> I would acknowledge though that some people may have a genetic

predisposition towards certain behavioural or emotional problems.

>

> Some studies have suggested this but there is no convincing

evidence as yet. I believe that societal/environmental factors exert

a far greater influence and that these problems are best addressed

through counselling and caring or supportive services.

>

> Neurotoxic and disabling psychiatric drug `treatments' do not

address these problems though, as they largely have a mental and

emotional deadening effect.

>

>

>

>

>

> There is no evidence that they correct brain chemical imbalances

which psychiatry believes is a primary cause of what it would judge

to be `mental illness'. The chemical imbalance theory is unfounded

because we have no understanding of what constitutes a chemically-

balanced brain in the first place.

>

> Hyland should also remember that psychiatry has never been

able to prove a biological cause to even one of the so-called

behavioural disorders or mental illnesses.

>

> Psychiatry's inference that psychiatric patients are genetically

defective or are suffering from a brain chemical imbalance is one

that must be challenged.

>

> A social and humanistic model of psychiatry which addresses the

real causes of their mental and emotional pain is, I believe, the

best way forward. Instead of negating people's life experiences, it

would give this primary importance. The profits and prestige of the

psychiatric-pharmaceutical complex would simply not feature.

>

> Fleming,

> Leafonney Cottage,

> Kilglass,

> Co. Sligo

>

>

[Guest guest]

So do I. There are still psychiatrists who refuse to acknowledge the

role of early childhood trauma and the onset of mental illness (which

is really mental injury) in adulthood. These morons completely

overlook the reality of the attachment bond between child and family

and as a result completely overlook and ignore the mental illness

that results when these early attachment bonds are interrupted or

never form; not to mention the actual brain damage that occurs when a

child is violently abused.

" Some studies have suggested this but there is no convincing evidence

as yet. I

believe that societal/environmental factors exert a far greater

influence and

that these problems are best addressed through counselling and caring

or

supportive services. "

> http://www.examiner.ie/pport/web/opinion/Full_Story/did-

sgniav6AVPIVYsg7IQHSmeYhNE.asp

>

> 01/11/04

> Addressing the real causes of mental pain

>

> I WOULD like to respond to Hyland's letter (Irish Examiner,

October 25) in which my view that genetics do not play a significant

role in behaviour or in `mental illness' was criticised.

>

> The scientific evidence in support of 's view is very sketchy

indeed and far from conclusive.

>

> I would acknowledge though that some people may have a genetic

predisposition towards certain behavioural or emotional problems.

>

> Some studies have suggested this but there is no convincing

evidence as yet. I believe that societal/environmental factors exert

a far greater influence and that these problems are best addressed

through counselling and caring or supportive services.

>

> Neurotoxic and disabling psychiatric drug `treatments' do not

address these problems though, as they largely have a mental and

emotional deadening effect.

>

>

>

>

>

> There is no evidence that they correct brain chemical imbalances

which psychiatry believes is a primary cause of what it would judge

to be `mental illness'. The chemical imbalance theory is unfounded

because we have no understanding of what constitutes a chemically-

balanced brain in the first place.

>

> Hyland should also remember that psychiatry has never been

able to prove a biological cause to even one of the so-called

behavioural disorders or mental illnesses.

>

> Psychiatry's inference that psychiatric patients are genetically

defective or are suffering from a brain chemical imbalance is one

that must be challenged.

>

> A social and humanistic model of psychiatry which addresses the

real causes of their mental and emotional pain is, I believe, the

best way forward. Instead of negating people's life experiences, it

would give this primary importance. The profits and prestige of the

psychiatric-pharmaceutical complex would simply not feature.

>

> Fleming,

> Leafonney Cottage,

> Kilglass,

> Co. Sligo

>

>