Erica Komisar, LCSW: Raising Resilient Adolescents & Making Medication A Last Resort

[@kevk741]

I agree. I still support palliative care and chronic pain management even though it may of hurt me worse. The problem with my situation was that no one was going to look towards the SSRI exposure (Prozac) at 18yrs old. Not even with the horrific serotonin syndrome I suffered after only 4 weeks of Prozac, complete with a week long fever and hives did they look towards it to explain me having cognitive and neurological issues I had in the years following. I had to quit wrestling because I was hyperventilating in exercise intolerance. I had horrible akathisia and didn’t know. I tried Ritalin to combat the cognitive issues and it just made me more agitated. By 20 years old I’m having trouble writing with my hand in my engineering degree and seeking paincare.

[@snuppypuppy6693]

I also recommend the book, A FRACTURED MIND Robert Oxnam who is also profiled in the documentary YOU'RE NOT CRAZY. A survivor of abuse, he recounts his recovery without medications. He would be an illuminating guest to interview.

[@barbarabrooks4747]

Neurofeedback is often a good alternative to medications or, at least, many can decrease dosages as Neurofeedback starts to work. Usually the treatment takes a year with permanent results. Basically, the patient plays video games hooked up to an EEG machine and wins when he uses the brain in ways that help the underlying problems. Many infants are premature or experience prenatal issues that contribute to ADHD and learning disabilities. Of course, a good home environment helps, but retraining the brain with neurofeedback can make a huge difference.

[@honorburza9110]

I’ve heard there are studies that show people can get as effective mental health help by having therapy plus regular sauna sessions, than therapy and anti depressants (even better than and it lasted a long time).

[@shravanamar9112]

I've known an athlete who used to blame everything on his adhd .. after listening to her i feel its true in his case as he did not seem like he had much of a regular childhood as his sport was all his life and all he ever was focused on was how to beat the next guy and win. May be the pressure on him over those years got to him. Thanks so much for doing this interview. :)

[@snuppypuppy6693]

You should interview Dr. Wendy Lemke, a psychologist who produced the documentary YOU'RE NOT CRAZY which contains interviews of people suffering from DID, Dissociative Identity Disorder due to trauma.

[@ajax700]

If you are depressed or anxious don't take SSRIs (or any so called antidepresant, they all do the same, mess with serotonin). You will have persistent pains, many sexual dysfunctions (and all that those imply, you will be very sad because of your sexual health loss), eye damage. And god knows what else. I hope I never took them.

[@montesa9136]

Erica Komisar makes a lot of sense! Yet she doesn't tell us how people can afford a Professional Therapist, *which is the Most IMPORTANT Thing! Medical Insurance does not cover therapy Also, how do people who are Severely Depressed become "Educated Consumers?" - They can barely function, let alone make good decisions. What good is information if you can't do anything with it? It's so frustrating & maddening that there is never anything practical that people who suffer can do

[@MedicatingNormal]

Just my opinion (Nicole), but surely we can't expect one person to have all of the answers and solve every problem - especially ones so expensive and complex? It's a start that experts in the mental health field are speaking up about the current broken system! -Nicole, Outreach Team/Medicating Normal

[@montesa9136]

@@MedicatingNormal @Medicating Normal - I'm just saying, access to quality, long term, traditional therapy has been out of reach for the people who need it the most from the beginning. I have never seen, or heard, any discussions about this topic. *Yet, it's the single most important factor preventing people from potentially living a tolerable life. It's extremely disheartening & triggering for those who suffer severely! BTW - I Greatly appreciate all the work you do bringing awareness to the potential harms of medication. But people also need an alternative, practical, accessible, affordable action plan to help them heal. For without such a plan, what have we really accomplished?

[@MedicatingNormal]

@@montesa9136 Agree and understand. A future guest in August will talk about non-pharmacologic approaches to depression, so I'll try to remember to ask him about this specific issue. Thank you!

[@Yosamedy]

The whole system is f-d up, in U.K. you first don’t get assessed, you get referred to the psychologist waiting times are 6-18 months wait, gp insist you go on medication before u are assessed by psychologist. It’s so wrong , I agree with Erica 100

[@snuppypuppy6693]

I recommend the book, CULT AND RITUAL ABUSE NARRATIVES, EVIDENCE AND HEALING APPROACHES by James Randall Noblitt and Pamela Perskin Noblitt. Written by a professor of psychology at Alliant University, the book establishes the foundation for a psychological diagnosis, Cult and Ritual Trauma Disorder, caused by anal or vaginal rape of a child in a secret society ceremony. It would be wonderful to interview Dr. Noblitt.

[@snuppypuppy6693]

I also recommend the book, SURVIVING SEX MAGICK by Juliette Engel, M.D. who is a survivor of ritual abuse. She is a physician who grew up in CIA-linked sex cult. She would be an illuminating guest to interview.

[@jjandregg693]

11:42 14-18 year olds can’t see past their present pain.

[@pleasedontdestroythiseither]

20