Welcome!

For whatever reason, I chose today to start this blog. Maybe it's because I'm finally fed up enough. Maybe it's because there has been much going on in the news about mental illness (gun control debates, the murphy bill, the awful story of David Stojcevski who died in jail, etc.). Or maybe it is because October is dedicated to those who have been injured by psychiatry. Or maybe it's all the #MedicatedandMighty stuff. All I know is this: when a topic or a story has two sides and one side is nearly totally invisible, it's important to bring that side's issues to light.

Before we get started I'd like to add some disclaimers: In no way do I advocate for someone to abruptly (or ever) come off of any medication that should be tapered. I am also not offering medical or legal advice, merely my own (and some other voiceless others') experiences and some studies which do show certain risks of psychiatric medications.  I am not affiliated in any way to Scientology, which many people use as a scapegoat to discredit those who have had bad experiences with psychiatry. I am also a real person, not a troll. I also am not "crazy" or a person who is "non-compliant." I am also not an addict, never abused my medication, and have no history of abusing drugs or alcohol. 


So who am I? I'm a girl who has had some anxiety over the course of her life, who, without meaning to, let it get out of hand to the point of becoming so desperate that I took prescribed alprazolam (generic for Xanax), in the class of drugs known as benzodiazepines, to try and get some sleep after being awake for 48 hours straight. I had taken it before maybe 4 times total in my life and been just fine, so I didn't think I had cause for worry. I also wasn't on it for very long before it caused some very scary symptoms after, under a doctor's care, I was told I could simply half the pills every 3 or 4 days. I was told twice by two separate doctors I would not get "addicted" because I didn't have that "personality" (they were right about that - I didn't get addicted, just dependent). I will delve deeper into my story in a post or two.

For any law nerds out there: I also want to add my own background in the study of law to the mix, perhaps analyzing legislation that restricts the rights and autonomy of people with psychiatric diagnoses (i.e.the Murphy Bill), certain guardianship laws, evidentiary standards (particularly the Daubert standard, etc.) But don't worry, I won't get too law school on you guys.

Please be kind. Please be respectful. Please don't give advice unless it is asked for. Please continue reading.

Love,
A