Saturday 11 August 2018

Alternative remedies to conventional psychiatry threatments

Native, Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine
Every continent around the world has some traditional healing practices passed from generation to generations. Native traditional healing in its various forms like Shamanism and Herbalism have been used and tested for thousands of years and are the basis of many other healing therapies. 
There is evidence of Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine methods in old text books of at least 5.000 year ago, which usually involve the use of medicinal herbs, healing touch and acupressure and/or acupuncture. Usually a strong and immediate response is perceived by the patient.
Acupressure an acupuncture for example, are very effective in bringing balance for a large range of complains: physical, mental and emotional issues. 
It works by If applied more frequently in acute states (like several times per day), helps reducing the body exit an acute phase of inflammation. The person regains balance and control much quicker, avoiding the dramas and traumas of weeks of hospitalisation, the side effects of drugs and the numbness.

 
Holistic approaches and remedies 
There is a vast choice of therapies that have developed over the years under various names, however at the basis of these, there is our capacity to heal ourselves and heal others, considering the extraordinary power of the body to heal and regenerating, given the right time and conditions.
Some of the holistic therapies might seem subtle to some people, however when used properly they have tremendous and powerful effects: from pure essential oils, Bach Flowers, Homeopathy, massage (specially Osteopathy, cranio-sacral, reflexology, Shiatsu), EFT (emotional Freedom Technique), Hypnosis, Energy healing (Reiki, Bioenergy, Crystals) and Oriental approaches, many results can be experiences with no side effects when proper guidelines are followed.

 Holistic, Functional, Integrative, Energy Medicine: these are the real way forward to positively help a person that is calling for help. Considering each individual in his or her uniqueness, not just a body with a mental illness label is the key to resolve key issues from the roots.


Nutrition
What we eat and put in our body plays an important role in our overall wellbeing.
The food industry only cares about selling products. So even food labelled "healthy" often only mask items full of sugar, GMOs and refined products with no nutritional value, even if they seem to taste good. Your health is your responsibility and being responsible in what we consume is a good starting point. Eliminating processed foods and stimulants like alcohol, caffeinated drinks, or limiting these if at first is difficult to eliminate completely, is essential to regain real control of our health and life.

Eating right and well is paramount; fresh and natural ingredients are what the body needs and recognises the easiest. 
Ever heard about the gut-brain axis? kellybroganmd.com/5-rules-for-eating-away-your-depression/
There are lots of studies and research that testify about the influence of nutrition to our health. 
The book “The Wheat Belly” talks about consumption of wheat increases inflammation in the body and the likely aggravation/manifestation of schizophrenia symptoms (chapter 4: “Bread is my Crack”).
Nutrition supplementation can provide an effective help, especially Omega 3, B Vitamins and magnesium, just to name a few. However what we need to remember is that we are all individuals with different needs: always seek for appropriate advice, pls. 
GPs and many other MDs are not trained in nutrition generally, unless they consider it relevant. Luckily more and more a waking up to the limitation of conventional medicine and do their further studies.
Abstaining from drugs & alcohol 
Some people avoid any medical advice while suffering mental difficulties and self-medicate using alcohol and or illegal drugs. Good if it works for them, although it generally it's only an immediate relief that cannot work for long without causing addictions, debt and more severe problems within the self and close relationships. It is well known about the toxic effects of either alcohol and any drug (prescribed or recreational alike) on the long term.


Crisis Houses 
Soteria style crisis houses have been experimented for many decades in Europe and the States. These seem to be a safer and gentle space for people that are struggling with crisis symptoms, helping them regain stability rather than being forcibly treated and detained against own will in a psychiatric ward.


The Open Dialogue
RD Laing is often considered the originator of the open dialogue approach, following the Philadelphia Association experiment held at Kingsley Hall in the 60s
It looks like the ability of the Doctor to almost swap places with his patients was the chance for the patient to finding themselves.
Open Dialogue has been used successfully in Western Lapland, Finland for quite some time, allowing people to be treated at home, with little or no medication and the support of close friends and family, as the patient prefer.
We don’t seem to know the actual efficacy, nor there is enough evidence, being not broadly available outside of Finland. What is certain is that talking might be of help more than being focefully


Changing lifestyle/habits are the essential steps to get us out of any rattrap.From loosing weight, follow healthier eating diets, practicing regular physical activity, habit changes may surely require some very difficult work, understand ourselves better, seek for useful help, etc. Takes lots of motivation but we can do it!
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Thursday 2 August 2018

August newsletter & Global Disability Summit

Dear Friends,

After about one year since the United Nations found the UK in severe systematic violations of human rights www.thecanary.co/uk/2017/08/24/breaking-un-just-accused-tories-creating-human-catastrophe-uk/, last week the first ever Global Disability Summit was co-hosted by the UK Government, the International Disability Alliance and the Government of Kenya. A Civil Society Statement has been released www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org/cs-statement

A series of responses circulated before, during and after the Global Summit took place.

An open letter was sent by DPAC and allies to some of the Speakers dpac.uk.net/2018/07/open-letter-to-some-of-those-attending-the-global-summit/

Among others, the LGBTQI organisation Regard condemned the choice of the UK Gov. partnering with the Kenya Gov. for the Global Summit, since it is considered illegal to be gay in Kenya and abuses are common place regard.org.uk/global-disability-summit/

On 22nd July Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) & Reclaiming Our Futures Alliance (ROFA), hosted the International Deaf and Disabled People’s Solidarity Summit in East London, to highlight the hypocrisy of the UK government’s decision to co-host the Global Summit www.disabledgo.com/blog/2018/07/rival-international-summit-aims-to-highlight-governments-global-hypocrisy/




DPAC also organised the Festival of Resistance, with allies, gathering in a peaceful protest, with banners, music and poetry, in front of Here East, where the Summit was taking place on 24 July www.disabilitynewsservice.com/global-disability-summit-dpacs-protest-festival-highlights-government-hypocrisy/

The UK government still has to provide a detailed response to the UN Committee’s over 80 recommendations: not exactly a World leader on disability, as Labour MP for Battersea, Marsha de Cordova reports www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/global-disability-summit_uk_5b56ce5ee4b0b15aba91dc48?17

More on the Global Disability Summit:

 
Please find here the notes shared by NSUN representatives after their meeting with the MHA Review Chair and Vice Chairs, that took place last month (13/07). People are now invited to send suggestions for each response that NSUN will be sending to the leaders of the main political parties, the All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) and replying further to the Review Chair and Vice Chairs. Questions can be found at the bottom of the notes in the link. Send replies/suggestions to Dorothy Gould (gould.dorothy@gmail.com), copying it to Sarah Yiannoullou also (sarah.yiannoullou@nsun.org.uk) by Thu 16 August 2018
 
Next monthly FEEL meeting is taking place on Monday 20th August at LARC.
Do join us and find more info/event below, starting with the MHRN docu/film later today.

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SOLIDARITEA AT THE FIELD, 
by MHRN:
Thu 3rd August, 7pm at The Field, 385 Queen's Road, New Cross, SE14 5HD

Join the film screening: 
"Hands2Mouth: Caring for claimants on Universal Credits", followed by a discussion

Facebook : www.facebook.com/MHResist/
website : www.mentalhealthresistance.org
email : hello@mentalhealthresistance.org









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Universal Credit – how is it for you? 
Evidence needed for the SSAC’s consultation
Inclusion London is sending written evidence to the Social Security Advisory Committee’s consultation on proposals to move all people claiming working age income-related benefits to Universal Credit (UC)
dpac.uk.net/2018/07/universal-credit-how-is-it-for-you-evidence-needed-for-the-ssacs-consultation/

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 UN Rapporteur seeks views on UK poverty and human rights.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston, will undertake an official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 6 to 16 November 2018 at the invitation of the UK Government. His visit will focus, in accordance with his mandate, on the interlinkages between poverty and the realisation of human rights in the United Kingdom. Written submissions can be sent until Friday 14 September at 18:00 www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Poverty/Pages/CallforinputUK.aspxNational 

Public Survey on Ethnic Inequalities and Severe Mental Illness: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/synergipublicsurvey

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 Survivor's Poetry (every second Thursday of the month)
Thu 9th Aug 8– 10.30pm. Arrive 7.30pm to sign up for floorspots (1.50 floorspots / 2.50 concessions / 3.50 the full ticket)The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton St, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9BX
An evening of Poetry and song. MC Dave Russell. Featuring Richard Downes.
Survivors' Poetry was established in 1991 and holds a space unreservedly for all adult Survivors to share their material without censorship with a very supportive audience, most of whom are published poets themselves. It's a very special night and it can be extremely empowering to share your poem/s with people who all 'get'you, so come on down and try it out!'
Facebook: Survivor's Poetry Gigs
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One in Four: Mental Illness Examined Through Art, 
by artists Laura Greenway and Carlie Simpkin
14 - 18 August, 12-6pm, Lewisham Arthouse, 140 Lewisham Way, London, SE14 6PD - Free entry
The show provides an intimate look into the lives of those affected by psychiatric disorders, and aims to start a much needed and essential conversation about mental illness. disabilityarts.online/events/laura-greenway-carlie-simpkin-present-one-four-mental-illness-examined-art-lewisham-arthouse-london/
 
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4.48 psychosis, written by Sarah Kane
18th Sept - 13th Oct, New Diorama Theatre, 15-16 Triton St, London, NW1 3BF
Also at Derby Theatre on 19th and 20th October 2018
Award-winning Deafinitely Theatre bring its celebrated bilingual approach to Sarah Kane’s lyrical and haunting final play about mental health. Directed by Paula Garfield, 4.48 Psychosis is performed in British Sign Language and spoken English for the very first time www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk/Event/448-psychosis
 
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The Unveiling of a new Gravestone, by the William Blake Society 
Sunday 12 August 2018 at 3 pm Bunhill Fields, 38 City Road London EC1Y 1AU
Also share a pic-nic and poetry with the William Blake Congregation from 12noon
 
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Maastricht World Survey On Antipsychotic Medication Withdrawal
Have you taken antipsychotic medication (such as Zyprexa, Seroquel, Abilify, Risperdal, Haldol, Geodon, Stelazine, and others), for any condition or diagnosis, with or without other medications? (For a list of antipsychotics, also known as neuroleptics or major tranquillisers, click here.) And did you ever stop taking antipsychotics, or try to stop taking them? Are you 18 years or older? If yes, you can take this survey about antipsychotic withdrawal and attempts to withdraw, including if you stopped taking them completely or if you tried to come off and still take them. The survey aims to improve mental health services by better understanding medication withdrawal. Any questions? Please contact will.hall@maastrichtuniversity.nl, +1 (413) 210-2803
 
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Open access to a full menu of services: 
Public submission to the Mental Health Inquiry (Petition)
 
Wellbeing Manifesto for Aotearoa New Zealand
 
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Alternatives to detention/sectioning under the Mental Health Act 1983.
Can you help with suggestions? If you are able to help, please can you send information to Dorothy Gould at gould.dorothy@gmail.com. 
 
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Forced Psychiatry Call for Submissions to a New Anthology!
Genres accepted are: Essays, personal essays, poetry, fiction, memoir, dramatic writing, mixed, experimental, short forms, prose poem. Submissions open from August 1, 2018 until January 31, 2019. Publishing in the summer of 2019. forcedpsychiatry.com/wp/
 
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