Dear Friends,
Please find details of forthcoming dates and events for your diary.
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE OUR SURGERIES
Show your support by joining the march on SATURDAY 5TH JULY at 2pm from Altab Ali Park, Aldgate East to London Fields Lido for a rally at 3.45. This demonstration is in support of surgeries in Tower Hamlets as well as Newham and Hackney that are facing budget cuts and as a result they may be forced to close soon.
You can also show your support by signing the online petition, please click on the following link: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-inner-city-gp-surgeries
Friends of St Clements General meeting is adjourned to next Monday the 7th of July, 4.30pm. Please come along to the c/o Outpatients Department, Burdett House, Mental Health Unit, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft Road, E1 4DG.
SolidariTea was officially launched in Southwark by the Mental Health Resistance Network this week. The drop in centre will now be offering practical support to people seeking help in regards to the WCA and benefits issues, or simply a cuppa and a chat, every Monday between 2pm and 4.15pm at 97 Dawes House, Orb St, Walworth, London, SE17 1RD. Info:solidariteasouthwark@gmail.com
Ph. 07966180429
Healthwatch Tower Hamlets Mental Health Task Group is being relaunched since Community Options has been chosen to manage the project. Ange Jones has been allocated as Project Coordinator for the running and facilitation of the group.
The group will be re-launched on Wednesday, 16th July 2014 11.30-2pm at Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, Bethnal Green, London E2 6HG Ange.Jones@community-options.org.uk
Healthline has launched a video campaign for bipolar disorder called "You've Got This" where bipolar patients can record a short video to give hope and inspiration to those recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Visit the homepage and check out videos from the campaign www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder/youve-got-this
The Outsiders Open Mic will take place on the closing day of the Shuffle Festival on Sunday the 3rd of August, 4-7pm, in Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Southern Grove, MIle End E3 4PX. Get your swimming gear ready to experience a deep in the pool being dug for the festival www.shufflefestival.com/location/
Come along to our monthly F.E.E.L. meeting to help finalising the plans for our contribuition to the festival and discuss further issues on Monday the 21st of July at LARC 62, Fieldgate Street E1, 6.30-8.30pm.
Enjoy the weather and please remember to keep hydrated!
Campaigning for fairer & compassionate mental health care since 2007. Humane therapy, not DRUGS tyranny! Working together GREATER results can be achieved! (Pls, note that we are not longer meeting, but present in spirit)
Thursday, 3 July 2014
Saturday, 21 June 2014
The Dark Side Protest
Tuesday, June 24
at 9:00am - 1:00pm
Royal College of Psychiatry, 21 Prescot Street, London, E1 8BB
Darth Vader invites you to join him in protesting outside the new headquarters of the Royal College of Psychiatrists during their 'College Tours' and AGM ahead of their International Conference. Nearest tubes Tower Hill, Aldgate, Aldgate East. Nearest DLR is Tower Gateway.
We have decided to protest outside their new headquarters during the AGM rather than the conference at the Barbican as it is not conducive to protests www.rcpsych.ac.uk/.../internationalcongress2014.aspx
Dr. Peter Gotzsche has created a controversy and sparked criticism over what he sees as a damaging over-prescription of drugs by psychiatrists.
Gotzsche recently compiled a list of ten common myths held not only by the general public, but also trained psychiatrists concerning the safety of psychotropic drugs, and the rationale for their use.
As an internist, Gotzsche remarked that since he was outside of the political orthodoxy of the world of psychiatric medicine, he was free to express what he believed to be the sentiments of many psychiatrists who must remain quiet in their objections for fear of hurting their careers.
1. Mental diseases are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain
"We have no idea about which interplay of psychosocial conditions, biochemical processes, receptors and neural pathways that lead to mental disorders and the theories that patients with depression lack serotonin and that patients with schizophrenia have too much dopamine have long been refuted."
2. It's easy to go off antidepressants any time you want to
Here, Gotzsche points to drug trails involving agoraphobics and people suffering from panic disorder, whom were not depressed. Fifty percent of the patients found it difficult to come off antidepressants even though they were gradually reducing their doses. It could not be that the patients saw their depression returning, as they were not depressed to begin with.
3. Psychotropic drugs are to mental illness as insulin is to diabetes
"When you give insulin to a patient with diabetes, you give something the patient lacks, namely insulin. Since we've never been able to demonstrate that a patient with a mental disorder lacks something that people who are not sick don't lack, it is wrong to use this analogy."
4. Psychotropic drugs reduce the number of chronically ill patients
"In 1987, just before the newer antidepressants (SSRIs or happy pills) came on the market, very few children in the United States were mentally disabled. Twenty years later it was over 500,000, which represents a 35-fold increase. The number of disabled mentally ill has exploded in all Western countries."
5. SSRIs don't cause suicide in children and adolescents
"The companies and the psychiatrists have consistently blamed the disease when patients commit suicide. It is true that depression increases the risk of suicide, but happy pills increase it even more, at least up to about age 40, according to a meta-analysis of 100,000 patients in randomized trials performed by the US Food and Drug Administration."
6. SSRIs don't have side effects
"Patients care less about the consequences of their actions, lose empathy towards others, and can become very aggressive. In school shootings in the United States and elsewhere a striking number of people have been on antidepressants."
7. SSRIs are not addictive
The worst argument I have heard about the pills not causing dependency is that patients do not require higher doses. Shall we then also believe that cigarettes are not addictive? The vast majority of smokers consume the same number of cigarettes for years."
8. The prevalence in depression has increased a lot in recent history
Gotzsche points out that this is difficult if not impossible to determine, as the criteria for being diagnosed as clinically depressed has been drastically lowered over the last 50 years.
9. The main problem is not overtreatment, but undertreatment
"In a 2007 survey, 51% of the 108 psychiatrists said that they used too much medicine and only 4 % said they used too little. In 2001-2003, 20% of the US population aged 18-54 years received treatment for emotional problems."
10. Antipsychotics prevent brain damage
"Some professors say that schizophrenia causes brain damage and that it is therefore important to use antipsychotics. However, antipsychotics lead to shrinkage of the brain, and this effect is directly related to the dose and duration of the treatment."
As for a solution, Gotzsche states that he is not against the use of psychiatric drugs, but that doctors must do everything that can before resorting to their use, and only then as a short-term solution.
More info speakoutagainstpsychiatry@gmail.com
at 9:00am - 1:00pm
Royal College of Psychiatry, 21 Prescot Street, London, E1 8BB
Darth Vader invites you to join him in protesting outside the new headquarters of the Royal College of Psychiatrists during their 'College Tours' and AGM ahead of their International Conference. Nearest tubes Tower Hill, Aldgate, Aldgate East. Nearest DLR is Tower Gateway.
We have decided to protest outside their new headquarters during the AGM rather than the conference at the Barbican as it is not conducive to protests www.rcpsych.ac.uk/.../internationalcongress2014.aspx
Dr. Peter Gotzsche has created a controversy and sparked criticism over what he sees as a damaging over-prescription of drugs by psychiatrists.
Gotzsche recently compiled a list of ten common myths held not only by the general public, but also trained psychiatrists concerning the safety of psychotropic drugs, and the rationale for their use.
As an internist, Gotzsche remarked that since he was outside of the political orthodoxy of the world of psychiatric medicine, he was free to express what he believed to be the sentiments of many psychiatrists who must remain quiet in their objections for fear of hurting their careers.
1. Mental diseases are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain
"We have no idea about which interplay of psychosocial conditions, biochemical processes, receptors and neural pathways that lead to mental disorders and the theories that patients with depression lack serotonin and that patients with schizophrenia have too much dopamine have long been refuted."
2. It's easy to go off antidepressants any time you want to
Here, Gotzsche points to drug trails involving agoraphobics and people suffering from panic disorder, whom were not depressed. Fifty percent of the patients found it difficult to come off antidepressants even though they were gradually reducing their doses. It could not be that the patients saw their depression returning, as they were not depressed to begin with.
3. Psychotropic drugs are to mental illness as insulin is to diabetes
"When you give insulin to a patient with diabetes, you give something the patient lacks, namely insulin. Since we've never been able to demonstrate that a patient with a mental disorder lacks something that people who are not sick don't lack, it is wrong to use this analogy."
4. Psychotropic drugs reduce the number of chronically ill patients
"In 1987, just before the newer antidepressants (SSRIs or happy pills) came on the market, very few children in the United States were mentally disabled. Twenty years later it was over 500,000, which represents a 35-fold increase. The number of disabled mentally ill has exploded in all Western countries."
5. SSRIs don't cause suicide in children and adolescents
"The companies and the psychiatrists have consistently blamed the disease when patients commit suicide. It is true that depression increases the risk of suicide, but happy pills increase it even more, at least up to about age 40, according to a meta-analysis of 100,000 patients in randomized trials performed by the US Food and Drug Administration."
6. SSRIs don't have side effects
"Patients care less about the consequences of their actions, lose empathy towards others, and can become very aggressive. In school shootings in the United States and elsewhere a striking number of people have been on antidepressants."
7. SSRIs are not addictive
The worst argument I have heard about the pills not causing dependency is that patients do not require higher doses. Shall we then also believe that cigarettes are not addictive? The vast majority of smokers consume the same number of cigarettes for years."
8. The prevalence in depression has increased a lot in recent history
Gotzsche points out that this is difficult if not impossible to determine, as the criteria for being diagnosed as clinically depressed has been drastically lowered over the last 50 years.
9. The main problem is not overtreatment, but undertreatment
"In a 2007 survey, 51% of the 108 psychiatrists said that they used too much medicine and only 4 % said they used too little. In 2001-2003, 20% of the US population aged 18-54 years received treatment for emotional problems."
10. Antipsychotics prevent brain damage
"Some professors say that schizophrenia causes brain damage and that it is therefore important to use antipsychotics. However, antipsychotics lead to shrinkage of the brain, and this effect is directly related to the dose and duration of the treatment."
As for a solution, Gotzsche states that he is not against the use of psychiatric drugs, but that doctors must do everything that can before resorting to their use, and only then as a short-term solution.
More info speakoutagainstpsychiatry@gmail.com
Tuesday, 10 June 2014
June Newsletter
Dear Friends,
-Largactyl Shuffle – Summer Solstice Midnight Walk: Saturday June 21st 2014, 11.45pm – 5am, Sunday June 22nd 2014
Start: Tate Modern (outside The Turbine Hall entrance), Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Ends: Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AZ
June's meeting for the Friends of East End Loonies is taking place next week, on Monday the 16th, between 18:30 - 20:30 pm, at LARC 62, Fieldgate Street E1.
Please join us as we'll be celebrating two friends 70th birthdays,
discussing future events and making the most of our gathering.
We've got the confirmed date for our Open Mic at the Shuffle: this will be on Sunday the 3rd of August, on the closing and uber-filled day of the festival
Does anyone want to be part of a documentary telling FEEL story? Jo is coming along to present his filming project.
Congratulations to CoolTan Arts for winning the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service http://www.cooltanarts.org.uk/
A couple of their events happening soon:
-Mad Hatter's Tea Party: on Saturday 14th June, 1pm-6pm: four free workshops and the official opening of the new art exhibition, 224-236 Walworth Road, London SE17 1JE
A couple of their events happening soon:
-Mad Hatter's Tea Party: on Saturday 14th June, 1pm-6pm: four free workshops and the official opening of the new art exhibition, 224-236 Walworth Road, London SE17 1JE
-Largactyl Shuffle – Summer Solstice Midnight Walk: Saturday June 21st 2014, 11.45pm – 5am, Sunday June 22nd 2014
Start: Tate Modern (outside The Turbine Hall entrance), Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Ends: Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AZ
Lots is happening around London with the new Anxiety
Festival, curated by the Mental Health Foundation, running up to the
end of the month http://www.anxiety2014.org/
More locally, Community Options are promoting two events this week:
-11th June 11am-4pm
Wellbeing Sports Day for Mental Health Service Users and staff through
Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham at The Copper Box, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford E20 3HB
-12th June: Your Say Your Day at The Brady Arts Centre 192-196 Hanbury Street London E1 5HU, 2-5.30pm
NSUN and the University of York are inviting people who currently access
mental health services (or have accessed them in the past) to take a
course ran by MindApples on wellbeing, mental effectiveness and resilience. The training is free. Please register before 23 June
using this LINK
ASA (Advertising Standard Agency), is trying to limit
the scope of natural health practitioners,
not allowing to use terms such as therapy, diagnostic, treatment,
etc, or claim to treat medical conditions. However natural therapies
are the ones likely to help most of conditions with the least, if
any, side effects. Consumers when unsure are easily tricked by the media. Now an investigation on ASA has been called. Watch this video and please sign the petition www.asa-the-truth.
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Is Gluten Making You Depressed?
psychologytoday
I recently consulted with a 24 year-old patient diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and depression. He was prescribed a different medication for each diagnosis: Adderall for ADHD, Valium for anxiety, and Zoloft for depression.
He was on three medications, one for each diagnosis, yet he continued to struggle with attention problems, anxiety, and depression! Moreover, he wanted additional medication to help him sleep.
Before prescribing medication for any patient, I recommend a comprehensive panel of blood work to rule out hormone or nutritional deficiencies.
In the case of my 24 year-old patient, I discovered that he was anemic with very low iron and zinc levels and a significant B12 deficiency. For a physically healthy, meat eating young man these were unusual lab results.
Why hadn't his other doctors caught these results? His previous psychiatrists never ordered any blood work and his last visit to his PCP was for the flu and blood work was not done.
Based on his nutritional deficiencies I ordered additional tests. Further testing revealed that he was positive for antibodies to gliadin, a protein found in wheat often used as a marker for the presence of celiac disease. A biopsy confirmed that he had celiac disease.
Celiac disease, commonly thought of as only a GI disorder, can cause profound psychological symptoms. One of which is depression.
In celiac disease the body's immune system mistakenly attacks a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley. In its attack on gluten, the immune system damages the small intestine, producing intestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramps and swelling, pain, gas, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Once damaged the small intestine may not absorb essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins as well as it should.
The health consequences of celiac disease, however, extend beyond gastrointestinal issues and may affect every organ system, including the brain.
Other consequences of celiac disease include:
How does depression relate to the damage done to the small intestine in celiac disease? The intestinal damage wrought by celiac disease prevents absorption of essential nutrients that keep the brain healthy, especially zinc, tryptophan, and the B vitamins. These nutrients are necessary for the production of essential chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, a deficiency of which has been linked to depression.
In particular, low zinc levels have been linked to depression. In addition to keeping the immune system strong and the memory sharp, zinc plays an important role in the production and use of neurotransmitters-brain chemicals that help modulate mood. This is why low levels of zinc have been linked to major depression, and why supplemental zinc enhances the effects of antidepressant medications in many people. A 2009 study found that zinc supplementation significantly reduced depression scores in people who had not been helped by antidepressants in the past.
Sadly, in cases of depression related celiac disease these nutritional deficiencies are often ignored by physicians who are more comfortable in treating the symptoms of depression with medication.
Why does this happen?
Physicians may think that the nutritional deficiencies are unrelated to depression. Celiac disease is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as disorders with similar gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia nervosa, chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), or Crohn's disease. Physicians, as with many people, tend to separate the gastrointestinal issues of celiac disease from the psychological problems and treat them separately.
If celiac disease is suspected, a blood test is administered to look for the antibodies to gluten-anti-gliadin, anti-endomysial, and anti-tissue transglutaminase. High antibody levels indicate the presence of celiac disease. However, the only way to make a definitive diagnosis is to perform an endoscopy of the intestinal lining.
Once diagnosed, how do you treat celiac disease? The tragic news is that no treatment will cure celiac disease. But the disease can be managed with a gluten-free diet. By avoiding foods containing gluten, the symptoms of celiac disease, including the psychological symptoms, will resolve and the body can heal some if not all of the intestinal damage. Most people who begin a gluten-free diet feel better almost immediately, although the psychological symptoms may require months of nutritional support before seeing any improvement.
After making a definitive diagnosis for my 24 year-old patient, he was started on a gluten-free diet. After nearly two years, he's no longer on any psychiatric medications and no longer has three psychiatric diagnoses. His symptoms of anxiety and depression slowly subsided with a gluten-free diet.
Undiagnosed celiac disease can exacerbate symptoms of depression or may even be the underlying cause.
Patients with depression should be tested for nutritional deficiencies. Who knows, celiac disease may be the correct diagnosis and not depression.
www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depression-solution/201105/is-gluten-making-you-depressed
I recently consulted with a 24 year-old patient diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, and depression. He was prescribed a different medication for each diagnosis: Adderall for ADHD, Valium for anxiety, and Zoloft for depression.
He was on three medications, one for each diagnosis, yet he continued to struggle with attention problems, anxiety, and depression! Moreover, he wanted additional medication to help him sleep.
Before prescribing medication for any patient, I recommend a comprehensive panel of blood work to rule out hormone or nutritional deficiencies.
In the case of my 24 year-old patient, I discovered that he was anemic with very low iron and zinc levels and a significant B12 deficiency. For a physically healthy, meat eating young man these were unusual lab results.
Why hadn't his other doctors caught these results? His previous psychiatrists never ordered any blood work and his last visit to his PCP was for the flu and blood work was not done.
Based on his nutritional deficiencies I ordered additional tests. Further testing revealed that he was positive for antibodies to gliadin, a protein found in wheat often used as a marker for the presence of celiac disease. A biopsy confirmed that he had celiac disease.
Celiac disease, commonly thought of as only a GI disorder, can cause profound psychological symptoms. One of which is depression.
In celiac disease the body's immune system mistakenly attacks a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley. In its attack on gluten, the immune system damages the small intestine, producing intestinal symptoms such as abdominal cramps and swelling, pain, gas, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. Once damaged the small intestine may not absorb essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins as well as it should.
The health consequences of celiac disease, however, extend beyond gastrointestinal issues and may affect every organ system, including the brain.
Other consequences of celiac disease include:
- Anemia
- Anorexia
- Arthritis
- Behavioral changes
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Infertility
- Joint pain and inflammation
- Migraine headaches
- Missed menstrual periods
- Numbness and tingling of the hands and feet
- Osteoporosis
- Seizures and other neurological problems
- Skin lesions
- Tooth decay and discoloration
- Weakness
- Weight loss
How does depression relate to the damage done to the small intestine in celiac disease? The intestinal damage wrought by celiac disease prevents absorption of essential nutrients that keep the brain healthy, especially zinc, tryptophan, and the B vitamins. These nutrients are necessary for the production of essential chemicals in the brain such as serotonin, a deficiency of which has been linked to depression.
In particular, low zinc levels have been linked to depression. In addition to keeping the immune system strong and the memory sharp, zinc plays an important role in the production and use of neurotransmitters-brain chemicals that help modulate mood. This is why low levels of zinc have been linked to major depression, and why supplemental zinc enhances the effects of antidepressant medications in many people. A 2009 study found that zinc supplementation significantly reduced depression scores in people who had not been helped by antidepressants in the past.
Sadly, in cases of depression related celiac disease these nutritional deficiencies are often ignored by physicians who are more comfortable in treating the symptoms of depression with medication.
Why does this happen?
Physicians may think that the nutritional deficiencies are unrelated to depression. Celiac disease is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed as disorders with similar gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia nervosa, chronic fatigue syndrome, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), or Crohn's disease. Physicians, as with many people, tend to separate the gastrointestinal issues of celiac disease from the psychological problems and treat them separately.
If celiac disease is suspected, a blood test is administered to look for the antibodies to gluten-anti-gliadin, anti-endomysial, and anti-tissue transglutaminase. High antibody levels indicate the presence of celiac disease. However, the only way to make a definitive diagnosis is to perform an endoscopy of the intestinal lining.
Once diagnosed, how do you treat celiac disease? The tragic news is that no treatment will cure celiac disease. But the disease can be managed with a gluten-free diet. By avoiding foods containing gluten, the symptoms of celiac disease, including the psychological symptoms, will resolve and the body can heal some if not all of the intestinal damage. Most people who begin a gluten-free diet feel better almost immediately, although the psychological symptoms may require months of nutritional support before seeing any improvement.
After making a definitive diagnosis for my 24 year-old patient, he was started on a gluten-free diet. After nearly two years, he's no longer on any psychiatric medications and no longer has three psychiatric diagnoses. His symptoms of anxiety and depression slowly subsided with a gluten-free diet.
Undiagnosed celiac disease can exacerbate symptoms of depression or may even be the underlying cause.
Patients with depression should be tested for nutritional deficiencies. Who knows, celiac disease may be the correct diagnosis and not depression.
www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-breakthrough-depression-solution/201105/is-gluten-making-you-depressed
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Connecting Emotional Physical and Mental Health in TCM
What Are The Seven Emotions?
Suwen (The Book of Plain Questions) says "The five yin-organs of the human body produce five kinds of essential qi, which bring forth joy, anger, grief, worry, and fear."
Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) also
believes that certain organs are related to emotional activities, i.e.
the heart is related to joy, the liver to anger, the spleen to pensiveness, the lungs to anxiety and the kidneys to fear.
The emotions are considered the major internal causes of disease in TCM. Emotional activity is seen as a normal, internal, physiological response to stimuli from the external environment. Within normal limits, emotions cause no disease or weakness in the body. However, when emotions become so powerful that they become uncontrollable and overwhelm or possess a person, then they can cause serious injury to the internal organs and open the door to disease. It is not the intensity as much as the prolonged duration or an extreme emotion, which causes damage. While Western physicians tend to stress the psychological aspects of psychosomatic ailments, the pathological damage to the internal organs is very real indeed and is of primary concern of the TCM practitioner.
Suwen (The Book of Plain Questions) says "The five yin-organs of the human body produce five kinds of essential qi, which bring forth joy, anger, grief, worry, and fear."
Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) also
believes that certain organs are related to emotional activities, i.e.
the heart is related to joy, the liver to anger, the spleen to pensiveness, the lungs to anxiety and the kidneys to fear.
The emotions are considered the major internal causes of disease in TCM. Emotional activity is seen as a normal, internal, physiological response to stimuli from the external environment. Within normal limits, emotions cause no disease or weakness in the body. However, when emotions become so powerful that they become uncontrollable and overwhelm or possess a person, then they can cause serious injury to the internal organs and open the door to disease. It is not the intensity as much as the prolonged duration or an extreme emotion, which causes damage. While Western physicians tend to stress the psychological aspects of psychosomatic ailments, the pathological damage to the internal organs is very real indeed and is of primary concern of the TCM practitioner.
Excess emotional activity causes severe yin-yang energy imbalances, wild aberrations in the flow of blood, qi (vital energy) blockages in the meridians and impairment of vital organ
functions. Once physical damage has begun, it is insufficient to
eliminate the offending emotion to affect a cure; the prolonged
emotional stress will require physical action as well. The emotions
represent different human reactions to certain stimuli and do not cause
disease under normal conditions.
The Pathogenic Features of the Seven Emotions: | Directly impairing organ qi (vital energy) |
| Affecting the functions of organ qi (vital energy) |
| Deteriorating effects of emotional instability |
The seven emotions in TCM are: |
| Joy * Anger * Anxiety * Pensiveness * Grief * Fear * Fright |
喜 Joy
"When one is excessively joyful, the spirit scatters and can no longer be stored," states the Lingshu (The Vital Axis). However, in TCM, joy refers to a states of agitation or overexcitement, rather than the more passive notion of deep contentment. The organ most affected is the heart. Over-stimulation can lead to problems of heart fire connected with such symptoms as feelings of agitation, insomnia and palpitations.
怒 Anger Anger could lead to high blood pressure.
Anger, as described by TCM, covers the full range of associated emotions including resentment, irritability, and frustration. An excess of rich blood makes one prone to anger. Anger will thus affect the liver, resulting in stagnation of liver qi (vital energy). This can lead to liver energy rising to the head, resulting in headaches, dizziness, and other symptoms. In the long run it can result in high blood pressure and can cause problems with the stomach and the spleen. It is commonly observed that ruddy, "full-blooded" people with flushed faces are more prone than others to sudden fits of rage at the slightest provocation.
憂 Anxiety can block the qi and manifest in rapid, shallow breathing.
"When one feels anxiety, the qi (vital energy) is blocked and does not move." Anxiety injures the lungs, which control qi (vital energy) through breathing. Common symptoms of extreme anxiety are retention of breath, shallow, and irregular breathing. The shortage of breath experienced during periods of anxiety is common to everyone. Anxiety also injures the lungs' coupled organ, the large intestine. For example, over-anxious people are prone to ulcerative colitis.
思 Pensiveness Too much intellectual stimulation can cause pensiveness.
In TCM, pensiveness or concentration is considered to be the result of thinking too much or excessive mental and intellectual stimulation. Any activity that involves a lot of mental effort will run the risk of causing disharmony. The organ most directly at risk is the spleen. This can lead to a deficiency of spleen qi (vital energy), in turn causing worry and resulting in fatigue, lethargy, and inability to concentrate.
悲 Grief that remains unresolved can create disharmony in the lungs.
The lungs are more directly involved with this emotion. A normal and healthy expression of grief can be expressed as sobbing that originates in the depths of the lungs - deep breathes and the expulsion of air with the sob. However, grief that remains unresolved and becomes chronic can create disharmony in the lungs, weakening the lung qi (vital energy). This in turn can interfere with the lung's function of circulating qi (vital energy) around the body.
恐 Fear that cannot be directly addressed is likely to lead to disharmony in the kidneys.
驚 Fright can affect the kidneys if left unchecked.
Fright is another emotion not specifically related to only one organ. It is distinguished from fear by its sudden, unexpected nature. Fright primarily affects the heart, especially in the initial stages, but if it persists for some time, it becomes conscious fear and moves to the kidneys.
May Newsletter.
Dear Friends,
Last month we have had a chocolate overdose, which fuelled a very productive gathering. Kindly Steve Woodhams has contributed collecting the minutes (do send us an email if you wish to have a copy).
Our May meeting is now fast approaching. Please join us next Monday the 19th of May, 6.30-8.30pm at LARC 62, Fieldgate Street E1 In our agenda some forthcoming events to discuss, including a possible event dedicated to R D Laing and a special Open Mic. Remember the Summer Shuffle festival last year? Chances are we will be back with an Outsiders Open Mic next July. Details to be confirmed, but do get in touch if willing to perform.
The Survivors History Group is also meeting this month, on Wed the 28th May at Together, 12 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BE studymore.org.uk/mpu.htm#Referencing
The Gandhi Foundation is having the AGM and an Illustrated Talk on Saturday 24th May 2014, 2-4pm at Kingsley Hall, Powis Road, Bromley-By-Bow, London E3 3HJ http://gandhifoundation.org/2014/04/25/the-gandhi-foundation-annual-gathering-and-workshop-2014/ RSVP: william@gandhifoundation.org (for catering purposes)
BCSW Stamp Appeal www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk/
Please spread the word - we are asking people in the UK and overseas to collect and send us their used postage stamps. We can recycle them and raise funds for BCSW. You can send any amount of stamps, at any time, to BCSW Stamp Appeal, PO BOX 654, Bristol BS99 1XH. Please remember to put the correct postage on your packages. Thanks very much!
Last month we have had a chocolate overdose, which fuelled a very productive gathering. Kindly Steve Woodhams has contributed collecting the minutes (do send us an email if you wish to have a copy).
Our May meeting is now fast approaching. Please join us next Monday the 19th of May, 6.30-8.30pm at LARC 62, Fieldgate Street E1 In our agenda some forthcoming events to discuss, including a possible event dedicated to R D Laing and a special Open Mic. Remember the Summer Shuffle festival last year? Chances are we will be back with an Outsiders Open Mic next July. Details to be confirmed, but do get in touch if willing to perform.
The Survivors History Group is also meeting this month, on Wed the 28th May at Together, 12 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BE studymore.org.uk/mpu.htm#Referencing
The Gandhi Foundation is having the AGM and an Illustrated Talk on Saturday 24th May 2014, 2-4pm at Kingsley Hall, Powis Road, Bromley-By-Bow, London E3 3HJ http://gandhifoundation.org/2014/04/25/the-gandhi-foundation-annual-gathering-and-workshop-2014/ RSVP: william@gandhifoundation.org (for catering purposes)
BCSW Stamp Appeal www.selfinjurysupport.org.uk/
Please spread the word - we are asking people in the UK and overseas to collect and send us their used postage stamps. We can recycle them and raise funds for BCSW. You can send any amount of stamps, at any time, to BCSW Stamp Appeal, PO BOX 654, Bristol BS99 1XH. Please remember to put the correct postage on your packages. Thanks very much!
Saturday, 5 April 2014
April Newsletter.
Dear Friends,
Last month thanks to the NSUN newsletter I got to ear about Emergence for the first time, a service user-led organisation supporting all people affected by personality disorder including service users, carers, family and friends and professionals. The event involvement-in-action-day was a great success and wish to thank them for their hard work.
Thank you NSUN for the regular updates as well and for being the most comprehensive source in the country www.nsun.org.uk/
This week the Spring issue of the Southwark Mental Health News got delivered through the post - Thank you guys!
Among listing many interesting things happening the other side of the Thames, the magazine has a full coverage of Denise McKenna talk at our event last February. Denise together with the Mental Health Resistance Network are also preparing to launch a mutual support and campaigning project called SolidariTEA. Sending our support and sympathy, while looking forward to share more updates.
Speak Out Against Psychiatry (SOAP) have two events in their calendar:
The protest 'Justice for Victims of Psychiatric Assault' Wednesday 9 April 2014 from 11am. Meet outside the Royal Courts of Justice - The Strand - WC2A 2LL
Wear wigs and gowns if available! Slogans requested! It is nigh on impossible to get a case into court for the physical and mental damage caused by psychiatry - coercion, restraint, psych drugs and Electroshock - ECT. Due to the low possibility of success, 'no-win-no-fee' solicitors will not take on your case. If you represent yourself you risk having to pay the costs for the other side which can exceed £50,000.
The inquest for Jean Cozens has now been listed for 09.30am on Tuesday 06 May 2014. Open to the public and we hope to have a candle lit vigil. Inner London South Coroner's Court, 1 Tennis Street, Southwark SE1 1YD Tel 0207 525 0038 E-mail Paul.Gregory@southwark.gov.uk
speakoutagainstpsychiatry.org/
New revised e-petition to abolish Electroconvulsive Therapy - ECT - Electroshock epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/60399
Another alert is for the Healthy Deaf Mind meeting taking place also next Wed 9th April 2014, 6.30-9pm at the All Souls Clubhouse, 141 Cleveland Street, W1T 6QG. The theme of ‘LOSS’ will be introduced by Paul Fletcher and Pauline Latchem. Entrance fee is £5 and includes light refreshments during the coffee break. The talks will be delivered in BSL. Please share within the deaf communities.
For more information email HDMlondon@hotmail.co.uk
Bobby Baker is touring East London with her show and exhibition around East London. The Diary Drawings exhibition is currently at Chats, Hackney. More details to be found on http://dailylifeltd.co.uk/extended-run/
One last reminder for the Friends of St Clements AGM, taking place next Monday the 7th, 4.30pm, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft Road, E1.
Please come along if you either wish to save or say goodbye to this group.
This month Friends of East End Loonies meeting falls on Easter Monday, the 21st of April. The gathering will still go ahead as usual at LARC, 62 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel E1, time: 6.30-8.30pm. If you happen to have excessive supplies of chocolate eggs feel free to bring them to share.
Wishing you a good weekend!
Last month thanks to the NSUN newsletter I got to ear about Emergence for the first time, a service user-led organisation supporting all people affected by personality disorder including service users, carers, family and friends and professionals. The event involvement-in-action-day was a great success and wish to thank them for their hard work.
Thank you NSUN for the regular updates as well and for being the most comprehensive source in the country www.nsun.org.uk/
This week the Spring issue of the Southwark Mental Health News got delivered through the post - Thank you guys!
Among listing many interesting things happening the other side of the Thames, the magazine has a full coverage of Denise McKenna talk at our event last February. Denise together with the Mental Health Resistance Network are also preparing to launch a mutual support and campaigning project called SolidariTEA. Sending our support and sympathy, while looking forward to share more updates.
Speak Out Against Psychiatry (SOAP) have two events in their calendar:
The protest 'Justice for Victims of Psychiatric Assault' Wednesday 9 April 2014 from 11am. Meet outside the Royal Courts of Justice - The Strand - WC2A 2LL
Wear wigs and gowns if available! Slogans requested! It is nigh on impossible to get a case into court for the physical and mental damage caused by psychiatry - coercion, restraint, psych drugs and Electroshock - ECT. Due to the low possibility of success, 'no-win-no-fee' solicitors will not take on your case. If you represent yourself you risk having to pay the costs for the other side which can exceed £50,000.
The inquest for Jean Cozens has now been listed for 09.30am on Tuesday 06 May 2014. Open to the public and we hope to have a candle lit vigil. Inner London South Coroner's Court, 1 Tennis Street, Southwark SE1 1YD Tel 0207 525 0038 E-mail Paul.Gregory@southwark.gov.uk
speakoutagainstpsychiatry.org/
New revised e-petition to abolish Electroconvulsive Therapy - ECT - Electroshock epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/60399
Another alert is for the Healthy Deaf Mind meeting taking place also next Wed 9th April 2014, 6.30-9pm at the All Souls Clubhouse, 141 Cleveland Street, W1T 6QG. The theme of ‘LOSS’ will be introduced by Paul Fletcher and Pauline Latchem. Entrance fee is £5 and includes light refreshments during the coffee break. The talks will be delivered in BSL. Please share within the deaf communities.
For more information email HDMlondon@hotmail.co.uk
Bobby Baker is touring East London with her show and exhibition around East London. The Diary Drawings exhibition is currently at Chats, Hackney. More details to be found on http://dailylifeltd.co.uk/extended-run/
One last reminder for the Friends of St Clements AGM, taking place next Monday the 7th, 4.30pm, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft Road, E1.
Please come along if you either wish to save or say goodbye to this group.
This month Friends of East End Loonies meeting falls on Easter Monday, the 21st of April. The gathering will still go ahead as usual at LARC, 62 Fieldgate Street, Whitechapel E1, time: 6.30-8.30pm. If you happen to have excessive supplies of chocolate eggs feel free to bring them to share.
Wishing you a good weekend!
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