Laura Delano

And so that story of treatment resistance led me to... Let me ask a really challenging question.

And so that story of treatment resistance led me to... Let me ask a really challenging question.

It's such a good point. And I often say, I do think socioeconomics is a huge piece of the puzzle here when it comes to struggles just generally and when it comes to the power that the American mental health industry has over our society today. And because I had access to the best of the best, I was going to McLean Hospital, New York Presbyterian. I was seeing Harvard Medical School.

It's such a good point. And I often say, I do think socioeconomics is a huge piece of the puzzle here when it comes to struggles just generally and when it comes to the power that the American mental health industry has over our society today. And because I had access to the best of the best, I was going to McLean Hospital, New York Presbyterian. I was seeing Harvard Medical School.

professors for consultations, we believed all the more deeply in everything we were being told because who would we be to question these leading experts? And so at the same time, we went so deep in because I think of this faith we had in all of these top doctors. But when I did eventually kind of have my awakening, you could say, and I realized that

professors for consultations, we believed all the more deeply in everything we were being told because who would we be to question these leading experts? And so at the same time, we went so deep in because I think of this faith we had in all of these top doctors. But when I did eventually kind of have my awakening, you could say, and I realized that

this story of incurable mental illness needing lifelong treatment is just a story and it's actually one that's not based in much scientific evidence. And I eventually decided to come off all of these.

this story of incurable mental illness needing lifelong treatment is just a story and it's actually one that's not based in much scientific evidence. And I eventually decided to come off all of these.

Totally. And I had no idea that the average length of a psychiatric drug trial was six to eight weeks when I was started on these drugs. And I also had no idea that there's zero evidence base for polypharmacy. These drugs have never been, you know, the safety and efficacy of these drugs have never been studied in combination with one another. And yet...

Totally. And I had no idea that the average length of a psychiatric drug trial was six to eight weeks when I was started on these drugs. And I also had no idea that there's zero evidence base for polypharmacy. These drugs have never been, you know, the safety and efficacy of these drugs have never been studied in combination with one another. And yet...

There I was on multiple psychiatric drugs for well over a decade. And I just assumed, I just took for granted, if my doctors are prescribing me this, this way, there must be an evidence base for it. Otherwise, they wouldn't do it. And of course, you know, I eventually learned the hard way that's not true.

There I was on multiple psychiatric drugs for well over a decade. And I just assumed, I just took for granted, if my doctors are prescribing me this, this way, there must be an evidence base for it. Otherwise, they wouldn't do it. And of course, you know, I eventually learned the hard way that's not true.

I completely agree. And in many ways, I feel for the tough position that we've put psychiatrists in over these past 30 decades that the psychopharmaceutical revolution has taken hold. The more prominence these drugs have come to play in... the treatment of struggling people, the, you know, the smaller the toolbox that psychiatrists have at their disposal.

I completely agree. And in many ways, I feel for the tough position that we've put psychiatrists in over these past 30 decades that the psychopharmaceutical revolution has taken hold. The more prominence these drugs have come to play in... the treatment of struggling people, the, you know, the smaller the toolbox that psychiatrists have at their disposal.

So the more prominence that psychiatric drugs have come to have as the kind of one and only first line treatment for people who are struggling, the fewer tools that psychiatrists end up having at their disposal until literally all they have is their prescription pad.

So the more prominence that psychiatric drugs have come to have as the kind of one and only first line treatment for people who are struggling, the fewer tools that psychiatrists end up having at their disposal until literally all they have is their prescription pad.

I've seen it. I have not read it, but I know it.

I've seen it. I have not read it, but I know it.

Indeed. And I would go so far as to say that a lot of what gets called serious mental illness, you know, the kind of stereotypical

Indeed. And I would go so far as to say that a lot of what gets called serious mental illness, you know, the kind of stereotypical