| In today's mental health system there is a pattern of | | | | with 20 assorted diagnoses. She was given Risperdal |
| fraud and coercion that takes way the freedoms and | | | | as well as Ritalin. The mother reported that the child |
| dignity of children and their families. Children are | | | | has tardive dyskinesia and was experiencing tremors. |
| receiving stigmatizing labels and being prescribed | | | | The response was to eliminate Risperdal and replace |
| psychotropic drugs with many untoward effects. | | | | it with a different neuroleptic. This child is now |
| Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz, MD made the comment | | | | permanently disfigured, and will probably never fully |
| that if an individual hit us with a blackjack and robbed | | | | recover from the damage done in the name of 'help'.I |
| us of our dignity we would call them thugs, yet | | | | was doing an observation of one of my clients in a |
| psychiatrists label and drug children and rob them of | | | | school setting when I took note of another child who |
| their dingity and nothing is said. All in the name of | | | | began a conversation with me and in the process |
| profit. Rarely, if never are the families given informed | | | | was showing facial grimaces and constant repetitive |
| consent. Szasz has also stated, "From a sociological | | | | blinking. I pulled the teacher aside and asked her to |
| point of view, psychiatry is a secular institution to | | | | examine the child for a minute and tell me if she |
| regulate domestic relations. From my point of view, it | | | | witnessed anything out of the ordinary. "Well, he |
| is child abuse." Families are provided with literature | | | | keeps making faces and twitching." I asked her, |
| that appears so matter of fact but is funded by the | | | | "Why may that be?" "Well, um, I do not know!". I |
| pharmaceutical companies and tainted with their bias. | | | | asked her to see what medication the child was |
| According to the Pughkeepsie Journal, the 'support' or | | | | taking and if it might be a 'blue pill'. She asked the |
| should it be said front group for Children diagnosed | | | | child and indeed he was taking Adderall, the cause of |
| with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder received | | | | all his grimaces and contortion. What a price to pay |
| substantial funds from the pharmaceutical companies: | | | | to get a child to 'function' in class!I was presented |
| "CHADD received $315,000 from drug companies in | | | | with a child who the teacher insisted was ADHD. The |
| the year ending June 2000, about 12 percent of its | | | | school guidance counselor was called in and told the |
| budget."Children are being beaten, improperly | | | | mother, "without a doubt, he is ADHD and could |
| restrained, physically and sexually abused, and | | | | benefit from Ritalin. It helps with academic |
| emotionally scarred in residential treatment programs. | | | | improvement." I asked the school guidance counselor |
| Juvenile probation officials are failing to understand | | | | if he had actually met the child or was going on |
| the emotional distress of our children, they are | | | | reports. "No, I have yet to meet him." I then asked |
| submitting to this "psychiatric Gestapo". Educators | | | | him if he could name a study that proved that |
| rather than finding new methods of shaping our | | | | academic performance could be enhanced and how |
| children's learning are falling into the trap of psychiatric | | | | he was so sure of the ADHD diagnosis." He |
| 'solutions' as well. Never could it be that a school has | | | | responded that he knew of no such study and that |
| simply failed to help a child learn, rather it is always | | | | such diagnosis was based on teacher reports. Where |
| the child denigrated and labeled as 'disordered'. There | | | | is the science in that? I explained further that studies |
| are loving and concerned parents, and there are | | | | have actuallt shown that short term improvement in |
| others who lack love and compassion towards their | | | | rote learning does occur, but that no long term |
| children. There are loving and concerned parents who | | | | improvement has ever been shown. The family |
| become duped by the 'professionals'. Below are some | | | | sought a second opinion from a different psychologist |
| actual stories of experiences in my work as a | | | | who stated he saw nothing and sent the boy on his |
| therapist with children as well as one story submitted | | | | way. In this situation, I saw that the child was bright |
| to me by a concerned and struggling parent. I share | | | | and that he learned in a way that the teacher just |
| them to give some perspective as to what is | | | | plainly was not providing. This idea was reinforced |
| occurring.I share this scenario because sadly it is | | | | when the following year with a different teacher his |
| becoming a frightening reality: A child is considered | | | | academic performance dramatically increased with no |
| overly active and has behavioral issues at school. The | | | | intervention.I worked with a delightful 5 year old child. |
| school staff may recommend psychiatric intervention | | | | Prior to him being referred to me, he had been on |
| and even go as far as to say that medication is | | | | Risperdal. He had convulsions in the classroom and |
| necessary, even designating which one. The child | | | | was taken to the emergency room. I happened to |
| sees the psychiatrist for a brief session- t is never | | | | read the hospital report and it was deemed that |
| examined if the child has any physical conditions, | | | | these convulsions were a direct effect of the |
| allergies, etc. Immediately the child is labeled and | | | | Risperdal. The mother was unfortunately an |
| given a dose of psychostimulant. The child develops | | | | unconcerned parent, and there were frequent calls |
| side effects such as weight loss, insomnia, and | | | | made to Child protective Services regarding abuse by |
| possible tics. In order to counteract the insomnia, a | | | | herself and her paramour. I found it immensely |
| new drug such as Klonidine is added. The child | | | | difficult to work in the home with this mother, and |
| develops emotional lability and has crying episodes | | | | after seeing the child with brusing, I too called the |
| and manic behaviors. The psychiatrist is seen again | | | | Child Protective Services but each time they found |
| for a brief time, and on this visit its determined that | | | | the cases unfounded. I would take the child into the |
| 'bipolar is emerging'. The child is then given Depakote | | | | community for my sessions. The mother had |
| or some other mood stablizer. The child now must | | | | described him as a 'little brat', a 'monster', and a kid |
| receive regular blood tests to insure that liver toxicity | | | | 'who didnt deserve sh-t'. She described all these |
| does not arise. The child is not overly active, he is | | | | negative behaviors in the home and yet I never saw |
| quite docile, so it is reported that improvement has | | | | one of them in his time with me. Occassionally he |
| occurred. However, with the combination of drugs, | | | | would have some difficulty in the classroom, but with |
| he develops some psychotic like symptoms where | | | | some guidance and redirection, problems were |
| he feels something is crawling on him and has some | | | | always averted. It broke my heart to see that within |
| hallucinations. The psychiatrist is consulted again, and | | | | 5 minutes of me dropping him off at home he would |
| its determined that bipolar with psychotic features | | | | be in tears. The mother requested me to leave this |
| exists or maybe even the possibility of childhood | | | | case, and I reluctantly agreed and transferred it to a |
| schizophrenia. The child is then given Risperdal or | | | | colleague and friend. My colleague informed me that |
| another neuroleptic. Strangely, the child begins | | | | the paramour was caught sexually abusing the child, |
| developing unusual jaw movements and muscle | | | | and the child was taken to foster care. I feel that |
| rigidity. The parents are concerned and ask the | | | | foster care should certainly be a last option, but here |
| psychiatrist if this is medication related and if the child | | | | it was a blessing. I recommended that at least one |
| is overmedicated. The psychiatrist brushes off the | | | | member of the therapeutic staff he was familiar with |
| question and prescribes Cogentin (used for | | | | continue to work with him in the new setting and I |
| Parkinson's) to alleviate the neurological problems but | | | | offered to go and visit him to help with his |
| fails to remove the offending agent. The child's | | | | adjustment. Though it will take some time for him to |
| behavior becomes more unusual and bizarre leading | | | | adjust, I think it will be a fresh new start, as he is in |
| to hospitalization where medications are raised and | | | | a place where maybe for once he will receive love |
| adjusted and new ones added. Then the | | | | and compassion.TARDIVE DYSKINESIAI was |
| recommendation comes from the psychiatrist that it | | | | presented with a very difficult child who had received |
| would be better for the child to be moved to a | | | | multiple psychiatric diagnoses and who had been in |
| residential treatment facility. While in the residential | | | | residential mental health treatment for the majority |
| facility, the child is frequently restrained and is injured, | | | | of his life. This child had been heavily medicated and |
| he is placed with other children with serious emotional | | | | was exhibiting slurred speech, poor motor |
| and behaviorla distress. he is discharged home having | | | | coordination, inner feelings of agitation, and unusual |
| absorbed alot of new negative behaviors from peers, | | | | jaw motions and tics. The family was told of the |
| lacking knowledge of the outside world, and with few | | | | possibility of tardive dyskinesia. This also became a |
| skills. So, once the child nears adulthood, it is | | | | concern of a psychologist who observed him. |
| recommended that he live in a group home where he | | | | Unfortunately, the parents stated they were never |
| can be cared for and the psychiatric regiment can be | | | | given informed consent about potential side effects |
| maintained. The child has been 'treated.'This is all | | | | and had never heard of the term 'tardive dyskinesia'. |
| based on true incidents with names changed to | | | | This neurological problem is a significant problem |
| preserve confidentiality.I worked with a teen who | | | | affecting individuals taking neuroleptic |
| had experienced sexual trauma by a relative. The | | | | medications.HOUNDED FOR MY VIEWSI had |
| relative was arrested and sentenced. The teen was | | | | contracted with a private agency as a therapist. The |
| asked to attend the setencing hearing and prior | | | | clients I worked with had developmental challenges. |
| began acting out at school. She had an incident | | | | There was much progress made and one client's |
| where she left the classroom to de-escalate after an | | | | parents gave me very positive feedback. However, |
| argument with a teacher. She was restrained by a | | | | the agency supervisor upon learning that my |
| rather obese school staff. The teen explained to me | | | | approach was to promote psychosocial alternatives |
| that sher was frustrated with the school because a | | | | as well as to give parents informed consent, this |
| number of boys were exposing themselves to her | | | | became a point of contention. This resulted in their |
| and knew about her sexual trauma and that school | | | | desire to try to terminate the contract, though |
| staff did not respond. She was charged with | | | | nothing stipulated within the contract was ever |
| disorderly conduct and had to appear before a | | | | violated. This shows intolerance for anything but the |
| juvenile judge. The judge was made aware of her | | | | pro-drugging stance as well as unwillingness to be |
| sexual trauma and her need to be at the sentencing | | | | open-minded to the fact that workable alternatives |
| hearing. He locked her in juvenile detention for 10 | | | | do indeed exist. This shows the sad state of affairs |
| days and said, 'we will transport her from detention | | | | of the current mental health system.THE POSITIVE |
| to the hearing." The teen ahd no previous juvenile | | | | STORIES:* A four year old presented with speech |
| arrests. In this situation, Attorney Jana Markus was | | | | difficulties and the expression of explosive behavior |
| also became involved and after consulting with the | | | | where he would when frustrated hurl objects across |
| District Attorney's office was able to secure her | | | | room, have difficulties with aggression towards peers |
| release and to encourage that she be recommended | | | | and siblings, and frequently need redirection to remain |
| for homebound education. The school district has | | | | on task. Over a period of one year, this child has |
| agreed not without some contention, particularly | | | | now been discharged. The child no longer has |
| trying to continue to charge the teen with truancy | | | | aggressive episodes, is being recommended for |
| for the time between her leaving the school and | | | | discharge from early intervention services, and is |
| obtaining the recommendation of homebound | | | | currently only requiring the aid of a speech therapist. |
| education.I received a call from a mother who had a | | | | The focus remained on providing this child and their |
| very young child who was displaying some aggressive | | | | family with opportunities for building relationship, |
| behaviors which caused the day care to have the | | | | developing adaptive responses to frustration, and |
| child removed until therapeutic services could be | | | | improving communication skills. This child was never |
| provided. The mother took the child to one agency | | | | exposed to any psychotropic medication, but a |
| and was told, "you better medicate this child before | | | | responsible, compassionate, and dignified plan of |
| he tries to kill someone." The mother was appalled. I | | | | psychosocial action was provided. The TSS involved |
| later spoke to this mother by phone and explained | | | | with this child must be commended for her wonderful |
| my therapeutic approach. She told me her situation | | | | work!*a 10 year old child presented with explosive |
| and the response she had received. As I spoke with | | | | episodes in school as well as making various threats |
| her at length, she said, "You really care about | | | | to peers. The school and psychiatrist intially saw this |
| children." I appreciated this comment but at the same | | | | as a hopeless case requiring him to be placed in partial |
| time was saddened as I thought, shouldn't this be | | | | hospitalization. Dan Edmunds advocated heavily for |
| said about every person in the mental health | | | | this child to remain in his present placement in school. |
| profession? What has gone wrong?A client who is a | | | | He receives support of a TSS as well as occupational |
| physician and his wife related that they sought | | | | therapy and with some bumps in the road has |
| assistance with their child diagnosed with autism and | | | | responded well and has been able to be maintained |
| wanted assistance in aiding him with communication | | | | within the school environment with a great deal of |
| skills. They saw a psychiatrist who visited with them | | | | success.* a 5 year old who presented with risky and |
| fr less than 10 minutes and began writing a script for | | | | destructive behaviors and sevee problems in social |
| antipsychotic medication. When the parents noted | | | | skills in now building friendships and is praised by his |
| that they were not there for medications, the | | | | teacher with frequent awards for his conduct and |
| psychiatrist became belligerent and asked, 'then what | | | | academic performance. The family has gained a |
| do you want and why are you here?"A staff of a | | | | greater awareness of his difficulties and has been |
| agency working with mentally challenged adults | | | | supportive. This child receives no psychotropic |
| related to me that the supervisors insisted that a | | | | medications but has benefited from a treatment plan |
| client in the residential program was non-verbal and | | | | which entails the principles outlined in "Entering Their |
| unable to communicate. This client was left frequently | | | | Imaginative World".* a 13 year old boy whose |
| to sit and watch television for hours and privided | | | | mother was addicted to heroin and who lived in a |
| with no real attention or work on skills development. | | | | chaotic environment experienced problems with |
| The staff stated that she sought to engage the | | | | truancy and aggression. For a period of 6 months, I |
| client in dialogue and found that he was far from | | | | developed a plan to work on his ability to express his |
| non-verbal and after some work was able to write | | | | frustration more effectively, helping him to realize his |
| his name and other words.In visiting an agency | | | | self worth and his ability to assess himself and make |
| working with mentally challenged youth, I discovered | | | | appropriate choices. I examined his strengths and |
| that many of these youth's needs were completely | | | | tried to help him capitalize on them. He made a |
| ignored. I recall two incidents of seeing a young girl | | | | difficult transition to foster care, and I advocated he |
| seated in a chair, the staff gave her paper and | | | | be placed in a home where he could attend a school |
| markers, and she would sit in the same chair for | | | | he is familiar with. Since this, his grades have been |
| hours. Every visit she would be seated in the same | | | | above average, he has made friendships, and no |
| spout with no one providing attention. Staff would | | | | longer has the problems with aggression. We had |
| walk past her and she would try to reach for them | | | | frequent, open, and honest conversations about his |
| or hug them. I always made sure to stop and hug | | | | pain and the difficulties he has experienced. This 13 |
| her and comment on her drawings. In addition, a | | | | year old was discharged and continues to progress |
| young boy would pace incessantly around the | | | | successfully.Many children today who show any type |
| building, once again being provided no attention, and | | | | of inappropriate behaviors are often immediately |
| no real work being done to aid this child in skill | | | | being labeled as ADHD and being prescribed stimulant |
| development."FAT AND IGNORANT" I was | | | | medications such as Ritalin, Adderall, or Dexedrine |
| presented with a child who was having some serious | | | | among others. First, ADHD is a complete fraud. There |
| behavioral issues at school. I began to examine the | | | | is no test for ADHD and neurological testing shows |
| situation and my assessment was that this child was | | | | these children to be perfectly normal. Dr. William |
| in conflict with his teacher and this was the only | | | | Carey of Children's Hospital in Philadelpha states, |
| cause for the behavioral issues. This child had been | | | | "common assumptions about ADHD include that it is |
| previously placed on Ritalin which was actually cpurt | | | | clearly distinguishable from normal behavior, |
| ordered. The child had a very adverse reaction and | | | | constitutes a neurodevelopmental (brain) disability, is |
| fortunatelt was removed. As I have mentioned about | | | | relatively uninfluenced by the environment (home, |
| the fraud of ADHD, this child I was convinced had no | | | | school)...all of these assumptions...must be challenged |
| brain disorder as the biological psychiatrists would like | | | | because of the lack of empirical support and the |
| us to think. This child was actually quite bright and | | | | strength of contrary evidence...what is now described |
| was on the borderline for qualifying for MENSA. I | | | | in the US as ADHD is a set of normal behavioral |
| began to look at the dynamics at school, as it was | | | | variations..This discrepancy leaves the validity (of |
| only here that he posed a problem. I learned as well | | | | ADHD) in doubt."The U.S. National Institutes of Health |
| that this child was witness to abuse and was | | | | Consensus Development Conference on ADHD in |
| suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. So, as | | | | 1998 reported, " we have do not have an |
| I thought further I saw that the teacher was only | | | | independent, valid test for ADHD, and there are no |
| aggravating this by his actions. The teacher showed | | | | data to indicate that ADHD is due to a brain |
| hostility to this child and made him a target, even | | | | malfunction...and finally, after years of clinical research |
| writing in a journal that the child was 'fat and | | | | and experience with ADHD, our knowledge about the |
| ignorant." Was it any wonder that the child exhibited | | | | cause or causes of ADHD remains speculative." |
| behavioral issues in a classroom where he was | | | | Further, Dr. Edward C. Hamlyn, a founding member of |
| treated with no dignity? As I suspected, this child | | | | the Royal College of General Practicioners in 1998 |
| was moved to a different school environment where | | | | stated, "ADHD is fraud intended to justify starting |
| he excelled. The "ADHD" symptoms all disappeared, | | | | children on a life of drug addiction." The U.S. Surgeon |
| so much for theories about a brain disorder.I received | | | | General Report declares, "the exact etiolgoy of |
| a call from a mother who explained to me that her | | | | ADHD is unknown." Lastly, Dr. Joe Kosterich, Federal |
| child was in a residential facility and only recently was | | | | Chair of the Australian Medical Association states, " |
| determined to have a diagnosis of Pervasive | | | | "The diagnosis of ADD is entirely subjective.... There is |
| Developmental Disorder after years of being labeled | | | | no test. It is just down to interpretation. |