···
_______________________________________________________________
July 26, 2000
I have been a silent observer for a while -- but I can't keep my mouth shut
any more
Psych Meds and Mental "disease"
The following is my perception and definitions of Disease.
1) illness or aliment caused by a Virus - such as AIDS
2) illness or aliment caused by a bacterium -- such as botulism
3) illness or aliment caused by a genetic aberration -- Down syndrome /
Mental Retardation.
4) entropy of a living biological system in part or in whole. Cardiovascular
disease or Cancer.
Metal illness does not fit into any of the above -- Therefore it is NOT a
"disease"
Classifications of mental illness are based on the grouping of traits, signs
and symptoms, but never on an identifiable causal agent like a Disease.
Diseases are linked to the traits, signs and symptoms. Diseases have an
identifiable and common course of action common to all people. Mental
illnesses do not have identifiable and common course of action common to all
people nor are the causes the same, even when people share the same Diagnoses
like anxiety or depression.
Psych meds have a role in aiding the treatment of mental problems, but in no
way should or can be used exclusively to treat mental problems. I am using
the word "problem" and not "illness" for the word illness leads one down a
false path, of treating the "problem" like a disease.
For example, Diagnoses like Anxiety and Depression, in the disease model lead
one (especially the client) to the belief that Anxiety and Depression are the
cause of their problem. The way I see it, Anxiety and Depression are the
byproduct of the problem. Anxiety and Depression are GOOD FOR YOU.
I say this in my crisis interventions with clients -- much to their shock.
Anxiety and Depression are good for you. After a moment of silence they pose
the question -- WHY? I explain it to them by analogy.
Counselor: Have you ever touched a hot burner on a stove?
Client: yes.
Counselor: How long did you leave your hand on the burner?
Client: Not long at all.
Counselor: why
Client: Because it hurt.
Counselor: So, because of the Physical pain you experienced you quickly
changed your behavior.
Physical pain and emotional pain serve similar purposes, they encourage you
to change and adapt.
Anxiety / Depression and all displeasing emotional states are cause by any or
all of the following
1) The person is not getting what they want
2) The person is getting something they definitely don't want
3) The person does not know what they want -- they are without purpose in
their life. (missing references)
4) The problem is in the perception or misperception (input) of the person.
5) The person lacks the (output) plan or behavior to act upon their desires
or some of their behaviors (output) are sabotaging or in conflict with their
goals.
Doing Street Drugs, drinking alcohol or taking Psych meds. all effect the
ability of the person to perceive/sense error signals in their Perceptual
hierarchy of controlled perceptions. More precisely, they postpone or
prevent reorganization from happening by blocking the "feelings" (error
signals) of anxiety, depression or stress.
One of the most common complaints patients have regarding Psych Meds -- "I
don't feel anything any more" "not happy, not sad nothing at all." One
client described the birth of her daughter as such:
"When I held her in my arms for the first time I didn't feel anything. I did
not feel happy or sad -- It's a baby girl --- I guess I love it -- everyone
tells me I should, and that she is beautiful. I just saw a baby, nothing
really more than that."
A second area of concern, and the most dangerous "side-effect", I see as a
result of long term use of Psych Meds is suicide and suicide attempts. This
is my postulate regarding error signals and Psych Meds.
The following is a conceptual argument - not empirically based. (So, please
cut me a little slack when you critique this part)
Error signals go up the perceptual hierarchy and are weighted in intensity
for each level in the hierarchy and are cumulative as they go up the
hierarchy.
I site Powers 1989 "Living Control Systems" Pg. 206
There are 10 levels cited in the hierarchy.
10 System
9 Principle
8 Program
7 Category
6 Relationship
5 Event
4 Transition
3 Configuration
2 Sensation
1 Intensity
For the sake and ease of argument, weight the error signals from 1 to 10
going up the hierarchy.
Starting with a(n):
Intensity error of 2 would be enough to reorganize at the Sensation level --
A Sensation error of 3 would be enough to reorganize at the Configuration
level --
A Configuration error of 6 would be enough to reorganize at the Transition
level --
A Transition error of 10 would be enough to reorganize at the Event level --
An Event error of 15 would be enough to reorganize at the Relationship level
--
A Relationship error of 21 would be enough to reorganize at the Category
level --
A Category error of 28 would be enough to reorganize at the Program level --
A Program error of 36 would be enough to reorganize at the Principle level --
A Principle error of 45 would be enough to reorganize at the System level --
This is what I mean when I said -- Error signals go up the perceptual
hierarchy and are weighted in intensity for each level in the hierarchy and
are cumulative as they go up the hierarchy.
If you inject a disturbance to decrease the sensation of the error signals -
the system would increase the gain in the error to compensate for that
disturbance of the Street Drugs, drinking alcohol or Psych meds. Drugs and
Psych meds do not treat the cause, only the symptoms. The problem still
exists.
The error will continue to build and increase in gain, until the person is
overcome by the error signals; and the quickest way to end the feelings of
great anxiety and depression is to commit suicide. These people have been
denied the insight that Anxiety and Depression are not a "disease" or
"illness" but are byproducts of the following.
1) The person is not getting what they want
2) The person is getting something they definitely don't want
3) The person does not know what they want -- they are without purpose in
their life. (missing references)
4) The problem is in the perception or misperception (input) of the person.
5) The person lacks the (output) plan or behavior to act upon their desires
or some of their behaviors (output) are sabotaging or in conflict with their
goals.
This is not a complete list of all that can cause a Living Control System
"break down" but are most common reasons for clinical anxiety and depression.
Mark Lazare M.A.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Treating the Cause,
Psychotropic Medications and Mental Illness as a disease
ALBANY, N.Y., July 19 - An Albany couple facing child abuse charges for
taking their son off Ritalin must continue medicating him. That's the ruling
from a family court judge in the case of Jill and Michael Carroll. Social
services charges against Jill and Michael Carroll were dropped last week on
the condition that they keep 7-year-old Kyle on Ritalin, Jill Carroll said.
Social Service workers will visit the family throughout the next year.
The judge also ruled that the couple could seek a second opinion on whether
Kyle needs Ritalin. Carroll said a pediatrician and a psychologist agreed
that the medication be continued. However, if another pediatrician examines
Kyle and disagrees, the Carrolls could appeal.
The following is my perception and definitions of Disease.
1) illness or aliment caused by a Virus - such as AIDS
2) illness or aliment caused by a bacterium -- such as botulism
3) illness or aliment caused by a genetic aberration -- Down syndrome /
Mental Retardation.
4) entropy of a living biological system in part or in whole. Cardiovascular
disease or Cancer.
Metal illness does not fit into any of the above -- Therefore it is NOT a
"disease."
Classifications of mental disorders are based on the grouping of traits,
signs and symptoms, but never on an identifiable causal agents like a
Disease. Diseases are linked to the traits, signs and symptoms. Illnesses
have an identifiable and common course of action common to all people.
Mental illnesses do not have identifiable and common course of action common
to all people nor are the causes the same, even when people share the same
diagnoses like anxiety or depression.
Psych meds have a role in aiding the treatment of mental disorders, but in no
way should or can be used exclusively to treat mental disorders. I am using
the word "disorder" and not "illness" for the word illness leads one down a
false path, of treating the "disorder" like a disease.
For example, Diagnoses like Anxiety and Depression, in the disease model lead
one (especially the client) to the belief that Anxiety and Depression are the
cause of their problem. The way I see it, Anxiety and Depression are the
byproduct of the problem. Anxiety and Depression are GOOD FOR YOU.
I say this in my crisis interventions with clients -- much to their shock.
After a moment of silence they pose the question -- WHY? I explain it to
them by analogy.
Counselor: Have you ever touched a hot burner on a stove?
Client: yes.
Counselor: How long did you leave your hand on the burner?
Client: Not long at all.
Counselor: why
Client: Because it hurt.
Counselor: So, because of the Physical pain you experienced you quickly
changed your behavior.
Physical pain and emotional pain serve similar purposes, they encourage you
to change and adapt. Anxiety / Depression and all displeasing emotional
states are cause by any or all of the following;
1) The person is not getting what they want
2) The person is getting something they definitely don't want
3) The person does not know what they want -- they are without purpose in
their life. (missing references)
4) The problem is in the perception or misperception (input) of the person.
5) The person lacks the (output) plan or behavior to act upon their desires
or some of their behaviors (output) are sabotaging or in conflict with
their
goals.
Doing Street Drugs, drinking alcohol or taking Psychotropic medications all
effect the ability of the person to perceive/sense error signals in their
Perceptual hierarchy of controlled perceptions. More precisely, they
postpone or prevent reorganization from happening by blocking the "feelings"
(error signals) of anxiety, depression or stress.
One of the most common complaints patients have regarding Psych Meds -- "I
don't feel anything any more" "not happy, not sad, nothing at all." One
client described the birth of her daughter as such: "When I held her in my
arms for the first time I didn't feel anything. I did not feel happy or sad
-- It's a baby girl --- I guess I love it -- everyone tells me I should, and
that she is beautiful. I just saw a baby, nothing really more than that."
A second area of concern, and the most dangerous "side-effect", I see as a
result of long term use of Psych Meds is suicide and suicide attempts. This
is my postulate regarding unresolved emotional states (error signals) and
Psychotropic Medications.
The following is a conceptual argument - not empirically based. Error
signals go down the perceptual hierarchy and are weighted in intensity for
each level in the hierarchy and are cumulative as they go up the hierarchy
for reorganization.
I site Powers 1989 "Living Control Systems" Pg. 206, Where there are 10
levels cited in the hierarchy.
10 System
9 Principle
8 Program
7 Category
6 Relationship
5 Event
4 Transition
3 Configuration
2 Sensation
1 Intensity
For the sake and ease of argument, weight the error signals from 1 to 10
going up the hierarchy. Remember control is present when the error signal is
at zero or near zero (+/-1).
Starting with an:
Intensity error of 2 would be enough to reorganize at the Sensation level --
A Sensation error of 3 would be enough to reorganize at the Configuration
level --
A Configuration error of 6 would be enough to reorganize at the Transition
level --
A Transition error of 10 would be enough to reorganize at the Event level --
An Event error of 15 would be enough to reorganize at the Relationship level
--
A Relationship error of 21 would be enough to reorganize at the Category
level --
A Category error of 28 would be enough to reorganize at the Program level --
A Program error of 36 would be enough to reorganize at the Principle level --
A Principle error of 45 would be enough to reorganize at the System level --
This is what I mean when I said -- Error signals go down the perceptual
hierarchy and are weighted in intensity for each level in the hierarchy and
are cumulative as they go up the hierarchy for reorganization.
If you inject a disturbance (medications or drugs) to decrease (or dampen)
the sensation of the error signals - the reorganization system would increase
the gain in the error to compensate for that disturbance of the Street Drugs,
drinking alcohol or Psych meds. Drugs and Psych meds do not treat the
cause, only the symptoms. The problem still exists.
The error will continue to build and increase in gain, until the person is
overcome by the error signals; and the quickest way to end the feelings of
great anxiety and depression is to commit suicide. These people have been
denied the insight that Anxiety and Depression are not a "disease" or
"illness" but are by-products of the following.
1) The person is not getting what they want
2) The person is getting something they definitely don't want
3) The person does not know what they want -- they are without purpose in
their life. (missing references)
4) The problem is in the perception or misperception (input) of the person.
5) The person lacks the (output) plan or behavior to act upon their desires
or some of their behaviors (output) are sabotaging or in conflict with
their
goals.
This is not a complete list of all that can cause a Living Control System
"break down" but are most common reasons for clinical anxiety and depression.
Mark Lazare M.A.
August 1, 2000