Scientologists believe that chemical imbalances do not exist. In their view manic episodes should be treated with periods of introspection and audits; a notion which is particularly bizarre and scientifically untenable.
Chemical imbalances do exist in the brain. Everyone has them, not just those with clinical instances of mental illness. A perfect chemical balance would be unnatural. However, every balance goes through a series of sinusoidal curves, these are commonly known as mood swings. Mood swings can leave the charted path of the sinusoidal normality and become instances of depression or mania. While small shifts in mood are normal, and a complete lack of them would point to a certain psychosis and a lack of balance in the brain, large shifts can be devastating.
Scientologists believe that these large swings can be controlled without chemically interfering with the brain. This is utter nonsense. From one of my case studies a patient with an acute manic episode was hospitalized for two weeks and given a heavy does of psychotropic drugs, such as haldol, seryquil and depacote. If given to a person in the natural swing of emotion, seryquil for example would knock a healthy person out for about a day. These drugs had no effect on the patient in the study. As time passed the patient convinced the doctors that he could be released, however the relapse was swift and within two weeks the subject was once again in a mental hospital.
Although the medications could not prevent the subject from going off them, what eventually saved him was the realization that perhaps it would be best to seek help and more drugs to control the condition. While the hardest part for the patient was to come to grips with the diagnosis, the only thing that was able to eventually bring down the mania was a heavy drug cocktail and several weeks of lockdown.
Arguing that such severe episodes can be controlled through meditation is absurd. Depression, like mania on the other end of the spectrum, can be an equally debilitating condition. While a manic patient exhibits uncontrollable amounts of energy, one that is depressed lacks this very energy. Depression can lead to suicide, just as mania could lead to reckless behavior and end with equally grievous consequences. Not medicating a severe case of depression can mean the difference between life and death. The quality of life of people on medication is significantly better then of those who are not on medication and are attempting to self medicate. Scientology claims are largely based on science fiction, claims that are highly harmful those suffering from mania or depression.
Gene Leshinsky http://www.enkitel.com A prepaid marketing company with an emphasis of helping new e-entrepreneurs take off.
Long term care facilities and residents' doctors should consider combining... Read More
Sharon was talking to a friend on the phone one... Read More
Many people who are suffering from mild to moderate depression,... Read More
FDA confirms some antidepressants increase suicide risk in some children.... Read More
When most people hear the words American Indian, visions of... Read More
Depression is a mental state marked by melancholy, pessimism or... Read More
I'm sure at times of deep crisis many of you... Read More
What is depression?Depression is a serious medical illness; it's not... Read More
Have you read the famous quote, "Every struggle is a... Read More
Depression is a condition which affects about 15% of the... Read More
If you are like me ...you love your sleep!Sleep deprivation... Read More
The Law of BlueJust sort of feeling blue, kinda out... Read More
Looking to improve your mood?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker, author... Read More
What is Stigma? Stigma is the use of stereotypes and... Read More
While war and poor economic conditions begin to affect people... Read More
Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic or Treatment-Resistant Depression About Vagus... Read More
While depression is a growing epidemic in western society, it... Read More
"Thanks for Noticin' Me" says Eeyore. He walks slowly. He... Read More
Depression has long been considered a character flaw indicative of... Read More
We all have blue days:We're missing someone we've lost, the... Read More
Depression can have many, many faces. If you are not... Read More
Millions of people sufferaround the world from a depressive illness.... Read More
There are Many Resources for Online Suicide HelpFirst of all,... Read More
Lifetime Prevalence of Depression and the Age-of-Onset Report Distributions of... Read More
I attended the Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy Conference at the... Read More
Millions of people, especially in the United States, are currently... Read More
I felt cold, my body was stiff and my back... Read More
Our innate desire is to be happy, and when we... Read More
We all suffer with bad moods from time to time.... Read More
1. Get out now and walk fifteen minutes. It will... Read More
The 'experts' have tried to evaluate me as a sufferer... Read More
THE RISKAccumulation of acids in your body, due to insufficient... Read More
Music so strongly evokes emotional responses that it is being... Read More
The September 1, 2005 issue of Biological Psychiatry confirmed the... Read More
Winter time is depression time for many women. Perhaps it... Read More
1.Remember that it is an illness:Clinical depression often requires medical... Read More
On September 1st, the efficacy and safety of vagus nerve... Read More
Many illnesses, emotional and otherwise, are often said to be... Read More
I heard about a woman who was suffering from depression,... Read More
Life wasn't easy for cave men. They had to hunt... Read More
What is depression?Depression is a serious medical illness; it's not... Read More
Maria has been feeling depressed for at least two and... Read More
On June 15th, 2004, FDA's Medical Devices Panel recommended that... Read More
Depression has long been considered a character flaw indicative of... Read More
My definition of procrastination is that a person delays and... Read More
The Law of PermanenceSuicide is always a permanent solution to... Read More
Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives.... Read More
While war and poor economic conditions begin to affect people... Read More
Looking to improve your mood?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker, author... Read More
If you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (also known as... Read More
While depression is a growing epidemic in western society, it... Read More
Depression is a serious illness, not a harmless part of... Read More
Depression, in psychiatry, is a symptom of mood disorder characterized... Read More
Psychological well-being is something that we all have a right... Read More
Depression strikes most of us and it can make us... Read More
Do you blame your past, your family, your partner, your... Read More
It has just been announced, after a study by a... Read More
On July 18, 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA)... Read More
On September 30th 1998 I was crossing the street in... Read More
Many of us feel depressed at one time or another,... Read More
Market surveys on women, men and depression suggest an estimated... Read More
Everyone feels down or blue once in awhile. Especially during... Read More
Depression is a mental state marked by melancholy, pessimism or... Read More
On July 15th, 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA)... Read More
I'm sure at times of deep crisis many of you... Read More
IntroductionChange in social and economical states throughout the world although... Read More
Depression |