I was in correspondence with a womb twin survivor in 2007 and he sent me this article from the LA times.
When kids have behavioral problems, diagnoses and drugs often follow. Has psychiatry gone overboard on medicating children?
November 05, 2007| Melissa Healy | Times Staff Writer
A month ago, Katie, a 38-year-old L.A.-area mother of three, brought the child to a psychiatrist. The child's behavior and performance in school were exemplary, but an ill-tempered outburst had gotten the preteen kicked out of a Girl Scout troop she had joined at age 5. The girl was confused and heartbroken over her ejection. The daughter came away from the appointment with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Katie, who asked that her full name be withheld to protect her daughter's privacy, came away with a list of 10 powerful psychiatric medicines and a momentous decision to make. Some combination of these mood-stabilizing, anticonvulsive and antipsychotic drugs, Katie was told, would probably control her daughter's problematic behaviors, referred to by her psychiatrist as symptoms of a disease. Now it's Katie who has the racing thoughts and the alternating bouts of fear, anxiety, relief and anger. As she ponders whether her daughter's strange behavior really amounts to mental illness -- and whether medication is the answer -- she says, "I feel like I'm flying blind."
My research is beginning to suggest that "bi polar disorder" is in fact nothing more than the characteristic response to the loss of a twin before birth. Furthermore, not all womb twin survivors are diagnosed with this " disorder" and where it does exist the characteristics vary between them. I am working on the hypothesis that a lot depends on exactly what prenatal memories lie in the Dream of the Womb, such as whether the twin was monozygotic or not. Some people think I am going too far when I say this, but I speak as I find : I didnt invent this idea, I only describe what I am being told by over a thousand womb twin survivors so far, with more to come, no doubt, via my research questionnaire.
So we all need to work hard to pass the message on to the medical health professionals - psychiatrists, psychologists, research scientists and psychotherapists. I have a special page for medical professionals here. And another for therapists here.
It's easy to identify a womb twin survivor now we know what to look for -
Let's get to it and end this damaging level of ignorance among professionals that has lead to a young child being put on psychiatric medication. These are good-hearted people who are trying to help, but think there is no alternative, because no one has explained this to them.
If you care, PASS THE MESSAGE ON to the professionals, for the sake of these children.
No comments:
Post a Comment