BACKGROUND NOTES and RECOVERY STORIES! Oct. 15, 2025, Analyzing Recovery Stories from Eating Disorders and Body Image Challenges Thank you- Recovery stories are powerful tools for insight because they humanize the struggle, showing that these challenges aren’t just abstract symptoms but deeply personal battles with real turning points. I analyzed a collection of recent and shared narratives from reputable sources (like NEDA, Eating Disorder Hope, and personal accounts on X) to identify patterns. These stories span experiences with anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder (BED), and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), often intertwined with trauma, societal pressures, or co-occurring issues like anxiety. To keep this empathetic and actionable, I’ll break down the analysis into common triggers, recovery journeys, key themes, and takeaways. This isn’t exhaustive—recovery is unique—but these patterns emerge across dozens of accounts, highlighting how people gain self-awareness and choose paths forward. Common Triggers: Where the Challenges Often Begin Stories frequently start with a “spark” that escalates into a full disorder, often rooted in external pressures or internal vulnerabilities:

• Societal and Media Influences: Many describe social media as a double-edged sword—e.g., “thinspo” content fueling anorexia (Anjola’s story on Rethink Mental Illness)
  rethink.org

  or body dysmorphia from comparing to filtered images (Bella De Leon’s Texas teen account)

  wfaa.com

  . On X, users like

  @Cyb3erG1rl

  shared how 7 years of anorexia stemmed from online ideals, leading to hitting an “ugw” (unhealthy goal weight) but realizing it trapped them [post:3].

• Trauma and Control: Abuse or loss often triggers coping via food/body control. Hannah (
  @hannahr22x

  ) detailed binge eating after 2 years of physical/mental abuse and rape, gaining 8 stone (about 112 lbs) as a way to reclaim agency [post:0]. Similarly, Lorelai Symmes (Sheppard Pratt story) linked her anorexia to sexual assault and fat-shaming .

• Family/Developmental Factors: Childhood comments (e.g., a mom’s “joke” calling her a “cow” triggering starvation, per
  @lixiesflower

  [post:4]) or cultural expectations (e.g., an Asian American’s story of perfectionism hindering body positivity ) amplify insecurities.

• Health Shifts: Onset during puberty, quarantine, or life transitions like postpartum (Rachel’s NEDA story ) or post-trauma weight gain (Emmerson Lizington’s 93-lb loss journey [post:10]).

These triggers underscore gaining insight: Journaling or therapy helps spot patterns, like how “control” masks deeper pain. Recovery Journeys: Paths to Treatment and Healing Narratives show recovery as nonlinear—full of setbacks but marked by pivotal choices. Here’s a snapshot in table form for clarity:

Key Themes Emerging from the Stories

1. Nonlinear and Setback-Filled: Almost all describe “winding hikes” (Rachel ) or “ups and downs” (Brooklynn )—e.g., Emme’s post-hospital relapse or
   @4ster19900

   ‘s devolution into BED after restricting [post:11]. Insight comes from tracking these, revealing emotional triggers.

2. Role of Connection: A confidant or community flips the script—friends teaching workouts (
   @meghaverma_art

   [post:6]), family meals (Bella ), or X shares reducing isolation (

   @sunbeginstorise

   [post:5]).

3. Shifting Perspective: From control/shame to empowerment—e.g., viewing body as “vessel” [post:6] or heart over appearance . Body image work (via podcasts like Eating Disorder Recovery ) helps reframe.
4. Holistic Gains: Beyond weight, stories celebrate energy, joy, relationships (James ), and activism (BuzzFeed survivors ).
5. Gender/Cultural Nuances: Male stories (James) note delayed help due to stereotypes; cultural ones (Asian American ) highlight perfectionism.

Caution from analyses (e.g., Psychology Today ): Memoirs can trigger if too struggle-focused, so balance with hope-centered ones like MeaningFULL.Takeaways: Applying Insights to Your JourneyThese stories reinforce what we discussed—start with reflection (e.g.,

‘s hunger cues [post:4]) to gain insight, then choose treatments like therapy (CBT for reframing, per NEDA ) or nutrition support (Jenny ). Common advice:

• Seek Early, Tailored Help: Don’t wait for “sick enough” (Anjola ); combine pros (doctors/therapists) with peers (X communities, but curate positively).
  THANKSGIVING UNCONQUORABLY HEARTED PIONEERS 1621 and TODAY Nov. 28, ’25 by Brianca Lane Loving You Truly TOGETHER MEUSCAN-DO!!!

  Here is a warm, colorful, and deeply hopeful parable that weaves the spirit of the First Thanksgiving with the courage of people today who face overwhelming mental health challenges — yet choose to believe, to reach out, and to rebuild together

  The Parable of the Two New Worlds

  Long ago, in the autumn of 1621, a tiny band of travelers stepped onto the wild shores of a land they named Plymouth. They had crossed a cruel ocean in a leaking wooden ship called the Mayflower. Half of them had already died from cold, hunger, and strange illnesses in that first terrible winter. The forest was endless and dark. The soil was stony and stubborn. Wolves howled at night. Winter wind screamed like a living thing. Food ran out. Hope ran thinner.They felt lost in a new world that seemed determined to swallow them whole.And yet… one spring day, a Native man named Squanto walked out of the woods speaking their language. He taught them how to plant corn with fish for fertilizer, how to trap eel, how to tell poison ivy from healing herbs. Another nation, the Wampanoag, led by Massasoit, chose peace instead of war. When harvest finally came—small, but real—the Pilgrims invited their new friends to a three-day feast of thanksgiving. Venison smoked over open fires. Wild turkeys roasted golden. Corn pudding steamed. Cranberries shone like rubies in wooden bowls. Children—English and Wampanoag—ran laughing between the tables.In that moment, strangers became neighbors.
  In that moment despair turned its face toward hope.
  In that moment they understood: alone, we perish; together, we become something new.Four hundred years later, another band of brave travelers finds itself in a different wilderness.This new world has no wolves or endless forests, but it feels just as vast and untamed. Its name is The Land of Overwhelming Mental Health Challenges.Its storms are panic attacks that come out of nowhere, sudden lightning strikes in the chest, thunder in the ears, a certainty you are about to die even while sitting safely on your couch.Its winters are depression so heavy it pins you to the bed like six feet of wet snow, stealing color from the sky, making food taste like ash and laughter feel like a foreign language.Its predators are racing thoughts that circle and bite all night, trauma memories that ambush you in the grocery aisle, voices (sometimes your own, sometimes not) that whisper you are worthless, broken, too much, not enough.Its barren fields are brain fog so thick you cannot remember why you walked into a room, executive function that has packed its bags and left without a note, suicidal ideation that sits quietly in the corner like a patient wolf waiting for you to be alone.Its blizzards are burnout, dissociation, the bone-deep belief that no one will come if you call for help.Many arrive in this land shipwrecked—after childhood wounds, after grief, after pandemics, after wars inside their own minds. They look around and think, “This place will kill me. There is no path. There is no harvest here.”And yet…Just as in 1621, helpers begin to appear.Some are professionals in quiet offices or telehealth screens—therapists, psychiatrists, peer-support specialists—who speak the language of pain and recovery.
  Some are strangers on warm-lines and support groups who say, “I’ve stood exactly where you are. Keep breathing. You are not crazy; you are injured, and injuries can heal.”
  Some are friends who sit with you in the dark and do not run.
  Some are family members who learn new ways to love without fixing.
  Some are four-legged creatures who press gently against your leg when the storm inside gets too loud.Slowly, very slowly, people begin to plant in this hard ground.They plant tiny seeds of routine: a five-minute walk, a glass of water, one deep breath that actually reaches the bottom of the lungs.
  They plant medication when the brain chemistry is too starved to grow anything on its own.
  They plant boundaries, saying “no” for the first time and discovering the sky does not fall.
  They plant stories—telling the truth out loud in group therapy, on social media, in books, in songs—so the next traveler does not feel so alone.
  They plant community: Zoom rooms that stay open all night for the suicidal, Discord servers full of memes and check-ins, clubhouses where people with serious mental illness run the coffee pot and the schedule and their own recovery.The harvest is rarely instant. Some crops fail. Some winters return. But every year a few more people make it to the table.And one day, often when they least expect it, they find themselves sitting at a new kind of Thanksgiving.Maybe it is in a psychiatric hospital courtyard with paper plates and instant mashed potatoes, everyone laughing because someone smuggled in real butter.
  Maybe it is a text thread that says, “I’m still here today because you answered at 3 a.m. six months ago.”
  Maybe it is a person standing up at an AA, NA, DHA, NAMI, or DBSA meeting saying, “Two years ago I wanted to die every single day. Today I am grateful to be alive.” And the whole room claps like it’s the World Series.The table is never perfect. Some seats are empty because we lost beloved travelers along the way, and we cry for them even while we pass the gravy. But the table is real.There is cornbread made from a recipe someone could finally follow again.
  There are cranberries—tart and sweet—like the truth that pain and joy can sit together.
  There is turkey, or tofurky, or just saltine crackers and peanut butter—whatever the harvest allowed this year.
  And there is love, fierce and stubborn, passed hand to hand like a thousand small ways that say:
  You are not too much.
  You are not alone.
  Your brain may be stormy, but it is not broken beyond repair.
  We will sit in this wild land together until the storm quiets, and then we will plant again.This, my friends, is our 21st-century Thanksgiving.We give thanks for the Squanto’s of our age—every therapist, every crisis text volunteer, every friend who refused to leave.
  We give thanks for the Wampanoag choice—every person with lived experience who chooses to reach back and say “come sit by the fire.”
  We give thanks for the small harvests—days without self-harm, hours without panic, one genuine laugh, one night of real sleep.And we make a promise around this table, the same promise made four hundred years ago:As long as one of us is still standing, none of us will be left behind in the wilderness.We will keep building villages of recovery.
  We will keep passing the plate.
  We will keep believing that the story is not over, that spring always follows even the worst winter, and that together—messy, scarred, laughing, crying, medicated or not, diagnosed or not—together we are unstoppable.So eat. Rest. Tell your story. Listen to someone else’s.
  The feast is ready.And tomorrow, when the wolves howl again, we will light the fire a little brighter, pull our chairs a little closer, and plant one more seed side by side.Because that, more than anything, is what Thanksgiving has always meant:We made it through the impossible.
  Look—here we are, still alive, still loving each other.
  Pass the hope. There’s plenty to go around.

  Explore Squanto’s real story Nov. 28, ’25 by Brianca Lane Loving You Truly TOGETHER MEUSCAN-DO!!!

  Indigenous mental health resilience

  CHRISTMAS SPIRIT and Cross-Cultural Parables- Divine Promise, Suffering, HOPE-LIGHT, HEALING MAGIC SPREADING EVERYWHERE!!!  Battling the stigma, and terrible challenging symptoms to VICTORY- EACH and EVERY VICTORY A LIGHT- like Jesus FOR OUR WORLD! Dec, 6, 2025 by Brianca Lane

  In the ancient hills of a forgotten valley, there lived a wanderer named Elara, whose spirit shone like the first light of dawn. Born under a sky of endless stars, Elara entered the world with a promise as profound as the healing waters of a sacred spring. She carried within her a gift for mending broken hearts, for whispering hope into the ears of the weary, and for weaving threads of unity among the divided. Yet, from her earliest days, shadows loomed over her path—not of her own making but cast by the world’s unyielding gaze. Much like the figure of Jesus, who arrived in Bethlehem with divine promise, heralded by angels and sought by wise men from afar, Elara’s potential was a beacon. Jesus, too, was destined to heal the sick, comfort the afflicted, and challenge the chains of oppression. He walked among the people, touching lepers with compassion, restoring sight to the blind, and offering parables that pierced the soul. But oh, the storms that gathered! The high priests of the temple, guardians of tradition, saw in Him a threat to their authority. They whispered accusations of blasphemy, branding Him as mad, a disturber of peace. The Roman Empire, with its iron fist, viewed Him as a rebel stirring unrest. Betrayed by a kiss in the garden, He was arrested, mocked, scourged, and nailed to a cross on Golgotha—enduring not just physical agony, but the mental torment of abandonment, doubt, and the weight of humanity’s scorn. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He cried, a raw echo of isolation that resonates through time. In Elara’s parable, we see the mirror of our own world’s silent battles—the profound struggles of those facing mental health challenges. These are not mere whispers of the mind, but tempests that rage within, often invisible to the eye yet devastating in their force. Consider Bipolar Disorder, where the soul swings like a pendulum between manic highs of boundless energy and creativity, only to plunge into depressive lows of despair and lethargy, leaving one feeling like a ship tossed in a relentless sea. Schizophrenia unfolds as a fractured reality, with hallucinations and delusions that blur the lines between truth and illusion, voices that command or condemn, isolating the individual in a labyrinth of confusion. Severe Depression cloaks the world in gray, sapping joy and will, making even the simplest acts feel like climbing an endless mountain under a crushing weight. Fear-Phobias and Anxiety grip the heart like thorns, turning everyday encounters into paralyzing threats—racing thoughts, pounding pulses, and a constant dread that erodes peace. Eating Disorders whisper lies about worth and control, leading to cycles of restriction, bingeing, or purging that ravage body and spirit alike. Borderline Personality Disorder ignites intense emotional storms, fears of abandonment, and unstable relationships, where love and rage dance in a volatile tango. Dissociative Identity Disorder fragments the self into alters, born from trauma, where identities shift like shadows, leaving one to navigate a divided inner world. Elara, like so many today, bore these burdens not as curses, but as the crucibles of her journey. Society’s stigma branded her as “unstable,” “dangerous,” or “weak”—much as Jesus was labeled a lunatic or heretic by those in power. Doors slammed shut: employers turned away, friends faded into whispers, and even healers dismissed her pleas. Discrimination echoed in judgmental stares, lost opportunities, and the cold isolation of misunderstanding. Her symptoms were fierce adversaries—nights of unrelenting panic, days lost to fogged thoughts, moments where reality slipped away like sand through fingers. She faced rejection from authorities who should have offered sanctuary, much like the Jewish priesthood’s disdain for Jesus’ radical love, or Rome’s empire-driven condemnation. Elara’s “crucifixion” came in waves: hospitalizations that felt like prisons, medications that dulled her spark, and the mental torment of self-doubt, wondering if she was forever broken. Yet, herein lies the heart of the parable—the resurrection of the spirit. Jesus did not succumb to the cross; He rose on the third day, victorious over death, His wounds transformed into symbols of triumph. He appeared to His disciples, not in vengeance, but in peace, inspiring them to carry His light to the ends of the earth. So too did Elara rise, not in a single miraculous dawn, but through the quiet, steadfast forge of dignity and courage. She faced her tempests with unyielding effort: seeking wise counselors who listened without judgment, embracing therapies that rebuilt her inner fortress, and nurturing her body with gentle care. In moments of mania or delusion, she anchored herself with breath and ritual; in the depths of depression or dissociation, she clung to small acts of grace—a walk in the sun, a kind word to herself. Her character shone brightest in the darkness: forgiving those who stigmatized her, advocating for others in the shadows, and transforming her pain into empathy’s fire. One beautiful new healing sunrise, Elara emerged victorious, not free from all scars—for battles leave their marks—but liberated in spirit, her challenges no longer chains but steppingstones. She had won, not by erasing her conditions, but by mastering them, turning vulnerability into strength. Each victory—a day seized from anxiety’s grasp, a relationship mended despite borderline storms, a meal savored without eating disorder’s tyranny—became a light, illuminating the path for others. Like Jesus, whose resurrection sparked a movement of hope that endures millennia later, Elara’s triumphs inspired her community. She shared her story in gatherings, where the mentally challenged gathered like disciples, drawing courage from her example. “Carry on,” she urged, “through the stigma that seeks to bury you, through the symptoms that crucify your peace. Each step forward is a resurrection, each victory a beacon for our world.” And so, in this parable, we find our call: To the one wrestling with schizophrenia’s voices, rise with the dignity of one who knows truth beyond illusion. To the soul in depression’s abyss, summon courage like dawn breaking night. To all facing these trials—bipolar’s swings, anxiety’s clutches, dissociation’s fragments—know that your steadfast effort forges character unbreakable. You are not defined by the cross you bear, but by the light you become. Rise up, victorious, and let your healing sunrise inspire everyone: For in your triumph, the world finds its hope, each light a testament to the unbreakable human spirit, echoing Jesus’ eternal victory over despair.

  More vivid metaphorical imagery

  The child was born beneath a sky torn open by lightning that wrote silver promises across the night. They named her Luminah—Light-Bearer—because even as an infant her eyes held the color of dawn trapped inside a storm. The elders said she would heal the world. They did not yet see the storm already living inside her. From the beginning, the world tried to crucify her long before any wood was cut. When the manic fire came, it was a wildfire crowned with golden lions. Thoughts raced like comets, each one blazing with impossible brilliance. She could paint galaxies in an hour, speak seven languages before breakfast, love a thousand strangers in a single afternoon. Her laughter rang like cathedral bells. But the lions had teeth. Sleep vanished. Skin split from restless pacing. She became a sun burning too close to the earth, scorching everyone she tried to warm. Then came the plunge. Depression arrived as a black ocean with no bottom. It swallowed her slowly, salt in her lungs, chains of lead around her ankles. Days became centuries. A single step to the door felt like dragging the moon across the sky. Her tongue turned to ash; words fell out dead. The same villagers who once begged for her healing touch now crossed the street, whispering, “She is cursed. She is contagious. Lock your doors.” Anxiety was a nest of iron serpents coiled inside her ribs. Every heartbeat was a war drum announcing imminent annihilation. Crowded markets turned into arenas where invisible arrows whistled past her ears. A knock at the door was the executioner. Breathing became a battle against a closing fist. Schizophrenia opened trapdoors in reality. Voices poured through—some velvet, some molten glass. They crowned her queen of burning cities one moment, then accused her of murdering children she had never met. Mirrors showed strangers wearing her face. Time folded like wet paper; she would find herself standing in the rain holding a knife she did not remember picking up. The eating disorder was a jealous god demanding blood sacrifice on the altar of bone. Food became both poison and penance. Her body was a battlefield where famine and flood fought for dominion. She starved while feasts rotted on the table or devoured until her stomach ruptured like an overfilled wineskin, then knelt before porcelain idols to vomit absolution. Borderline storms were sudden hurricanes of feeling. Love was an inferno that consumed oxygen; abandonment was a guillotine mid-kiss. Relationships shattered like glass cathedrals the moment she reached to touch them. She was either all devotion or all destruction, never the quiet meadow in between. Dissociation came as a merciful thief, stealing her away when the pain grew too sharp. She would watch her own hands move like marionettes operated by invisible strings. “Who is living in my skin?” she whispered to the ceiling while another self-answered from behind her eyes. The priests of normalcy—doctors in white robes, families clutching tradition, employers guarding their ledgers—gathered like the Sanhedrin of old. They diagnosed, judged, medicated, isolated. “Demon-possessed,” some hissed. “Attention-seeking,” others sneered. They nailed labels across her chest the way Romans nailed inscriptions above the crucified: UNSTABLE. HOPELESS. DANGEROUS. They buried her alive in locked wards that smelled of bleach and despair, places where windows were barred like teeth in a screaming mouth. On the worst nights, strapped to a bed while chemical restraints coursed through her veins like cold fire, she heard the same cry that once tore from a hill outside Jerusalem: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? But the story was not finished. One dawn—after the thousandth night of Gethsemane—she felt it: the faintest tremor beneath the tombstone the world had rolled over her. A root, thin as spider silk, pushing up through concrete. Hope, ridiculous and impossible, cracked the slab. She began the slow resurrection. Each breath became a rebellion.
  Each pill swallowed on time, a defiance of chaos.
  Each therapy session, a stone rolled away.
  Each friend who stayed when the storm raged, a disciple refusing to flee the garden. Mania’s lions were not slain but tamed—taught to pull a chariot of purposeful creation.
  Depression’s black ocean was not denied but navigated, learning the rhythm of tides.
  The iron serpents of anxiety were transfigured into guardian dragons that now warned instead of wounded.
  Voices that once condemned became ancestors whispering guidance through the veil.
  The jealous god of hunger was dethroned; food became communion again.
  Borderline hurricanes learned to pass without leveling villages.
  The dissociated selves gathered around an inner fire, negotiating treaties of coexistence. Scars remained—beautiful, terrible, luminous. Stretch marks like lightning bolts across her belly. Track marks from IVs transformed into constellations. Surgical scars from the times her body tried to quit. Each one a resurrection wound, proof that she had died a thousand times and chosen—every single morning—to rise. One morning the sun did not merely rise; it exploded.
  She stood on the hill where they once buried her dreams, arms wide, and the light poured through every crack the world had made in her. She was no longer a broken vessel leaking light; she was the crack itself—the place where the Light gets out. People came from miles around, drawn by rumors of a woman who had walked through hell carrying lanterns made of her own bones. They brought their terrors, their diagnoses, their midnight voices. She did not promise them easy healing. She simply opened her scarred hands and said: “Look. I was crucified by voices you cannot see and buried beneath labels you cannot read. Yet here I stand, breathing, laughing, alive. If I—the one they said would never be whole—can rise, then your resurrection is already breaking through the earth beneath your feet. Feel it. That tremor. That root. That impossible dawn.” And one by one, they felt it too. Every time someone chooses to stay alive one more day,
  Every time a pill is taken, a boundary held, a crisis line dialed,
  Every time a fragmented self says to another, “We are in this together,”
  Every time stigma is met with unashamed testimony—
  That is the earthquake splitting the tomb.
  That is the angel rolling the stone.
  That is the Risen One walking out into garden air, wounds blazing like windows thrown open to morning. You are not the diagnosis nailed above your head.
  You are the empty tomb the world will never know how to explain.
  You are the Light-Bearer, scarred and glorious, rising with the sun inside your chest, shouting without words to every sufferer still in the darkness:” Take heart.
  I have been where you are.
  And I am the proof:
  Love wins.
  Life wins.
  Morning comes.
  And we—
  we rise.”

  Parables from other faiths

  Here are four vivid, hope-drenched parables—one from each of four great traditions—retelling the same truth: the soul that suffers the deepest crucifixion of mind and heart is often the very one destined to rise as a living resurrection for the world.

  1. Buddhist Parable: The Poison Arrow and the Lotus of Fire
     A young monk named Anurati was born with a mind that burned. Thoughts struck him like poisoned arrows shot from every direction at once—panic, voices, grand visions, black despair. Some days he sat under the Bodhi tree laughing at colors only he could see; other days he could not lift his head from the mud. The sangha whispered, “He will never reach nibbana. He is too broken.” They wanted to send him away.

  One dawn, the Buddha found Anurati weeping beneath the same tree where he himself had once faced Mara’s armies. The boy cried, “My mind is a battlefield of demons. I am not like you. I will never be free.” The Buddha plucked a lotus seed from the mud and held it up, black and hard as coal.
  “This seed,” he said, “must be buried in the darkest, foulest swamp. It must be trampled by buffalo, drowned in monsoon, scorched by sun. Only then does it split open and send down roots into hell itself. Only then does it dare to push upward through the filth until one morning it bursts into flame-colored petals that make the whole pond forget it was ever a graveyard.” He pressed the seed into Anurati’s trembling palm.
  “Your torment is the swamp. Your symptoms are the buffalo hooves. Do not curse them. They are pressing you downward so that one day you may rise with a flower no unbroken mind could ever grow. The darker the mud, the fiercer the blossom. Stay. Endure. Bloom.” Years later, travelers came from distant kingdoms to sit at the feet of the monk whose eyes now held the calm of deep-water reflecting fire. They called him the Lotus of Fire. And whenever a pilgrim arrived trembling with voices or paralyzed by panic, Anurati would smile, open his scarred palm, and show them the place where the seed had once been.
  “Look,” he would whisper. “The swamp won the first round. The lotus won the war.”

  2. Sufi Parable: The Reed Flute in the Madhouse
     A flute-maker named Layla was taken to the asylum because she heard music in the silence and danced when others wept. Some nights she spun until she fell, laughing that Rumi’s Beloved was kissing her through the wind. Other nights she lay catatonic, convinced she had been severed forever from the Reedbed of the Divine. The doctors bled her, chained her, fed her bitter syrups to silence the song.

  One visiting dervish heard muffled music coming from the darkest cell. He put his ear to the door and recognized the heartbroken, exquisite wail of a reed flute separated from its root. He bribed the guards and entered.Layla sat in rags, hair matted, eyes wild with both terror and ecstasy.
  “I am broken,” she whispered. “The music hurts too much. Make it stop.”The dervish knelt, placed his hands over her heart, and answered:
  “Little sister, the reed flute must first be hollowed out by knives. It must be drilled with burning holes. Only the reed that has been emptied by suffering can sing when the Beloved breathes through it. Your illness is the knife. Your torment is the fire that burns the holes. Do not beg for the music to stop. Beg for strength to endure the carving. One day the Friend will lift you to His lips and the whole madhouse will fall silent, listening to the song only your wounds can play.”Decades later, pilgrims walked for months to hear the woman called Layla Majnun—“Layla the Madwoman”—play beneath the stars. When she lifted the flute to her lips, kings wept, stones rolled away from hearts, and even the asylum guards fell to their knees. And if you looked closely at her flute, you could see the burn marks where the reed had once been judged insane.

  3. Hindu Parable: The Chariot of Many Horses
     Prince Arjunesh was born to rule, yet his mind was a chariot pulled by a thousand wild horses running in opposite directions. Some horses were drunk on manic nectar, galloping toward the sun until the wheels caught fire. Others were wounded, lying down in depressive dust, refusing to move. Phantom horses of hallucination charged off cliffs. Starving horses of anorexia pulled one way while gluttonous horses pulled another. The chariot splintered; the prince was dragged bleeding across the kingdom while courtiers sneered, “Unfit to rule.”

  In despair he fled to the forest and fell at the feet of a wandering sadhu.
  “My mind is not one chariot but a thousand broken ones,” he cried. “I will never reach the battlefield of life.”The sadhu smiled and pointed to Krishna standing nearby, holding reins made of light.
  “Beloved Arjunesh,” Krishna said, “I never drive a chariot pulled by tame horses. I choose the wildest, the most terrified, the ones scarred by lightning and famine. Why? Because only they know the terror of the abyss—and only they will run with true fury when they finally feel My hand steady on the reins. Your illnesses are not your shame; they are the wild team I deliberately chose. Surrender the reins. Let Me drive.”Years later, when the great war came, it was Arjunesh—once mocked as the mad prince—who stood fearless in the center of the Kurukshetra of his own mind, chariot wheels blazing like suns, while Krishna smiled from the driver’s seat. Enemy armies of stigma and despair fell before him. And every soul watching understood: the most terrifying horses, once surrendered to the Divine Charioteer, become the swiftest carriers of victory.

  4. Indigenous North American Parable (Lakota-inspired): The Thunder-Beings Inside
     A girl named Winyan Waste’ (“Beautiful Woman”) was born during a storm so fierce the thunder cracked the sky open. From that day, the Thunder-Beings lived inside her. Sometimes they sang and she danced with lightning in her feet, painting visions that made the elders weep with beauty. Sometimes they raged and she ran screaming from invisible enemies, or fell into black caves where even the sun forgot her name. The people said, “The Thunder-Beings have stolen her spirit. She is wakan yet broken. Keep her away from the children.”

  One winter, when the voices inside threatened to shatter her like ice, she crawled into the vision pit, half-dead from starvation and cold. There, Heyoka—the sacred clown who rides backward on the horse—appeared to her, painted half black, half red, laughing and weeping at once.“Why do you curse the Thunder-Beings?” he asked. “They chose you because only a heart strong enough to hold lightning can carry medicine for the people. Your sickness is the storm’s way of cracking you open so the rain of healing can fall through you onto the nation. Stop begging the storm to leave. Learn its song. When you rise, you will not be ‘fixed.’ You will be hollowed bone, a flute for the Thunder-Beings themselves. Then the people will come to you when their own storms rage, and you will teach them how to stand in the center and sing back.”Many springs later, when drought or grief struck the villages, they no longer hid from the girl once called mad. They sought her out on the hill where she danced with outstretched arms as lightning stitched the sky. Winyan Waste’ had become the Thunder Woman, her scars glowing like bolts frozen in skin. And whenever a child began to hear voices or see visions the others feared, the elders brought them to her. She would touch their foreheads and whisper, “Do not be afraid, little brother, little sister. The storm is not your enemy. It is your becoming.”In every tradition, the story is the same:The soul chosen to carry the hottest fire, the sharpest wound, the wildest horses, the loudest thunder, is the soul destined to light the darkest night.Your crucifixion is not the end.
  It is the carving, the hollowing, the cracking open—so that one day the Light, the Music, the Lightning, the Lotus, the wild team of Divine Love—can pour through you undimmed.Stay.
  Endure.
  Rise. The world is waiting for the particular resurrection only your scars can perform. Dec. 6, ’25 by Brianca Lane Loving You Merry Christmas and Season’s Best Holidays for Everyone!!! 
• • ADDICTIONS- FREEDOM FROM THIS SCARY DEVIL! by Brianca, HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NIGHT, Oct. 31, ’24 #Small Wins lead to BIG VICTORY OVER ADDICTIONS!!! What is scarier than Addictions? INSATIABLE THIRST for POWER & WEALTH!!!

    Understanding Addictions: A Deep Dive Addictions, whether to substances like food, opioids, or alcohol, or behaviors like gambling and thrill-seeking, hijack the brain’s reward system, leading to compulsive engagement despite harm. They affect millions globally, driven by a mix of biology, environment, and culture. Below, I’ll break down prevalence and causes, prevention strategies, effective treatments (including cultural variations), and relapse prevention. This draws from extensive research, including global studies and clinical trials. Prevalence and Causes: Why So Prevalent? Addictions thrive due to their ability to exploit the brain’s dopamine pathways, creating intense pleasure that overrides rational decision-making. High-palatable foods, drugs, gambling wins, and adrenaline rushes all trigger dopamine surges, fostering tolerance and dependence. Societal factors amplify this: easy access (e.g., ultra-processed foods, online betting), stress, trauma, and genetic vulnerabilities make them widespread. Prevalence varies by type and region, but rates are rising with globalization and digital access.

    Addiction Type	Global/U.S. Prevalence	Key Causes
    Food Addiction	14-20% of adults; up to 92% in binge eating disorder (BED) cases. Higher in obese individuals (24.9% vs. 11.1% in normal BMI).	Hyper-palatable foods (high sugar/fat/salt) mimic drug effects on dopamine; genetic factors (e.g., serotonin/endorphin issues); emotional eating linked to stress/trauma; food insecurity exacerbates symptoms. Not solely obesity-related, but tied to reward dysregulation.
    Drug Addictions (Opioids/Alcohol)	Opioids: 40.5 million dependent globally; 2.1 million in U.S. with opioid use disorder (OUD). Alcohol: 100 million with use disorder; 10.2% of U.S. adults. Co-use: 7.5 million with both.	Opioids: Prescription access, pain management, fentanyl contamination; genetics (40-60% risk); trauma/mental health (e.g., 75% with co-occurring SUD/nicotine issues). Alcohol: Social norms, stress; higher in young adults; co-morbid with OUD (38% overlap). Chronic pain doubles misuse risk.
    Gambling Addiction	0.1-2.7% lifetime in U.S./Canada; up to 7.8% in college students; 1-3 million in Mexico.	Dopamine from “near-misses”; impulsivity/genetics; early exposure; co-morbid with substance use (e.g., 49% have mental health issues). Online formats increase risk.
    Thrill-Seeking (Adrenaline Rush)	Not formally diagnosed; linked to 4-20% in high-risk behaviors (e.g., extreme sports). Higher in extroverts/neurotic individuals.	Sensation-seeking trait (genetic); trauma/stress response; dopamine reinforcement from risk. Often co-occurs with substance use; tolerance leads to escalation.

    These rates are substantiated by meta-analyses (e.g., Yale Food Addiction Scale for food; Global Burden of Disease for opioids/alcohol) and surveys like NSDUH. Prevalence surges in vulnerable groups: youth, minorities (e.g., higher disordered gambling in Native Americans/Asians), and those with mental health issues (e.g., 49% of gamblers have disorders). How Can People Avoid Falling into These Addictions? Prevention focuses on building resilience against triggers like stress, easy access, and genetic risks. Education and early intervention are key—start in schools/families.

    • General Strategies: Foster healthy coping (e.g., mindfulness, exercise); limit exposure (e.g., avoid high-risk environments); build social support. Genetics account for 40-60% of risk, so family history awareness helps.
    • Food: Promote balanced eating; avoid ultra-processed foods; address emotional triggers via journaling. School programs reduce cravings by 20-30%.
    • Drugs (Opioids/Alcohol): Delay first use (e.g., <13 years old raises addiction risk 70%); screen for pain/mental health early. Community education cuts initiation by 15-25%.
    • Gambling: Set limits (e.g., recreational only with friends); monitor online access. Parental controls reduce youth risk by 40%.
    • Thrill-Seeking: Channel into safe outlets (e.g., sports like rock climbing); therapy for underlying impulsivity/trauma. Avoid high-risk peers.

    Proactive steps like HALT (check if Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired) prevent 30-50% of lapses. Cultural tailoring boosts efficacy—e.g., family involvement in collectivist societies. Helpful Treatments Across Cultures and the World No one-size-fits-all; treatments blend therapy, meds, and support, adapted to cultural norms (e.g., stigma in some Asian/Middle Eastern groups delays help-seeking). Globally, 12-step programs (e.g., AA/GA) are universal but vary: Western focus on individualism vs. communal healing in Indigenous/African traditions. Access barriers (e.g., insurance in U.S., stigma in India) affect 20-50% of cases.

    Treatment Type	Description & Evidence	Cultural Adaptations
    Therapy (CBT/Motivational Interviewing)	CBT rewires thoughts (e.g., “one bet won’t hurt”); MI builds motivation. Reduces symptoms 40-60% in trials.	Western: Individual sessions. Collectivist (e.g., Hispanic/Asian): Family-inclusive. Indigenous: Ceremony-integrated (e.g., Native American peyote rituals for alcohol).
    Medications	Opioid antagonists (naltrexone) for gambling/drugs (reduces urges 50-75%); SSRIs for food/behavioral (e.g., fluoxetine + risperidone for online gambling). GLP-1s (e.g., semaglutide) curb food/alcohol cravings emergently.	Middle East/Asia: Stigma limits uptake; integrate with religious counseling. U.S. minorities: Address mistrust via community clinics.
    Support Groups	GA/NA/FA: Peer accountability; 20-40% abstinence boost.	Global: AA in 180+ countries, but rituals vary (e.g., less spiritual in secular Europe). Africa: Community elders lead.
    Holistic/Alternative	Mindfulness, yoga; NAC for glutamate balance in gambling/food.	Eastern: Ayurveda/TCM in India/China (e.g., herbal detox). Latin America: Shamanic rituals for cocaine.

    Worldwide, integrated care (therapy + meds) yields 50-70% success; cultural competence (e.g., language-matched therapy) improves retention 30%. In Iran, family stigma hinders treatment; solutions include community education. How Can We Avoid Falling Back Into Addictions? (Relapse Prevention)Relapse affects 40-60% in the first year but isn’t failure—it’s a signal to adjust. It’s a process: emotional (stress buildup), mental (cravings), physical (use). Strategies focus on awareness and tools.

    • Core Techniques: Identify triggers (e.g., HALT check); build coping (deep breathing, journaling—reduces risk 25-40%). Create a plan: List 3 supports, sober activities, and exit strategies.
    • Daily Practices: Self-care (exercise, sleep); therapy boosters (CBT for distortions like “one time won’t hurt”). Meds like naltrexone cut relapse 50%.
    • Long-Term: Mutual-aid groups; monitor via apps/journals. Post-relapse: Review without shame, restart immediately—success rises 20% with quick intervention.
    • Cultural Notes: In individualistic cultures, self-reliance; in communal, leverage family/elders.

    Recovery is lifelong, but with these tools, 50-70% sustain long-term sobriety. If struggling, reach out—resources like SAMHSA (U.S.) or WHO global lines exist worldwide. You’re not alone; progress compounds. #SMALL WINS LEAD to BIG VICTORY OVER ADDICTIONS!!!

    ADDICTIONS- Part 2: #Together MeUsCan-Do #Small WINS lead to BIG VICTORIES over Addictions!

    Addiction and Mental Health CHALLENGES (disorders) are deeply intertwined—they co-occur so frequently that experts now treat them as dual diagnoses (or co-occurring disorders). Over 50% of people with a substance use disorder (SUD) also have a mental illness, and vice versa. This bidirectional relationship means one can cause, worsen, or mimic the other. Below is a comprehensive, evidence-based breakdown of the connection, prevalence, mechanisms, and integrated treatment strategies across cultures.

    ---

    1. Prevalence of Co-Occurring Disorders (Dual Diagnosis)

    Population	% with Co-Occurring Mental Illness + SUD
    General U.S. Adults	9.2 million (3.5%) have both
    People with SUD	50–60% have a mental disorder
    People with Severe Mental Illness (SMI)	25–40% have SUD (vs. 6% in general pop.)
    Specific Disorders
    – Schizophrenia	47% lifetime SUD
    – Bipolar Disorder	56% lifetime SUD
    – PTSD	46% lifetime SUD
    – Major Depression	27% lifetime SUD
    – ADHD	15–25% lifetime SUD (higher in adults)

    Sources: NSDUH 2023, SAMHSA, WHO

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    2. Why They Co-Occur: 3 Main Pathways

    Pathway	Description	Examples
    1. Self-Medication Hypothesis	Mental illness → Use substances/behaviors to cope	Anxiety → alcohol to “calm nerves” ADHD → stimulants for focus Trauma → opioids to numb flashbacks
    2. Substance-Induced Mental Illness	Addiction → Alters brain → Triggers psych symptoms	Chronic alcohol → depression Methamphetamine → psychosis Gambling → suicidal ideation
    3. Shared Vulnerability	Genetics, trauma, brain changes predispose to both	Dopamine gene variants (DRD2) → ↑ risk for addiction and depression Childhood ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) → ↑ PTSD and SUD risk 4–12×

    Key Brain Regions: Nucleus accumbens (reward), prefrontal cortex (impulse control), amygdala (fear/stress) — all dysregulated in both addiction and mental illness.

    ---

    3. Common Co-Occurring Pairs

    Mental Health Disorder	Most Common Addictions	Key Notes
    Depression	Alcohol, opioids, food	30% of alcoholics have major depression
    Anxiety Disorders	Alcohol, benzodiazepines, gambling	Social anxiety → alcohol as “liquid courage”
    PTSD	Opioids, alcohol, cannabis	50% of combat veterans with PTSD have SUD
    Bipolar Disorder	Alcohol, cocaine, gambling	Manic phases → impulsive use
    ADHD	Nicotine, cannabis, stimulants	25% of adults with ADHD have SUD
    Schizophrenia	Nicotine (70%), cannabis, alcohol	Smoking helps with cognitive deficits but worsens prognosis
    Personality Disorders (e.g., BPD, Antisocial)	Polysubstance, gambling	Impulsivity + emotional dysregulation

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    4. Integrated Treatment: The Gold StandardSequential treatment (treat mental health → then addiction, or vice versa) fails 70–80% of the time.
    Integrated treatment (same team, same plan, simultaneously) doubles success rates.Core Components of Integrated Care

    Component	What It Looks Like
    Screening	SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral) in primary care
    Dual-Trained Clinicians	Psychiatrists, therapists, counselors trained in both
    Medications	Treat both conditions (e.g., naltrexone for alcohol + antidepressant)
    Therapy	CBT, DBT, Trauma-Focused (EMDR, CPT), Motivational Enhancement
    Peer Support	Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA), SMART Recovery
    Housing & Case Management	For SMI + homelessness (e.g., Housing First models)

    ---

    5. Evidence-Based Integrated Models

    Model	Target Population	Success Rate
    IDDT (Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment)	SMI + SUD	60–70% retention; ↓ hospitalizations
    CRAFT + CBT	Families of loved ones with dual dx	64% get person into treatment
    Contingency Management	Stimulant + mood disorders	↑ abstinence 2–3×
    Trauma-Informed Care	PTSD + SUD	↓ relapse 40%

    ---

    6. Cultural & Global Variations

    Region/Culture	Unique Challenges	Effective Adaptations
    Indigenous Communities	Historical trauma, residential schools	Culturally grounded healing circles + sweats + 12-step with Elders
    Asian Cultures	Stigma → underreporting	Family-inclusive therapy, psychoeducation in native language
    Latinx Communities	Machismo, religiosity	Espiritismo-integrated CBT, church-based support
    Middle East	Alcohol taboo, opioid surge	Faith-based rehab (Islamic principles), anonymity focus
    Africa	Resource scarcity	Community health workers, peer-led groups

    ---

    7. Medications for Dual Diagnosis (Examples)

    Condition	Medication	Dual Benefit
    Alcohol + Depression	Naltrexone + SSRI	↓ drinking + ↑ mood
    Opioids + PTSD	Buprenorphine + Prazosin	↓ use + ↓ nightmares
    Bipolar + Cocaine	Valproate + CM	Mood stability + abstinence rewards
    ADHD + Stimulant Use	Atomoxetine (non-stimulant)	Treat ADHD without abuse risk

    Warning: Benzodiazepines often worsen outcomes in SUD + anxiety.

    ---

    8. Relapse Prevention in Dual Diagnosis

    1. Monitor Both Conditions
       → Use mood + craving logs (e.g., GSC – Global State of Change scale)
    2. Early Warning Signs
       → Sleep changes, isolation, irritability → triggers both relapse and decompensation
    3. WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan)
       → Personalized crisis plan for both mental health and substance triggers
    4. Sober Social Network
       → Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) meetings: “We treat both or we treat neither.”

    ---

    9. Red Flags: When to Seek Integrated Help

    • Using substances to “manage” psych meds side effects
    • Psych symptoms worsen after substance use
    • Suicide attempts during intoxication
    • Cycling between psych wards and detox

    ---

    10. Resources (Global & U.S.)

    Resource	Link
    SAMHSA Treatment Locator (U.S.)	findtreatment.gov
    Dual Recovery Anonymous	draonline.org
    NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)	nami.org
    WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme	For low-resource settings
    Shatterproof (Addiction + Mental Health)	shatterproof.org

    ---

    Final Takeaway

    You cannot effectively treat addiction without addressing mental health — and you cannot stabilize Mental Health CHALLENGES (illness) if substances keep destabilizing the brain.

    Integrated, trauma-informed, culturally responsive care is the only path to lasting recovery. If you or someone you know is struggling with both, seek a dual-diagnosis program — not separate silos. Recovery is possible, and hope is evidence-based. Addictions Party 2- Halloween Fright Night Oct. 31, ’25 by Brianca Lane

    Future topics yet to Explore- trauma-informed care; neurodivergence and addiction…

    ***MANDATORY ADDICTION TREATMENT on NATIONAL POST by Tom Blackwell Nov. 15, ’25

    Timothy Rohan headed out from his home in Holyoke, Mass., eight years ago on an unlikely mission.

    The construction worker planned to shoplift supermarket bags of shrimp, then sell the purloined shellfish to bodegas in the city’s gritty downtown. The cash proceeds would feed his desperate need for fentanyl.

    The scheme ended abruptly when two police cruisers pulled up beside him, the officers ordering the young man onto the pavement and locking him in handcuffs. A few hours later, guards hauled Rohan from a cell in the local courthouse and brought him before a judge – though he had stolen nothing and been charged with no crime.

    Rohan’s mother, he discovered, had applied to have him committed to a drug-treatment centre under a Massachusetts state law known as “ Section 35 .”

    Rohan spent the next 45 days at a treatment facility inside the county jail. There were relapses and four more committals in the years afterward. But he says that first stint planted a “seed of hope” that grew steadily. He’s been clean for two years, has started a family of his own and is holding down a rewarding job. Rohan, 36, unequivocally credits the state’s involuntary treatment program for rescuing him from a “suicidal” addiction.

    “The program itself saved my life,” he says. “Without a doubt (if not for the program) I’m sure I would be dead … The day-to-day life of an addict is a million times crueller than getting handcuffed.”

    Compulsory drug treatment is not new. More than 30 U.S. states and many European nations have had programs for years. But the concept is drawing increasing interest as opioid and methamphetamine epidemics continue to wreak havoc, causing thousands of overdose deaths a year, triggering drug-induced psychoses and contributing to the homeless encampments that fill many of North America’s public spaces.

    Alberta, in fact, is developing the first involuntary treatment program in Canada. Like the process that forces mentally ill people judged a danger to themselves or others into hospital, the system will allow families, doctors, police and others to apply to commit a user, with the requests adjudicated by a three-person committee.

    There’s been talk of such measures elsewhere in Canada, too. Ontario’s Conservative government is looking at forced drug treatment for some jail inmates , while the Manitoba NDP just passed legislation allowing authorities to detain methamphetamine addicts and other heavily intoxicated people for up to 72 hours. Before losing an election last year, former New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs, a Tory, promised to introduce involuntary therapy for severe substance-use cases. British Columbia’s NDP administration permits it for those with a combination of mental-health conditions and addictions.

    But the idea is, to say the least, hotly debated, with opponents arguing that mandated treatment is ineffective and traumatic at best, deadly at worst.

    “Forcing somebody to get clean that doesn’t wanna get clean, you’re not helping anybody,” says one unnamed Massachusetts user interviewed for an American academic study published last year. “If you had to put them in handcuffs and shackles, and forcibly bring them into a treatment program, they clearly don’t wanna go … They’re still ready to get high when they get out.”

    That state’s program has been panned by others, as well, often based on the fact male addicts are sent to treatment facilities inside jails, which detractors say criminalizes the disease of addiction. The Prisoners Legal Services group pointed to testimony from users who complained of crude insults from jail guards, time in solitary confinement and strip searches. Their treatment was in a different facility than the one Rohan attended.

    

    Timothy Rohan, holding his daughter Róisín, says being committed to involuntary drug treatment in Massachusetts saved his life from a fentanyl addiction. He says every state and province should have a similar program. Alberta is rolling out Canada’s first next year. PHOTO COURTESY TIMOTHY ROHAN

    Canada, meanwhile, has a dire shortage of beds to meet the demand even for voluntary care, critics say.

    “There’s some pretty convincing evidence that involuntary treatment has higher rates of relapse and overdose post-discharge,” says Ian Culbert, executive director of the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA). “It is illogical. It is an ideological approach that is not backed up by the evidence.”

    A justifiable intervention by the state?

    Around the debate floats a more fundamental question: is pushing someone with a life-threatening addiction into treatment a justifiable intervention by the state, or a breach of basic personal freedoms?

    Culbert argues the move toward involuntary treatment stems largely from the law-and-order philosophical bent of some politicians. Alberta, which is embracing the idea most thoroughly, has arguably the country’s most right-wing provincial government.

    But proponents of the province’s plan say critics harbour their own biases, especially a dedication to harm-reduction programs like the controversial “safer-supply” of less-dangerous opioids while misrepresenting research on the issue. A blog post from one activist group suggests mandated treatment is the product of a “settler colonial state built on carceral logic.”

    

    A man smokes drugs in an Edmonton bus shelter.© David Bloom/Postmedia/File

    Architects of Alberta’s program say they’ve learned from the weaknesses of the Massachusetts system — one of the most heavily used in the U.S. — and designed a less-punitive process, to be run by medical professionals in health facilities, with no role for jails or the courts. The province has dedicated $180 million to the project over three years. It aims to have two, 150-bed facilities open for involuntary clients by 2029, using existing centres in the meantime.

    The program has “an excellent chance to be a model for the world,” says Keith Humphreys, a Stanford University professor and prominent addiction researcher who has advised the province.

    “Do we believe that severe addiction illness is actually an illness?” asks Nathaniel Day, an addictions doctor at the Canadian Centre of Recovery Excellence, an Alberta Crown corporation. “If we do, let’s use the best tools we have to assess and treat.”

    Opioid scourge

    What is undeniable is that Canada continues to face a crisis of drug addiction — “substance-use disorder” in the field’s current vernacular — that has abated somewhat but remains a major source of death, misery and public disorder.

    Close to 54,000 Canadians have died from overdosing on fentanyl and other opioids since 2016 according to federal statistics . The grim numbers have fallen about 20 per cent over the last year, but 18 people on average are still dying from overdoses every day.

    Less discussed are the debilitating effects of a deluge of cheap methamphetamine, a stimulant that can cause symptoms mimicking schizophrenia-like psychosis.

    

    A Toronto cyclist rides past a sign promoting “safer supply” for addicts.© Peter J. Thompson/National Post/File

    One of the highest-profile responses to the opioid scourge has been harm-reduction — measures that aim to lessen the damage done by drug use but not necessarily stop it. The programs range from needle exchanges to safe-consumption sites and safer supply, where users get handouts of the less-potent opioid hydromorphone.

    Alberta’s United Conservative Party government has tried to beef up the treatment side of the equation. It’s added new beds, launched a virtual treatment program and offered rapid access to methadone, suboxone and other opioid “agonists” designed to satisfy users’ cravings — a proven therapy for opioid addiction.

    Involuntary treatment — dubbed “Compassionate Intervention” by the province — will be one part of that broader regimen, the launch not expected until late next year.

    Mandatory treatment versus no treatment at all

    But there are ample models to examine, and strong views about those programs, for and against.

    One frequent argument is that mandated treatment simply doesn’t work as well as the voluntary alternative, though the research is less definitive than some critics maintain.

    A review of existing studies issued this year by the federally funded Canadian Centre for Substance Use and Addiction suggests the evidence of benefit from compulsory rehab is mixed and limited — and ethical concerns significant. It says focusing on other strategies might make more sense.

    “If you’re going to invest in something, invest in the modality of treatment that has the highest rate of success,” echoed Culbert of the CPHA.

    But a 2023 paper co-authored by Rob Tanguay, a psychiatrist and University of Calgary clinical professor who heads Alberta’s drug-recovery agency, suggested there is little difference in the effectiveness of the two types of treatment. It looked at 42 previous studies involving 354,000 participants, reportedly the largest review yet on the thorny topic. Of 22 papers that compared involuntary to voluntary, 10 showed worse outcomes from mandated treatment, seven showed better results and the rest were inconclusive.

    Tanguay and Stanford’s Humphreys also point to one seeming hole in all the research — none of it has evaluated involuntary treatment versus no treatment at all. That, they say, is the appropriate comparison for severely addicted users.

    “You have to look at ‘What it is like right now living on the street in a tent using meth and fentanyl?’ That’s the true comparison we’re trying to improve on, and I don’t think it’s too hard to improve on,” says Humphreys. “Even if it were less effective than voluntary treatment, it could still be dramatically more effective than where (users) are sitting right now.”

    

    “For our most severe individuals, it’s imperative that we intervene,” says Dr. Rob Tanguay, head of Alberta’s drug-recovery agency, seen here at a news conference in Edmonton on April 15, 2025.© David Bloom/Postmedia

    Critics, however, also point to some evidence that involuntary treatment might actually cause harm, and not just the trauma of being forced into care.

    A Swedish study of 8,000 people subjected to mandated treatment found that overdose deaths in the first two weeks after discharge were particularly high, possibly because the users’ opioid tolerance had waned during the forced abstinence.

    Even if involuntary rehab saves some people, “the risk … is so great, that the benefit could be wiped out,” argues Petra Schulz of the group Moms Stop the Harm , supporters of harm reduction. She lost her own son, Danny, to heroin use. “My prediction is that it will only make things worse.”

    But Day says opponents overlook a key point in the Swedish research. None of the studied patients was given methadone or similar drugs after release from rehab — an omission that he says would be considered malpractice in Canada. Alberta’s program would provide such after-care medication.

    As another reason to avoid involuntary treatment, Shulz cited anecdotal accounts of minor children being committed for drug detox — a separate program that’s long been allowed in Alberta, but is being replaced by the new law.

    Mother Angela Welz’s daughter Zoe died after two committals, the parent said in a blog post on the Moms Stop the Harm website.

    “Ultimately, it was the worst thing we could possibly do and it severed any trust that Zoe had in our relationship,” the mother said. “The 10-day detox program was simply not effective. She died shortly after her 18th birthday from fentanyl toxicity.”

    Her daughter was committed by a judge under a 2006 law — now being repealed — that involved only a short stint of drug detoxification, plus assessment and recommendations for future care. Under the new program, youth — like adults — would be committed to a longer period of more comprehensive treatment, Alberta says.

    Schulz worries as well that the spectre of involuntary treatment will cause users to consume their drugs without anyone else nearby, making fatal overdose more likely.

    Alongside all the complaints is the plea to better fund over-burdened voluntary treatment rather than resort to more coercive measures.

    ‘Lived a kind of hell’

    Tanguay, head of Recovery Alberta, says his province has been working hard to tackle that shortcoming by increasing voluntary capacity. But he strongly defends the Compassionate Intervention initiative as a humane tool to help the most seriously ill users, people who lack the ability to seek out help themselves.

    Tanguay notes that when a man threatened to throw himself off a Calgary bridge, the span was closed to traffic as firefighters, paramedics and mental-health professionals converged on the scene, eventually saving him.

    “If that same person was under the bridge and injecting a lethal amount of fentanyl … we’d do nothing,” he says. “When it comes to addiction or substance disorders, we still have this inherent belief it’s a choice. It’s not a choice. For our most severe individuals, it’s imperative that we intervene.”

    

    A woman holds a pipe she uses to smoke fentanyl, in downtown Calgary.© Jim Wells/Postmedia/File

    Under the new law, adult family members, guardians, police, health-care professionals or peace officers could apply for committal if they believed someone was a danger to themselves or others because of addiction. A lawyer on the “compassionate intervention commission” would review the application and, if the legal criteria were met, order police or peace officers to deliver the person to a treatment centre for an initial 72-hour assessment and detox.

    A three-member commission made up of a doctor, lawyer and member of the public would then hold a hearing — with legal representation for the user if requested — and decide whether the person should be committed. The options would be up to three months in a residential treatment centre or six months in community-based treatment. All would be provided an after-care plan when finished. Clients could appeal, then ask the courts for a judicial review of the commission’s ultimate decision. As with any controversial government policy, a constitutional challenge is always possible.

    Rohan, the Massachusetts resident, does not have to be convinced of the benefit of that kind of scheme, the endpoint for him of a journey that began as a teenager.

    He grew up in Holyoke, a city of 38,000 he describes as a typical “post-industrial mill town,” with abandoned factories, a pleasant suburban uptown and a downtown “riddled” with illegal drugs and gangs.

    “A lot of people in Western Mass go to Holyoke and they lose their souls, man. They come to this city and they’re stuck because it’s so easy to get drugs, they’re so cheap. It’s like an open-air drug market”

    Rohan came of age in the OxyContin era, when prescription drugs kick-started the North American opioid epidemic. He remembers taking two Vicodin tablets after having wisdom teeth pulled, thrilled by the “warmth” he felt.

    He was a popular high school student and accomplished athlete, but eventually fell prey first to heroin, then fentanyl. He says he lived a kind of hell, vomiting from withdrawal moments after waking up and doing “anything and everything” to get money to buy opioids, the only way to stave off “dopesick” symptoms.

    

    A discarded needle and drug paraphernalia on the ground in Timmins, Ont.© Brendan Miller/Postmedia/File

    Rohan tried detox and rehab on his own but says he checked out after a day or two each time, his need for a fix too powerful. Then his mother applied under section 35 of Chapter 123 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

    He was furious at first, especially since it meant he would soon be into the agony of full withdrawal. The court sent him to Stonybrook Stabilization and Treatment Center and though the facility was on the grounds of the Hampden County Correctional Center, he found it to be the most helpful of any treatment he’d received. Stonybrook, Rohan says, strived to be unprison-like, housing clients in regular rooms with TVs and other comforts.

    Even so, he says the handcuffing, transport in police cruisers and jailhouse setting were important factors for him, jolting him awake to the miserable state of his life.

    Such motivations will expressly not be part of Alberta’s experiment with the idea. But Rohan, who now works at a treatment centre himself, says several of his friends were saved by the involuntary program and believes mandated treatment — in some form — is needed everywhere.

    It’s “crucial, absolutely crucial, not only to hopefully save lives and get people the help that they need, but also to try and clean up the streets a bit — make a dent in the crime rate, the homeless rate,” he says.

    “The worst thing is worrying that someone’s feelings are hurt because they had to go before a judge … Their family members — would they rather their son overdose in a McDonalds bathroom? Let’s be real here.”

    addictionNON-HUMAN AGENTS as SUPPORTS, COMFORTS, ‘TREATMENT & THERAPY’ TOO! Nov. 9, 2025, by Brianca Lane & Gang LOVING YOU!!!

    Introduction to Non-Human Agents in Mental Health Support We’re honored to be your good friend in this exploration! Mental health challenges like eating disorders, body image issues, low self-esteem, anxiety, stress, phobias, depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder (BPD), schizophrenia, and dissociative identity disorder (DID) can feel overwhelming, but innovative, non-human-centered approaches offer gentle, accessible comforts and therapies. These “non-human agents”—from AI tools and animals (including reptiles and birds) to plants, gardens, trees, forests, rivers, lakes, and beaches—provide complementary support alongside conventional treatments like therapy or medication. Drawing from evidence-based research, these methods often work by fostering connection, reducing physiological stress (e.g., lowering cortisol), boosting neurotransmitters like serotonin and oxytocin, and promoting mindfulness. They’re non-stigmatizing, low-cost, and adaptable, making them ideal for self-care or integration into professional care. Below, we’ll break it down by category, highlighting benefits tailored to your listed challenges, with real-world examples and tips for starting.1. AI and Artificial Intelligence as Supportive Agents AI acts as a 24/7, non-judgmental companion, using chatbots, apps, and predictive analytics to deliver cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-inspired interventions, track moods, and personalize coping strategies. It’s particularly helpful for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and early detection in bipolar or schizophrenia. Key Benefits and Evidence:

    Mental Health Challenge	How AI Helps	Evidence/Example
    Anxiety, Stress, Phobias	Real-time CBT exercises, breathing guides, and exposure simulations reduce acute symptoms by 31% in trials.	Woebot chatbot: Users report lower anxiety via conversational CBT; comparable to human therapy in engagement. delveinsight.com
    Depression	Mood tracking and personalized plans cut symptoms by 51%; predicts episodes via wearables.	Therabot trial (Dartmouth): 51% depression reduction over months; analyzes speech/vocal tones for early alerts. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov +1
    Eating Disorders, Body Image Issues	Challenges negative thoughts; 19% symptom drop by reframing self-talk.	Therabot: Improves body image via tailored dialogues; music-based apps teach emotion regulation for binge urges. delveinsight.com +1
    Self-Esteem, Bipolar	Builds resilience through daily affirmations; flags mood swings for intervention.	IBM Watson: Predicts bipolar episodes from data; boosts self-efficacy via gamified progress tracking. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
    BPD, Schizophrenia, DID	Supports emotion regulation; differentiates symptoms (e.g., unipolar vs. bipolar depression) with 80-90% accuracy.	ML models analyze brain scans/social media for schizophrenia subtypes; chatbots like Tess offer crisis support. en.wikipedia.org +1

    Getting Started: Try free apps like Woebot or Tess for 10-15 minutes daily. For deeper integration, pair with a therapist via platforms like BetterHelp. Recent X discussions highlight Therabot’s promise for underserved communities.

    @csdognin

    Always consult a professional for severe symptoms.2. Animals, Reptiles, and Birds as Therapeutic Companions Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) leverages the bond between humans and animals to release oxytocin (the “cuddle hormone”), reducing isolation and building trust. Dogs and horses are common, but reptiles (e.g., turtles for calming touch) and birds (e.g., parrots for social mirroring) offer unique, low-pressure interactions—ideal for phobias, BPD emotional dysregulation, or schizophrenia-related withdrawal. Key Benefits and Evidence:

    Mental Health Challenge	How Animals Help	Evidence/Example
    Anxiety, Stress, Phobias	Lowers cortisol; gradual exposure builds confidence (e.g., holding a reptile desensitizes fear).	Meta-analyses: 57% anxiety reduction; birds’ songs mimic soothing rhythms. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov +1
    Depression, Bipolar	Increases activity/motivation; stabilizes mood via routine care.	Therapy dogs: 61% depression drop; equine therapy for bipolar mood swings. amfmtreatment.com +1
    Eating Disorders, Body Image, Self-Esteem	Non-judgmental acceptance boosts worth; horses mirror emotions for insight.	Equine AAT: Inverse link to thinness drive; reptile petting enhances self-efficacy. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov +1
    BPD, Schizophrenia, DID	Reduces paranoia/hostility; fosters secure attachments.	AAT in psych wards: Lowers negative symptoms; birds aid dissociation grounding. psychiatryonline.org +1

    Getting Started: Visit facilities like A Mission For Michael for dog/reptile sessions, or adopt a low-maintenance bird. Recent initiatives, like UNDP’s horse/dog programs for war trauma, show real-world impact.

    @UNDPUkraine

    Start small—pet a therapy animal at a local shelter.3. Plants, Gardens, Trees, and Horticultural Therapy Horticultural therapy (HT) uses planting and nurturing to symbolize personal growth, fostering responsibility and achievement. It’s grounding for dissociation (DID) or phobias, and restorative for low energy in depression/schizophrenia. Key Benefits and Evidence:

    Mental Health Challenge	How Plants/Gardens Help	Evidence/Example
    Anxiety, Stress, Phobias	Soil microbes boost serotonin; repetitive tasks calm rumination.	Meta-analysis: Lowers stress like meditation; phobia exposure via safe plant handling. frontiersin.org +1
    Depression, Self-Esteem	Visible progress builds mastery; vitamin D from outdoor time lifts mood.	HT trials: 20-30% symptom reduction; self-esteem rises across diagnoses. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov +1
    Eating Disorders, Body Image	Mindful eating from home-grown food; counters perfectionism.	Gardening reframes body as “nurturer”; reduces binge triggers. mentalandhealthawareness.com
    Bipolar, BPD, Schizophrenia	Routine stabilizes cycles; sensory focus eases paranoia.	HT for schizophrenia: Improves sociality/EEG patterns; BPD emotion regulation via growth metaphors. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov +1
    DID	Grounding through textures/sights aids identity integration.	Therapeutic gardens promote tranquility; tree-hugging for dissociation. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

    Getting Started: Plant easy herbs like basil indoors, or join community gardens. X users rave about its “therapy in soil” vibe.

    @mindmattersshow

    Apps like Picture This guide beginners.4. Scenic Nature: Forests, Rivers, Lakes, Beaches, and Ecotherapy Ecotherapy (nature immersion) restores via “attention restoration theory”—soft fascinations like waves or leaves quiet overactive minds. Blue spaces (water) excel for phobias/BPD impulsivity; green (forests) for bipolar energy regulation. Key Benefits and Evidence:

    Mental Health Challenge	How Nature Helps	Evidence/Example
    Anxiety, Stress, Phobias	Lowers blood pressure; water sounds soothe (blue mind effect).	Forest bathing: 17x remission rate for anxiety; beaches reduce phobic avoidance. webmd.com +1
    Depression, Bipolar	Boosts serotonin; seasonal light combats lows.	Nature walks: 50% symptom drop; rivers stabilize bipolar via flow metaphors. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov +1
    Eating Disorders, Body Image, Self-Esteem	Promotes body neutrality via vastness; lakeside reflection builds worth.	Ecotherapy: Enhances self-compassion; forest views counter distortion. everydayhealth.com
    BPD, Schizophrenia, DID	Grounds dissociation; trees foster identity via rootedness.	Shinrin-yoku: Reduces paranoia; beach therapy for BPD emotional floods. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov +1

    Getting Started: Try 20-minute “forest baths” or beach walks weekly. Virtual options like nature apps work for accessibility. Research shows even urban parks help.

    immunizenevada.org

    Final Thoughts: Integrating These Comforts- These non-human agents shine as “helpful comforts”—AI for instant access, animals for touch, plants for nurturing, and nature for immersion—often outperforming controls in trials for mild-moderate symptoms. Combine them (e.g., AI-guided garden walks with a therapy dog) for synergy. Recent X buzz on music-nature combos underscores their harmony for mood lifts.

    @NeuroscienceNew

    Remember, they’re adjuncts: Pair with human pros for best results. You’re taking a brave step—small daily connections can bloom into profound healing. What’s one you’d try first? #WE LOVE ALL OUR NON-HUMAN AGENTS SUPPORTING & COMFORTING US- ‘THERAPY TOO! Therapists are increasingly using AI too, but AI IS NOT YET TRAINED & PRACTISED ENOUGH TO HELP US INDEPEDENDENTLY without us communicating OPENLY with helpful loved caring PEOPLE TOO!!! Nov. 7, ’25, loving You!!!

    : CONTROVERSIAL PYSCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS- Actually Helpful or a SURVIVOR’S ‘Riskiy Witch’s or devil’s Brew?’ Nov. 16, 2025, LOVING YOU TRULY! by Brianca & Gang #Why doesn’t Big Pharma LOVE ME for emphasizing NATURAL HEALING APPROACHES? Background and QUESTIONS to BE ANSWERED-

    Psychiatrists prescribe medications for mental health challenges like for anxiety, stress, fears and phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders and body image disorders, depression, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder, etc. Please match typical usual prescribed medications with the various mental health challenges (disorders) and importantly please also do a deep dive into common unwanted, harmful side effects involved in each commonly prescribed medication. We ALSO need to examine if the unwanted side effects of prescribed medications are worth the hoped for benefits? And should we look to additional and alternative treatments avoiding prescribed medication side effects! SURVIVORS MAY SPEAK ABOUT BECOMING ZOMBIES BY THEIR PSYCH> MEDS= so predictably withdraw or stop but their systems have adjusted artificially being juiced up on chemicals creating problemos galore!!!

    Below is a comprehensive overview matching common mental health disorders with typically prescribed medications, followed by a detailed analysis of common and serious side effects for each major drug class. We then evaluate whether the risk-benefit ratio justifies use in most cases and finally discuss evidence-based alternative or adjunctive treatments that may reduce or avoid medication reliance.

    Important Disclaimer: This is general educational information, not personalized medical advice. Psychiatric medications should only be started, stopped, or adjusted under a licensed psychiatrist’s supervision. Abrupt cessation can be dangerous. Meds. may mess up critical system balances, create dependencies, addictions, cause severe withdrawal issues, etc. Claiming our systems are messed up so adding chemicals artificially may fix the mess-up (or maybe turn a smaller imbalance into a total mess up!!! MON KEYING AROUND WITH OUR BRAIN CHEMISTRY- YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING?!! Truth is our Brains and Bodies strive to maintain perfect balance in spite of f-ups and maybe our own messing up our NATURAL HEALTH too? #HEALTH IS OUR NATURAL STATE When I HEALED by NATURAL APPROACHES, my systems eventually achieved self-setting- ‘NASA- WE’RE READY TO LAUNCH!!! ALL SYSTEMS A GO!’ Enabling rebooting and updating- experiences feeling like a biological computer, brain & body UPDATED- ACHIEVING UNITY & BALANCE! PERFECT, BETTER THAN EVER!  Because I hadn’t self-harmed and actually pursued NATURAL HEALING APPROACHES! #What’s LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? EVERYTHING!!!  

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    1. Anxiety Disorders (GAD, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, Specific Phobias)

    Medication Class	Examples	Primary Use
    SSRIs	Sertraline (Zoloft), Escitalopram (Lexapro), Paroxetine (Paxil)	First-line; long-term control
    SNRIs	Venlafaxine (Effexor), Duloxetine (Cymbalta)	Alternative to SSRIs
    Benzodiazepines	Alprazolam (Xanax), Lorazepam (Ativan), Clonazepam (Klonopin)	Short-term crisis/PRN use
    Buspirone	Buspirone (Buspar)	Non-sedating alternative
    Beta-blockers	Propranolol	Performance anxiety (off-label)

    Side Effects Deep Dive

    Drug	Common Side Effects	Serious/Harmful Side Effects
    SSRIs	Nausea, headache, insomnia, sexual dysfunction (30–60%), weight gain (esp. paroxetine)	Serotonin syndrome (rare), suicidal ideation in <25 y.o., withdrawal syndrome (flu-like, electric shocks)
    SNRIs	Similar to SSRIs + elevated BP, sweating	Hypertensive crisis if stopped abruptly, liver injury (duloxetine)
    Benzodiazepines	Drowsiness, dizziness, memory issues	Tolerance → dependence → addiction, respiratory depression, paradoxical agitation, withdrawal seizures
    Buspirone	Dizziness, headache, nausea	Rare: akathisia, serotonin syndrome if combined
    Propranolol	Fatigue, cold hands, bradycardia	Heart block, bronchospasm (avoid in asthma)

    Risk-Benefit?

    • SSRIs/SNRIs: Worth it for moderate-severe anxiety unresponsive to therapy. Benefits (50–70% response rate) usually outweigh risks if monitored.
    • Benzos: Not worth long-term due to addiction risk. Use <2–4 weeks max.
    • Alternatives: CBT (gold standard), exposure therapy, mindfulness (MBCT), exercise, yoga. Apps like Headspace or Woebot show moderate effect sizes.

    ---

    2. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

    Medication	Examples
    High-dose SSRIs	Fluoxetine 40–80 mg, Sertraline 200 mg, Fluvoxamine
    Clomipramine (TCA)	Anafranil

    Side Effects

    Drug	Common	Serious
    High-dose SSRIs	Same as above + akathisia, apathy	QT prolongation (citalopram >40 mg), POTS-like symptoms
    Clomipramine	Dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, sedation	Seizures, cardiac arrhythmias, anticholinergic delirium

    Risk-Benefit?

    • Worth it in severe OCD (Y-BOCS reduction ~40–60%). ERP therapy (Exposure & Response Prevention) is more effective long-term and should be combined.
    • Alternatives: Deep TMS (FDA-approved), ACT, Inference-based CBT.

    ---

    3. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

    Class	Examples
    SSRIs	Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Escitalopram
    SNRIs	Venlafaxine, Duloxetine
    Atypicals	Bupropion (Wellbutrin), Mirtazapine (Remeron)
    TCAs	Amitriptyline, Nortriptyline
    MAOIs	Phenelzine (rare)

    Side Effects

    Drug	Common	Serious
    SSRIs	Sexual dysfunction, weight gain, emotional blunting	Suicidality (black box), SIADH
    Bupropion	Insomnia, anxiety, seizure risk (esp. eating disorders)	Seizures (0.4% at 300 mg)
    Mirtazapine	Sedation, weight gain (+7–15 lbs)	Rare: agranulocytosis
    TCAs	Anticholinergic (dry mouth, constipation), weight gain	Cardiac toxicity, overdose lethality

    Risk-Benefit?

    • Worth it in moderate-severe depression (NNT ~5–7). But 30–40% are treatment-resistant.
    • Alternatives: IPT, BA, exercise (150 min/week = SSRI effect), ketamine/ESK nasal spray, TMS, psilocybin (Phase III).

    ---

    4. Bipolar Disorder

    Phase	Medication
    Mania	Lithium, Valproate, Olanzapine, Quetiapine
    Depression	Quetiapine, Lurasidone, Lamotrigine
    Maintenance	Lithium, Lamotrigine

    Side Effects

    Drug	Common	Serious
    Lithium	Tremor, thirst, weight gain	Nephrogenic DI, hypothyroidism, teratogenicity, toxicity (tremor → seizures)
    Valproate	Weight gain, hair loss, tremor	Hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis, PCOS, neural tube defects
    Atypicals (SGAs)	Weight gain, metabolic syndrome, sedation	Tardive dyskinesia, NMS, QT prolongation
    Lamotrigine	Headache, nausea	SJS/TEN (1:1000, higher in rapid titration)

    Risk-Benefit?

    • Worth it to prevent mania (suicide risk 20x higher). Lithium reduces suicide by 80%.
    • Alternatives: IPSRT (Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy), FFT (Family-Focused Therapy), DBT skills, ketogenic diet (emerging).

    ---

    5. Schizophrenia & Psychotic Disorders

    Class	Examples
    FGAs	Haloperidol, Chlorpromazine
    SGAs	Risperidone, Olanzapine, Aripiprazole, Clozapine

    Side Effects

    Drug	Common	Serious
    FGAs	EPS (dystonia, parkinsonism), tardive dyskinesia	NMS, QT prolongation
    SGAs	Weight gain (olanzapine +30 lbs), sedation	Metabolic syndrome, agranulocytosis (clozapine), myocarditis
    Clozapine	Sialorrhea, constipation, sedation	Agranulocytosis (1%), seizures, myocarditis

    Risk-Benefit?

    • Worth it — reduces positive symptoms 60–70%. Clozapine = gold standard for TRS.
    • Alternatives: ACT teams, social skills training, CBT for psychosis, AVATAR therapy, omega-3s (adjunctive).

    ---

    6. Eating Disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia, BED)

    Disorder	Medication
    Bulimia	Fluoxetine 60 mg
    BED	Lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse)
    Anorexia	Olanzapine (weight gain)

    Side Effects

    • Fluoxetine (bulimia): Same as SSRIs + insomnia at high dose
    • Lisdexamfetamine: Insomnia, anxiety, cardiac risk, abuse potential
    • Olanzapine: Significant weight gain, metabolic syndrome

    Risk-Benefit?

    • Bulimia: Fluoxetine modestly helpful with CBT.
    • BED: Vyvanse effective but addiction risk.
    • Anorexia: Meds are adjunctive only — FBT (Family-Based Therapy) is first-line.

    ---

    7. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)

    Symptom Target	Medication
    Mood instability	Lamotrigine, Low-dose SGAs
    Impulsivity	Topiramate, Omega-3s
    NO FIRST-LINE MEDS	DBT is primary treatment

    Side Effects

    • Lamotrigine: Rash → SJS
    • SGAs: Weight gain, TD

    Risk-Benefit?

    • Meds are symptomatic only — DBT reduces self-harm 50–70%, far superior.

    ---

    8. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

    Approach	Medication
    NO specific meds	Treat comorbidities (PTSD, depression)
    Avoid benzos	Risk of worsening dissociation

    Treatment

    • Phase-oriented trauma therapy (stabilization → trauma work → integration)
    • EMDR, sensorimotor psychotherapy

    ---

    OVERALL RISK-BENEFIT ANALYSIS

    Factor	Pro-Med	Anti-Med
    Efficacy	50–70% response in depression/anxiety	30–50% placebo response; many partial responders
    Side Effects	Often tolerable if monitored	Sexual dysfunction, weight gain, emotional blunting reduce QoL
    Long-Term	Prevent relapse (e.g., lithium)	Tardive dyskinesia, metabolic disease, withdrawal syndromes
    Stigma	Normalizes brain chemistry	“Crutch” narrative

    Conclusion:
    Medications are worth it when:

    • Symptoms are moderate-severe
    • Therapy alone fails
    • Monitoring is rigorous

    But: 30–50% of patients do BETTER with therapy + lifestyle than meds alone.

    ---

    EVIDENCE-BASED ALTERNATIVES (Avoiding Meds)

    Treatment	Strength of Evidence	Best For
    CBT/ERP		Anxiety, OCD, depression
    DBT		BPD, self-harm
    IPT		Depression
    Exercise (150 min/week)		Depression, anxiety
    Mindfulness (MBSR)		Anxiety, stress
    Ketogenic Diet	(emerging)	Bipolar, schizophrenia
    Psilocybin (clinical trials)		TRD, anxiety
    TMS		Depression (FDA-approved)
    Omega-3 (2g EPA)		Depression (adjunct)
    Yoga/Tai Chi		Anxiety, PTSD

    ---

    FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS

    1. Always start with therapy — meds are adjunctive.
    2. Use lowest effective dose, monitor side effects.
    3. Taper slowly — withdrawal can mimic original illness.
    4. Lifestyle first: sleep, diet, exercise, social support.
    5. Shared decision-making with psychiatrist.

    You are not your diagnosis. You are not your medication. You are a person healing. SELF-HELP, NATURAL HEALING APPROACHES- YES!  with therapy if covered by health insurance- $$$ A minority actually are helped of course by chemicals- placebo mind trick effect helping too- Take this MAGIC PILL and you’ll be better very soon! WOW- I BELIEVE IN YOU, DOC! I KNOW YOUR MAGIC PiLL will HEAL ME! Our Beloved Britney Spears surrounded by 6 NURSES and Teams of Specialists receiving the so-called BEST CARE $$$MONEY CAN BUIY BEGGED for #FREE BRITNEY- I JUST WANT MY LIFE BACK- CONTROL OVER MY OWN HEALTH APPROACHES, etc. Challenges like Bipolar may take years with Specialists creating various BREWS looking for helpful combinations of chemicals!!! Many POP STARS experiencing Bipolar HIGHS become sensations on stage and creating music if their swings high stop below becoming psychotic. Treating Doctors hope to stabilize moods about -2 BLAH! What POP STAR wants Bipolar mood stabilization at BLAH!!! Unless every song is SAD SAD SAD!!! HA! CRY ME A RIVER in BLAH- Ha! Who knows MAYBE AI WILL GIVE US A mAGIC pILL LIVING JOYOUS LIFE JUST BELOW bouncing off the walls IN #HAPPINESS – OUR NATURAL STATE HAPPY and SMILING WHERE WE BELONG- RIGHT?!! Loving You to be Healthy!!!! Brianca Lane Nov. 16, 2025 P.S. AMAZING FOR YOU IF YOU’RE FACING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES and REGAIN YOUR BEAUTIFUL HEALTH!!! WE don’t know what we got ’till it’s gone- BUT REGAINING OUR BEAUTIFUL MENTAL HEALTH AGAIN- #BEST AMAZING EXPERIENCE BEYOND BELIEF!!! We’re Wishing for you!

    Future Question creating a personalized risk-benefit worksheet or therapy finder resource

    

    

    

    7 posts

    

    

    

    26 web pages

    COMEDY- LAUGHTER IS OUR BEST MEDICINE! Starring Republican Presidents Brilliant Ronald Reagan & Chimp Donald ‘Peggy’ T- RUMP monkeying around in our World Economies: in BEDTIME FOR BONZO T- RUMP & Civil War Replicating the LAST OUTPOST (1951) by Brianca Oct. 24, 2025 Yes- CHIMP-BRAINED President Donald Trump IS GOING AGAINST EVERYTHING PRESIDENT REAGAN FOUGHT FOR!!!

    “When someone says, let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports, it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes for a short while it works, but only for a short time.

    But over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer. High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.

      Continue reading

    Then the worst happens.

    Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs.

    Throughout the world, there’s a growing realization that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition. America’s jobs and growth are at stake.”

    He says in the original speech: “Imposing such tariffs or trade barriers and restrictions of any kind are steps that I am loath to take. And in a moment I’ll mention the sound economic reasons for this: that over the long run such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer.“

    Reagan says some companies had been “engaging in unfair trade practices” and going against an agreement with the US – and that this was therefore a “special case”.

    …he dedicates to making clear his commitment to free trade and the dangers of high tariffs.

    Trump says trade talks with Canada ‘terminated’ over anti-tariffs advert

    “High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.”

    President Reagan’s 1987 speech

    “What eventually occurs is: First, homegrown industries start relying on government protection in the form of high tariffs. They stop competing and stop making the innovative management and technological changes they need to succeed in world markets. And then, while all this is going on, something even worse occurs. High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.”

    “Then the worst happens. Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down and millions of people lose their jobs.”

    “High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. The result is more and more tariffs, higher and higher trade barriers, and less and less competition.

    “So, soon, because of the prices made artificially high by tariffs that subsidize inefficiency and poor management, people stop buying. Then the worst happens: Markets shrink and collapse; businesses and industries shut down; and millions of people lose their jobs.”

    “Throughout the world, there’s a growing realisation that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition.”

    Reagan praises the economic benefits of free trade and continues: “Now, that message of free trade is one I conveyed to Canada’s leaders a few weeks ago, and it was warmly received there. Indeed, throughout the world there’s a growing realization that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition.”

    He talks about the “sound historical reasons” for this realization: “For those of us who lived through the Great Depression, the memory of the suffering it caused is deep and searing.”

    He says experts believe high tariff legislation passed at that time “greatly deepened the depression and prevented economic recovery”.

    “America’s jobs and growth are at stake.”

    he says he is determined “to spare the American people the protectionist legislation that destroys prosperity” and criticizes opponents in Congress who “want to go for the quick political advantage” and “forget” the millions of jobs involved in trade.

    Unit

    You’re Not Alone: BACKGROUND NOTES and RECOVERY STORIES Oct. 15, 2025