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Testimonials
A Multitude of Recoveries Through
Alternative Mental Health Treatments
Recovery from Depression
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I will be receiving my medical degree in May. I started my medical journey after
graduating from a prestigious university in 2001 with a dual degree in
chemistry and environmental engineering. I received a full scholarship to
medical school, but, unfortunately, personal events and warfare caused me to leave school, although I was in good standing. At the
time, a psychiatrist diagnosed me with major depression and an eating disorder,
and put me on several anti-depressants, that did nothing for me but give me dry
mouth, mummify my emotions and basically lock my true essence in a chemical
straightjacket. I felt awful and hopeless.
Feeling like I did, I took myself off all medication and began a valiant
effort to cure my depression on my own. It was extremely difficult to get
started, but once I was able to get myself moving again, I kept copious notes
on what worked toward my healing process and what worked against it. I was
surprised to discover that it was, essentially, things like eating balanced,
healthy meals, exercising regularly, humor therapy, dance therapy, yoga,
positive affirmation therapy, NIA, being engaged in hobbies, sublimation,
meditation and sound sleep that helped me. I learned to tweak those various
areas of my life to create an optimal state of mental health for myself, and
though the process was painful and I had relapses here and there, my powerful,
personal experience has convinced me that nature heals better than the pills.
When I felt strong and stable again, basically better than ever, I reapplied to medical school so I could receive my degree, which I will be
receiving this May.
My old dream was to pursue a career as a conventional psychiatrist but
after my own personal experience and what I witnessed during my clinical
training, including 2 elective rotations at a famous forensic unit, I grew
disillusioned and almost shocked with how mental patients were treated. Istrongly feel the medicine only masks the symptoms without addressing the root
cause; stifles creativity and basically puts people to sleep. That is not a
cure, and I couldn’t, ethically, join a field that is fast to medicate people
without promoting an ounce of natural or alternative treatments and a field
which often keeps these patients hooked on these drugs for life. I took an
oath to “First do no Harm,” and I strongly believe psychiatric medication does
more harm than good and holds hostage a person’s individuality. I also feel
it’s mostly prescribed due to a profit- driven medical industry, and my belief
is only reaffirmed by anti-depressants and anxiety drugs bringing in the most
money than any other medication group in 2010. Also, the long-term side
effects of these medications are far from known, and just recently anti-depressants have been linked to strokes and glaucoma after long-term use.
Unfortunately, these drugs are put on the market to obtain a profit without
having enough time or knowledge to predict long-term side effects, which means
current patients serve as guinea pigs too. Not to mention the short-term side
effects, which are equally as horrid. All that said, I couldn’t, in sound mind
and heart, complete a residency in such and decided that it was my calling and
passion to pursue more natural, safer and alternative treatments for those
diagnosed with a mental illness or mental ailment. I’ve realized I’ve chosen
a less popular, less lucrative route, but I’m content knowing it’s in sync with
my personal morality and ethical beliefs. I will be receiving my medical degree in May. I started my medical
journey after graduating from a prestigious university in 2001 with a dual degree in
chemistry and environmental engineering. I received a full scholarship to
medical school, but, unfortunately, personal events and warfare caused me to leave school, although I was in good standing. At the
time, a psychiatrist diagnosed me with major depression and an eating disorder,
and put me on several anti-depressants, that did nothing for me but give me dry
mouth, mummify my emotions and basically lock my true essence in a chemical
straightjacket. I felt awful and hopeless.
Feeling like I did, I took myself off all medication and began a valiant
effort to cure my depression on my own. It was extremely difficult to get
started, but once I was able to get myself moving again, I kept copious notes
on what worked toward my healing process and what worked against it. I was
surprised to discover that it was, essentially, things like eating balanced,
healthy meals, exercising regularly, humor therapy, dance therapy, yoga,
positive affirmation therapy, NIA, being engaged in hobbies, sublimation,
meditation and sound sleep that helped me. I learned to tweak those various
areas of my life to create an optimal state of mental health for myself, and
though the process was painful and I had relapses here and there, my powerful,
personal experience has convinced me that nature heals better than the pills.
When I felt strong and stable again, basically better than ever, I reapplied to medical school so I could receive my degree, which I will be
receiving this May.
My old dream was to pursue a career as a conventional psychiatrist but
after my own personal experience and what I witnessed during my clinical
training, including 2 elective rotations at a famous forensic unit, I grew
disillusioned and almost shocked with how mental patients were treated. I
strongly feel the medicine only masks the symptoms without addressing the root
cause; stifles creativity and basically puts people to sleep. That is not a
cure, and I couldn’t, ethically, join a field that is fast to medicate people
without promoting an ounce of natural or alternative treatments and a field
which often keeps these patients hooked on these drugs for life. I took an
oath to “First do no Harm,” and I strongly believe psychiatric medication does
more harm than good and holds hostage a person’s individuality. I also feel
it’s mostly prescribed due to a profit- driven medical industry, and my belief
is only reaffirmed by anti-depressants and anxiety drugs bringing in the most
money than any other medication group in 2010. Also, the long-term side
effects of these medications are far from known, and just recently anti-depressants have been linked to strokes and glaucoma after long-term use.
Unfortunately, these drugs are put on the market to obtain a profit without
having enough time or knowledge to predict long-term side effects, which means
current patients serve as guinea pigs too. Not to mention the short-term side
effects, which are equally as horrid. All that said, I couldn’t, in sound mind
and heart, complete a residency in such and decided that it was my calling and
passion to pursue more natural, safer and alternative treatments for those
diagnosed with a mental illness or mental ailment. I’ve realized I’ve chosen
a less popular, less lucrative route, but I’m content knowing it’s in sync with
my personal morality and ethical beliefs.
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