Welcome to the January 2010 issue of the Psychology Debunked newsletter!
Over the course of my years in the mental health field, I performed psychotherapy for many couples (see the book for details of my experience as a Marriage Family Therapist intern in California). It was clear that my clients needed solid answers.
Fortunately, the Bible has the answers we need to develop a fulfilling and blessed marriage. Over the course of 2009, we presented our "Ten Commandments of a Blessed Marriage," unveiling a new commandment each month. Since effectively handling and resolving conflict is key to a successful marriage, many of the commandments revolved around this topic. Others were more positive in nature, focusing on what to do rather than what not to do. We hope our illustrations and applications of these gems in God's Word ministered to you in your own marital relationship. You can view and print the full list of "commandments" here.
As you embark on a new year, may the following verse remind you to always mix mercy with truth in your dealings with your fellow man, so you can "find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man."
Pro 3:3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
Pro 3:4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
In Christ,
Lisa and Ryan Bazler
Drug booklet banned that claims chemical imbalances cause depression
The Icelandic Medicines Control Agency (MCA)--the equivalent of America's FDA--has ordered Glaxo-SmithKline, maker of the antidepressant Paxil, to stop publishing and distributing a booklet claiming chemical imbalances cause depression and SSRI antidepressants correct that imbalance. Their order comes in response to a doctor's complaint that medical literature does not support these claims, and in fact studies show antidepressants are no better than placebo in most cases. GSK pulled the booklet for Paxil, along with booklets for other drugs, because they knew this doctor was right.Here is how one doctor beat the drug companies with the facts.
JAMA study: antidepressants worthless for most consumers
Finally, the truth is getting out in major media outlets that antidepressants are no better than a sugar pill for the majority of the tens of millions of consumers taking these drugs.Read about the study here.
Devoted husband withdrawing from SSRIs strangles wife in sleep
Before you take that antidepressant, visit this site...
Before you take that antidepressant, visit this site for documented news stories over the last few decades of seemingly normal people harming themselves and others while on antidepressants.
"The 12-year-old web site lists 3,500 crime related news reports linked to the use of SSRI antidepressants with celebrities like Wynona Ryder, Heath Ledger, Brittany Murphy, Anna Nicole Smith, Heather Locklear, Glen Campbell, Carrie Fisher, Sharon Osbourne, Phil Hartman, Princess Di's driver, Patrick Swayze's Sister, O.J. Simpson and the Crown Prince of Nepal generously sprinkled in."
Last year, the FDA ordered a label update for all anti-epileptic drugs (aka "mood stabilizers") warning patients of an increased risk in suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Test data showed a 2X risk over placebo.
The latest warnings from the FDA focus on Depakote, another anti-epileptic / anti-convulsant mood stabilizer, warning of birth defects in women planning to have, or expecting, children. details »
Was swine flu a fake pandemic?
European leaders are calling for an investigation into drug company influence on world governments to stockpile swine flu vaccines, based on contrived pandemic data used to promote their vaccines and boost sales. the real story »
High-sugar diet related to higher rates of depression, schizophrenia
"Noted British psychiatric researcher Malcolm Peet conducted a provocative cross-cultural analysis of the relationship between diet and mental illness. His primary finding was a strong link between high sugar consumption and the risk of both depression and schizophrenia."more »
Psychiatrist promotes non-drug approaches to good mental health
Psychiatrist Hyla Cass discusses the harmful, profit-driven disorder label and drug industry and recommends non-drug approaches in this brief video.
The Bible and Psychology: What Does God Say About Solving Man's Problems?
This reader's ignorant doctor prescribed antidepressants after her mother-in-law's death. She asks how to get off of them and start trusting God again. See our response here.
Letters
This police officer sent us a note of thanks for being the lone voice against psychology and psychiatry in the Christian community. While we're sure we are not the only ones speaking out, we pray more in the Christian community would stand up to the label-and-drug approach to life that has duped the church--from the leadership to the layperson--into thinking we are driven by chemicals instead of by soul and spirit. Read his letter here.
"This research opened my eyes to the fact that, since1999, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has distributed a booklet in Iceland in drug stores and primary, secondary and tertiary health care facilities containing wrong and misleading information about the causes and treatment of depression. What is most striking about the booklet are the following claims:
1. An imbalance in the neurotransmitter serotonin causes depression.
2. SSRIs treat depression by correcting the serotonin imbalance.
3. Psychological treatment is ineffective in treating the serotonin imbalance.
For ten years GSK in Iceland was allowed to give the readers of the booklet the impression that a chemical imbalance in the brain caused depression and that drugs are the only cure. I was recently able to stop this travesty."
--Dr. Steind J. Erlingsson
"The approved text of the [Eurpean leadership] resolution calling for a debate and inquiry states (among other things):
'In order to promote their patented drugs and vaccines against flu, pharmaceutical companies have influenced scientists and official agencies, responsible for public health standards, to alarm governments worldwide. They have made them squander tight health care resources for inefficient vaccine strategies and needlessly exposed millions of healthy people to the risk of unknown side-effects of insufficiently tested vaccines. The birds flu campaign (2005-06) combined with the swine flu campaign seem to have caused a great deal of damage not only to some vaccinated patients and to public health budgets, but also to the credibility and accountability of important international health agencies. The definition of an alarming pandemic must not be under the influence of drugsellers.'"
Do you have a question relating to secular or "Christian" psychology, mental disorders/diseases, psychiatric medications, or biblical counseling? Ask us.
Would you like us to speak about psychology at your church, a local event, or a media outlet? Contact us to book a date.
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The mission of this ministry is to inform mental sufferers and those from whom they seek help of the physical, mental and spiritual dangers of mental health disorders and treatments, and to encourage them to pursue a drug-free, psychology-free, Christ-centered life. Visitors to this web site taking psychotropic drugs who wish to discontinue use are strongly advised to consult a qualified physician for assistance and supervision before starting the discontinuation process. This ministry and web site provides information to help visitors make the most informed decisions about their mental health, and should not replace the advice of a medical doctor.
