CONSULTATION WITH DR. EDMUNDS

Dr. Edmunds is continuing to see new clients for consultation. He is working mainly with those who have received the diagnosis of autism or schizophrenia using a relationship based approach. You may contact Dr. Edmunds at
voice4kids@msn.com

Marriage Counseling Addiction Counseling and Therapy

CCHR

It is common that those who are challenging the bio-psychiatric paradigm and raise concern about the psychiatric drugging of children are often considered to be linked with the Church of Scientology.
First, this was common in previous eras where anyone with divergent views was labeled a Communist- the age of McCarthyism.
Second, in my viewpoint, all religious groups have rights to tolerance whether we agree with them or not. Scientologists just happen to be opposed to bio-psychiatry. Therefore, we should ask why other religious groups have not also considered the harm done by bio-psychiatry.
To me, it would make no difference whether I was alligning with Hasidic Jews, Muslims, Christians, or Scientologists, if the cause for which they are struggling for is ethical and just.
Thus, I am pleased to join forces with the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights International in its pledge to create a more humane mental health system. This is something we should all strive for regardless of our religious upbrining or affiliation.

-Dr. Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.

'PSYCHOSIS' AND HEALING THROUGH RELATIONSHIP

What is defined as schizophrenia and psychosis is typically a state of chronic fear and terror. These individuals have been shattered by trauma. Within them, mental images of past events continue to haunt them. The inner voice (or conscience) which we all possess becomes amplified to a level where visual and auditory hallucinations become present. Grandiose thoughts arise as an attempt to either stave off depression or to escape from the painful reality of a distressing situation and disordered world. Anti-psychotics have been used to diminish the hallucinations and other distressing behaviors, but they have never addressed the reactions of the person and the underlying trauma and factors that has led them to seek a departure from defined reality. Therefore, in collaborating with these individuals, we must meet them in their sense of reality. We must join in respectfully and in a dignified manner, slowly and gently addressing the various disturbances in thought process. We must uncover the hidden traumas and seek to 'be with' the person as they develop new coping mechanisms. It is entirely possible for individuals even in the states of severe mental anguish and distress to recover. And it is indeed possible for this to be accomplished without the addition of toxic drugs. The key is relationship. That is what these individuals are lacking and need. They need to know that there may be exist, if even but one, stable and loving relationship in a world so often filled with pain.

-Dr. Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.

CHILDREN: OUR TREASURE

In today's society we have become so preoccupied with mundane things that we have lost sight of our treasure- our children. In every aspect of society, children are receiving less than what they deserve. Quality time and affection are lacking in families. It is few moments that we take to seek to understand their emotional world and to truly expand our relationship. The education system has failed our children by training them to become good test takers but now endowing them with real skills to succeed and not providing them opportunities to explore their own strengths and inner qualities. It is no wonder that psychiatric diagnoses such as ADHD abound in American society. However, the attention deficit is often not with our children but is rather with the society itself. We have failed to give our children the needed attention. As a result, they react in various ways, sometimes hostily, in order to alert us to our distress. Instead of hearing their distressed voices, we instead resort to drugging them or ordering them into submission to a disordered world.

-Dr. Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.

IS THERE EVER A TIME PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS ARE APPROPRIATE?

As I have reviewed in a number of articles and can be seen in the literature, stimulant medications for children have not shown improvements in academic performance or pro-social skills in the long term and there exists adverse effects. Of more serious concern is the possibility of some children developing psychosis. Anti-depressants in children have been linked with suicidal ideation in some children. Anti-psychotics can lead to tardive dyskinesia.
Therefore, it is my view that with children it is very risky and dangerous business to subject them to psychiatric drugging. In addition, children have little if no voice in the matter as to how it makes them feel or if they agree to taking these drugs. Therefore, psychiatric drugging of children needs to be curbed.
In situations where an actual physical abnormality can be demonstrated and where the person is exhibiting self-harm or harm to others, the use of a psychiatric drug could be considered but not as a long term solution. An example would be in a situation where a person has traumatic brain injury and is self-harming. With adults, they are able to be given informed consent. Therefore, an adult who chooses to use a psychiatric drug being made fully aware of possible adverse effects, this is entirely their perogative. The issue is informed consent with adults.

MISINTERPRETING BRAIN DAMAGE AS PROGRESS

I recall a child who came to me for an evaluation for wraparound services. This was my first encounter with the child. He entered the room staggering and swaying, barely unable to keep his eyes open. He almost fell out of his seat and his speech was slurred. When I commented to the parent that the child looked highly sedated, the parent responded, 'well, at least he's not aggressive." This led me to conclude that this parent was actually looking at this child's miserable state as progress.
All psychotropic drug effects occur by disabling the brain. Because a child becomes more subdued does not mean that there has been any real progress. The child has not learned any new skills. They have not learned self-control, they have merely been chemically strait jacketed. People are not understanding the damaging effects of psychiatric drugs on the brains and development of children. They are looking at children as being more subdued in their behaviors but failing to understand how these effects come about. Children may miss a dose of a psychotropic drug and their behavior becomes dramatically worse. Then it is said that, "oh, they missed their medication, they need their medication." But think of it this way, there is little if no difference between many prescribed drugs and illicit drugs. A drug addict who does not have his fix becomes quite crazed. This does not mean the addict actually needs more of the drug, though it may appear this way and he may feel he needs more of it. So it is with children on psychotropic drugs. When they miss their dose, their behavior can become erratic. But this does not mean they need the drug or need more drugs. It means that they are having a rebound effect.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.