In the past I have offered people the opportunity to send in stories about their horrific withdrawals from Seroxat. I decided, upon reading their stories that they should appear on my blog 'as is', so to speak.
Tonight the author of the popular blog, Involuntary Transformation, tells her story. It's one that is all too familiar, it's also yet another fine example of dogged determination and sheer tenacity. 'Becks' is added to my sisterhood list. Here's her story.
I am the mother of two wonderful adult sons. My youngest son has needed intensive mental health services since he was in preschool. At this time in our lives, my children were in the State of Washington's foster care system due to my own mental health issues...it is what it is. Isaac was placed in a home where he was severely traumatized and that was when his need for mental health services started.
It has been a long road for our family, and I am so very lucky to have my sons, and feel that being their Mom is the best thing that has happened to me.
I started writing my blog, Involuntary Transformation on September 4, 2010. That was the day that "it" hit me like a ton of bricks. "It" was the fact that crimes committed in which my son was the victimized; were never going to be investigated by the State of Washington. In spite of the struggles over the years in attempting to get appropriate and recommended treatment for Isaac; I had held onto the hope and the belief that justice would not be denied my precious son. I do not know that I no longer believe it possible so much as I have come to know that whether justice is served or not; what is important is that we, have as a family have come through some very painful experiences intact. It is this, above all else, that gives my life meaning and value.
Isaac's need for the psycho-social and cognitive-behavioral therapy recommended for his complex PTSD was ignored; and worse, were substituted with Family Preservation Services. This is a program that is meant to prevent out of home placement---it is not anything like what was recommended, but it was what was provided along with "med management" for years. I can not tell you what it is like to have a child need treatment which is denied to be given drugs which did not help. Drugs that did not "treat" the symptoms of the complex PTSD; drugs which caused further trauma . The PTSD which was caused by being beat up and locked in a closet by a foster parent when he was three.
Ultimately, my son spent much of his childhood being further traumatized by the Child Welfare and the public Mental Health service system which medicates symptoms of distress and symptoms of trauma, whether it helps or not; and then blames victims who do not get better. The failure to get better is the result of lack of proper therapeutic treatment!.
For the first (and hopefully only) time in my life, in the summer of 2010 I did not believe in and could not feel the presence of my creator within myself. I could not believe that forgery, perjury and psychiatric assault were committed and again my son was harmed; and none of these crimes were going to be investigated. My now adult son, who can not effectively defend, protect or advocate for himself, due to the cognitive damage done by the drugs; was victimized by employees of a local Mental Health agency when he sought help; and there was not going to be anything done about it. No investigation, no charges filed for felony crimes committed, NO JUSTICE served.
Until last summer, I had not told our story in a public forum because Isaac did not want me too. After the events at the end of July and the beginning of August, he said it was now alright to share his story. My thinking was that I can make no one do a damn thing, and believe me I've tried! But, I can tell the world what was done to my son; what continues to be done to children, adults and families who seek and receive mental health care. It is not right, and it is not therapeutic, and practiced like it was in the "treatment" of my son, psychiatry is not "medicine."
I am a mother. I am a warrior if need be, for my children. My son spent more that half his childhood in psychiatric inpatient facilities---and was ultimately used in Drug Trials, without consent. The Medical Director of Child Study and Treatment Center gave my son virtually every neuroleptic drug made; and told me I had no say in what he was doing! Federal, State and International Law e.g. the Nuremberg Code say otherwise. Nevertheless, Jon McClellan acted as if he had special authority, and this "research psychiatrist" did not conform with the law or the Ethics Guidelines for Informed Consent of the medical profession when drugging my child. I know now, none of the drugs were approved for pediatric use, and many were not approved for the purpose prescribed. I also am so very aware that I am fortunate many times over that my son survived Jon McClellan’s “treatment” at all.
If my life, and what was done to my son and my family means anything at all, it's meaning for me must be derived from sharing what I have learned and working to keep it from happening to anyone else. I must share what I've learned to hopefully spare another family the same experiences. None of us will ever 'be the same' and life can be bittersweet. I am grateful to know the truth.
Becky
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...choose for yourself this day whom you will serve. - Joshua 24:15
Read Becky's blog, Involuntary Transformation HERE
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