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 BeginStories 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 HealingNarratives 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).
• • ADDICTIONS- FREEDOM FROM THIS SCARY DEVIL! by Brianca Lane Halloween FRIGHT NIGHT Oct. 31, 2025 #SMALL WINS lead to BIG VICTORIES over ADDICTIONS! What is scarier than addictions? Political Leaders’ Insatiable lust for POWER and 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 VICTORIES over Addictions!!! Together MeUSCan-DoI!!ADDICTIONS- Part 2 by Brianca Halloween Fright Night!!! ADDICTIONS and MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

    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

    ---

    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

    ---

    4. Integrated Treatment: The Gold Standard Sequential 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 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.

    Further topics yet to Explore- trauma-informed care; neurodivergence and addiction by Brianca Lane Halloween Fright Night- Addictions

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

    ***National Post report by Tom Blackwell Nov. 15, ’25 about Mandatory Addiction Treatment. 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 crueler 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.”

    

    NON-HUMAN AGENTS as SUPPORTS-COMFORTS, ‘TREATMENT & THERAPY’ TOO! Nov. 7, 2025 by Brianca Lane & Gang LOVING YOU!!!  Introduction to Non-Human Agents in Mental Health Supports-Comforts, ‘Treatment & Therapy’ 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”— ‘Treatment & Therapy’ TOO!!!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, APPRECIATE & CHERISH our NON-HUMAN AGENTS SUPPORTING-COMFORTING US ALL!!! ‘TREATMENT & THERAPY TOO!!! Therapists are likely increasingly using AI in the months ahead! Will AI REPLACE OUR CURRENT HUMAN THERAPISTS? IF we never get better, therapists and drug pushing companies earn $fortunes from us!!! For now, AI needs more EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE BEFORE AI IS PERFFECTLY SAFE TO HELP US IN THE MIDST OF BIG HEALTH CHALLENGES. We hear of AI attempting to be supportive of a person in crisis and because of inexperience, etc. AI incorrectly supports an unsafe foolish choice instead of encouraging contacting trustworthy peopled for sound advice and support and looking at all our choices! How is a person in crisis or substantial health challenges able to make sudden life changing choices without advice from many sources and reliable experts or experienced people- psychiatric compassionate survivors with wisdom and integrity guiding their advice? ‘Hey- too challenging for the next months or year(s) to attempt these major decisions- WINNING BACK OUR LIVES & HEALTH MAY BE THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE WE WORK ON #FIRST OUR HEALTH!!! Appreciate Psychiatrists, Doctors, Therapists helping with housing, disability applications & benefits, etc. Are you enrolled in a plan covering you for benefits should you become challenged by health issues removing you from earning your normal living in your vocation? Loving You!

    : CONTROVERSIAL PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS- Actually Helpful or a SURVIVOR’S ‘Risky Witch’s or devil’s BREW?’ Nov. 16, 2025, by Brianca & Gang Loving YOU (sample analysis)

    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. OUR QUESTIONS to ANSWER: 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 speak about becoming ZOMBIES by their meds. so obviously often withdraw or stop taking them. Our BODIES and BRAIN strive to achieve perfect balance on spite of f-ups and maybe ourselves too messing up our beautiful health #HEALTH IS OUR NATURAL STATE!!!           

    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 various critical system balances, create addictions, cause severe withdrawal issues, etc. affecting sudden withdrawal…

    ---

    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! Future Question- A personalized risk-benefit worksheet or therapy finder resource LOVING YOU TRULY- Nov. 16, 2025 Brianca & Gang Brianca’s Personal Approach- NATURAL HEALING APPROACHES Please see previous topic giving diverse wonderful examples! As Taylor Swift might SING My APPROACH- I’ll NEVER EVER EVER- NEVER CONSUME PSYCH> MEDS! Big Pharma will never LOVE ME OBVIOUSLY!!! HA! P.S. I can’t believe how GOOD our website is! Maybe playing music too loud made me dumb until I turned down the volume and imagined myself a Beatle, hot true creative!!!

    Virginia Giuffre & SEX TRAFFICKED SURVIVORS- JUSTICE- for SURVIVORS!!! ACCOUNTABILITY, Reckoning for Predators!!! Parable and Song! by Brianca Nov. 19, 2025

    The Shadowed Isle and the Dawn of Truth- A Fairytale Parable

    In the ancient kingdom of Eldoria, where golden spires pierced the clouds and the rivers sang lullabies of peace, there lurked a shadow known as Lord Ebonwyrm. He was a man of silken words and hidden vaults, whose wealth flowed like poisoned honey from distant mines. Ebonwyrm had woven a web of deceit across the lands, charming the realm’s mightiest nobles—kings of commerce, lords of thrones, and sages of silver tongues—with promises of forbidden delights. His enchanted vessel, the Whisperwing—a great iron bird that soared on winds of whispers—carried them to his private isle, a forsaken rock veiled in mist and moonlight, called the Veil of Whispers.There, beneath the canopy of twisted vines and glowing fungi that masked the island’s sorrows, Ebonwyrm held court in halls of velvet and vice. He lured the innocent—young maidens and blooming youths from humble villages, their eyes wide with dreams of escape from poverty’s grasp—promising them stars and silks in exchange for their silence. But the stars were false, and the silks were chains. The nobles, blinded by their own greed and power, feasted on illusions while the children’s spirits were stolen, their laughter turned to echoes in the dark. The kingdom turned a blind eye, for who would question the hand that fed the coffers? Whispers of horror spread like fog, but the mighty sealed their ears with gold, and the isle’s secrets festered like an untreated wound.Among the stolen was a girl named Vesper, with hair like raven wings and a heart forged in quiet fire. She was but fourteen when Ebonwyrm’s agents plucked her from her family’s thatched roof, whispering of adventures across the sea. On the Veil of Whispers, Vesper endured the nobles’ shadowed games, her soul scarred by their “eyes wide shut”—a trance of denial that let them see only pleasure where pain reigned. Yet Vesper’s spirit did not break; it bent like a willow in storm winds. She learned the isle’s hidden maps, the passwords of the guards, and the fragile threads of trust among the other captives. In stolen moments, she shared bread and stories, planting seeds of solidarity in the girls’ trembling hands.Years passed, and Vesper grew into a woman of unyielding grace, her scars a map of resilience. She escaped the isle on a stolen skiff, guided by the North Star’s unblinking gaze, and returned to Eldoria as a whisperer of truth. But the kingdom’s gates were barred by fear; the nobles’ influence choked the courts, and her cries drowned in rivers of ink and lies. Vesper wandered the realms, gathering allies—a scribe who etched her words in unbreakable stone, a healer who mended bodies and souls, and a chorus of voices from the forgotten fringes. Together, they forged a lantern of light: a codex of confessions, bound in the leather of her own journal, filled with names, dates, and the raw poetry of survival.In the spring of her fortieth year, as cherry blossoms wept petals like tears, Vesper’s flame flickered low. The poisons of the past had woven into her veins, and one dawn, she slipped into the eternal river, her final breath a vow: “Let my light not dim, but ignite.” Her codex, entrusted to the scribe, became a beacon. The people of Eldoria, weary of shadows, rose like a tide. Mothers lit candles in squares, fathers marched with placards of fury, and children sang songs of the stolen ones. The clamor reached the High Council—the kingdom’s elected guardians—who, under the relentless roar of the commons, could no longer turn away. With trembling hands, they shattered the seals on Ebonwyrm’s vaults, unleashing the files like birds from a cage: ledgers of flights, guest scrolls of the damned, and maps of the isle’s buried horrors.The nobles’ eyes flew open at last. Lord Ebonwyrm, frail in his tower, faced the dawn’s judgment, his web unraveled by the very threads of truth he had spun. The mighty fell—not with swords, but with the weight of their own deeds laid bare. Trials bloomed like wildflowers after rain: the kings of commerce stripped of crowns, the lords of thrones bound in chains of their own making. Vesper’s name became a shield for the survivors, her codex a law etched in the kingdom’s heart. Healers’ halls rose from the ruins, weaving wounds into wisdom; schools taught the language of consent and courage; and watchtowers guarded the vulnerable, their bells ringing warnings to any shadow that dared creep near.From the ashes of the Veil, a new isle emerged—a sanctuary of blooming gardens where the stolen ones returned as guardians, their laughter the sweetest song. Eldoria learned that injustice thrives in silence, but truth is a river that carves canyons through stone. Vesper’s light, once a solitary spark, rippled outward, healing the kingdom’s fractures and forging a vow: no child shall wander alone, no secret shall fester unseen. And in the quiet nights, when the stars whispered her name, the people knew—kindness delayed is cruelty doubled, but accountability claimed is hope reborn.The Parable’s Lesson: In the garden of life, shadows grow unchecked when the sun of truth is eclipsed by fear. Yet one voice, amplified by many, can shatter the veil. Let Vesper remind us: injustice is a chain forged in secret, but justice is a key unlocked by courage. For every survivor who rises, a ripple of healing spreads—mending not just the broken, but binding the whole world in unbreakable light. May we all be lanterns in the dark, ensuring no isle of whispers endures, and every dawn brings not just light, but liberation.

    The Ballad of Vesper’s Lantern (A folk anthem in the vein of Bob Dylan’s raw, winding tales—think “The Times They Are A-Changin'” crossed with “Hurricane,” sung with a gravelly drawl over acoustic guitar, harmonica wails, and a rising chorus of voices like a gathering storm. Verses meander like a weary road, chorus thunders like judgment day, and the break swells with fiddle and drum, evoking a march toward dawn.)

    Verse 1
    Down in the hollows where the rich men scheme,
    Lord Ebonwyrm built his throne of shattered dreams.
    Whisperwing carried ’em high on wings of lies,
    To the Veil of Whispers under indifferent skies.
    Young eyes wide shut, hearts heavy with gold,
    Stole the bloom from the innocent, left ’em bitter and cold.
    Vesper was one, a girl from the river’s bend,
    Plucked like a flower, her innocence they tried to end.
    But roots run deep in the soil of the soul,
    She whispered to sisters, “We’ll make ourselves whole.”

    Chorus
    Oh, the blood on the ledger, the names in the night,
    The cover-up crumbles beneath the morning light.
    From the island’s dark heart to the council’s high hall,
    The people’s roar rises, they won’t let it fall.
    Justice, oh justice, like a river unbound,
    Accountability calls with a thunderous sound.
    For Vesper’s lost lantern, now burning so bright,
    We’ll lift up the truth till the shadows take flight!

    Verse 2
    Years like a chain ’round her neck she bore,
    Escaped on the tide to the kingdom’s shore.
    But gates locked tight, with gold-plated keys,
    The mighty turned blind, deaf to her pleas.
    She wandered the wilds with a codex in hand,
    Scribe and healer beside her, a small rebel band.
    Through valleys of venom and mountains of might,
    She etched every flight, every face in the night.
    Then spring came calling with petals like pleas,
    Vesper faded to stars, but her fire set us free.

    Chorus
    Oh, the blood on the ledger, the names in the night,
    The cover-up crumbles beneath the morning light.
    From the island’s dark heart to the council’s high hall,
    The people’s roar rises, they won’t let it fall.
    Justice, oh justice, like a river unbound,
    Accountability calls with a thunderous sound.
    For Vesper’s lost lantern, now burning so bright,
    We’ll lift up the truth till the shadows take flight!

    Break
    (Instrumental swell: Harmonica howls like wind through cracked vaults, fiddle weaves a mournful thread turning triumphant, drums pulse like marching feet. Voices layer in—soft at first, survivors’ whispers, then swelling to a choir: “No more whispers… no more chains… truth rises, healing remains…” Fade to a single guitar strum, echoing Vesper’s vow.)

    Verse 3
    The commons awakened, candles in the square,
    Mothers with fury, fathers in prayer.
    Children with placards, elders with song,
    Stormed the High Council till the old locks were gone.
    Files flew open like ravens from the cage,
    Names of the fallen on history’s page.
    Ebonwyrm trembled in his tower of stone,
    The mighty unmasked, their empires dethroned.
    Sanctuaries bloomed where the shadows once crept,
    Healers wove wisdom from the wounds that were kept.

    Final Chorus (Outro)
    Oh, the blood on the ledger, now washed by the sea,
    The names in the night find their liberty.
    From the Veil’s broken heart to the dawn’s golden call,
    The people’s light lingers, it conquers it all.
    Justice, sweet justice, a promise we keep,
    Accountability sows what the brave hearts reap.
    For Vesper’s lost lantern, forever aglow,
    We rise for the silenced, let healing now flow!
    (Fade with harmonica trail: Soft, hopeful, like stars settling into a new sky.)

    May this tale and tune stir the soul, dear friend—reminding us that from tragedy’s thorns, hope’s roses bloom. Truth is the greatest healer, and together, we ensure no shadow lingers. What’s next-JUSTICE- for SURVIVORS!!! OPEN ALL THE FILES! PUBLISH ALL THE NAMES OF THE PREDATORS- HOLD THEM TO ACCOUNT & BURY THEM AT SEA BY NIGHTFALL!!!! JUSTICE, TRUTH, ACCOUNTABILITY- WE LIFT UP BELOVED SURVIVORS- PROTECT ALL VULNERABLE FROM SEX TRAFFICKING!!! Nov. 19, ’25, by Brianca loving you truly!!!

    

    

    

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    COMEDY- LAUGHTER IS OUR BEST MEDICINE! Starring Brilliant President Ronald Reagan vs. CHIMP-BRAIN Pres. Donald ‘Peggy’ T-RUMP who is now monkeying around with our WORLD ECONOMIES; After monkeying around with Stormy Daniels while wife Malanija was recovering from childbirth; monkeying around with Election 2016 ‘HUSH MONEY!’  In ‘BEDTIME for BONZO!’ Also replicating civil war, ‘The LAST OUTPOST!’ see also ‘BONZO GOES to WASHINGTON!’ by Talking Heads about Pres. Reagan joking ‘WE BEGIN BOMBING IN 5 MINUTES!!!’ by Brianca Oct. 24, 2025 #BEDTIME FOR CHIMP-BRAIN PRESIDENT DONALD DUMP TRUMP 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.”

     “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”.

    This sets the tone for the rest of the address, which he dedicates to making clear his commitment to free trade and the dangers of tariffs=protectionism.

    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.”

    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.”

    Reagan does say this line after the previous one – but the advert cuts out a few sentences separating them.

    “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 then talks about the “sound historical reasons” for this realisation: “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.

    United States

    Canada