Another amazing interview with Dr Mark Horowitz

[Katy398]

This is yet another wonderful interview with Dr Mark Horowitz conducted by Nicole Lamberson from the Medicating Normal team. 

Mark discusses his journey and his work and new projects. 

Apparently the NHS in the UK is beginning to open up withdrawal clinics a project that Joanna Moncrieff is coordinating with Mark Horowitz. 

 

 

[sunnysideup69]

Oh wow! Gotta watch this....had no idea this was happening.

[Katy398]

He really is my hero, I think we should Knight him!!! 

[dirtvoid]

I loved this! 

Although, One thing I've been thinking is that possibly Horowitz downplayed the effect of the intergenerational trauma of the Jewish Diaspora as "Typical Jewish Neuroticism" It's something I've been thinking about lately.

[Shep]

3 hours ago, dirtvoid said:

Although, One thing I've been thinking is that possibly Horowitz downplayed the effect of the intergenerational trauma of the Jewish Diaspora as "Typical Jewish Neuroticism" It's something I've been thinking about lately.

 

I agree, dirtvoid. I think within the context of a discussion on human suffering, this was tone deaf. I get that he was discussing his own issues and his own family, but if he's messaging as a professional who is guiding people off psychiatric drugs, an awareness of intergenerational trauma should be high on the radar. But this also plays into the narrative of medicating "normal," as if there are certain people who NEED to be mediated. There aren't, in my opinion. It's a way of separating the so-called "neurotic" from the so-called "psychotic," so I think that's also in the messaging that could use a deeper analysis. While I appreciate this film for the good it's doing, I'm also frustrated at the mixed messaging that continues to come out of these kinds of documentaries. We should be further along then this from a moral standpoint. 

 

Just my two cents. 

[dirtvoid]

10 hours ago, Shep said:

 

I agree, dirtvoid. I think within the context of a discussion on human suffering, this was tone deaf. I get that he was discussing his own issues and his own family, but if he's messaging as a professional who is guiding people off psychiatric drugs, an awareness of intergenerational trauma should be high on the radar. But this also plays into the narrative of medicating "normal," as if there are certain people who NEED to be mediated. There aren't, in my opinion. It's a way of separating the so-called "neurotic" from the so-called "psychotic," so I think that's also in the messaging that could use a deeper analysis. While I appreciate this film for the good it's doing, I'm also frustrated at the mixed messaging that continues to come out of these kinds of documentaries. We should be further along then this from a moral standpoint. 

 

Just my two cents. 

I actually think the neurotic Jew stereotype does a lot of harm in this regard. Also I really wish he didn't use a Woody Allen comparison out of everyone... I believe there is also a high rate of 'psychosis' in the Jewish population. But it's something that has helped me come to with my distress like oh yeah it makes sense I have ongoing sense of anxiety and panic and I am extremely sensitive to rejection, and because it provokes the exile, persecution and ethnic cleansing my family survived, 100 years ago and for thousands of years. 

Yeah I'm with you, I'm not super keen on the idea of 'medicating normal' - I feel it is also quite dismissive and runs risk of invalidating and undermining people's distress, it's one thing to say stress, anxiety, depression, grief, distress, overwhelm are part of everyday life and not a medical condition, but also I've had the experience of being told stuff like "everyone feels like that sometimes" or made to feel weak for not being able to cope with overwhelming emotions that are just a part of life. I think those feelings are why people attach themselves to the medical model because they feel like having a recognised 'Disorder' is a way of saying 'see my mental distress is REAL and VALID it's a medical condition.' I think the 'ADHD' community very much this struggle, where much of the distress is dismissed as 'normal' I personally think that 'medicating diversity' is more validating concept to the variety of people's experiences. I agree, it does run the risk of still separating people into people who NEED medication vs. people who don't. Mixed messaging is a real problem I've heard it all my life 'there's something wrong with you, you can't help it, there's nothing wrong with you can control it.' One problem I find with some of the critical psychiatry lot is that sometimes they can be pretty ableist when it comes to seeing mental distress as a legit disability, okay it's all very well to understand mental distress, unusual experiences and problem behaviour as a part of everyday life, or as a temporary occurrence or as an understandable response to adversity, but also distress can be disabling and enduring. I think the Power Threat Meaning Framework by Lucy Johnston and Mary Boyle is my favourite from that lot and makes the most realistic sense.

I must say I am excited about the possibility of withdrawal clinics on the NHS and I feel that gives me hope of potential future work I want to get into.

[Gridley]

On 11/23/2020 at 6:56 AM, dirtvoid said:

I actually think the neurotic Jew stereotype does a lot of harm in this regard.

Agreed, it was tone deaf, as Shep said.  Otherwise, though, I thought it was a very fine interview and it was gratifying to hear him mention SurvivingAntidepressants at the beginning.  

 

The U.K. seems quite a bit ahead the U.S.in recognizing withdrawal.  

[Altostrata]

Guys, have a heart. Dr. Horowitz works on his own time to inform other doctors about withdrawal and tapering.