Healing Schizophrenia

Early in her life, Sandra started to exhibit the symptons of paranoid schizophrenia which came as a surprise to her unsuspecting family. Her book chronicles her struggles, hospitalisations, encounters with professionals, return to school, eventual marriage and success as an artist, writer, and advocate.

A bold, expert, and actionable map for the re-invention of America’s broken mental health care system. “Healing is truly one of the best books ever written about mental illness, and I think I’ve read them all." —Pete Earley, author of Crazy As director of the National Institute of Mental Health, Dr. Thomas Insel was giving a presentation when the father of a boy with schizophrenia yelled from the back of the room, “Our house is on fire and you’re telling me about the chemistry of the paint! What are you doing to put out the fire?” Dr. Insel knew in his heart that the answer was not nearly enough. The gargantuan American mental health industry was not healing millions who were desperately in need. He left his position atop the mental health research world to investigate all that was broken—and what a better path to mental health might look like. In the United States, we have treatments that work, but our system fails at every stage to deliver care well. Even before COVID, mental illness was claiming a life every eleven minutes by suicide. Quality of care varies widely, and much of the field lacks accountability. We focus on drug therapies for symptom reduction rather than on plans for long-term recovery. Care is often unaffordable and unavailable, particularly for those who need it most and are homeless or incarcerated. Where was the justice for the millions of Americans suffering from mental illness? Who was helping their families? But Dr. Insel also found that we do have approaches that work, both in the U.S. and globally. Mental illnesses are medical problems, but he discovers that the cures for the crisis are not just medical, but social. This path to healing, built upon what he calls the three Ps (people, place, and purpose), is more straightforward than we might imagine. Dr. Insel offers a comprehensive plan for our failing system and for families trying to discern the way forward. The fruit of a lifetime of expertise and a global quest for answers, Healing is a hopeful, actionable account and achievable vision for us all in this time of mental health crisis.

[Use same head text for all four titles] HEALING SCHIZOPHRENIA Dr Abram Hoffer pioneered the use of Vitamin B-3 (niacin) as a treatment for various schizophrenias starting in 1952 and has proven over a long series of experiments and case studies that this treatment can double the natural or spontaneous recovery rate. Despite these conclusive findings, the American Psychiatric Association and international drug companies have shown no enthusiasm for such vitamin treatments, promoting instead the use of high-priced tranquilizers and antidepressants which can be patented (unlike vitamins) and sold at high cost. This is the story of Dr Hoffer's quest to provide natural, effective treatment for schizophrenics; this is also the story of schizophrenic patients who have been healed by vitamin treatment.

A compendium of alternative nutrient treatments used to address schizophrenic symptoms in a number of documented cases offering an interesting albeit controversial approach to mental health. The volume overviews the history of schizophrenia and toxic treatments, introducing various nutritional methods with "testimonies" from patients, herbalists, and doctors. It includes extensive reference to relevant studies. Also covered are "biotypes," metal overload, physical illnesses that may mimic schizophrenia, depression, neurotransmitters, toxicity, and a response to criticism. The presentation is balanced by a good dose of disclaimers emphasizing that the book is not a treatment guide but rather an educational resource. The appendices supply guidance on testing, epidemiology, and resources. Lacks an index. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR