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Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Ross McKenzie’s psychiatrist told him he would live with the disorder for the rest of his life and that he would have to take lithium to control symptoms. To Ross, taking the drug daily felt like a chemical lobotomy, leaving him in a foggy, drug-induced haze. Ross ultimately decided to resolve his symptoms outside of conventional medicine. He progressively reduced his use of the psychotropic drug lithium, at an experimental clinic in Costa Rica. What ensued was a self-exploration into alternative treatments to treat his condition and a journey delving into the root cause of his mental breakdown.
BIPOLARIZED – RETHINKING MENTAL ILLNESS uses Ross’s personal experiences to tell a larger story about medication. It will reveal how we are labelling more and more people with mental illnesses and how, in tandem, we are prescribing more and more toxic psychotropic drugs to treat these illnesses.
The film weaves together a series of interviews with activists, psychiatrists and other psychiatric survivors who have challenged the status quo as well as recount some of the alternative therapies Ross uses to maintain his mental, emotional and physical health.
His journey is raw, gripping, and heartfelt. Ross is now healthy, and free from the toxic side effects of psychotropic drugs. But most importantly, he has discovered a way to reclaim his life, and that revelation is the driving force that has led him to share his compelling story.
During our conversation, Ross talked about:
– Some of his background
– Some of his journey of twenty years battling and overcoming biopolar disorder including his family’s support
– Some parts of the film
– Why did he hold his emotions inside of him for a long period of time
– His experience going to a shaman and a special moment about his father during this experience
– The moment he decided to quit seeing a psychiatrist and quit using medication cold turkey
– Some of his concerns about the North American medical system
– The story behind the making of the documentary
– His message for men who don’t want to deal with health challenges
– What has this experience taught him
You can catch BIPOLARIZED – RETHINKING MENTAL ILLNESS 8 p.m. Eastern this Saturday (November 1, 2014) on the Global Television Network in Canada.
You can find out more information about BIPOLARIZED – RETHINKING MENTAL ILLNESS via:
Please feel free to email us at info@blackcanadianman.com
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God bless, peace, be well and keep the faith,
Dr. Vibe
info@blackcanadianman.com
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