How interesting! A few things come to mind:

1. Re: Passivity and drugs. That was certainly my experience of them. It wasn't that I was no longer hearing voices, it was that I just didn't care about the voices, or indeed anything else. I often worry that this passivity has remained with me somewhat -- even after three years off the drugs -- as I am extremely docile and lazy now. I used to be highly ambitious and have all sorts of goals and dreams.

2. Re: Doctors' attitude to hearing voices. It's interesting to hear somebody else confirm this. I remember a conversation once where I protested against having my medication put up by telling the doctor that the only things my voices had asked me to do for the past month was eat two Mars Bars and two carrots every day at half past four. They would badger me if I didn't. It was annoying, yes. Bad for the blood sugar, yes (though it's not as if the drugs aren't equally diabetes-inducing ). But an illness? Hardly.

3. I had the pleasure of meeting Rachael Waddingham on several occasions and I don't have anything to say about her except that she is AMAZING woman and I strongly recommend people to read her blog.