hi. I was labeled with everything -but- severe mental illness, until a while ago. NPD, ODD, all kinds of stuff. when shrinks didn't want to hear what I Had to say, they put me down for "pathological liar" and "malingering." And now...

well, I'm labeled/diagnosed as "bipolar I." it is what it is. the psych drugs are minimal, I live comfortably, and I take tons of supplements (Orthomolecular). I do think that the supplements help reduce toxicity from psych drugs and improve overall health.

people have always gone crazy, long before psychiatry was around. some people got better, some ended up needing people to help them thru life, some turned tragic. has psychiatry improved life for the mad amongst us? I'm not sure. OK...I think not, honestly. And now...

personally, I think of myself more as a "psychiatric survivor" than a "Bipolar I" individual, but...good luck getting out of Mental Health, Inc. "Play the hand you're dealt." The "experts" call my progress and change "recovery," blah blah blah...truth is, I've been made miraculously healthy, normal, and even surprisingly intelligent. I guess they have to say something (?).

anyway...I'm glad you've moved forward in life, out of the psych world. I'm working on it, myself. tapering the psych drugs has been the easy part, for me, but...escaping the labels is proving -much- more difficult. i may have to get my act together and figure out a way to move, and never come back (Maybe...).

thanks for your post, btw. :-)