My Story
Mary Maddock, MindFreedom, Ireland

Psychiatrists convince people, that they need toxic drugs to stay well, and so many of the so called developed world are drug addicts.

I was one of these for 20 years and at the age of 40 had the physical health of an almost dead 80year old, while my mind and spirit were retarded. I was chemically lobotomized and forcefully injected with nuerolepitcs many times in hospital. I recieved ECT several times, and as a result, forget one of the most important moments of my life, namely--- recieving and bonding with my first child.

At the age of 17 I was able to play piano sonatas by Beethoven and play many other instruments and yet while on 3 different toxic drugs I found it difficult to follow the plot of a simple film or use an ATM machine.

I lived with over 15 adverse effects, while I believed I was a 'manic depressive' and continued to take the drugs for treatment.

To name but a few: I had a shake, as if I had parkinson's disease. I lost half of my hair. I put on 4 stone. I had tardive dyskinsia, hallucinations, akathisia, and and spent two thirds of my life in bed for 20 of the most important years of my life.

Psychiatrists convinced me and my husband that this was the best they could offer, as I had a severe 'mental illness', caused by a chemical imbalance and needed drugs to alter this.

Now for over 5 years I am free from all toxic drugs, and at almost 60 yrs. I am leading a very productive and exciting life, completely free of all these terrible adverse effects, and can play Beethoven even better than ever. I am FREE.

Jim, my husband and myself, have just written a book on my life story called "Soul Survivor" My Personal Encounter with Psychiatry. We hope to have it published later this year.