Walk-Ins Welcome with Bridget Phetasy E364. When The Mental Health Industry Fails You - Laura Delano
Nov 13, 2025
Laura Delano, an author and mental health advocate, shares her transformative journey in battling psychiatric treatment resistance. She vividly recounts her early diagnosis of bipolar disorder and the chaos of medication. Delano emphasizes the challenges of withdrawal, the importance of informed consent, and the pitfalls of hasty diagnoses. Both she and Bridget discuss how our culture often seeks identity through mental health labels. With a focus on gratitude for painful experiences, they explore how true healing often comes from self-acceptance and connection.
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Personal Story Reflects Broader Cultural Problem
- Laura Delano realized her psychiatric history was common and tied to culture's quick-fix mentality.
- She wrote Unshrunk to help others make sense of treatment resistance and recovery.
Insist On Informed Choice Before Meds
- Demand full, unbiased information before starting psychiatric medication so you can truly choose.
- Ask about long-term risks, withdrawal, and short-term trial limits before agreeing to treatment.
Reframe Meds As Psychoactive Tools
- Psychiatric drugs are psychoactive chemicals that alter brain systems, not necessarily cures for pathology.
- Viewing them as tools rather than disease-fixes clarifies realistic expectations.
