Thread by @Chaos2Cured

I have spent the last few years trying to rethink #mhealth. As we work to lessen #stigma and fear I ask everyone to keep an open mind, give feedback, and join me as I delve into some unique hypotheses. 1/

This started with my sphere of mental health. (Pinned)

https://twitter.com/chaos2cured/status/891062291025674240?s=21

. I don’t believe true “normal” exists and feel everyone has issues that fit within the sphere. A dx comes because of observations that are inherently flawed & variable due to relative perceptions. 2/

I use the word “flawed” because none of us can read minds, therefore, there is no objective way to truly know exactly what someone is going through or how extreme their suffering is. This is one reasons #mhealth pros have such a difficult job. 3/

Of course we can see when someone is not well at their extremes (mania, violence, #suicide, #psychotic reactions/features).

However, what if I hypothesized that everyone has experienced psychotic symptoms? 4/

Every person, at some point, has heard/seen something that isn’t real (a voice in the wind, mistaken shadow/shape, sum1 in🏠 not there, etc.) These could be classified as a hallucination & could lead to a serious diagnosis(dx) DEPENDING on intensity/duration/life consequences. 5/

So what really separates a “normal” individual from someone diagnosed with #schizophrenia/#bipolardisorder/etc.?

The truth is less clear than we like to believe, leading to my second hypothesis: all #mhealth issues are spectrum based. 6/

Let’s start with my first example of hallucinations. Everyone sometimes hears/sees things that don’t exist. That doesn’t make everyone schizophrenic, but what if we ARE all schizophrenic, the only difference being a spectrum of severity? Why I dislike #labels. 7/

The same could be said of #anxiety, #depression, #ADHD, #bipolar, #autism, #OCD & every #mhealth issue not related to brain injury.

Example:
My father has very little anxiety, my mother a lot, and mine is, at times, debilitating. 8/

Taking the idea that every issue is less complex and spectrum based, anxiety is a part of #OCD, social and generalized #anxiety. Therefore, my father has anxiety, just the most mild form that exists. I want us to see EVERYONE as human, not a #label. 9/

I, compared to my father, would also be diagnosed with anxiety, but on an extreme form -> #OCD, #panic attacks that make my heart thunder and has even left me having a hard time breathing. 10/

If we break all #mhealth into spectrums, it brings everyone together and enhances #compassion. There are extremes in everything in this world, but one of the main issues of mental health is a feeling of being #alone. This MUST change. 11/

I believe that our technology has advanced to the point that we have lost sight of the forest for the trees. We continue to focus on smaller parts like neurotransmitters, DNA, and have lost track of some of Hippocrates’ most important beliefs...12/

...that sickness is not a punishment, but caused from environmental factors, diet, and lifestyle. One of my favorite writings of his talks about the importance of balance in the body. When this concept is lost, #mhealth is less successfully treated. 13/

This leads to my final hypothesis: mental health is system and balanced based. @BethFratesMD, this is the theory I promised to share once I had a more solid feel. So what do I mean by system based? Let me explain. 14/

My approach to treating my bipolar 1 involved treating and balancing my endocrine system. We saw success with this approach on bipolar and some unexpected and unknown success with schizophrenia and autism. 15/

At this time I am not the only one that feels this approach has potential. After my patent filing in 2009, over 50 patents by large pharmaceutical companies are claiming aromatase inhibitors as a potentially useful treatment for mood disorders. 16/

I’m proof this approach can work & many examples of the #endocrine system affecting #mhealth exist. #Postpartum #depression, psychotic and depressive symptoms caused by anabolic steroid abuse or discontinuation without post-cycle treatment, & bipolar onset w/menopause etc. 17/

Even marajuana affects estrogen. But the endocrine system is not the only one at play. The CNS (central nervous system) is a major factor in #anxiety, #OCD and #ADHD. Just look at the medications. CNS depressants for anxiety, CNS stimulants for ADHD. 18/

There is a reason there is not a single magic pill, but as long as we continue researching only the brain and separating it from the body & systems, diet, environment, & lifestyle (technology) we have a number of problems:
19/

1. We will never conquer mental health
2. We will miss important connections/discoveries.
3. We segregate #mhealth and #health.

These all add up to making everyone diagnosed feeling #alone. I don’t have all the reasons/answers, but I know my recovery has been unique. 20/

All I want is for more & different approaches to research to be explored and, most importantly, to rid the world of the idea that there exists a “perfect normal”, for it doesn’t. 21/

To summarize:
1. I believe EVERYONE struggles with #mentalhealth to different degrees.

2. I believe all #mhealth diagnoses are spectrum based, not completely different (based on extremes that could be plotted/tracked.)

3. #mentalhealth is not just the brain but systems. 22/

This has taken me a long time to work on and has a long way to go, so please reply, RT, and give critical feedback. I truly believe I’m on the right track, but this needs peer review and research. 23/

Special thx to 👇 whose presence/compassion inspire: @BipolarBattle @nrmentalhealth @DrDeniseMD @DrBakerPhD @drjoyce_knudsen @healthmediagal1 @IntlBipolar @MOCwithTiffany @TiffaniDilworth @BeyondClarityX @BekaLombardo @unpackedsparkle @DLL1209 @BipolarHotMess @DyaneHarwood 24/

This will need an unroll from @threadreaderapp. I’ve been absent as I needed time to work this out mentally. Hugs2all and I’m so proud of the #mhealth community here.

#KeepTalkingMH if comfortable and know you’re #NeverAlone. #WeStandStrong together. End/
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