The sound of my recorded voice always catapults me up the cringe factor scale. Hearing myself on the BBC4 documentary 'Mental: A History of the Madhouse' was no exception. However, I'm pleased that the programme makers took a sobering look at the dark side of the history of psychiatry. What went on in those places needs to come out in the open. And, as I once read somewhere: 'Once you know, you can't unknow.'
By the way, if anyone who's interested missed it, BBC4 are repeating it on Tuesday 25th May at 11.30pm.
click on image for details
About Me
- Jean
- Hi, I'm Jean. I'm fifty-something, married to Ian, and live in West Yorkshire. I'm a writer, and part-time mental health worker. My memoir 'The Dark Threads' is published by Accent Press. As a mixed-up, depressed teenager in 1968 I was heavily drugged, given electric shock treatment, reduced to a zombie and, by age 20, 'written off' as suffering from chronic schizophrenia (a misdiagnosis, evidence suggests). I managed to jump out of the net in 1974 and went on to build up a life for myself. Today life is good, good, good. I have a first-class BA (Hons) degree in Combined Studies (literature and psychology), and qualifications in counselling skills. 'The Dark Threads' is my first book. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Threads-Jean-Davison/dp/1906373590
6 comments:
Dear Jean have just read your book the dark thread and could relate to all you experienced as i am a survivor of psychiatric abuse and have witnessed & experienced abuse that lead to fatalities and hope to write a book about community care. Hope to meet you in person one day as psychiatry has done its best to isolate me from the survivor movemant. They re3fused to address my pressing housing needs for eight years reswulting in me jumping in the river thames but i survived minus a strong right ankle, now hobble around on crutches. Like you i was drugged up to the hilt and believed that damaged had been done to my brian am under a nurologist whom i am seeing on Thursday.
Damn I missed it. But it's still on iplayer so am going to watch it tonight.
Just watched it Jean. What an excellent programme - although completely harrowing. Such awful stories.
You came across brilliantly. I'm so glad I watched it.
Sabita - Thank you for visiting my blog and for sharing your experience. I do hope that things will start improving for you. Warmest wishes to you.
Lane - I'm glad you were able to watch the programme and that you found it interesting. And many thanks for your comments.
You've been on Radio 4? I'm SO impressed! Will listen to the interview on iplayer if it's still there :o)
Karen - It was on BBC4 TV (not radio) Monday 17th and repeated Tuesday 25th. I think it was only on iplayer for seven days after the last programme.
Post a Comment