Amazing! how resilient the human brain and how lucky was this man that he had such loving and caring parents. This story leads me to believe that some physicians are for sale and some others will give advice for free. We sometimes are are so trusting of authority and seldom question their motives.

But all was not lost, this story does, indeed, have a happy ending!

It was Prozac Backlash by Joseph Glenmullen, M.D. that I read that helped me see the dangers of the SSRI I was taking at the time. Among the lesser publicized side effects that he mentioned were muscle and joint pain and short term memory problems. I was suffering from both at the time and was so scared because not only did I think I was crazy but I also thought my memory was going.

Reading his book, suddenly a light went on. I told my doctors, "No more SSRIs!" Would you believe that they still tried to prescribe them in various guises for me? I really had to educate myself.

Someone else mentioned the billing units thing. This is quite the scam. When you have a mental health clinic, a PSR and a TLC all collaborating to get those billing units from every consumer/client/patient, things can get quite ugly.

One thing that some nonprofit mental health clinics really get into is "helping" the seriously mentally ill manage their financial affairs. I knew of one woman who finally got her lum sum initial SSI payment and lost control of it immediately when a case manager deemed her too ill to manage her own affairs. This case manager embezzled this poor woman's money in order to buy cocaine.

I sat in on the fired case manager's sentencing. She had gained probably 40 pounds. She must have been on antidepressants. With a victim statement, she got three years.

The mental health clinic never did take responsibility for the case manager's behavior. One important thing emerged then: The mental health clinic had been reimbursed for the miscreant's embezzlement by their insurer months past but they had not yet repaid the consumer her loss.

What can I say? The [financial] fox is in the hen house and feathers and blood are everywhere.

I have so many sad war stories . . .

What makes you think any sort of medical treatment is more than hit or miss. Seems silly or self serving to single out mental health when the AMA admits that 250,000 people are probably killed through ineptness or malpractice.

This is why caregivers can't check out when the dr checks in. You have look at what they say with a gimlet eye and not only ask a lot of question but be willing to refuse certain treatments. After all, they call it informed consent, not 'we'll tell you everything about what we're doing and then just go ahead and do it' do they?

Seriously, to have two parents, and two step-parents as steadfast, loyal and devoted as you four. Your son would be dead without parents like you. I admire your parenting tremendously.

For anyone interested in preventing autism through knowing about some major risk factors please read this blog. It is long and complex, but has some interesting revelations on the etiology. There is as much variety in autism as there are people.

http://autism-prevention.blogspot.com/

Ann: How I admire you for the parent you are! I really want to cry but am holding off until I e-mail this article to my niece. I have a son 6"3' and can't imagine where I'd be if something like that happened to me. You have such courage. I'm going to e-mail this article to my friends hoping that they will send to more people. Let's get the word out there!!! Thank you for being the person you are. May your son continue to grow.

Dear Ann

We have experienced 'crazy' in our family. My heart goes out to you. The ending of your story gives hope to everyone who suffers from such disorders. Thank you. However, the title of your article politicizes, misleads and destroys your truly important message.

Properly diagnosed Psych meds saved my family!

I must agree with DonaQuixote. Our country is burdened with an uneducated and unreasonable fear of all drugs. Imagine your son having found the correct pain medication and then being denied access to it because of drug paranoia fostered by government regulation, conservative religious brimstone, doctors frightened of losing their licenses, or the personal opinions of your pharmacy.

'Misdiagnosed Psych meds drove my son crazy' - That is your real message. The distinction in not just semantic, it's critical.

Sorry, Ann, but I am responding to a prior Anonymous letter-writer who stated the the they preferred not to see this type of headline. I disagree - it got my attention. I'm sorry this upset you. You had a horrible life. Here you you are now, and I'm noticing that you vented (and rightly so). Hopefully someone will see the headline and read and send off to others. Who knew what went on in that state? Did you know about the healthcare problem? I am an advocate for children in the court system. It's pretty tough work to be non-biased with parents who do not come to court on behalf of their children - especially when they have mental issues. Please do not see this as a negative - it's HER story, her headline and you were allowed to tell yours. The more people interested in it the more they learn. Not every medication is correct for that person - dosages must be monitored, dr's pass in and out of the patients' lives - you name it. Let's just say the headline grabbed our attention and we were interested in reading what it was about. Simple. They did their job - it worked and got us discussing/reading. Since my first letter, 8 people have e-mailed me and one actually said she will look into the medical issue for HER sister who lives in that state and is AUTISTIC. No sniping, snarking or queen bee just sharing and caring.