The Necessity of Madness: Explaining How Psychiatry is a Clinical Construct and Madness is a Metaphor

John Breeding's Necessity of Madness is a work of genius. He has a unique understanding of the damage that psychiatry causes society. Foucault would have been proud. Breeding's argument is so well researched, thought out and articulate that it would be difficult for anyone not to be convinced by him. Like any great work of literature what Breeding says is controversial. The publication of his book in Europe and particularly within the UK will inspire the mental health survivor movement to speak up and speak out. His brilliant philosophy gives more venom to the social model of madness and distress in the UK. As we struggle to develop our own philosophy Breeding's book can be used as a tool to give the social model the momentum it so desperately needs. Widespread circulation and consumption of this book within the UK survivor movement would make an underdeveloped philosophy developed. Breeding is so lucid and enlightening that he gives us all hope. There is no need for apathy anymore. It's payback time.

About the Author :
Prof. John Breeding is a father of two from Texas, USA, he was born in 1952. He is a psychology professor who became aware of the problem of modern psychiatry whilst working in mental health services. He always intended to become a Catholic priest until his teens, this would account for the 'spiritual' aspect of his thinking. He is extremely active in campaigning on the negative effects that prescribed medication can have on youngsters in the US.

Review :
"A work of genius! Breeding has a unique understanding of the damage that psychiatry causes society." - The Washington Post "John Breeding PHD has woven his own thoughts into a wide array of sources to expose the shadow of modern psychiatry. More importantly he provides clear information and guidance for positive perspectives that support human transformation." - Jim Moore, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Article: A Review of 'The Necessity of Madness' Publication: Yvonne Poulson - Southwark Mind The other Chipmunka books I have reviewed ar6e stories of the distress of individual women who have survived in spite of the health systems, often with the help of fellow Users. John breeding is a psychology graduate in the USA who became aware of psychiatry when a 'mental health worker' with 'disturbed' children. Age 28 he had a breakdown and worked on himself outside mainstream mental health. He intended to become a Catholic priest until his teens, this would account for the 'spiritual' aspect of his thinking. Then, as a parent he learnt that you are continually faced with a choice of suppressing your child or transforming your life. He was in a position to see the psychiatric system from both inside and outside; he gives an overview that shows how lamentably it fails us. I could itemise the areas he covers but you need to read if for yourself. I language, social conditioning, ECT, drugs, various processes of emotional recovery, spiritual emergence and transformation, it's all there. He tells the story of a talented thirty-year-old woman from a dysfunctional family to illustrate the core of his argument. Being a man he makes certain assumptions about Cindy's expression of her underlying trauma that I would question, namely visions of her brother being tortured; this shortly before the said brother, a priest, persuaded the psychiatrist there were grounds fur her 'involuntary commitment'. Breeding quotes Thomas Szaz: - "Psychiatry's aim has always been, and still is, to help a relatively more powerful person - primarily the denominated patient's parent, spouse, or other relative - by disqualifying his less powerful kin whose behaviour troubles him as 'troubled", which is to say mad, and by incarcerating the victim defined as a 'patient' in a madhouse." What he perhaps cannot see is that women are always in a less powerful position economically and emotionally, also in respect of the drug free pressures of a 'community' in the kind of society that turns from religion to psychiatry to exercise control. Nevertheless, in all other respects he has great suggestions for ways to improve understanding and healing practices. Review by Yvonne Poulson