“The dangers of medicalizing the human condition are nothing short of a silent epidemic in American society. This dangerous trend pathologizes the core of human experience, categorizing everyday emotions and responses to trauma and life's challenges as disorders. It's a slippery slope into psychiatric over-diagnosis, overmedication, and a lifetime of pharmaceutical dependency.” – Dr. Roger McFillin, Psy.D., ABPP The notion that depression is the result of a “chemical imbalance” in the brain emerged, not coincidentally, in the late '80s with the introduction of Prozac—a drug that appeared to be helpful in treating depression by increasing levels of serotonin. Pushed heavily by Big Pharma as well as organizations including the American Psychiatric Association, this storyline has become the dominant narrative up until recently, in which an umbrella review (led by Joanna Moncrieff) concluded that, “The main areas of serotonin research provide no consistent evidence of there being an association between serotonin and depression, and no support for the hypothesis that depression is caused by lowered serotonin activity or concentrations.” Join me in this episode as Dr. Roger McFillin and I discuss topics including dispelling some of the myths around depression being a chemical imbalance, the over-use of prescription medications, and some of the issues today that are threatening to take away our medical freedom. Despite being formally trained in evidence-based treatments and achieving Board Certification in Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychologists, Dr. Roger McFillin has witnessed countless individuals deteriorate under these supposedly “best available evidence” recommendations. Many who turned to drugs and medical interventions to improve their mental health worsened dramatically. In an attempt to resolve the conflict between what he was seeing in clinical practice and what he was told to be safe and effective, Dr. McFillin immersed himself in scientific literature, delved into ancient philosophy, and scrutinized historical texts. His revelations were astounding. Much of the current scientific base that informs psychiatry and the mental health field is infected with corruption and bias. Dr. McFillin now shares his experience, and addresses the pervasive issues that threaten to take away our medical freedoms in his captivating Radically Genuine Podcast. Suggested Resources: DrMcFillin.comRadically Genuine Podcast | Instagram | TwitterHow To Raise a Healthy Child In Spite of Your DoctorDr. John Ioannidis PublicationsRisk of Suicidal Behaviors and Antidepressant Exposure Among Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis of Observational StudiesThe Serotonin Theory of Depression: a Systematic Umbrella Review of the EvidenceRisk of Suicidal Behaviors and Antidepressant Exposure Among Children and ATo learn more about WellnStrong: Subscribe to my newsletter! WellnStrong Blog WellnStrong Instagram WellnStrong Pinterest