Saving Normal: An Insider’s Revolt Against out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life

We also shift responsibility for our mental well-being away from our own naturally resilient and self-healing brains, which have kept us sane for hundreds of thousands of years, and into the hands of Big Pharma, who are reaping multibillion-dollar profits. Masterfully charting the history of psychiatric fads throughout history, Frances argues that whenever we arbitrarily label another aspect of the human condition a "disease", we further chip away at our human adaptability and diversity, dulling the full palette of what is normal and losing something fundamental of ourselves in the process. Saving Normal is a call to all of us to reclaim the full measure of our humanity.. In Saving Normal, Allen Frances, one of the world's most influential psychiatrists, warns that mislabeling everyday problems as mental illness has shocking implications for individuals and society: Stigmatizing a healthy person as mentally ill leads to unnecessary, harmful medications, the narrowing of horizons, misallocation of medical resources, and draining of the budgets of families and the nation

R L Phares said A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKS WITH COMMON SENSE AND HEART.. Common sense and psychiatry seem an oxymoron though this book addresses some of the hijinx of a field prostituted to the Insurance companies.I worked in the mental health field for many years and found the labeling of human spirit and soul seachers a task worthy only of those who areresponsible with their "forecasting". Self-fullfiling prophecies can be damaging if not life altering. This author raises questions and creates thought provoking suggestions as to how we might rely less on labeling for the sake of payment, and more on common sense and creative planning for wellness.. Mark O. said Great read and insightful. Great book on the deception and fallacies of the psychological world and their victims. Michael Randolph said Excellent overview of the case against the psycho-pathologising of essentially. Excellent overview of the case against the psycho-pathologising of essentially normal human behaviour. Allen Frances writes extremely clearly and simply. This is a powerful and very timely political statement aimed at encouraging us to regain freedoms currently whittled away by an over-zealous psychiatric and psychological establishment hand in glove with Big Pharma.