Zen and the Anatomy of an Epidemic

    Zen is mostly seen as 'meditation'.  Another interpretation of Zen I've read, calls it a way of looking at an insoluble problem. As my title today I've chosen to combine "Zen" with the title of the extremely important book by Robert Whitaker- "Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America".
    Robert Whitaker must qualify as a Zen master for this formidable project, which I am slowly working my way through.
    As my opinions will soon emerge as fairly loyal to the Whitaker theses, I want to mention two other books I am reading: "Awakening to Zen" by Roshi Philip Kapleau, and "Zen Therapy" by David Brazier.     
    Kapleau founded the Rochester Zen Centre in  1966, in upstate New York, after meeting Zen Master DT Suzuki in Japan and undergoing thirteen years of formal training with two of Japan's  contemporary Zen masters- Harada Roshi and Yasutani Roshi.
   The part of Kapleau's book that most interests me is where he tells us that he received a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease, after which he relates how he had to replace his life long antipathy to drugs with acceptance of their new role in his life.  In other chapters, Kapleau writes about mind-altering drugs, the artful use of pain in Zen, and sections on 'illness, dying, caregiving and families', and 'On Confronting a Chronic Illness'.
     What I gained from Kapleau's book was an appreciation that even someone opposed to the use of drugs had to come to terms with them, and in his case recognize the fact that he had become dependent on pharmaceuticals for his very life.  I would be stupid not to acknowledge this possibility arising in my own life.   Currently, the two prescription drugs I take are for high blood pressure, and depression.
      For the latter I'm trying a milder form of Lithium than the more common Carbonate, called Lithium Orotate.  I'm mostly taking this for neuroprotection. I also take a combination of herbs and other neuro-supportive substances such as choline and fish oil.  Perhaps the fact that I'm blogging is some evidence of success in my approach to mental health.
      The use of these supports is due to a very bad experience with a psychiatric drug, that caused a lot of harm and no good at all.  Fortunately I read about alternative medicine constantly, and follow the integrative philosophy of doctors like Andrew Weil and Deepak Chopra.
     Before I launch into further blog entries with a lot of anti-psychiatry fervour, I assure you I'll try to absorb the message of Kapleau, and other masters and students of Zen.