A conspiracy of hope is an organized movement that aims to inject the optimism of lived recovery experience into an arena historically fixated on addiction-related pathology. Researchers have found that this “conspiracy mentality” correlates with certain personality traits, including low levels of trust and an increased need for quality mental health care. Marginalized people made into villains by various conspiracy theories need access to quality mental health care provided by therapists who will affirm their experiences.
African Americans are more likely to mistrust doctors because of real historical events. The Tuskegee Study, conducted between 1932 and 1972 by the United States, conducted between 1932 and 1972. Conspiracy theories are narratives that can enable and accentuate distrust toward health professionals and authorities, leading to violent radicalization and should be addressed.
A Conspiracy of Hope was a short tour of six benefit concerts on behalf of Amnesty International that took place in the United States during June 1986. Men’s Health Network encourages men in the United States to take control of their health by getting yearly checkups from their healthcare providers. A study by Dr. David Robert Grimes suggests that large groups of people sharing in a conspiracy will quickly give themselves away.
Conspiration theories thrive in medicine, with five reasons: 1. African Americans are more likely to mistrust doctors. An interview with Robert Lufkin, author of Lies I Taught in Medical School, discusses how conventional medicine is making people sick and what you can do to save your own. Extreme right-wing views and the wellness community are not an obvious pairing, but “conspirituality” is increasingly pervasive.
📹 Matthew Perry’s Doctors Charged with Conspiracy – Tragedy Explained
Matthewperry #mentalhealthawareness #doctor Matthew Perry’s autopsy results show startling results of illicit drug use attempting …
📹 Conspiracy Theories, Schizotypy, & Dark Triad Traits | What is a Conspiracist?
This video answers the questions: What is a conspiracist? Is there a relationship between belief in conspiracy theories, the Dark …
I suffer from chronic pain. When I was stateside i suffered at the hands of the US medical system, and was in a wheelchair most of the time, while taking 8 pills of various meds per day. We moved overseas, where the local doctor looked at my meds, stopped them all, and put me on a single pill per day, yes, it’s an opiod, but a 24 hour release pill. Now I walk with a cane. Sure, i am still disabled, but I have better control of my pain, and fewer bad days. The US medical system came close to killing me. The thing is, we are now in our 3rd overseas country, and the US is the only one that gave me inappropriate care, forced me to have inappropriate procedures, and refused to treat me with respect.. JMHO
It is so sad what happened. Reminds me of the Michael Jackson case. The texts calling Perry a moron makes me sick. It is so sad that they saw his dollar signs and didn’t want to help him. You know when I heard about the ketamine, I remembered that you use it for patients and I knew you would say something about what happened. I wish more doctors were like you and cared about patients. There are zero ethics here just abuse of a patient and looking to make a quick buck. They all need to go to jail forever.
I was eager to hear your opinions on this death. I have chronic pain from scoliosis, and I think I am living with some buried childhood trauma. The overreaction to the opioid crisis has made proper pain management difficult to get. I can only hope that Perry’s death will not cause a similar chilling effect on ketamine and its proper uses.
Thank you! I fell twice early this year. Before I fell I was very fit and had no pain despite having degeneration in my spine and arthritis (I’m in my 60s). The first fall was on ice. I landed on my hip and got a bad bruise. The second fall broke both ankles (one minor one more seriously). I landed on concrete on my back. Since recovering from the broken ankles I have a lot of pain, especially at night (sciatica and other pain in my legs). I was prescribed Naproxen and Gabapentin. It helped but didn’t stop the pain. As soon as I finished the 4 weeks of treatment the pain returned. I have an appointment with the doctor this week. What I keep saying to my husband is that I want a diagnosis. I want to know why I have the pain. I don’t want to take Gabapentin or whatever the rest of my life unless that truly is the only option. Basically what you said! You empowered me with this article and your other article to advocate for myself and make sure I get every test possible to know what’s going on. My doctor is very good and really listens so I do have hope. Thanks again.
I’ve had almost all my major joints replaced due to autoimmune disease. I am in pain all day every day. 6 out of 10. Opioids are the only thing that helps me. However I only take 1 or 2 a day maximum and only if I’m really suffering. I’ve had doctors refuse to give/renew Percocet because of the way their hands are tied. When it happens, I suffer. Sometimes severely. I was an RN for 33 years but MS took away my ability to work. And for the last 3 years wound up in a wheelchair. I read about ketamine for pain. I went to the local clinic. I did 6 doses. Once a week for 6 weeks. I no longer am in a wheelchair. Ketamine saved my life because I didn’t want a life in a wheelchair. Ty so much for all your education. You’re very personable, funny, intelligent. Ty Ty Ty.
This is truly sad and accountability is needed. However, I wonder how many “regular” people die like this and it’s never investigated to the degree that a celebrity is. Most of those deaths would be labled as overdose and done with. We all make choices and decisions regarding our lives. Sometimes money makes those choices easier. Trajic for everyone involved.
Thank you, Dr Kaveh, for unpacking this tragedy. Matthew was a human being who, as you so aptly noted, was suffering emotionally and physically. His physicians and staff betrayed him. And mocked his trauma, which is so unethical. Appreciate your factual and compassionate overview. Utter disregard for his life and criminal charges are warranted imho.
When I had to have a Cardiac Stress Test for surgical clearance, I told them I didn’t know if I could do it with my back issues, they wanted me to try so I did. After 15 minutes and nearly in tears from pain they stopped me, not because of pain but my heart rate wouldn’t go high enough 😯🤔 So they decided to chemically induce. Shocking, actually considering being overweight and haven’t been able to do anything vigorous in a few years. But it wouldn’t go high enough 😊
Being a squeaky wheel gives you a bad reputation, no matter how careful you are not to raise your voice. This year I was SEVERELY HARMED by the War on Pain Patients. It gave doctors an excuse to expel and abuse me. A doctor forced me off Percocet cold turkey and I ended up in the hospital with hyponatremia. Three days after I got out of the hospital, she cut my Seroquel in half. When I asked her what I should do if I ran into problems, she stuck her nose in the air and said, “Are you questioning my judgment?” Shortly after, she tried to cut my clonazepam by 75%, which likely would have killed me. She was only ONE of the doctors who hurt me. On purpose. They have a narrative going that I “harass and threaten” staff. It’s utter nonsense, but they have all the power. So, now my pain is out of control, and I have no way to address my health problems. I’ll NEVER trust the “health” “care” industry again. I want to rid my body of all the toxic chemicals foisted upon me and stay away from doctors as much as possible.
Uggg… I am on that pain train. I am a 57 year old 100% Disabled USMC Desert Storm/Shield Veteran with Osteoarthritis in every joint, Pinched nerves and Bone Spurs, in my lumbar, mid and Cervical spine, and also in my hands and wrist and in my ankles and feet. I get an epidural nerve block in my spine every three or four months and I am on Gabapentin, but I am still in pain 24/7. My VA doctors will not prescribe any opioids at all because of the regulations they put in place in the early 2010’s from the opioid problem with the VA. I also have other comorbidities, like Hypertension, Aortic Dissection/Aneurysm, HIV, and Combat related PTSD, so that also plays a part in it. I wish my state of Georgia would legalize weed! Weed is likely the safest pain medication I can take with all of my conditions, and I know for a fact that it actually works for my pain. I can have a few puffs at a party and go pain free for at least three days.
When you get all your teeth ripped out at the dentist and you can’t even get 1 Vicodin is beyond bad medical care I can’t even begin getting into. I was working at the dentist for a couple years and how the dentist would not give any pain killers except Tylenol and ibuprofen because that was supposed to be just as effective as low doses as of Vicodin or codeine it just pissed me off seeing people in so much pain that could have been easily prevented. I mean that’s one of the most painful things in life and that doctors can refuse to treat you is so just cruel and unusual. It’s not like you keep going back to get them at a dentist office.
I cant get the prescriptions i need anymore due to folks lije these people. I have had RA since i was 17. Im 48 now. Ive had 8 joints reconstructed, i still have two ruptured disks in my back. There was one doctor in my rural area that i went to for 15 years. I followed a pain contract diligently. But those meds allowed me to work jobs that i lived that allowed my to stay stronger and exercise. My doctor retired. I haven’t been able to find a doctor in this region willing to treat both my ra and pain. I can only afford to see one doctor every month. So it jas to be for the RA.and they refuse to treat the pain. So now im not able to exercise, im stick to a desk, and thats horrible for my RA. I hate to say it, but i absolutely do blame these addicts that cant deal with life as it is for making my life more difficult and more painful. Some say the doctors. But if people werent always trying for the high, there wouldn’t be doctors over prescribing them. I liked matthew Perry, but the folks like him are selfish sobs for making it harder for folks like myself to get the medications that allow us to live productive lives. Idk. Maybe he did have the sort of pain that i feel every day with every step? If so, then i understand. If not, well he was fortunate to not have had pain with his addiction and i do know that addiction causes pain. But its not the same as when your own cells attack and actively kill your bone and tendons cells.
Oh yeah sorry I got sidetracked, part of the reason I commented in the first place was, I took his assistant saying… “found sweet spot, but used up all the Ketamine doing so” as…. found a good vein. Maybe since Matthew Perry put on quite a bit of weight and had obviously been injecting ketamine, his veins were compromised ?? Just a thought, not even a very important one, at that. For whatever reason, that’s what came to mind, for me anyways.
I’m a type 1 diabetic so insulin dependent. I was in the hospital and although my records stated I was allergic to a type of insulin they had and insisted I take. I asked for an endocrinologist to see me. I explained the situation and asked them to get a vial of the correct kind from a local pharmacy. He told me to use what they had and I’d be alright. I refused. My tongue swells from the kind they had available. He told me to not take any insulin then and I told him my glucose would be very high if I didn’t and I didn’t want to feel sick for hours. I had brought my own insulin and told him if they couldn’t get someone to go to a pharmacy to get a vial I’d use my own. He told me I wasn’t allowed to use my own. I told him to leave my room and not return. Yes, I injected my own insulin and the nurses knew I had (as they asked.) You absolutely must stand up for yourself! Never give in if you feel the treatment is incorrect/harmful to you.
I have PTSD from a monster who gave me “something” that kept me awake, but unable to move, couldn’t scream, couldn’t run, couldn’t fight back. It was supposed to be MOHS surgery BUT IT WAS NOT. He got on top of me – broke my nose, got a concussion, I got MRSA, and to make matters worse, he never biopsied the area he TORE off my face. The insurance company hailed this idiot a hero, saying “Thank God, he got it all”. HTF can they know if there was no biopsy?
My last two surgeries I told the doctor that I have PTSD and he said what can I do for you and I said you need to play this album animals in Death Metal and my heart rate stayed the same throughout the entire process I woke up my blood pressure was the same that was one of the best things so please tell your doctor if you have PTSD before you have surgery I can’t express how much it helped me when I went under
I am so glad that you decided to record this article. I figured you would be giving your take given this being within your field of expertise. I found the pricing difference between doctors and the non-medical drug dealers to be interesting. Are vials of ketamine relatively cheap to authorized physicians using it lawfully? Why did one doctor need to go to another doctor to get his supply? Wouldn’t Dr. P be able to obtain the ketamine vials directly?
Yes my daughter was extremely awful pain with stage 4 cervical cancer she only got just a few pain pills that gave her only a couple of days . The doctor said her hands were tied So I had to go to a legal marijuana dispensary to get her pain relief. She did pass in 2020 from her cancer. It was the pain management that needed
I recently had surgery and from beginning to end I had a female medical staff. The nurse anesthetist in training was awesome. There was another female nurse anesthetist along with a female anesthesiologist. Obviously all had years of experience and my ENT was female too. Being a retired RN I had to write the hospital to commend what a staff they had. I know how much I appreciated a letter, or a gift, of being recognized doing my job. I was an L&D nurse, btw. So, I want to say, most medical ppl chose the profession to be of service. These doctors, or ppl that chose to sell the ketamine, were purely living a life by greed. That or power, IDK. It baffles me men or woman exist that take an oath and do such harm. Just a senseless death. So sad!
Hey Doc, first off I wanna say…. I love how rational and down to earth you are !!! That’s extremely rare these days, most doctors at least seem to be, hard headed, irrational and set in their ways, it’s beyond refreshing to listen to you speak on these subjects and seeing these kind of cases from all angles. I agree these people being charged, sound like total jerks, to put it in PG wording. But at same time, bottom line…. It was nobody but Matthew Perry’s (and everyone else who OD’s) fault, nobody put a gun to his head and made him start using, or ultimately stick a needle in his body, which was the end of his using, or anywhere in-between, it was all him. I started using I.V heroin when I was 19 and I’m 46 now, I don’t blame anybody but myself, sure there were people who influenced me, had I not been hanging out with, I likely never would have started, or relapsed, etc, but still whatever the case…. My fault period !!! After spending a lot of time behind bar’s, here in Southern California due to my addiction, I’ve seen many things I can’t un-see, lot’s of violence, being involved in riot’s, sleepless nights, hurting my family (emotionally) which weighs heavily on my conscience these days, I have some big time PTSD and social anxiety, sleep issues, etc. I wish sooooo bad that I could talk to you and see what you think. Anyhee…. To end this, despite the fact these people being charged sound like total jackwads, I think it’s each and every addict’s decision to start and continue using drugs, let’s keep the long harsh prison sentences to the child molesters, rapist’s, murderers, violent criminals and such !
16:09 Psychoanalysis is the name for therapy based on Freud’s teachings. By definition his psychoanalysis is so late 19th-early 20th century. For research proven therapy seek out CBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, particularly for pain management. Most cities and all the largest ones have Pain Management Clinics, often connected to large hospitals. Some CBT psychologists specialize in CBT for pain management and insomnia. That’s where modern people go for help. These days you can find CBT teletherapy for many, many conditions. As the doctor says, we may not fully understand consciousness, but in the last fifty years we have learned methods that genuinely help. You don’t have to go back 100 years for help, or turn to drugs alone.
As a lay person, it sounds like Perry was struggling with so much inner pain that he may’ve lashed out at those whom he wanted help from. That may be why the docs called him names. It is hard to believe the personal assistant thought himself capable of administering this kind of medicine. But, it appears the doctors thought it was OK. Sooooo… Maybe this is common in situations were patients have great financial resources?
When I broke my arm, the doctor tried to prescribe an opioid for pain, and I said absolutely not. They wound up prescribing a non-opioid pain med, which I took for the first night and one full day following the break; after which I switched to extra strength, Tylenol for two or three days. I rarely take drugs; I prefer holistic remedies. I find that they work best for me.
Doctors need to be protected yet this is the rare example of going over the line. The greatest blame is on Perry whose consumption went beyond that prescribed allegedly. I’m glad there are physicians like this well informed and well intentioned who keep the facts correct so we don’t start having an alleged epidemic. Proper use of medications should be strongly advocated. Your excellent summary discussion about “bad actors” shouldn’t essentially prevent proper administration of medications is THE proper conclusion that Deserves a medical article on this event and why it should not be something used as an excuse for not helping people in need of proper administration.
YES, YES, Yes, I’m unfortunately caught up in the opioid control issue. I’m unable to find consistency among the various specialists who are trying to diagnose a chronic hip/spine issue that currently prevents me from walking. A low dose of opioids has allowed me to walk with a cane for 3-4 hours a day (meaning just getting around in my home, not “walks”) which could potentially help me get better until someone ‘correctly diagnoses my issue. I’m in bed the remainder of every day, not helping my case. In the meantime, my Primary Care doc who was documenting my progress with the use of low-dose opioids, and with a treatment plan, left Sutter Hospital. Now I’m faced with a new Primary doc who doesn’t want to prescribe even a low dose because she says she “hasn’t got to know me yet”! I also think I might be labeled a drug doc seeker. Over a year without a correct diagnosis which I understand can take time, but the withholding of any relief from pain and not able to walk around even a little, I believe is going backwards!
In the US if you’re not “kicked down the road”, your lucky, if you get a good doctor who is into actual care, your lucky. Imo the doctors in the US get “kick backs”, for encouraging patients to take medications. Healthcare should Not be Big Business it takes the heart out of the care!! Pathetic, but true
I came late to this discussion. I was friends with Marcia Moore. She, along with her husband, Howard, wrote a book on their research and use of ketamine called ‘Journeys Into the Bright World’. She mysteriously died years later and her body found later. She died of hypothermia after injecting ketamine. She apparently did this often, apparently part of her and her husband’s research. She wanted me to try it several times, but I refused. Years later, living in Sedona, AZ, I finally did try it. Twice. Both times were highly hallucinogenic, the second time being over 3 hours long and, in the coming down process, dangerous. Howard was an anesthesiologist who supplied the drug for their “research.”
These Drs ( shame to call them that!) should be held to the fullest extent of the law. BUT like others have said many of these celebs are not used to taking NO for an answer and will pay along with seek out drugs at any cost. I think when things like this hit the headlines it REALLY damages the ability of regular folks who are not abusers who need temporary or long term care not to get that care! I am sad that upstanding Drs are afraid of getting sued or having their licence taken if one of their patients overdoses. I take a small dose of benzos legally of course to help with chronic cpstd from a tragic event. It has saved my life. Yet its a whole process to get the meds that have been PROVEN by controlled treatment to help. The slimy unethical Drs like the ones mentioned are terrible but the would not be doing this if there were high paying people who will not take NO in any capacity! I feel sad for Matthew but he knew wrong from right.
I was going to a rural mental health clinic that loved handing out benzos. Got hooked. They said I couldn’t get addicted to Klonopin. Took me 9 years to finally get off of them. Very strange group saying that I didn’t want to improve. Most people, other patients, I talked to said they were told, “get over it”. If you won’t take their drugs they won’t see you. Talking therapy takes too much time, I guess. As if addictions in rural areas isn’t already bad enough. Sick and twisted.
Hello I have complex regional pain syndrome Crps it is the worst pain known to man on the Magellan scale and I was literally a day away from taking my life and I found a ketamine clinic and had a 4 hour treatment and they say there’s no cure for CRPS but I am alive! And pain free well not completely but it’s so tolerable! They call CRPS the suicide disease because everyone with it takes there life. This could change it! Thank you for this! Thank you 🙏
Chronic pain sufferer here…low dose opioids gave me my life back. I have autoimmune disease (undifferentiated connective tissue disease and psoriatic arthritis) and tried everything including alternative medicine and oriental medicine. Nothing helped except low dose opioids. Been on the SAME dose for 5 years. Just as effective today as it was 5 years ago
I once had emergency surgery after I fractured and dislocated both of my shoulders. I woke up extremely anxious and they gave me ketamine and I had a bad reaction (it felt like sleep paralysis as I physically could not move due to the procedure and I was in a dream like state due the drug- nothing pleasant about it).
Dr. Kaveh! I finally checked my voicemail yesterday from last year lol “digital detox” Dr. Lembke suggested and I got your message so here I am looking at your website! I will watch this later. First of all Thank GOD for Dr. Kaveh 🙏 you guys are so lucky to have him. I’ve what feels like a million surgeries starting at 14 & my husband took his life 2016. Please pay attention take notes if you need to. YouTube friends and anyone perusal as I truly believe Dr. Kaveh 🌎 😇 isn’t doing this for fun. I believe that he knows he’s doing it because he’s 💯 correct ✅ please pay attention if you’re seeking surgery or medication. Thank you for listening.
I suffer with chronic pain – pain mgmt gives me minimal lowest dose Norco (over 12 yrs) … helps just as minimal … sounds like ketamine would be helpful. I can not even take ibuprofen – allergy. I would be afraid to ask. I’m in Ohio. I have right SI joint pain primarily – I can get occasional injections. Wish I could have more “power” over my health/pain. You always have good presentations.
I’m a cancer patient, and have had to halt my therapy (because the medicine causes neuropathy and bone and joint pain, also flares up old injuries), due to doctors being too afraid of the DEA to prescribe more than 50mg/day for the pain. I’m writing this at 6am, after not sleeping from so much pain. I’m hoping to make it until April before taking another break, but it’s not looking good. 🤷♀️ I’m almost halfway through the five years that it’s recommended for me to take this therapy.
The pendulum swung the opposite way for opioids, so I have to suffer and deal with many other procedures. I just wish I could take the lowest most effective dose as needed. That way I don’t get the nausea, hive, constipation. I am told to go to er and er sends me to PM…makes zero sense when I have signed off plans for each issue I go to er for.
The Obama administration went after opioids and harassed doctors and hospitals so bad that they stopped prescribing all painkillers. The University of Pennsylvania closed its pain research center and pharmacies were pressured until they stopped carrying them. Rite Aid was fined into insolvency. I could function up to that time but after having to give up those meds in 2014 I was forced into invalid status, where I remain to this day. A friend’s father died in agony from cancer because doctors were afraid to give pain meds lest they get in trouble. And the drug problem this was supposed to solve? It’s worse than ever.
I do everything I can physically and if that doesn’t work I do take Tramadol that is the only thing I can take I am allergic to too many things I would never mess around with ketamine. My mom received ketamine at end of life to help ease the pain of bone cancer Ketamine will help ptsd? Because I have that I also have night terrors and I’ve been under so much stress lately because of lost a family member and daughter in fact the doctors prescribed something else which works but I’m interested in the use of ketamine with PTSD a lot of people I see in different platforms that it has helped them
I don’t understand if people have bad out good pain meds . I am never out of pain but I have a lot of u the the meds your pain everyday why doctors can’t give you meds to help them we finally got meds to help the government don’t let you have them .I have 9 medical problems have stomach pain that never goes away arthritis is getting bad in the the leg I shatter and my other leg hip back . My throat that closed up to size of a baby iv. I am never out of pain . I use heating pad I put on stomach legs back .to try to help . Lately been through the small hole in throat been coughing up bright red blood .but haven’t seen dr because hubby has cancer
Yes he had a drug addiction and the cruel greedy doctors took advantage but let this be yet another lesson, don’t do drugs! I understand that medical Ketamine is not the usual street drug. Why is his assistant aiding this? Were they arrested too? Okay obviously he did it for the money but I would never no matter how much money and, if you cared about the person. I wouldn’t want to harm a person I cared for no matter what amount of money. I wouldn’t be injecting anyone period! Sad story but an avoidable story! Don’t do or abuse drugs!
Hello Dr K. I’ve been following this story lately and have become very worried. Why? Because I might be a potential patient that will most likely benefit from ketamine therapy. I’ve been stuck in the hell of addiction for most of my lifetime. Now when I’m so close to being ” free” there might be a aversion of treating folks with ketamine. I hope this doesn’t deter you or others from helping the addicted community from recovery. God bless and hope to see you soon
I will occasionally have a completely sleepless night. Even at that I won’t consider taking zolpidem tartrate as my late wife did as a sleep aid. I am fearful of any medication that alters my consciousness in an unsupervised setting. I will take the sleepless night, thank you, even though I know that short sleep can shorten life.
Can I get a consultation with you? I’ve been using ketamine for 5 years and and my original prescriber retired. He was a big time physiatrist that headed maps studies but retired. I can’t find a replacement that will allow me to have the dose level to spport what Dr Shanon and I considered appropriate.
I use ketamine because I enjoy the meditative state and exploring outa body experiences. I use start off with 30mg IM then 70mg IM and then 150mg IM so in total about 250mg for the evening and only do it about every 3 weeks and use hospital grade vials and certainly not the crystal stuff you get off of the street
Please don’t conflate type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They are two very different diseases. As you know. Type 2 may be amenable to alternate therapies like stress reduction and life style modifications. Type 1 requires insulin. Full stop. It is a forever medication for an autoimmune disease. I sensed a bit of shaming when you mentioned diabetes.
This boils my blood, the absolute bastards. They stole that beautiful man’s life, I hope they rot in hell. Im on Buprenorphine and benzodiazapines and I’ve zero medical experience but know the dangers of these kind of drugs. Can UK general practitioners use I.V Ketamine for depression, bipolar, bpd etc?
This was so informative! Thank you. I shake my head at everyone, but especially the assistant. Isn’t it Common sense? And how do these people like the Ketamine Queen get this stuff? I’m a chronic pain patient and the government keeps lowering my dose when the biggest threat are these street Dr’s. I am on 1/4 of my dose from 13 years ago and they want me to go down. I am always a 6 or 7 on the pain scale of 1 to 10 and that’s 24/7.
I learned recently that the brain cannot distinguish physical pain from emotional pain. Doctor, when you said “you cannot TREAT the emotional pain without treating the physical pain” or vice versa, that was SO helpful. Thank you. As long as you are happy being a veterinarian…I think you should be a people MD as you are wonderful. I understood the Michael Jackson and Propofol reference. My entire life, NO ONE puts me out except a team of anesthesiologists at MGH (Boston.) It is SO sad that unknowingly, Michael Jackson and Joan Rivers likely contributed to their own deaths. Why would I allow an oral surgeon or dentist put me out? With Dr. Murray, he was all about the money as well. “How must will this moron pay?” I hope they each have a chance to find their God prior to death.
I’m a 49 year old woman, who is predominantly healthy. However, I have rosacea, fibromyalgia, and psoriasis. All have been diagnosed. I am so tired of having to take medication (also an insomniac, who does not shut down unless I’m knocked out.) I have a medical and mental health background (Psych Tech at Atascadero State Hospital.) and I only take as little medication as possible, that is still effective. My husband also has fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, and broke his back in 2 places when we were 12. My husband is also a red head, and on the max dose of gabbapentin, amongst other medication. He was on opioids for years, and he has been taken off rather quickly. This wasn’t a problem because he has a VERY addictive personality, and always runs out of his opioid within 2 weeks of getting a new prescription. Is there another pain killer that isn’t an opioid? He already takes way too much ibuprofen every day. He’s also an alcoholic and smokes cigarettes. I have tried to help him quit, but he refuses. 😢 What do I do?
I have a genetic condition that is progressive and extremely painful. I can no longer take NASAIDS as I’d taken them since my early 30s and my kidneys just don’t tolerate them well any more. The pain i have was well controlled with opioids and muscle relaxants until about 2016- 2017. Thats when i fell into the opioid void. I never abused my medications,o never overtook them and i was aleays able to titrate them down if something acute wasn’t happening. But the doc’ds clinic where i was was going decided to longer treat patients who had chronic pain. As a nurse and patient, several physicians described to me the sessions by the CDC they were required to attend. And uniformly they all conveyed that the CDC was very threatening to the doctors. I finally found a doctor who would prescribe me a couple of pain pills per day. About ¼ of what .i used to take . He explained that he simply couldn’t prescribe more because of the monitoring that occurred. I often spend much of my days .in bed now
In personal experience – I am finding that with Some doctors in western medicine are engaging with a more holistic approach. Sadly – many or most Americans are simply trusting what the doctor tells them and taking whatever pharmaceutical they prescribe. Thereby becoming a pawn in the Pharmaceutical Industrial Complex 😢😮😢😮. But I am only 70 👍
It is sad that people like Mathew Perry, Michael Jackson, and others can find a doctor who will do anything for money. It is about time we started holding them more responsible than just losing their license. (Yes, I know Jackson’s doctor went to prison). Drugs like Ketamine can be extremely helpful, but it can also be deadly in the wrong hands. It is not something you give to your paitents to give themselves. He surrounded himself with yes men and it killed him. Is it his fault, yes. Are the doctors also responsible, most definitely.
While Perry’s death is a tragedy, there are two possible outlooks, at least in my mind: 1. Perry played the last, most critical role in his own death. 2. Perry wouldn’t have died had a single person in his supply chain chose not to participate and they should all be prosecuted for his death. Of course 2 is the macro sociological ethical outlook. But, being blundt here, the LA politicians have worked hard to not prosecute or jail criminals committing serious crimes.
This issue of destination medications I am afraid will become an issue for the elderly as the issue of cost of medications accelerate. Patents do influence coverage. RBI so frequently is NOT covered by physicians like it should be. Many patients don’t have enough knowledge to advocate for themselves but the internet is a good source. Gas lighters are abusers that are going to abuse. My advice get another doctor.
Im not on any meds like but get treated like that because i try resisting if it can be tolerable. I recently had another hyrniated disc abd they gave me tylenol. Its angeting to think id rather allow them to neficate but they act as ic im so sensitive they won’t. My pain was so bad, when the tooj my blood pressure, my body scrunched and twists . Still i cant cough without ferling severe oain in lower back. These new fangled deliberate docs got to go. They shotgobthru extreme pain . I tokd them it was as bad or worse than labor . They didnt worry ..thats not okay . They test as a bs way to enjoy selves i think.
Also, thank you for being so respectful to poor Matthew Perry. I feel like he was a talented guy whose emotional make up just didn’t fit with Hollywood. Some people are born with an addictive nature. It can be the opioid they were prescribed or an illegal drug, alcohol or just cookies and food. I know people who can’t eat 1 cookie. I can have 2 and walk away but these people can’t stop till the cookies are all gone. These are people whose mother’s did not let them just eat cookies at will. They were taught to control themselves and eat their vegetables. I could always go get a cookie when I wanted it and I always ate the 2 or 3 cookies and walk away. Still can. I was pretty laid back about it as I was raising my kids. I regulated cookies and junk food when they were toddlers but as they got older, as long as they ate real food then I let them choose their snacks at will. One child is like me and can stop at two cookies and the other cannot. When my other child gets into a new hobby he is in all the way!! So it seems to me that some people have an addictive nature. My son, his dad and his dad’s mother all cannot stop at 2 cookies. Oh, and I seriously mean cookies. Not some euphemism for something illegal. 😂😂 I am literally talking about junk food. Jelly beans until you have an ulcer in your mouth kind of thing. 😂 I did that once with Sweettarts and then stopped eating them. I want them but just one will hurt my mouth so it’s just not worth it. Point being that maybe Matthew Perry was the same way.
Not surprised at all by what happened here . Most of These famous people deaths are quite the same in a way and if not all but most are due to overdose of substance abuse . It just shows money can’t buy you happiness! All these stars are victims of their own doings sadly . When I see what’s happening in Palestine to innocent people that’s what breaks my heart because they are the ones who are victims and need to be talked about not some selfish wealthy people .
I listened to a doctor on Ted talk who told a story about how his young son (9 years) who nearly died because medical school never taught him about good nutrition. He said, he gave his son one vitamin that he was somehow deficient, and it saved his sons life. This doctors own medical team told him, his son was going to die because they knew nothing else that would help his child. He went online and researched nutrition and saved his sons life.🥰🥰🥰🥰
I knew Matthew for a few months but I wont say how. It is so sad that he shirked those that really wanted to help him and became victim to these grifters. We do have to take responsibility for our actions and as an acquaintance I wish our little group had reached out more to him but we didnt. I think we figured he had friends and family but from what I know he avoided them too. I guess it is no one’s fault well except those that gave him the ketamine. When someone is suffering that can not tell who the good people are. I hope his assistant and doctors are held accountable
I hate when the Dr says to a cancer patient that their hands are tied. Their hands are not tied they are lying. If they properly document the chart with cancer diagnosis and pain levels then there are no legal issues. The Drs are just over reacting and I really wonder how they sleep at night while their cancer patients are in agony for No reason. The DEA will Never come after a Dr for treating a cancer patients pain
I strongly disagree that chronic pain patients do not need narcotics. Unless there is a contraindication for another reason, narcotics restore function, relieve pain and suffering . Chronic pain should have a demonstrate able physical cause for the pain that is the defining criteria. The other categories of pain are acute pain like right after surgery that gradually subsides and the last category is narcotic and other drug dependency a category surrounding narcotic use and is better serves by methadone and other medications, counseling and medical management. 😊
I have zero sympathy for these so called celebrities doing “money for nothing” work and yet moan and complain about their “pain”…..addicts are like scam victims. If one cannot be responsible for their own wellbeing, then please don’t blame others for trying to taking advantage. That said, of course these pharmacotic dealing physicians and associates should be indicted and held responsible. Thank you for these PSAs. We need more of these and perhaps the mass public can finally glean some facts as opposed to false idol worship and fall for the drug fad that be.
Sometimes being the squeaky wheel doesn’t work. I had a hip dislocation after replacement and was taken to the ER to get it reduced. I told the EMT, the triage nurse, the doctor and the anesthesiologist that I was on Wegovy, so that they could take extra precautions. When I was given anesthesia, my BP dropped. They administered fluids. I woke up in the ICU, with pulmonary edema. I had aspirated, a high risk when taking Wegovy. Was a few days before I could breathe well enough to finish the reduction. This time they took the extra time/ care with the breathing tube to lower the chance of aspiration, something they should have done in the ER. Took several days of complaining to the hospitalist, the anesthesiology department, the hospital administrators to find out the events. All I wanted was for them to make sure that future Wegovy patients that came into the ER were treated correctly. Never ever got an explanation that made sense. 21 days in the hospital.
This guy is crying the crocodile tears of the decade. So what about Matthew Perry one guy one jerk he’s gone he’s famous he’s the big deal he’s the focus he’s the ethical complaint. Look at the entire medical health industry. Look at the fentanyl network marketing scheme, more doctors the knot were implicated in that to some extent
One thing that I do like about conspiracy theorists is that while they may take things to some odd places, they do make some insightful observations and occasionally bring up some concerns that should be given the light of day. Like the whole Epstein thing, yeah we could just out and out call that a conspiracy theory but ya know, when looking at the evidence …or conspicuous lack of evidence (the dog that did not bark, anyone?) it does seem kinda narrow to not at least consider the possibility that someone in a house full of murders somehow ended….murdered, especially when we add to it that there was some people of considerable power and means who would be greatly protected by his lack of testimony.
The problem with applying a term like “conspiracy theorist”, as stated on this article, is that it literally doesn’t mean anything. To decide someone’s belief in a conspiracy as being “irrational”, or is not based on solid evidence, falls into the category of subjective interpretation most often. An observer who is analyzing someone’s belief in a conspiracy would have to objectively gather evidence themselves, objectively decide if there is any merit to the theory, and then objectively decide if a conspiracy could possibly exist. This involves actual research, the ability to evaluate evidence and other research objectively (not everyone has these particular skills), and then decide if if the conspiracy is still “irrational”- which is still subjective. There is an enormous amount of self discipline involved in the process of investigating someone’s conspiracy, and the individual conducting the investigation can easily contaminate their own investigation by things like: their own pride, pre-conceived notions, lack of ability to sift through information correctly, self desire etc. The split between what is actually subjective and objective is also up to interpretation. There are many mysterious things in this world, and the most complex and mysterious of them all is no-doubt the human mind itself, which is why I enjoy this website. The truth of anything is not at-all is not dependent upon any human mind understanding that truth. A person who believes in a seemingly bizarre conspiracy, but does not have the tools to properly explain their reasoning, does not negate the truth by their own shortcomings.
Dr. Grande, thank you for your articles. They are very helpful to people like me who are being abused by a narcissist/psychopath.. I have a real question. Is it possible for a narc/psycho to also be schizoid? My narc has a lot of those characteristics too. Just trying to know what exactly I am dealing with. I need help.
I’m not convinced there is no link with narcissism. Surely you have to be quite arrogant and grandiose to dismiss the work of thousands of scientists on climate change for example. You have to believe that you have special insight which eludes all these experts. That sounds quite narcissistic. Sam Vaknin believes there is a link.
You do realize, and I hope you do, since you deigned yourself sufficiently an expert to lecture didactically on this topic, that the term and concept “conspiracy theory” was wholly created by the CIA in 1964, and disseminated throughout the media via Operation Mockingbird, so as to marginalize those who questioned the lone nut theory of the JFK coup, following issuance of the Warren Report. Before 1964 there was no such term or concept in the culture. They did this to deflect from their own complicity. Now you carry their water, albeit unwittingly.
Interesting, seems non conclusive though. On the subject of ‘conspiracy theorists’ rather than an easy target like the David Icke article you did, it’d be far more interesting if you took a look at someone I’d call a conspiracy fact-ist, someone who is always well researched and whos work is well referenced, someone like James Corbett, from the Corbett report here on youtube.
MK Ultra, Project Mockingbird, particular aspects of 9/11. It takes a certain level of narrow-minded to associate things that have documented evidence and written explanation in the umbrella of “conspiracy theory”. Next, I’d like you do a article on the psychology of people who don’t question things, and succor entirely to the authoritative voices of the day… I appreciate the more basic things you have to share – your analysis of personality disorders and what-not. However, this feels like terrain you should probably revisit if you want to publish articles on the topic…
“Hmmmm, Dr. Grande made a article about conspiracists… I will probably not like it. I never liked these kind of vids of him too much. He’s quite hostile against people who contemplate about the state their societies are in…. Everybody’s mentally ill in his eyes, I think…. let’s watch it first….!” 🐰 …watches… 😊 I like it.💗
Hi Dr. Grande, Happy belated New Year! Love your topics and really enjoyed your articles since I subscribed to your website last year. I know someone who feels very out of control in his own life & it seems his only real refuge is conspiracy theories. These beliefs make him feel more comfortable. Mind you, he is not thrilled with what reality presents, which is, the link, I feel, that has made conspiracy theories more palatable to him, as they present alternative realities, to his one disagreeable reality. Also, I believe these theories serve as an abatement to boredom, of the state of mundaneness he experiences, when having to deal with actual reality every day. At first, I figured, that I might be able to help him, because most of the theories are very apocalyptic, and he seems distressed. Well, I am thinking that he is kind of addicted to the distress, as in, atleast he knows that the conspiracy theories always have that particular effect on him. The idea of object consistency, (the state of being in distress) if that makes sense, comes to mind. In a roundabout way, the distress is comforting to him. He does not have any interest in stopping thinking the way he does. I think he actually finds it a bit exhilarating and again, as I stated, somewhat comforting.
Regarding your first ‘factor’. A conspiracy is inherently ‘nefarious’. A conspiracy is defined as a “secret plan to do something unlawful or harmful”. I am not sure why you felt the need to point out that conspiracies are never innocent, as your first of three ‘factors’. Regarding your second ‘factor’: Obviously someone who believes a conspiracy theory believes that their explanation is the most logical. The same can be said for someone who believes a ‘mainstream’ narrative. Also, the reason a disagreeable person is more likely to believe in a conspiracy theory, is because they are typically the only type of person who would actually be willing to look into them with an open mind. A more agreeable person will often not even imagine considering the possibility that a conspiracy theory could possibly be true. For example, they might think, “There is no way the government or mainstream media would ever lie to me about a significant event.” ‘Odd thinking’ and ‘magical beliefs’ type people are of course going to believe in anything that is seemingly bizarre or outlandish. You must be careful not lump all ‘conspiracy theorists’ in with them. Believing in conspiracy theories is not demonstrated to have anything to do with “wanting to have control over what you believe.” This is nothing but baseless speculation. In my opinion, I suspect that the people who say this are just trying to discredit ‘conspiracy theorists’, and/or trying to make themselves appear more reasonable and intellectually superior.
It seems there could be a link between conspiricy thinking and pareidolia. Each seems a outgrowth of the idea, ‘if something is there, it’s because soreone’s behind it’. One is that there is an active plan behind a series of actions, one is that there is an actor hidden in a pattern. Both are agueably useful suspicions on an evolutionary level; people live in societies, it is good to be able to see others, and many aspects of society are run by people. But I could see poor damping of that suspicion leading to both conspiricism and seeing faces where they are not.
“Looking at the online forums we see that some conspiracists will argue in favor of a conspiracy theory, but that same individual will argue against other conspiracy theories, so in a sense, they’re only a conspiracist looking at certain theories – they’re a conventionalist it’s looking at other theories.” Or perhaps people are capable of some degree of nuance in their thinking, and can agree with certain ideas and disagree with others…
Unfortunately the waters grow even murkier when we factor in the way in which the terms “conspiracy” and “conspiracy theorist” are weaponized as a counter-argument to pretty much any point that would be inconvenient to the interests of the counter-arguer (or to the interests of those they represent), if they were widely believed; valid, or otherwise.. I tend to agree with George Carlin on the topic of certain types of so-called conspiracy theories.
Wut about the Dodecadoomdron of Darkness and Despair ? Or, the Hexatype of Hyperhellsent Heresy ? Try yourself on a Naughty Nanonarcissitic Negative Nelly? Just finished oiling up my giant lizard steed and ready to mount up and charge into the marshy underworld as an elven dark moon mage knight with all mah magical thinking. It’s a big saddle and I got room for one more, adventurer. Need a ride on my finely tanned, all leather saddle. Oops, spilled a little over brewed potion of potency on my pantaloons here. Hope you brought a change of slickly polished bat hide chaps… Lmao. I like this guy from what little I’ve seen of him.
There are many conspiracies that I am interested in but I am not in the least interested in David Icke, Alex Jones, Peter Joseph or Jordan Maxwell. In fact, I am not interested in the new age side of the truther world, much of which is the sort of conspiracy that you refer to. Conspiracy theory is as old new age gnosticism.
Beliefs based on ideas are false. Concepts,ideas,and beliefs are not real. They only exist in the mind. And the mind is not tangible. Don’t believe yourself or anyone else. Concepts,ideas,and beliefs. Come from the voice of knowledge. The foreign Installation. The foreign Installation works like this. The foreign Installation will say something, listen to what it just said, and agrees to what it said. Making man believe they have done something of worth. The foreign Installation disguises it’s mind as our mind. Also refered to as the inner dialogue. People can destroy and silence the foreign installation by using death as an advisor. And an act of love towards the self within doing a ritual of introspection and recapitulation. In psychology it is called the ego. The ego in certain religions are called satan.
Preternatural is sub natural. It is THE medium that nature is built upon. Supernatural, as the name would suggest, means over natural, Beyond. Supernatural does not mean God it means anything that can act within nature but outside of the natural Laws. Both are dumb but both do mean something, to the people who think they mean something.
Dr. Grande omits from consideration a ‘criminal conspiracy’ which is an investigator’s or prosecutor’s hypothesis. Criminal conspiracy can be defined as any attempted criminal act presumed to be committed by multiple perpetrators who have come to a premeditated agreement. This 3rd definition, drawn from criminal justice, is actually fairly common and makes me wonder why a psychologist is attempting to analyze a topic, fad, or trend. In other words, if the “conspiracy theories” discussed in this article are a topic or fad, how can a psychologist scientifically analyze this in the absence of an individual conspiracy theorist to study? I ask because I was under the impression that psychologists study the behaviors and thought processes of individuals. In other words, Dr. Grande is attempting to analyze something better studied by sociologists or anthropologists. This kind of unscientific thinking and obvious bias is one reason why I don’t trust Dr. Grande’s analysis. The other reason being that he is obviously an alien clone working for the Illuminati to establish a New World Order with John Cena.
Given that conspiracy theories are odd beliefs, the relationship between the two is tautological. For the others, it probably has to do with a sense of lack of personal responsibility in events. Magical thinking in that sense is obvious, its about believing some things are done without direct physical agency. Thoughts themselves become agents, so the will of some people also have some unexplained consequences. So it is a natural fit. For the callous people, it may have to do with the habit of blaming others for one’s own actions and therefore avoid guilt or accusations. Charles Manson was a master in that regard, and it gave the impression of being a teflon, at least in an argument as he would turn any personal responsibility in some global design that in the end absolved him from blame and where he was but a victim. In the end though, it is all about believing some things are out of your control, but that some others do control it, and they are to blame. So it is probably mostly about blame shifting, or simply looking into details others don’t look into for the more benign theories (those that simply involve denying a consensus).
Better access to ice cream! I love your wonderful deadpan humor! The thing between the bad Humans and the bad Lizardpeople (there must be good Lizzies) is just an intramural struggle for ultimate power. The winner will kick ass until the next villain comes along in our imagination or in reality, which tend to converge.
Idk I truly appreciate how you discuss the natural doubt of government and the probability of corruption in general do not count as conspiracy theory since it is not only plausible but more than not it is common today. I also thank you for taking time to explain the difference between the tinfoil hat conspiracy theorists and the growing interest in or the possibility of certain conspiracies.
I think vulnerable narcissism fits right in to believe conspiracy theories because of the inherent deflection of personal responsibility for one’s own failings. I knew a vulnerable narc who believed everyone in the world but herself was responsible for her own failings and she blamed some things on implausible conspiracies holding her back. So I wonder why there is such a lack of connection in the research literature…
I’m a Conventionalist, but don’t get me wrong, I’ve gone down many rabbit holes. The thing is, sometimes there is reality interwoven in a circumstance that appear preternatural. Like the time I took a road trip and got chased out of Texas by Hurricane Harvey, chased out of Florida by Hurricane Irma, and chased out of Louisiana by Nate. So I went to California, and chose Paradise California. Eight months later, we escaped the tragic fire there on 11/08/18. Trust me, in the past three years I’ve done a lot of self reflection. Am I a bad person that brought destruction? No, it only confirms that one must consider the season one travels in the South. Oh, and that climate change is real.
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