Forced treatments destroyed my life

I CONGRATULATE Sean Fleming, for drawing attention to the subject of forced treatment in psychiatry (Irish Examiner letters, January 9).

I received both ECT and neuroleptics as ‘treatments’ by the psychiatric profession. They helped to destroy 20 years of my life. I would never want to receive any of these so-called ‘treatments’ again, yet if I was unfortunate enough to have serious emotional problems and considered ‘mentally ill’, without any medical test to prove it, I could be forced to have these ‘treatments’ again.

If people find these good, of course they should be allowed to receive them, but people who find them tortuous and destructive should not be forced to take them.

I would be considered sane, even by the psychiatric profession now, so if I write this down, as my sane opinion today, should this not be respected? If it is not, surely this is insanity?

Mary Maddock

MindFreedom Ireland

16 Manor Close

Thornbury Hgts

Rochestown

Cork