Coming off antidepressants doesn’t have to be something you go through alone
First meeting: December 1, 5:00 PM Central European Time · 90 minutes · online (Google Meet) · 12 people max
Regular small-group meetings for people who are tapering off antidepressants, have already stopped, or are dealing with protracted withdrawal. We talk about what’s hard and share our experience and ways of getting through daily life.
Signing up is free and there’s no obligation.
Time until the first meeting:
Who this group is for
These meetings are for people who:
- are in the process of tapering off antidepressants,
- have already stopped and are still feeling the effects,
- are dealing with protracted withdrawal,
- feel that family, friends or doctors don’t fully understand what they’re going through,
- want to talk with people who know this from their own experience.
You don’t need prepared questions or a good day. Just come as you are.
What happens at a meeting
Each meeting lasts 90 minutes and has a calm, predictable rhythm.
Stories of coming off medication
We hear from people who took antidepressants and came off them. I also share how I safely came off my own medication and what helped me recover.
Self-help tools
Ways of regulating the nervous system and everyday strategies for getting through harder days.
Sharing experiences
Time to talk about how you’re doing. Mutual support from people who understand because they’re going through it too.
Learning about the process
A short section on what’s known about tapering and recovery. This is information, not recommendations about your treatment.
Regular meetings
This group isn’t a one-off event. Meetings take place every week, and Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM Central European Time is the first one.
You sign up for each meeting separately, at 99 PLN per session. You can come regularly or whenever you need it.
Regular meetings bring a sense of safety: you know that before long you’ll see people who remember your story. Over time, the group builds relationships that also offer support between meetings.
A small group with plenty of room
Each meeting has at most 12 people. That’s a deliberate choice.
In a small group, everyone has time to speak and everyone is really heard. It’s also easier to feel safe and talk about things that are hard to talk about anywhere else.
How it works
1
You join the waiting list
You leave your email and phone number. It costs nothing.
2
You get an email with a sign-up link
People on the list are the first to get the link to sign up and pay ($49 per session).
3
You get a Google Meet link
Once you’ve paid, I send you the meeting link and a few short tips.
4
You join the WhatsApp group
Participants are invited to a private group where we can support each other between meetings.
Private WhatsApp group
Hard moments don’t always fall on meeting day. That’s why participants get access to a private WhatsApp group where you can write, ask questions and get support between meetings.
- Respect: every experience matters and no one judges anyone.
- Confidentiality: what we write in the group stays in the group.
- No medical advice: we share experience, and decisions about treatment stay between you and your doctor.
About me
My name is Tomasz Starczewski. I took psychiatric medication for more than 10 years, then went through coming off it and a long recovery. I know what it’s like to feel alone with this.
I have a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science and have published in Mad in America. I run a YouTube channel and a community for people coming off psychiatric medication.
I’m not a doctor. I run this group as someone who has been through it, and I share what helped me and others.
What it costs
$49
per 90-minute session
- up to 12 people per meeting
- online via Google Meet
- access to the private WhatsApp group
- you only pay for the meetings you attend
You don’t pay anything at this stage. I’ll email the link to sign up and pay to people on the waiting list.
Frequently asked questions
Does joining the waiting list commit me to anything?
No. Signing up is free. It means you’ll be among the first to get the email with the link to sign up and pay, and you can decide about taking part then.
When and how do I pay?
Before the first meeting, I’ll email people on the list a link to sign up and pay. One session costs 99 PLN. Each meeting is limited to 12 people, and places go to those who pay first.
How often are the meetings?
Meetings take place every week. The first one is on Tuesday, December 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM Central European Time.
Do I have to come to every meeting?
No. You sign up for each meeting separately and only pay for the ones you attend. You can come regularly or whenever you need it.
Why only 12 people?
So that everyone has time to speak and is really heard. A small group also makes it easier to feel safe and build trust.
Do I have to turn my camera on?
No. Having your camera on is welcome because it makes connecting easier, but you can leave it off if you feel better that way.
Can I just listen?
Yes. No one has to speak. Listening to others can be very helpful too, and you can join in when you feel ready.
Is the meeting recorded?
No. Meetings aren’t recorded, and what participants say stays in the group.
What if I can’t make a meeting I’ve paid for?
Write to me as early as you can. The rules on cancelling and possibly moving your place are in the terms.
Does the group replace a doctor or therapy?
No. The group is for support and education. It isn’t medical advice or psychotherapy. Always make decisions about medication together with your doctor.
How do I join the WhatsApp group?
After you’ve paid, you’ll get an email with an invitation link to the private group for participants.
Join the waiting list
People on the list will be the first to get the email with the link to sign up and pay, along with details of the first meeting.
Each meeting is limited to 12 people. People on the waiting list get the sign-up link first. Places go to those who pay first.
How your data is processed. The controller of your personal data (name, email address, phone number) is Tomasz Starczewski, Protracted Withdrawal, ul. Czerwonego Krzyża 11/13/12, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland. I process this data based on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) to tell you about the support group and contact you about it. You can withdraw any consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of earlier processing, by writing to contact@protracted-withdrawal.com. You have the right to access your data, correct it, delete it, restrict its processing and transfer it, and to lodge a complaint with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office (UODO) in Poland. You’ll find more details in the privacy policy.
Important
This group is for support and education only. It isn’t medical, psychiatric or psychotherapeutic advice and doesn’t replace seeing a doctor.
The facilitator isn’t a doctor and doesn’t give recommendations about changing doses or stopping medication. Make all decisions about your treatment together with your doctor.
This group isn’t a crisis service. If you’re having suicidal thoughts or are in an acute crisis, call your local emergency number (911 in the US, 999 in the UK, 112 in the EU). In the US, you can also call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In the UK and Ireland, you can call Samaritans on 116 123.
Terms · Privacy policy · protracted-withdrawal.com
Tomasz Starczewski · Protracted Withdrawal · ul. Czerwonego Krzyża 11/13/12, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland · contact@protracted-withdrawal.com