What I’ve Learned Helping People Withdraw from Psychiatric Drugs
This month marks two years since I began supporting people in their recovery from psychiatric medications. During this time, I’ve learned a lot—and made a fair number of mistakes—which turned out to be incredibly valuable experiences. In this article, I want to share some of the insights I’ve gained. Helping others through the difficult process […]
How do you taper your antidepressant and your benzo?
When it comes to gradually stopping antidepressants and benzodiazepines, there are several common approaches people use. One well-known technique is the Ashton method, which is frequently applied for benzodiazepines. Another popular strategy is the “reduce by 10%” method, where you lower the dose by 10% of the previous amount — this approach is often used […]
How do I know if the antidepressants I am taking are worsening my condition?
Tardive Dysphoria. It is a condition that occurs with the long-term use of psychiatric medications, leading to a flattened mood, lack of motivation, anxiety, and very low energy levels. People who experience Tardive Dysphoria often show a diminished or complete lack of response to further pharmacotherapy, which is often mistakenly interpreted by doctors as “treatment-resistant […]
7 Years Psych Drug Free: Personal Update
This month marks 7 years since I stopped taking antidepressants, so for this special occasion, I want to share with you what has changed during this time, how my healing process went, and what my current condition is like. When I decided to stop taking the medication, I was not entirely prepared for what awaited […]
What is hyperbolic tapering?
Hyperbolic tapering is a method for discontinuing antidepressants that involves gradually reducing the dose in increasingly smaller increments over an extended period, allowing the body to adjust more comfortably and minimizing withdrawal symptoms. This approach recognizes that the relationship between medication dosage and its effect on the brain is not linear. Key Aspects of Hyperbolic Tapering: Comparison […]
Harnessing the Vagus Nerve to Reduce Stress and Navigate Psychotropic Medication Withdrawal
Stress is an inevitable part of life, but when it becomes chronic, it can wreak havoc on our physical and mental well-being. A staggering 55% of Americans report feeling stressed daily, and this chronic stress is a significant contributor to inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and a cascade of health problems such as depression, anxiety, and autoimmune diseases. […]
Why I stopped talking antidepressants and was it worth it?
When I first decided to seek help from a doctor, I had no idea what I was getting myself into or how difficult it would later be to break free from the cocktail of medications. At the back of my mind, I believed antidepressants would stabilize my disturbed nervous system. At that time (andunfortunately still […]
The Importance of Support During Psychiatric Medication Withdrawal
During my own journey of recovery from psychiatric medications, I had very little support. When I finally stopped taking the medications after several years, I was alone, without family or anyone who truly understood what I was going through. At the beginning of my recovery, my suffering was so overwhelming that I’m still amazed I […]
What helped and what hindered my recovery from Antidepressants Protracted Withdrawal and PSSD?
After many attempts, I finally managed to come off antidepressants, but then the question arose: what now? Recovering from protracted withdrawal was undoubtedly a huge challenge, and I had to approach it wisely, doing everything I could to survive the process and help my body and mind heal. In this article, In this article, I […]
How psychiatric drugs remodel your brain?
Many individuals, including healthcare practitioners—in fact, I would argue most people—are operating under an incorrect paradigm regarding these medications. They are conceptualizing them akin to aspirin, as agents that exert an effect while present in the system, with the effect dissipating once the substance is eliminated. However, this is not the case with medications that […]