A Conversation w/ Peter Eliasberg: Antidepressant Withdrawal & "Treatment" w/ a Benzodiazepine

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Guest bio: Peter Eliasberg is a civil rights lawyer who lives in Los Angeles. Before going to law school, he worked as a freelance photographer and, before that, coached rowing. His life was upended for 4.5 years after he got off an #antidepressant way too quickly. The harmful effects of #withdrawal were exacerbated by his being prescribed a #benzodiazepine that he was advised would help with horrific #insomnia, which was one of the symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal.
#healing #support #depression #Effexor #valium #temazepam #hope
RELEVANT LINKS:
Book, "Darkness Visible" by William Styron: www.amazon.com...
Laura Delano: www.lauradelan...
Benzobuddies: benzobuddies.org
Baylissa, withdrawal coach: baylissafreder...
Jennifer Swan KZbin: / @jenniferswanphd

[@MedicatingNormal]

If you like what we do and want more of it, consider buying us a coffee! buymeacoffee.com/MNFilm

[@sking-n7j]

Love this interview, I am in protracted withdrawal from SSRI's, I can resonate with everything Peter has stated. Thank you and a speedy recovery to everybody going through this challenging journey.

[@BongBlasta]

how are you feeling now?

[@sking-n7j]

@@BongBlasta Still struggling I am afraid

[@BongBlasta]

im so sorry! what meds where you on? and what dose?@@sking-n7j

[@celticwarrior5646]

9 months off antidepressants after 32 years and all these interviews of similar,shared experience is helping greatly. Thanks. I first come off Sertraline after a couple of years of taking. By 6 months thought I had relapsed and was back on Paroxetine. No internet or information back in the 90's. No talk of withdrawal or dependency or protracted withdrawal, nothing. If I voiced concerns to a doctor about anything it was "all in my head". The mental health treatment of people over the years,and still,is a worldwide disgrace. We're still in the medieval dark ages of mental health as far as the medical profession is concerned. The whole psychiatric system needs a complete overhaul and re-evaluation in my opinion. The drug users have become the experts, and the doctors the brainwashed lunatics who've taken over the asylum!

[@lonnievisch6009]

Very well spoken! So sorry for you❤

[@martinez4560]

What are you going through now?

[@tinoslaponi8514]

Did you have lack of appetite issues?

[@celticwarrior5646]

@@tinoslaponi8514 No. Lots of issues but not loss of appetite. Everyone is different. Lost my sense of taste & smell greatly though,and lots of other stress symptoms that are still ongoing.

[@susanbell5835]

This was a good conversation. I was just sorry to hear the part where Peter says (paraphrasing) "In hindsight, I wish the doctor had only prescribed the drug for 6 months and then helped me withdraw." As Psychiatrist Dr. Peter Breggin says in Medication Madness, these psych drugs are toxins to be avoided pretty much at all costs. They are too dangerous as they injure the brain. Having the loving presence of a therapist who listens and guides with great compassion can do wonders for healing.

[@MichaelBLive]

Yeah. This med needs to go away. Our drug laws/practices are so messed up.

[@Rumination10]

Absolutely 💯 💯

[@Rumination10]

100^ True dear michealBLive. I don't know what is issue but all due respect to u I am telling you that no matter what the hell they say ...believe in yourself dear. I have seen the horror of these meds . For some these must be helpful. For me personally I don't care about those doctors arrogant BEHEVIOR. But I publicly on behalf of my personal experience condemn these meds. Dr Peter breggin has said these meds are NEUROTOXINS. and we all know or if not should know about him . He is very respected psychiatrist in London...I guess yes London but being himself a psychiatrist he said those words . It's thier on KZbin.

[@staceyseymour9297]

These interviews are a lifeline for me. It means so much when people can put words to our suffering and remind us that we aren't alone and that there is hope for the future...although it may be far off.

[@djammer]

Hey Stacey how’re you feeling today

[@staceyseymour9297]

@@djammer It's kind of you to ask. I'm doing okay today...so far. How are you doing?

[@djammer]

@@staceyseymour9297 I’m doing ok, 45 days since last dose of SSRI & trazadone, not doing amazing. Any interest in being an accountability partner with me if we gel?

[@djammer]

Doing ok, how’re you doing now

[@staceyseymour9297]

@@djammer I'm okay. I feel really anxious in the earlier parts of the day.

[@mardishores4016]

I relate 100 % to this man's story. Everyone seems physically unattractive and even ugly. Like i have thoughrs and feelings that human voices and lips are an annoyance. It is like being IN HELL. I am just a shell. I HATE feeling like this. It's not human. No way to feel grateful for anything these poisons have done to me, loved ones and people we have never met. People who have never been poisoned just cant comprehend the suffering. They call us mentally ill, when actually these drugs are the cause of our 'mental illness'.

[@Iliketurtlezz]

how are you now

[@thepresentmoment369]

Yes meditation, positive thinking, affirmations, exercise, good food, yoga, etc. All is good in the long run. Even if some things are placebo it's still good to do and to give the mind something to do that is healthy.

[@cristhiandecastro464]

Great conversation. Thanks for everything you guys do, in helping and giving hope to those that have experienced medication withdrawals. Life is good and beautiful NEVER lose hope.

[@garrettmeadows2273]

I'm 63 and had a nervous breakdown at age 19. In all the years since then, I can only recall three distinct days I actually felt happy.

[@lonnievisch6009]

😢

[@dellwendybrown2713]

Thanks for this interview. I was relieved and comforted by this. I was on antidepressants and benzos for over 25 years. I tried many times to come off, always without the support of doctors. I finally succeeded with my children's help. They would help me cut open and weigh the beads. My kids helped me do this for a year. I felt like I was dying. They deserve a medal. I am almost at the 4 year mark without drugs. 4 YEARS of wondering if I am going to recover. Terrible morning dread and dispare. The anedonia, the loss of joy is just crippling. I feel like I was just abandoned by our medical system when I got to be too much to handle. I am so angry at myself for believing them when they told me I was flawed and had a chemical imbalance. I needed help for sure but it should have been a kind, listening ear, not shut up and take this pill. I can only keep putting one foot in front of the other as I don't realistically know what else I can do. It is like I am in no man's land.

[@susanmorgan4151]

Oh honey. I feel your pain. On Paxil for 25 years , 8 months off. I feel like I'm in no man's land as well. Horrible rage early on- now living with EXTREME lethargy , mental bluntness , insomnia. May God bless your journey.

[@mitch5222]

Same. But i am scared of living too.

[@mardishores4016]

Same. A never ending HELL. I feel like a zombie. Chronic 24/7 permanent concussion like symptoms. And maybe it is. A chemically caused concussion rather than a physical blow to the head from blunt force trauma. This shit is scary. People are being slowly tortured and destroyed by these horrific poisons. The great tragedy, is parents are trusting dr's to prescribe these poisons to their children..OMFG.. they also destroy sexual function. Even that can create suicidal ideation. I dont even want to be hugged, becsuse of the parasthesia and constant muscle and skin pain (burning electric zaps,) much less have sex. Big pharma is a greater threat to the future of humanity than future nuclear war threat. This needs to stop. Everyone needs to rid themselves of arrogance and defensiveness, common for us apes, and wake up to the carnage these poisons are doing to us. Forgive me. I have to rant occasionally. I need to feel like my life mattered And these fukking poisons have destroyed 45 out of the 75 yrs of my 'life'. I have been reduced to a chemicallized zombie. What great tragedy for millions of unsuspecting 'lab rats' to the $$$ pharmaceutical industry of death. Thats exactly what they are. They corrupt their clinical trial findings. These clinical trials are too fukking short to convince the FDA that these poisons are beneficial for long term use, when actually they are harmful. Pharmaceuticals and organized religion are the cause of misery, evil and destruction for humanity. All about $$$, power. And control. WTF🤯, folks.

[@amynork]

Please tell me it gets better!! I’ve been on antidepressants for 27 years. I tapered over 4 months. I didn’t know it was too fast. Here I am 7 months off. I’m in a depression so bad that it takes me everything I have to get through the day. I don’t want to be here. I had a great month in March and then this has been the worse month I’ve had since I started this. I don’t know many people that have been on meds as long as me. I still have 2 to come off of.

[@lonnievisch6009]

How are you now? I am also 4 years of. Still waves and windows. And you??❤

[@tracymassimo2114]

My doctor told me the same thing that I'm the only one going through this of our patients. And I said to her I guarantee you that I am not, those patients that come in with tolerence symptoms, you just increase their dose.

[@14skmw46]

Having healing buddies helps so much 🧡

[@brandiwestpfahl7539]

I have ptsd from a car accident. I have a fear of driving now. Unfortunately the only way to get over it is to keep driving. I'm so thankful I am still driving.

[@martinez4560]

Thanks guys great interview, they help sooo much to give us hope. 🙏🏻❤️

[@susanmorgan4151]

My gp prescribed Paxil for 25 years. Tapered down for about a year...8 months off and dealing with blinding rage early on-now insomnia , mental bluntness , extreme fatigue. Thank you so much for validation .

[@petravazanska5707]

The insomnia scares me, but I guess I dont have a choice

[@krisd4534]

These stories and information that is shared helps save my life and keeps me advocating to the medical "professionals" who are ignorant. I was horrificly ct'd here in Oklahoma USA multiple times over three decades. SI attempts, lockups, abuse and more on these drugs. Grateful to be off all psych drugs and yo-yo evil nightmare since 2019. I still suffer with BIND and Akathisia due to all of the medical malpractice and abuse but I am grateful for information like this to help me piece my life back together at 57 from all the brain and cns damage. No immediate family for support. The online community saves my life!

[@lonnievisch6009]

You are sooo right. I was so happy to read and hear I was in AD protracted withdrawal instead of losing my mind!!!!❤

[@janesimpson8590]

yes, it's the anhedonia that is the most difficult.

[@reginastone7223]

God work 🙏🏽

[@michelebergman4336]

Is there ANYTHING to take to lower cortisol ? They need to develop drug to reduce the panic while going through withdrawals!!!! Like SUBOXON 4 OPIODS? The suicidal thoughts are endless & completely torture ! After 5 years of quitting BENZOS… I am still having to find ways to Create Calmness?

[@Jorla2020]

I would like to know this too. My mum is currently going through this. She’s completely housebound, scared to be alone and suicidal due to the constant extreme anxiety 😥

[@ayesh5544]

Ashwagandha reduces cortisol!

[@user-wb2yv7ll9d]

Thanks for sharing your story. The fact that you were able to cry is a healthy sign, as opposed to anhedonia and emotional blunting.

[@crookedrain771]

This man is a inspiration, he went through hell and made it. We need to hear from others like this man..

[@MedicatingNormal]

We will try to have others on! Stay tuned...

[@sking-n7j]

@@MedicatingNormal That would be great as there is not much in respect of protracted withdrawal from SSRI's the focus appears to be on Benzo withdrawal and rightly so but we need get it out there about antidepressants because it will probably be as big a problem as Benzos. Thank you and keep up the excellent work!!

[@crookedrain771]

@@sking-n7j I agree ☝️

[@petravazanska5707]

the gentleman explaining his grandmothers problem, i think about my mum, its the same!

[@haileysmom2358]

After a year of tapering my doctor is getting frustrated with me and wants to rush my along but I am resisting him. He has no understanding of withdrawal and doesn’t care what I want

[@MedicatingNormal]

You must be your own best health advocate. He works for you. If he is endangering your health by forcing you off meds too quickly, and has no understanding of withdrawal, you can fire him and find a doctor who works collaboratively with you.

[@zezezep]

well done. you.ve done your research and you know what you can do.

[@celiabuttigieg]

Thank you so much for this positive and life affirming message.

[@michelebergman4336]

PINK HIMALAYAN SALT WATER EVERYDAY 4 LOWERING CORTISOL & BALANCE MERVOUS SYSTEM🙏

[@petravazanska5707]

i want to stop paxil but i am so scared to get insomnia again!

[@healing.buddies]

Have you found fasting as a useful way to heal from withdrawal? Found several stories of people going on a 3 week fast that cured them

[@user-dg7sy8cz3b]

There are orders of magnitude between experiences. Not to discount anyones experience, however I suspect Nicole’s was worse. I do appreciate Peters candor and ability to articulate the subject. Thank you both!

[@MedicatingNormal]

Mine was hell. Sometimes, I wish we could trade bodies for a day. I'd like to see what others are enduring, just out of curiosity. Does that make me odd? -Nicole

[@lonnievisch6009]

Think about that a lot. I do understand you Nicole. You are a hero for what you endured. Our society is not ready for long term suffering. We need each other!❤ ( female, Europe, in protracted 38 month from ssri)

[@carolinecroft7029]

Thank you for the hope .

[@CorneliusSpivey]

God work Nicole 💜