Psychologist Stops Psych Meds After 25 Years and Here's What Happened

[@darlenebradley6756]

"We don't have to turn to medications to save us from life." Wow! What a deeply profound statement! God bless you both.

[@MystickalGoddess]

34 years now on 3mg of Xanax. I asked to be tapered last year and was discouraged. This January I pushed for it. I was told it would be a 2 year process or so. Any "meds" that take that long to taper should be banned. So far so good, I'm down to 2.5 soon to do 2.25mg. I will get there!

[@kevk741]

@@MystickalGoddess I am relieved they are telling you safer, and more realistic timelines. If I could have done it over, I would have taken several more years to taper the benzo. Take your time. Do not push through symptoms. Try and stay as functional as possible. I had my worst symptoms erupt months off. Even tapering cannot prevent tardive symptoms. When you get to 1mg slow it down.

[@krbaran3]

Would you share how you tapered 1/2 mg since January? How long did it take for you to feel better?

[@krbaran3]

I agree Xanax should be banned. It’s straight out of hell. I’m 61 years old on this and antidepressants for 28 years. In 6 years Ive managed to get from 6mg to 3mg. Started tapering again in June and it has completely wiped me out. I’ve never had suicidal ideation. However I have struggled greatly with it during this time. It’s terrifying. After being in the system for so long I would never go to a hospital. Support is so necessary but it feels like your dying a slow tortured death. I’ve gone through this for so long with so many meds. I’m just exhausted now.

[@cristleheart4266]

Yup..!!!!’ Good for you 💜🙏💕

[@atomicblonde2180]

​@caffrey1100 I was taking .05 4x daily for 15 years. I started tapering in Feb. And I'm down to .25 once a day. I plan on sticking at this dose till winter then taper more

[@CrystalBowen-z9w]

Thank You both for this interview. I myself have been on a SSRI for over 20 yrs. Tried getting off several times and the withdrawal was unbearable. I have felt like was just going to have to deal with the side effects for the rest of my life. Restless legs, dry mouth, no libido, weight gain, you talked about all these when others have looked at me like I'm just making excuses. I truly want to know what it feels like to be connected to life and have the energy to enjoy my grandbabies. You guys are truly making an impact by taking about it.

[@AliciaEldridge-l5c]

I have also been on an SSRI for 20 years, and have had horrible side effects from trying to stop it.

[@nancyfleming1693]

@@AliciaEldridge-l5c I'm right there with you!

[@ndestors]

@@AliciaEldridge-l5ctrying ? Success or not ?

[@ButterflyHustles]

My story on medication is remarkably similar ! Thank you for giving me hope in recovering from psych meds !

[@djtall3090]

Thanks for being so open and honest about your life. Much appreciated! Take care

[@kassi4837]

I think meds stunt social and emotional development and make it harder to know and face oneself and address underlying issues. If it doesn't directly cause an issue, it gets in the way of facing and resolving an underlying issue

[@tammybreen5046]

Thank you Lynne. I cried watching this. I have lived this exact life! Parkinson’s drugs for restless legs the effects of which I still carry. This could have been me talking. ❤

[@jolenekindiak8849]

I shared this on the Community Recovery Teams in my community voicemail to watch this educating video. I hope it goes viral because it is the TRUTH! I was 25 when I went to a psychiatrist for painful "experiences " so now I'm 40 and experienced side effects and withdrawal effects like crazy. I got fooled and now I'm stuck with how many meds.

[@sarahsasani]

I’ve been praying for confirmation these last few days as I’m about to start medication..and your video popped up at the moment i needed it and it spoke directly to my heart… I was prescribed a second anti depressant to try ( because the first one I had a severe adverse reaction to) and I’ve just been holding onto the box without taking my first dose as I know better due to all of the reasons you so eloquently shared 🙏 thank you both for a very genuine, intelligent and loving video I hope it will reach many 🎉 (it is definitely not the answer for most people and we have to learn to feel the pain and face the struggle in order to grow as difficult as that is ❤

[@kellywarden6076]

God bless you in what ever you are going through ❤ You have what it takes to get through any life issues, you are strong enough. I took antidepressants for 20 years, has taken me years to recover from them and my original issues were waiting to still be addressed. Overall they are not the answer. I'm glad you are seeing this now, instead of learning the hard way! 💞🙏🕊️

[@sarahsasani]

@@kellywarden6076 thank you so much for your thoughtful and kind words, it means a lot :) I wish you all the best on the path you are on too, lots of love and God bless x

[@kellywarden6076]

@@sarahsasani 💗💗💗

[@THXx1138]

Akathisia is different than restless leg syndrome. Being compelled to move is driven by a profound internal physical and mental agitation and restlessness of your entire being. It is a constant torture as if being electrocuted in both body and mind. Unless you have personally experienced this agony you can't fathom it.

[@Jannietime1]

I've had both in different stages of my life and they are worlds apart. RLS is uncomfortable and even weird and creepy in the sensations, Akathisia is unrelenting, unfathomable torment/torture like you've got a hold of a hanger that's shoved into an electrical outlet and you can't let go of it. It sounds like this lovely lady (who I admire) had a real hard time but it also doesn't sound like she had the neuro injury or we would have clearly heard the identifying words. I met a lady IRL yesterday who got off 3 drugs after 10 years, she tapered for 3 months and was fine. I wish I'd never talked to her as her nonchalant attitude made me feel like I was making up a story to dramatize my experience. I'm not saying this lady has that attitude and there is hope that she can learn about the serious level of years of nonstop trauma some of us endure.

[@kevk741]

RLS is pseudo akathisia if it is not accompanied by the inner terror. It is still a subset of Akathisia.

[@kathryn7739]

Both related to a neurological issue, but like the other poster said, she did not seem to have a drug injury strongly associated with akathisia. I don’t mean to minimize her pain and suffering, but I think her restlessness in the legs was different.

[@Jannietime1]

@@kathryn7739 absolutely and am grateful that she has come off and is doing better and is able to help other people empower themselves.

[@graysonguice5956]

They're both kinda like cousins from the sound of it though Akathesia is way worse

[@owent1166]

This is terrifying, why is there not more attention for this? I’ve never had a doctor discuss this with me.

[@kathryn7739]

Exactly! Psychiatry is a scam, but nobody is doing anything about it.

[@kevinroy1736]

doctors are taught these effects are mental illness and the pills don't cause it

[@absoluteauto4]

Because one of the largest industries in the world is in control of it. They know exactly what it's doing. Or the more cynical look, it's being done on purpose.

[@tikat]

money, to put it simply

[@LostLevelMusic]

I have anhedonia after coming off Sertraline 10 months ago. I was on SSRIs 12 years. I've tried to come off it for the last 3 years but the anhedonia is so bad, I don't enjoy anything barely. It's so nice to hear that healing is possible and it is worth persevering to the other side

[@obbyjep7597]

It seems very common to go through a bad experience and get stuck on meds , so many people are on these meds and think they can never stop even though it hasn't helped.

[@kathryn7739]

I think that is what happened to me. I was in a bad situation and put on meds. Now, I just have a diagnosis and don’t feel good at all. I even question everything that I went through because I did feel like a victim. I don’t think I can walk away from this because they think I need the meds. They need to take responsibility. Nobody can explain anything in this stupid field.

[@obbyjep7597]

@@kathryn7739 in the end it's your body so you ultimately should be the one to decide what goes in, most doctor's don't seem to really understand or I think most cases woulnt need these drugs. If you knew the effects of them you probably wouldn't have started in the first place and pushed harder to find other ways of getting through the tuf situation. I know I would have. I was able to taper off ssri and feel so much better I'm pissed right off that the part of life on them almost feels wasted. You could try a slow taper, ride it out and get back to your baseline and probly feel so much better

[@obbyjep7597]

@@kathryn7739 I think once you realize what is happening you can start to make very small changes at a time and get off these meds in most cases. A lot of docs really don't understand how these things work and the side effects. Multiple meds make it harder to know what's going on. Ultimately you decide what goes in your body. If it's any hope to you I know first hand how much better life can be after, exercise, healthy eating and other personal things help and important

[@obbyjep7597]

@@kathryn7739 I can't seem to comment back to you. Gets deleted. Back to watching fart videos.

[@MistyRane]

Fascinating. Thanks for the Insiders View. I think she should write a book about her journey

[@MARCIA.ZZZZZZ]

Thank you so much. I had no hope of ever getting off my antidepressant.

[@marianneellman1139]

You have to feel the pain to grow!!!!!!so very true,l have been stuck on meds for 40 years if l kept believing the psychiatrist that l needed them.totally swallowed the whole sorry lie!!! This thinking keeps you stuck.l desperately want to come of my meds,but until l can get someone that can guide me l will have to keep putting up with the side effects ....the doctors will just tell you to wean off over a fortnight...l know this to be dangerous. I hope anyone reading this will think carefully before they use the meds long term,or even ever! It is a huge step forward for this knowledge to becoming available and being shared on this channel. Thank you Doctor Josef.

[@kathryn7739]

40 years is a long time. They have told me that I need to take meds for the rest of my life. They tell me I need the drugs.

[@marianneellman1139]

​@kathryn7739 it is the greatest lie ever told... We don't ever need them for life.... Maybe for a short stint while we work out what it is we need to face or come to terms with in our lives.. Looking back l know this to be true! And watching others go on the drugs l can see what has happened in there world that they haven't realised themselves. Any way back to my situation, when l was twenty and had my first baby l was a bit teary at my postnatal check up. The doctor said "we have this New Drug take these you will feel right as rain in no time:" That's where it started,back in the day you trusted your doctor. So when l wanted to go of them because of side effects of course l got withdrawl symptoms as we have now learned, the doctor said oh no there is NO withdrawal You Must Need them!!!!!! So fast forward If only l knew then what l know now....l WAS right all along!!!!! Sadly that doesn't make things right now! I am waiting to find a practitioner that can guide me through a long taper... They have robbed me of living to my full potential and more... How long have you been on yours? And what makes YOU think you will need them for the rest of your life?❤

[@ndestors]

Hello. Did you stop successfully AD ?

[@kiwitraveller6451]

My son now has tongue movements and yes has the urge most of the time to get up and move...he is going through hell. been on different toxic drugs benzos and psych drugs now since 2013...misdiagnosed back then with Vit B12 deficiency...still fighting the system and getting nowhere...being fobbed off get the run around all the time and then they keep him on the MH Act. I could scream...

[@lavernmartin7918]

This is our story as well...since 2016.

[@richman1822]

As more and more clinicians experience these medications both taking them and tapering off, maybe these experiences will help slowly change the medicating only approach we seem to be at in our culture.

[@thepresentmoment369]

I'm so glad this is being talked about more. I only wish there were more places that offered slowly titrating patients off their meds. Because the lower you go the harder it gets when getting off. You have to go really slow.

[@samward8154]

Prescribing Prozac to a feeding mother is a new low, that psychiatrist needs to be struck off. Pharma wants us on on longterm drugs, how much would 25 years of antidepressants cost in the US?

[@AliciaEldridge-l5c]

This is terrifying! Even after being off of the drugs, there were symptoms for 8+ more years!? I feel like I’ll be on an SSRI forever. (20 years now)I don’t want to go through this.

[@DavidB.Fischer]

The story is so compelling.

[@florencekirsch]

I skipped through this a bit hoping it would get more relevant to SSRI’s and Benzodiazepines, for example. But it didn’t

[@ijustrealllylikecats]

I was hurt by Droperidol in the ER. Just one dose, I had a horrible traumatic reaction, and now I have Long QT Syndrome, this year I've been through Torsades de Pointes in January, and a heart attack last month (apparently you can have a heart attack without a blockage) frequent runs of nsvt, atrial tachycardia, ventricular bigeminy, and more. My heart was fine before the droperidol. Apparently it was taken off the market years ago because of the cardiac risks, but it was recently put back into use with doctors insisting that it's not actually dangerous. But it's ruined my life. Just looking at the reviews for it online, I'm seeing so many people that had immediate reactions that were traumatic. This drug is hurting people, the risks outweigh any benefits when there are other drugs that can be used.

[@jeffzest8393]

Well my 25+ year taper failed after 22 months at 0.55 mg due to external stressors. Back up to 1.125 a day. Has insomnia for first time in life for five weeks until Remeron, then had wavelike withdrawal symptoms for hours every day for a few weeks. Now that gone but have heightened anxiety and muscles week from bed rest. Even psychiatrist ps ignorant of protracted..,,appears have although some say unmasked anxiety. Do not have traditional CNS symptoms of protracted except intermittent tinnitus, but that was what started me on alprazolam and it worked.

[@jeanf8998]

I first had RLS when pregnant in 1967. I think I had an iron deficiency. Today I still have it.

[@Mitch-lb4pc]

Can you interview Dr. Hellen Fisher. She's on the right track about this topic.

[@Mothyone]

I was like ohhh when I learned I had given myself bind from cold turkey stopping my prescription for Xanax

[@Mothyone]

I wanted to crawl out of my skin

[@Mothyone]

It passes!!!

[@MARCIA.ZZZZZZ]

My old fashioned before SSRI's med I was put on years ago saved my life. But then I was put on an SSRI. 40 years later I need to go off it.

[@Johnnybegood1234]

What was your old fashioned medication?

[@MARCIA.ZZZZZZ]

@@Johnnybegood1234 Imipramine . I'm telling you iit took took 6 weeks to fully work but I went from a totally non functioning person to a normal person like magic. I was for the lack of a better word having a nervous breakdown and doubled over with chest pain from anxiety as well. I was sick enough to be hospitalized but the 2 people working with me managed to keep that from happening. I will never forget starting to feel better and slowly until 6 weeks turn back into a human being. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I didnt care about the side effects. I was so grateful.

[@djdanzy]

@@Johnnybegood1234 most likely a tryclicic? Anafranil probably.

[@albitaisback]

I was on Lexapro for close to 25 years. I got QT prolongation. I noticed it because my blood pressurre was going from 50's to 200's. I had to insist to be hospitalized. Sure enough, I was diagnosed with QT prolongation. Problem is all SSRIs cause QT prolongation. Quitting is not the big problem. The problem is what do you do after when you need meds.

[@djdanzy]

@@Johnnybegood1234 it was probly anafranil.

[@tanyatalkstoomuch]

1:09:39 OMG I've went decades 😭😭😭 just going of meds now. I'm so sad 😔😔😔

[@indigobunting2431]

Dry mouth from meds ruined my teeth.

[@eugeniobarberis3750]

doctor i really would like to have an appointment with you but im from italy and i don t if its possible , thank you

[@ndestors]

I am on AD since 1999. 25y and was interested about how did she taper…. Interview Is a bit confused and didn’t really explained how did she recovered from AD. Im from France and my english isn’t so good but that didnt really help me.

[@kevk741]

My akathisia offending medications were almost always opiate (methadone) + klonopin. My experience is akathisia breaks through and then you are stuck with worse akathisia while you taper. Your worst symptoms might even still be to come? Most of my worst neurological symptoms erupted tardive months after I stopping them. I also brought in Adderall several times trying to manage the anhedonia and issues with focus and energy. It felt like it helped but, when it wore off, the interdose/withdrawal was brutal while in aka. You want to take it around the clock it’s so bad.

[@wadeharris348]

I've been on 200mg of lamatrogine for 5 years since being diagnosed but always question as well. I'm never sure if it was a proper diagnosis and now I'm very far into my life where tapering off could be an issue. So I'm unsure where to begin. I need my cognitive abilities back now and to somewhat feel again. Any suggestions?

[@DavidJones-ib3zy]

Gotta have a " Diagnosis " to be able to get prescription meds . $$$$$ For the Drug Co's I also diagnosed myself via " The Book Abnormal Psychology in Modern Life " & the "DSM " .At the age of 29 or 30 Y/O

[@Oz011-z4v]

This sounds quite confusing, there’s no clarity in how was the tappering going or what symptoms she was experiencing…

[@larissa_7729]

they put me on Seroquel trazodone Ambien klonopin at the same time.. and I had to take Benadryl PRN for allergies. I lost all my upper teeth and on my bottom from the severe dry mouth and no one ever told me at all that was a side effect of these meds. Sending my teeth just started getting horribly thin, enamel and rotting from large cavities. I didn’t know why

[@Guylene1]

Benadryl has diphenhydramine. diphenhydramine comes with a host of problems of its own far worse than allergies. You might wake up one day and have trouble speaking, difficulty understanding, insomnia….

[@Guylene1]

How about how medications affect your DNA? Or how medications affect you when you already have pathogenicity in several areas of your genome? Or how does those medications potentially cause irreversible DNA damage leading to a host of diseases and faster disease progression down the line?

[@katiesssriexperience]

I’m currently trying to taper off of my Lexapro, and I went too fast. The symptoms are not pleasant 😒 How do you know if you’re in protracted withdrawal, or if you’re just experiencing withdrawal symptoms from tapering off the medication?

[@mazymonroe8749]

When you don't start feeling 'normal' again. E.g. I'm 20 months cessation and still experiencing acute withdrawal symptoms.

[@johannawarrington4633]

What to do my doctor won't help me with stopping with Trazodon.

[@thoward5053]

If a doctor doesn't listen to me I go to another doctor. That goes for me or my son. I know that can be hard outside the US. It's like any relationship in life, if you're not being respected it's time to move in.

[@DavidJones-ib3zy]

Strange how everyone is different , I took Prozac , Pazil , Effexor , from 1992 2001 on and off . Then got on Prozac in 2008 ( 20 -80 mg a day ) , quit all Prozac last Summer , but started 20 mg again last Nov . I am starting to wean that again , I been on Methadone for 21 years ( my constipation was bad ) & my stomach is messed up + I have taken Xanax for 20 years strait , Now I just feel un motivational & enjoy nothing . I did have RLS in the past ( when I took antihistamines ) . I know she has worked hard but she does seem to have $$$$ & that helps tremendously IMO . I just worry about everything . ......IDK ? God Bless everyone , P.S. I have thought I have Benzo Belly even tho I'm not tapering , hmmm the Methadone could cause more than the Constipation , ???

[@mpat100]

blessings and healing for you David; I hope you are doing well now

[@mollyram2997]

It is likely the benzos. They cause major stomach issues and the methadone is causing constipation. I hope you’re doing alright and I wish you well. There’s such a big correlation between the gut and our brain..

[@DavidJones-ib3zy]

@@mollyram2997 I have suspected that for a few years now plus my home life is way to hectic to even try to taper either med & being 53 y/o don't help . Thanks for your kindness & blessings to you and yours .

[@zezezep]

My thinking is tapering off meds should take years. Years not weeks!

[@Guylene1]

Unfortunately, for some people, long term irreversible damage can occur and be more severe. Then it’s a battle with how to cope with those symptoms. Cognitive impairment, vision loss, hearing loss, agitation, nerve damage….

[@princeq1]

Could this be classified as dependency?

[@blairsterling6141]

Psychiatry and psychology need patients to bring in money. Therefore, they will tell you, that you need help, and tell you drugs can help. This is all for them to make lots of money. The NEED patients to make money !!! So, knowing that, they only care about their revenue. They have little care for people to improve. Whst they want is MONEY! 😡

[@dave91863]

I feel high as a kite on zoloft 50mg, the withdrawl was so bad i had to reinstate, i couldnt even leave my home

[@kevinroy1736]

interesting. do you feel high? or things are just off? I was on lexapro 30mg. I can tell you I felt very off on it.

[@dave91863]

@@kevinroy1736 just zombified its like a milder version of being stoned, i can sit and stare at a wall all day and not be bothered, withdrawl includes extreme fear/anxiety, hallucinations, nightmares, suicidal deppression, rage, i just couldnt take it anymore so went back on the sertaline which has seased all symptoms, i just feel emotionless now, which is better than how i felt before.... alot better

[@dave91863]

@@kevinroy1736 my reply got deleted, looks like you cant talk about withdrawl and how the drug makes you feel

[@RainyDayWithTheSpoon]

Hi. I love your content BUT.... If you are going to go 'uh-huh' or 'mm-hmm' (which I'd rather you didn't) when your guest is speaking then you need to pass your audio through a high pass filter... due to the proximity effect and your use of a much higher quality microphone than she is using there is a boom on your interjections that is more disruptive than the interjections themselves... at least you could make some attempt to balance the audio sources... this can be done easily with a free audio editor like audacity and would not take long... Especially for people whose nerves are on edge as they are in withdrawal it would make for a far more comfortable and less jarring listening/viewing experience.. because the way I am feeling almost off amitriptyline and itching and irritable as crazy I want to throttle you for not having taken proper care of your audio and am close to prematurely terminating this viewing.. thanks! Actually I have too... it's way too irritating!!! Best wishes and thanks for what you do!

[@RainyDayWithTheSpoon]

If you are reading this and are similarly pissed off... i have decided to view this through the tiniest of speakers to ameliorate Josef's annoying booming... but I am coming close to processing the audio myself to make it more bearable.

[@xcw4934]

I think the desire for people to want to belong to a group is a really strong motivator for diagnosis seeking, especially for young people. Being a teenager is super lonely. Having social media and seeing other people be successful and happy only makes you feel lonelier. If you have a label then you immediately have a group. I can totally see why that's so attractive.

[@jeanf8998]

37

[@Blondy321]

Dr Eric Berg's wife?

[@Jezton11]

I have been drugged thw fuck out for 3 days straight

[@DavidJones-ib3zy]

I'm sorry to hear that . GL

[@jimpowers9553]

This woman is supposed to be an academic trained and have thorough knowledge of these medications. What the hell was she thinking or not thinking taking all that junk. Where was she educated? I think it says Argosy on her diploma. Mmm

[@mollyram2997]

They have a bias in medicine and training. Dr Josef has addressed this and covered that topic quite a few times on his channel.

[@mollyram2997]

Why do you think these docs feel so comfortable prescribing these meds to so many? Very few will do what Dr Josef and his wife did and test out all the different drugs and their side effects before continuing prescribing. That is almost unheard of.

[@kathryn7739]

@@mollyram2997 I would echo this sentiment. I think people who enter the fields of psychology and psychiatry naively drink the koolaid so to speak. The belief in how people are treated in the “system” is indoctrinated into them. Dr. Josef actually goes against the grain and questions all of it because it just doesn’t seem right. It’s commendable.

[@smooth_pursuit]

She’s a psychologist not a psychiatrist. They’re not trained in medications

[@johnnyecoman9121]

​@@smooth_pursuitpsychiatrists take these drugs themselves. There are at least two psychiatrists on this channel who had serious problems with these drugs. As a society we have become massively dependent on these drugs