It’s Not Your Fault You Took Psych Drugs

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I wanted to address something that comes up time and again when I talk to people who are coming off psych drugs: we blame ourselves for taking the medication in the first place.

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About me:

I was 11-years-old when I was first taken to a psychiatrist. I soon received a diagnosis of OCD and the medication Luvox, an antidepressant, to treat it. This sequence of events kickstarted nearly two decades of wandering through the often exit-less maze that is the U.S. mental health system. By the time I was 25, I had received a half-dozen diagnoses, taken countless psychiatric drugs — including ten straight years on antipsychotics, and had more side effects than I could keep up with or manage. I weighed 400 lbs (181 kg), had out-of-control Type-2 Diabetes, and felt like I was dying. And honestly, I had felt so bad for so long — I almost welcomed it.

But then, I experienced a spark of hope. A light bulb-over-the-brain moment. Maybe I didn’t have to live the way I’d been living. Even though the belief had been put in me at a young age that coming off my meds would surely seal my doom, something inside me told me to take a chance. Using this internal guidance, I began my psych drug taper and slowly started coming off every one of the drugs in my psych drug cocktail. Lexapro, Concerta, Ritalin, Geodon, Ativan, and Rozerem. All were on the chopping block.

I’ve been off all meds for 7 years now, and haven’t seen a psychiatrist since way back in 2009. It’s been a journey down a long, difficult path. One that was often too dark to see in front of me, and littered with pitfall after pitfall. But I survived. And my life has been improving, slowly but surely, ever since I escaped the psych drug-induced haze and the unhelpful beliefs that had filled my mind for the better part of two decades.

If you’re wandering down the same path, please know you’re not alone. And that you’re not fated to lose your way. It gets better.

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Support Calls:

Just put “Support Call Notification” in the subject line and you’ll be added to the list!

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Disclaimer:

Any advice given on this channel is not a substitute for medical advice. Please consult with a licensed medical professional before coming off psych drugs. Never—EVER—discontinue your medication cold turkey. It's too dangerous. Please be safe.

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Please note:

This is a judgment-free space as far as whether or not you take psychiatric drugs, or receive any kind of mental health services. Above all, we at this channel encourage each person to figure out and do what’s right for them. Life’s too short for anything else.

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My videos are made using the following software: Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Audition
Комментарии
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That’s where I’m at…20 years on psych drugs…was never depressed…I only had severe concentration problems…however I was so scared for it return so I asked the dr for an antidepressant …and it lead on on off meds my whole life…extreme withdrawals…and still healing

suzannedutoit
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I try to remember I was suicidal before i went to the psych ward, and i might be dead if I didn't go for help, though it was a bit of a deal with the devil as i still died in some way. I am learning a new language now and trying to rebuild my ability to even read and communicate, and hopefully learn to draw again too

VampireSquirrel
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Thank u...I never believed in nor wanted my son on meds...he was diagnosed SMI, schizophrenic at 25 and went thru years of hell, as have I, and was in and out of hospitals, jail, homeless, all while I was trying to help him ...then he got violent and I knew it hit so far bottom that I had to call a crisis team. Now he's on meds and it hurts me to see him numbed and unmotivated. But, his aggression and violence scared me. So many schizophrenics end up in prison. I still believe he will recover in time. Thx for ur channel!

starrhall
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My family put me in a psyche ward which led to a community treatment order and 7 antipsychotic injections, after 5 months off injections I still don't have any interest in anything, lost my motivation, no personality, no energy or ability to exercise where as previously I was a gym junkie and very fit. I have improved quite a bit but I mourn the loss of myself.

simsim
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I regret taking psych meds. I’m still on them because I’m really scared of withdrawals and depersonalization. I didn’t want to take them but my parents took me to a therapist and psychiatrist when I was a teenager and I got on meds. They did help but they also changed me and I have no life in me left. I don’t know how to get off them though.

christiansaravia
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Same here too bro. Ive been diagnosed with ocd when i was 11 years old. Ive been on all type of psych meds i believe since i was 14 years old. Now i am finally coming off after 20 years.

ohmannotnow
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As for me, I think it is not myself that I blamed. What I felt was not that I am blaming myself. Rather I just felt an unsurmountable anger about the injustice that was done on me by the mental health system through medicating me with the horror drugs Risperidone and Olanzapine which I benefited non from but felt completely destroyed and incapacitated by.

matraiildiko
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Thanks for your video brother ! I've been one month under 6mg of Risperidone daily in a psych yard, i got out and decided to stop medication for my own health, it's been 14 days im off and I still have bad symptom and feel bad, but seeing you go through 10 years of antipsychotic and still there happy to talk with us gave me a smile and some hope

Nuit
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Hey russel. Good video. I've had bad luck with psychaitrists before. My first time with one was to go for a diagnosis 17 years ago on ADHD. I knew a kid who had the same problem and was on meds. Before his meds he was a normal happy active little boy. After his mom gave him the meds, he went from that to a drugged up zombie. That scared the hell out of me. I also came from a family that didn't really believe in psychiatric help. So I didn't have high expectations when I walked into that office. I needed help though. I had told him about that boy and said that I considered meds as an absolute bottom of the barrel last resort, meaning I would have to be hopeless. Well it took a few sessions of testing and I was diagnosed with ADHD. All the classic symptoms of it. The only thing is I was diagnosed at the age of 26. Despite me telling of my fears of taking meds, the first thing he did was reach for the pill pad. I asked 'What are you doing?' he said 'I'm writing you a prescription.' I told him there was no way I would take it, I didn't want to be a zombie. He wanted to write out a script anyways. I asked about other treatment options and he looked at me like I was nuts. I was then told that I knew how to handle it anyways, I was old enough. I got very upset and walked out mid session. Basically no help for adults diagnosed with ADHD. Tons of help for kids, but not much for adults even to this day.

I then tried to go for help depression and anxiety. I was given SSRIs on three different occasions, all of them made me worse. Either cutting off all of my feelings, or making my memory problems worse, or making me go into a rage. That last one made me quit meds and psychiatry all together for years. All I see is a talk therapist. It was only in the last month that I chose psychiatry again, but was discouraged after one session because the only treatment options were psychiatric drugs, CBD (aka weed), ketamine (aka A DATE RAPE DRUG!) or electro shock therapy. When I said no to all of those, I felt the doc just throw up his hands and he said that's all I can suggest. I've tried psychiatric drugs that made me worse, there was no way in hell I was taking 'prescription street drugs' since I deal with addiction issues, and electro shock is scary. He only listened to me for 20 minutes, that's all I could get for a session. So nothing changed in 17 years and in some ways have gotten worse. I left that session feeling worse and hopeless. Still feel that way.

wolfen
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My biggest regret in life was taking psychiatric drugs. An ssri gave me severe pssd. Chemically castarted and lobotomized for life. I cant stand living with no emotions, severe cognitive impairment, derealization and countless other symptoms. I refuse to keep living this way.

gemini-vibes
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I’m glad I found this channel. I am finally off of the antipsychotics. Yea I was blaming myself and my parents for bringing me to the doc, I still find it hard to believe that the doc didn’t know what he was prescribing. But it is good to hear that the whole system of our culture is set up for failure. I’m mean that is sick in itself but relieving. It took me 3 years of tapering. I’ve been clean for about 4 months. Still not in the clear. Kinda wondering how much longer do I need to expect before everything is ok?

jakedubose
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I was 10. A literal child. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 10, which isn’t even an appropriate age to diagnose at. I did not have many symptoms of mania besides not sleeping and hyperactivity.Not only that, but I was forced to take these meds for A whole decade. Now I’m about to be 20, And I’m constantly crying my eyes out because every time I try to stop despite weaning down so far the withdrawals are terrible. Like to the point that I need medical attention every time I miss a dose. Am I going to be stuck like this forever?

cloveerika
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hey man! thank you for the support and also love the way you are closing the video :D keep up :))

sehakeseli
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Hey I took setraline for about a month on 100mg and then vraylar for 2 weeks on the lowest dose (1.5 mg). I’ve been off psyche meds completely for about 2 months. Since I took them for such a short amount a time on relatively low doses, do you think I can recover completely? Don’t get me wrong I’ve come a long way, and I feel somewhat close to normal but there’s still somewhat of a disconnect, like some brain fog is still there. Do you think it’ll go away after a couple more weeks or months? I know you’re not an expert or anything I would just value your opinion.

EM-wowf
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I made a huge mistake taking sertraline a few weeks ago I can’t forgive myself, it’s left me with PSSD and I can’t feel any emotions anymore. PSSD can go away it just takes time so I’m just trying to keep going, I just started Wellbutrin and I’m on day six of taking it to help with the PSSD. Please pray for me❤ I want to find myself again and never touch another psych drug again.

oliviagross
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Hey, an idiot psychiatrist had me cold-turkey the bloody thing after 1 month 1 mg. I had a pretty adverse reaction to the drug (which of course was ignored and labeled as anxiety), and I'm now 9 months off and only partially better. What I'd like to know is, is ct likely to cause lasting damage? Everywhere I look is super vague and sugarcoaty. " You may experience uncomfortable effects". Yep chronic pain for 4 months sure is "uncomfortable"

thl
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Hello Russell. How did you reduce your dose? I have read that 5 to 10 percent reduction of original dose monthly prevent relapse. I am wondering how could we reduce 5 to 10 percent of dose? Practically is it possible. Kindly reply.

arunat
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i started with generalized anxiety back in 2002, and started medicating in 2005... my life was a lot lot lt better pre-medication!! now in 2023 im still wanting to stop taking meds!! how can i do that, cant find a doctor who knew how to make a retire

lucianogoyenechea
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i been planting messages that im stealing disability benefits online. i dont beelieve im schizo. i was right about not having mltiple sclerosis even though im rated a disability percent for it. in the past my doctor called police to welfare check me and get me back on meds. so now i think if i wasnt on disability then they cannot make me take the meds.
i argue with self diagnosed people about wanting it.

davinadavina
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Hey I'm about to come off seroquel prozac and concerta. I may keep the zopiclone for sleep but I feel so numb on these meds and dizzy .have you tryed any of those meds and how does it feel to be med free?is your sleep ok ?

morningstarscotty.