Psych Nurse 10 years here…… worked on psych ward of large hospital and saw psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants like they were dispensing jellybeans. Truthfully, I never once heard a doctor talk about side effects, long term effects, dangers, SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS, nothing. The physicians attitude was, “Oh, sounds like you are depressed. I’m going to prescribe an antidepressant for you and while you are here in the hospital for the next few days (for repeatedly threatening suicide or self harm or attempted suicide and IVC’d) please start taking them and we can talk about how you are feeling.” Day after day, week after week. Never once heard a doctor mention moderate exercise, getting outside, a break in routine, increasing socialization, etc. There was a pill for every problem. Excellent talk. You covered it all.
@@claireh.7605well society expect the doctors to "solve the problem" and preferably solve it quickly. They are using the tools they have at hand. It's easier to convince a patient to take a pill than to look over their life and make numerous changes some of which other people may sneer at or question. When society isn't feeling well the symptoms show up in people. To solve the problems you need a more holistic approach, as I see it. Holistic approaches sound expensive and uncertain to many people.
Well, we know about the opioid crisis. Doctors were lobbied to prescribe pain killers for all kinds of pain. Karl Marx called religion opium for the people. This was even better.
I would be dead today without SSRIs. I have been taking them for 30 years. I’ve tried to stop and within 6 days I’m having suicidal ideation and can’t get anything done. My life improved 100% after 2 weeks on the medication. And I still have very strong emotions, almost too strong. And I’m taking the max you should take. I am an artist and still very creative, no problems there. I have never had to up my dose. I would gladly give up a few years of life to feel normal and keep living. The alternative for me is death.
100% me. I think of ssris now as something like insulin, I simply need it for survival or else I cannot sleep, have continuous panic attacks, complete exhaustion, inabiliy to eat and maintain weight, etc. It's a miracle drug that only enhances my life and lifts my creativity to higher potentials because I'm not constantly distracted with the weight of "illness". 25 years of fighting against taking them, on and off for long durations, I'm now just in full acceptance and realize they really do help and enhance my life.
I agree, I don’t like this video bc it’s lowkey scaring people who are on psych meds or considering going on them. Some people have to stay on them for the rest of their lives and that’s okay! I’m on 5 different psych meds and at one point I was in and out of the psych ward 7 times in the span of 2 years. I’m finally stable for the first time and I don’t care that I’m on a lot of medication. It’s what’s keeping me alive and wanting to stay alive! ❤
I know antidepressants have helped many people but for me they just numbed all of my emotions. There’s no reason for me to be depressed at this time as I’m in a very happy marriage, I have good health, lots of blessings. I think it’s from childhood abuse and being raised by a cruel father. I’m trying to deal with it but I know I’ll never go on meds again. Thank you Dr J for this excellent video.
hey, I had similar response to yours and the drugs provided no relief, just numbness. have you looked into internal family systems (IFS) or compassionate inquiry or somatic therapy? childhood trauma is huge driver of adult depression, anxiety, addiction, etc. Dr. Richard Schwartz gave us IFS, Gabor Maté compassionate inquiry. tons of vids here, have been very helpful to me. wishing you all the best, and some relief and joy.
@@ericb8413 I think some people really do need them. I do feel that some people may be on stronger does than needed but perhaps I am wrong. However I did not want to go on them at all. One of my friends has been on them for many years and is emotionally blunted. No strong emotions of happiness or sadness ever.
Its great that you dont need medication to help with your mood 🙏 But your statement "i have no reason to be depressed" is in my opinion wrong and kind of offensive. I have litterally 0 reasons to be depressed, but still i am. You dont always have a reason to why you are depressed.
@@Den26juli She was speaking of her situation not yours. The lady has gone through a traumatic childhood and has been trying to find a way to get past depression.
@@shanecorr1694 When I cut my dose way down, my emotions came back. I never realized they were gone. I know that sounds crazy, but that's what happened. I never did anything for fun. Since almost being off if them, I've obtained tickets to two concert, complelty cleaned out my yard, and am now in the process of planting in the flower beds. I never cared about any of that before. I feel like I have 6 years of life to catch up on.
Eight weeks after my husband passed away my sister - a nurse for 30 years at that time - kept i insisting that I needed antidepressants. We had been married for 33 years and he was a loving, supportive wonderful man with the wickedest sense of humour ever! She pushed me for months. She could not understand why I was profoundly sad, weepy and listless. I did not go on them.
There are events we experience in life ... not a reason to start taking a pill, that God knows how it will long turn effect be. Say no to these pill pushers!! They are all into it for the MONEY.
I was diagnosed with clinical major depression, panic attacks and panic disorder when I was 19. I barely made it through school. I am now 65 and I have been on SSRIS the entire time. I'm fine and I suspect that they have kept me from having subsequent episodes. Editing my original comment as it may help someone else since I'm old - do not do what I did most of my life and rely exclusively on the meds. Get outside, EXERCISE, hike, walk, talk to somebody. Get a dog/cat. I told myself that my dep/anx was heredity, genetic in the family, not much I could do about it. Not true. Learn the self care skills, advocate for yourself. Fight this thing. A good source is the Therapy in a Nutshell channel. Wish I'd known her years ago.
The problem is you've actually no idea the body is made to balance itself. If you're relying on SSRIs for seratonin, your body has probably stopped making it itself as it doesn't need to. If you tried to come off it now you may find your body cannot ever make it itself again. That's three per of the body to calibrate to what is put into it
Problem is, you've no idea. Your body always calibrates itself to accommodate for what goes into it. If you tried to come off SSRIs now you may find you can't as your body may never make it's own seratonin again. It may have stopped the ability to since your giving it artificially
Such a relief to see medical professionals talk about this. I had bad depression a decade ago and instead of taking anti-depressions I asked for a full blood panel. I showed up as severely anaemic and within 2 days of taking iron felt my depression lift. Over the following few months, the anaemia was discovered to be a symptom of ovarian endometriosis, which was treated and allowed me to become and stay pregnant. I can't even imagine where my life would be if i had just taken SSRIs. My anaemia and endometriosis would have worsened while I treated a symptom of my illness without diagnosing the root cause.
My sister in law was admitted to an inpatient facility for her depression, thankfully part of their intake is a very thorough physical. They discovered she had a severe autoimmune disease! Now she’s getting the treatment she actually needs. No doctors or visits to the psych ward had discovered her true illness for years before this!
Definitely a goood idea to get a complete physical when diagnosed with MD and anxiety. There could be a phys cause. They didn't do that when I was diagnosed back in the stone age.
I’m jealous. I know I had endometriosis and rather than that be resolved- surgery wasn’t covered by medical insurance and or the people seeing me didn’t insist I do it. I can’t remember. They never tested my blood. They looked at my thyroid. Many years later a nurse said I had a B 13 and Vitamin D deficiency. Both can be why I was sick younger. Frustrating. Spent 20 years with the stigma of mental illness. And never got my life back.
Im on an anti-anxiety med, and on antidepressants and anxiety meds for 10+ years, on top of working in the medical field. While I agree that antidepressants and the like are handed out like opiods used to be, there GENUINELY are people who need these all the time. I dont feel like any of my other emotions are blunted, its nearly entirely my anxiety, depression, runaway thoughts, anxiety attacks, etc. Even with extensive therapy for longer than I've been on the meds, I have never been able to deal with those issues in any other way. You talk about long term concerns on peoples life, but the short term is me literally not dying because of my mental health.
I completely agree. I take maximum dose of SSRI daily for 15 years. Took me out of disabled psychotic hell. No side effects, no diminishment of feelings, no reduction in benefits. Sometimes the cause of mental illness is wrong brain chemicals, perhaps similar to an epileptic or ADHD.?
I’ve tried REALLY hard to not be on SSRI’s. I’ve been on them since I was 18 and I’m now 35. I have a panic disorder that leads to debilitating panic attacks, heart palpitations etc. I feel “normal” and able to function with them. I know this doesn’t work for everyone
Antidepressants have caused so many more problems in my life than they ever assisted with. As for antipsychotics being used as "antidepressants" or even sleep aids -- NO. THIS IS MALPRACTICE. The dangers of antipsychotics in a non-psychotic population far outweigh the perceived off-label side-effects ("treatment goals")
I just recently fired a doctor for continuously prescribing me anti-psychotics for depression after several decades of severe abuse. I talked to him for less than 10 minutes before he prescribed them to me. Prescribing anti-psychotics for anger and depression is like prescribing morphine for a broken finger. MASSIVE overreaction. Here are the things that happened to me as a result of being on them for less than 1 month: -Tardive dyskinesia that was so bad that I couldn't eat (my jaw was grinding involuntarily, so I couldn't open my mouth; I literally had to force my mouth open with my hands). My legs would also randomly twitch, so I kept falling over. -Gained 10 pounds. -Daytime sleepiness -Couldn't sleep because of the tardive dyskinesia.
I think a psychiatrist knows better than you, you obviously don't read the instructions because insomnia and depression resistant to other drugs are indications for their usage. I've been on 8 different antipsychotics for almost 10 years and I didn't notice any side effects (aside from clozapine and terrible drooling)
@@Silenceeify Psychiatrists are specifically trained to simply offer as many drugs for as long as possible as "treatment'. And if you get any side-effects from them, then they'll offer you another drug to combat the side-effects of that one before they consider taking you off of it. The number of doctors who don't do that are like, 1/10. I just fired a doctor for doing this less than 1 month ago. They're banking on people having blind faith in them. The vast majority of doctors only care about their pocket book, not their patients.
I was on antidepressants for years, and it’s exactly like you said. Start with one, works for a while then the dose needs to be increased, then it stops working, then the doctor puts me on a different antidepressant, it works for a while, gradually dose needs increasing, then stops working and so on and so on. I also read studies where long term use has detrimental side effects in your heart.
2022 - Long-term antidepressant use may double the risk of heart disease, finds the most comprehensive epidemiological study to date to investigate ..."There is a lot of evidence, from other research, that depression is associated with increased cardiovascular disease," he said. "Clearly, there's behavioral things (associated with depression), where people might not look after themselves as well, and there may also be hormonal changes and metabolic changes which might increase risk of physical illnesses in the longer term. "Without a (randomized controlled trial), it's always going to be really, really difficult to make any inference
I also went through this process for 12 years or so. The brain getting 'used' to a drug can't be a good thing I imagine. I've been off pills altogether 12 months, I'm only just starting to get a bit of feeling back after 12 months of feeling almost nothing! I worry many people will have to go through this to get their brains back to normal
I have had depression since I was 6 years old. I am 65 now. I struggled for years to cope without being suicidal or a walking zombie. I initially started medication after I tried to take my life one night. It’s taken a lot of trials with different medications to find one that had minimal side effects and that gave me a sense of control over my depressive state. I have navigated extreme depression with and without medication and I am now in a stable condition with a particular medication that doesn’t make me a zombie. My siblings all have dealt with depression. Our childhood’s were not so great and we all have differing reasons. We don’t discuss depression. I’m satisfied that my current treatment is working well despite suffering the loss of several close family members and my daughter. At this point, I am not concerned about long term use. It’s doing its job well.
Exactly my experience. I was 50 years old before the right anti depressant was prescribed. 24 years later, I won’t give it up for any reason. I wouldn’t be here today without it.
I have tried to wean off the meds before and experienced severe problems with mood fluctuations and sui*dal thoughts. Have at times been on 2 antidepressants at once but caused TK and I stopped the add on. The maintenance dose I take is adequate to function and I plan to continue with it. The additional medication was for a situational depression due to my sister and her family dying from Covid in one month’s time. My father had died exactly a year before that. I’m coping ok now, just getting through it all. I’m not a stranger to grief, I have lost 2 of 3 children. Not everything is going to have a cut and dried answer.
Wow, I didn't realise how long ppl stay in them! Don't the effects of them plateau, so what's the point being on them? But I guess the severe withdrawals is the main factor ppl stay on them.
I grew up in depression as a child. I dreamed of suicide daily and self hatred, on the outside I had a smile on my face. In my twenties, I wasn’t sleeping and hit rock bottom. I met a counselor, who would not put me on antidepressants. I am so thankful. Thru her I finally faced all of the mental and sexual abuse from my family and abusive marriage. It was painful getting it all out but 30 years later, I am happy and whole. Sometimes the extreme anxiety comes around , but I stop and tell myself where it is coming from.
I'm glad to see more MDs talking about the growing link between Autoimmune Disorders and mental health. As someone with an AutoImmune disease that was misdiagnosed and mistreated as Bipolar for years, I think every psychiatric provider should be considering these in their differentials. It's an actual night a day difference in mental health being treated properly, going from anti-depressants to anti-inflammatory medications.
Serious autoimmune diseases like MS also involves serious meds such as immunosuppressive drugs. Putting the patient at much higher risk of cancer long-term. Such as what happened to my twin. But things like Hashimotos, yes, I agree with him by changing diet and then taking the HRT when hypothyroid, such as what I have. But antidepressants can be good for some people both short and long-term. This guy has no clue by generalizing like a fool.
@@24JJ821 Hard agree. The moment he talked about diet fixing autoimmune conditions and subsequently fixing depression I knew not to take him seriously. When diet fixes autoimmune symptoms, it doesn't cure them completely but often minimizes them. If it were really cured, then you could eat whatever you want without side effects. I am someone with an incredibly limited diet for health reasons, changing my diet made massive strides in my pain, fatigue, and many other symptoms. But it didn't make it all go away. The connection is immense and massively understated, but it's more of a correlation or one of multiple contributing factors than a sole cause and effect narrative, and that is an incredibly important distinction to make. He's working off of half baked notions and it's a dangerous game.
Antidepressants have been a transformative intervention in my life for nearly two decades. They have effectively alleviated persistent anxiety, significantly improving my emotional well-being. The efficacy of antidepressants can be likened to a key unlocking a lock. Over the past 20 years, I have never contemplated discontinuing this remarkable medical advancement. It is crucial to recognize that advocating for the cessation of antidepressant use is akin to suggesting that a diabetic individual should discontinue insulin therapy. While it may be desirable to live free of prescription medications under ideal circumstances, the reality is that many individuals, including myself, do not fit into this category.
You have been braiwashed, comparing antidepressants to diabetic issues people have when they lack of natural insuline in their bodies is a markiting tool pharmaceutical companies invented. Truth is truth.You belive in illusion.
It's an emotional well-being that doesn't belong to you though since you didn't produce it yourself. Can you see what I mean? It's okay if you don't. What is wrong with not being perfectly fine all the time? That's how we learn and become stronger; by supering difficulty after difficulty without resorting to drugs and escape. The most important thing in your life is that your emotions are genuine. By altering your emotions you practically live a life that isn't really yours. Depression is a natural part of life. Completely natural. You've been conditioned into believing you need to medicate. And "fix" yourself to fit the narrative of this society. To get to this truth one needs to arrive to a few enlightenments. In the natural way.
@@camillawikingWhat you’re describing is _sadness,_ not actual depression. They are two very different things. “Life-coaching” your way out of serious depression isn’t an option, unfortunately.
@ettbattresverigenu There are a subset of individuals who truly need medication. I am one who will continue to have severe melancholic major depressive episodes if I don't stay on my antidepressant. There are other forms of depression that I can deal with by using therapy, exercise, diet, socializing, etc. However, the former needs medication or I would be completely non functioning and causing damage to myself.
Check out Psychotropical..dr Ken Gillman in Australia..an expert on the MAOI group of antidepressants. I’ve taken them for over 40 years and now permanently. Life saver.
I've studied psychology for a number of years in pre-med coursework. What I find amazing about this discussion is that it does not address the topic of combining of drug therapy and psychotherapy. From what my college professors have stressed is that many psychiatrist will refuse to prescribe antidepressants without having their patient ALSO follow through with psychotherapy. Engaging in psychotherapy addresses the issue of identifying the origins of depression and engaging in talk therapy to resolve those issues often leading to a reduction or discontinuance of prescribed psychiatric meds all together.
My family doctor just pulled out her prescription pad. There was no counseling, no discussion of diet change, no inquiry about home life. Just "oh you're depressed", "take this drug". The PCP's are handing this stuff out like candy with no support to go with it.
I was on the SSRI-Lithium-Diazepine treatment cycle for about 17 years. I found the ssri's started to have the opposite effect at that point. I have been off of all of that type of medicine for 23 years now. You are correct though I am damaged emotionally and live alone. I am happy to have survived the bad meds at least.
When I went on antidepressants I was with an abusive spouse, and I was working with horrible colleagues in my job. There seemed to be nothing good in my life except my kids. I got divorced, and that piled upon financial stress. Antidepressants saved my life and helped me work with horrible people at work, horrible friends, and horrible family members. I don’t have any of those awful people in my life anymore.
I was on Effexor for 7 years. I quit cold turkey in October. Since quitting I have been going through absolute hell!! Horrible anxiety & depression, complete loss of confidence, no motivation, cannot set goals & achieve them. This is not me! I just want the real me back! I believe I am in the throes of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome.
I did the same in 2019 and felt similar withdrawal symptoms. Reinstated after 7 months...it took higher dosages to feel OK....then waited 4 months and started tapering very slowly at rate of 10% of current dosages. Worked better for me that way...Still taking effexor but much less dosages
Yes Effexor are known for bringing terror. I would reinstate and taper very slowly when you are stabil again. 10% taber is to much for many, I would do 5%. I have been there myself I know how it is. Slow is fast. And be extra careful when you get to roughly 20 mg then taper even slower 1-2% a month.
You might need to reinstate if you suffer from akathesia or SI. If so a low dose might be sufficient to stabilize. You will heal but might take longer than if you would've done hyperbolic taper.
Yep, my emotional energy, that intuitive feeling that there might be something magical and satisfying in the future for you. I stopped talking to family, I get really irritated and become mean, I fake being normal, I don't go out to people anymore, just stay by myself and go to work and gym or coffeeshop.
Omgosh you seriously must feel terrible. I’m so sorry. Effexor is not an easy drug to taper from. Cold Turkey it just takes you down to Davy’s locker. I would not reinstate that drug! Dr Josef has many many videos on Effexor withdrawal, injuries and tapering. Stay with it.
@chellefell1331 Stuck on them? How do you mean that? I've taken them most of my adult life but have free will to wean down and quit at any time! How is that any different for you? I'm curious.
@chellefell1331 there is a way slow taper of 10 percent and hold six weeks. It will take years but doable. I'm off after 27 years took me 5.7 years to fo the hyperbolic taper off effexor.
I’m a retired physician. We were taught to downplay the side effects for fear we might give patients ideas! Most of medical education was about identifying the disease and what the drugs were to treat that disease. It’s only after I retired that I finally had time to do my own research that I figured out almost every disease could be fixed with a very low carb, ketogenic diet. The food pyramid was all about politics, and our regulatory agencies were bought off by big food & big pharma. Our food supply is contaminated with pesticides, preservatives and toxic additives. Our body was never meant to eat a highly processed, high carb diet. 90% of medical research is paid for by big food, big pharma, and the corrupt NIH.
My depression lifted with testosterone replacement after menopause. I am at optimal range now. But, my GP wanted to place me on a low dose SSRI. I said no way. found a GYN who specializes in hormone replacement I am 55 and feel 30 again.
I've been on every touted diet. Changing an individual's food preferences can cause a lot of stress. Two years ago I did the keto diet. Problem was I didn't eat any carbs. I lost 25 lbs in 25 days. I was so weak everytime I stood up I passed out. At 81, I'm not stressing over diets. I'm happy and for me that is hugh.
If not for antidepressants, I'm sure I wouldn't be here. Having said that, I don't think they are a cure, but a crutch to enable one to function on a basic level. I beleive I may have some damage from taking them for so many years. I have been off of them for 6 months and still experience brain zaps.
medication for life is effectively called palliative treatment. It's neither helpful longterm except to Drs/big pharma bank accts. They know it's not helpful esp long term but $$$$ is their Gd and they don't care about curing, healing or patients.
Good explanation. But the injury takes place for many while taking the drug. Some don’t have any withdrawal. But are left with the cognitive and neurological adverse effects they acquired while taking the antidepressants. This needs to be discussed more.
You are absolutely right! My doctor prescribed a SSRI for me after I fell into a heap after several deaths in my family. Somehow I ended up taking them for decades as a 'preventative' maintenance dose as recommended by the doctor. I am now in a protracted withdrawal and it is absolute hell! I DIDN'T sign up for this neurological damage 😢
I am a pharmacist and you hit the nail on the head with these 5 reasons. I think part of the problem is medications guidelines and dosages are developed by people who have never suffered with depression personally. There’s not an in depth understanding of how a person with depression experiences the world. This leads researchers to use antiquated outcomes as a measure of success.
The problem is not that these drugs DO NOT treat the root cause. If that was the case it wasn't as bad. The problem is that they PREVENT from reaching (and thus treating) the root cause, the interfere with treating the root cause, since they act as emotional antagonists. They prevent feeling, they INTERFERE with healing.
@@janedoe6704 depression is your body telling you things need to change. For some people they need to numb their feelings a bit in order to have the capacity to do the work. For people like me that's not a great idea as I need to have some discomfort to get me to the point of wanting to make changes. If I'm numbed out I don't have any incentive to try to change things.
@@1Jason yes I was on an antidepressant for a short time the only thing it did was make me numb and have no incentive to work on things. When I went off of the antidepressant the only thing that happened was I became aware of my feelings again and things felt worse because I wasn't doing the work to improve my situation.
That's not really scientific though. It could just readjust things in your brain and you won't have a problem. It's not necessarily the case that feeling like crap is healing.
I've been sharing this video with friends and family also on antidepressants. They don't understand why I'm tapering off 2 antidepressants 1 mood stabilizer and 1 benzodiazepine. So far I've tapered off of Bromazepam. I'm starting to taper off of zoloft. I even bought a drug scale on Amazon. In July I'm going to ask my psychiatrist for lower doses of Bupropion and Lamotrigine. They are extended release so I'm not able to cut the tablets. He is shocked at my plans so I hope there won't be a problem. It's been a tough journey but worth it to have a clearer mind and emotions again. I didn't realize how numb I was. Thank you for your videos! I had planned to go cold turkey until I watched your videos.
Lamotrigine comes in immediate release so you may want to switch to that when you're ready to taper. You can also get chewable dispersible tablets to make a liquid.
I weaned off an antidepressant. I don’t think it’s one that is nearly as hard, particularly not as tough as benzodiazepines. I did it myself and slowly. If I remember it took a year, maybe 18 months. No side effects. Hoping the best in your journey.
My father forced me on antidepressants by saying “take it or leave” in the freezing winter snow when I had no vehicle. He was convinced I was nuts because I was angry over being raped. It ruined my sexual health. I’m 21.
I was put on psych drugs at 15. Getting off of the drugs at 30 and finally treating the parasitic infection and gut dysbiosis that was causing me to act bi-polar was the best thing I ever did. So many mood problems have a physiological cause that needs to be treated. Psych drugs are just masking the problem with a band-aid. A lot of people are infested with harmful microbes/parasites and don’t have enough of the beneficial bacteria. Especially if you eat sushi and raw meat. Everyone should see a Functional MD or good Naturopath before embarking on the psych drug path. Those are the Drs that will actually spend an hour or two with you and run tests that are actually helpful to figure out root causes of what is going on. We have so many environmental toxin exposures that are wreaking havoc on our brain health as well. Regular Drs and psychiatrists don’t even test for toxin levels.
I have fought depression for decades and off and on antidepressants as long. Nothing ever seemed to help. A few years ago I attempted suicide twice and come very close to succeeding the second time. I awoke after the 4th day with a tube down my throat and strapped to the bed and was watched 24 hours a day even after I woke. Was transported to a psych ward where I discovered I needed to do everything I could to get out and avoid anything like that happening again. I was on medication short term and therapy. It was difficult but I didn't want to go through it again ever.
Suicidal ideation and attempts are written on the product information leaflet of any anti depressant with a black box warning signifying a ptoven adverse reaction
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
Yes, dr.porassss. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
I wish they were readily available in my place. Microdosing was my next plan of care for my husband. He is 59 & has so many mental health issues plus probable CTE & a TBI that left him in a coma 8 days. It's too late now I had to get a TPO as he's 6'6 300+ pound homicidal maniac. He's constantly talking about killing someone. He's violent. Anyone reading this Familiar w/ BPD know if it is common for an obsession with violence.
I have bipolar disorder. I will have to take antidepressants the rest of my life. I currently do not have side effects after taking them for 30 years. I hope and pray it stays that way. If I didn't take them I would have been unalive a long time ago
Read the product information leaflet that accompanies your meds. The manufacturers are required by law to include a big fat 'black box warning" that the product can cause "suicidal ideation and tendencies and homicidal impulses" (the latter especially to men)
I've been on SSRIS's since 14 (I'm 35 now). I've come off of them with slow tapers several times and can't take the protracted withdrawals so always go back on them. I hate these medications. All I want is to be off of them and I CAN'T DO IT!
I’m so sorry. I’m right there with you. One day at a time. Did you use hyperbolic taper and super slow reductions with long time between reductions? I’ve had to go up and start over again. There didn’t used to be as much info in the past. Tapering too quickly causes problems. I’m tapering less than 3% each reduction from previous amount- and waits months between reductions. Although it’s still difficult, especially when I get to the point where I had trouble last time. I’m holding for now. But I also have a nurse practitioner helping me and I am using liquid for Clonazepam. Then I need to work on getting off Lexapro.
We really need a place or clinic where they understand tapering and deprescibing. We need help! Try getting this book: The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids and Z-drugs (The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines Series) Mark Horowitz and David Taylor authors. I am unable to read more than a paragraph and remember anything but a friend has read the whole book and helps me understand sometimes.
You missed undiagnosed Autisme. I get 4 different types of antidepressiv and anxiety/quetiapin medicin. Nobody new what to do with me. Everything got kickstarted because of an awful job. November 2023 my daughter got diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrom and suddenly I understood my life in a better life healing way. Remember neurodivergent human beings. It matters that you get the right diagnose/the reason why life is just too much. I hope you see this, doctor. I loved your video. Hi from Lene in Denmark
My son is the same. He has aspergers autism with major depressive disorder, OCD, social anxiety and he has to take meds permanently. I lost a brother to suicide over 23 years ago due to schitzophrenia. He was 31. Mental health can't be handled lightly. It can be very serious.
@@xragdoll5662In some countries it may still be. Some countries arre behind on the updates in psychology. Also aspergers is still real(not the term but the neurodivergence). It's just called ASD now, or high functioning or level 1 autism. Oh yeah, he said they're in Denmark so it's probably still called Aspergers over there.
Thank you for this. As a Canadian parent, I’ve been powerless to stop my dr putting my 16 year old on SSRIs. I didn’t even have the right to know what they had put her on. Medicalization of the human experience is horrific, but in North America it has successfully convinced youth that there is a pill to treat every difficult or painful life experience, treating adolescence like a disease, rather than a life experience through which we grow. This is vile profiteering, and I believe any Dr still prescribing them knows it.
@@sarahhale-pearson533 Astonishing that the government can do such things without parental consent now! I am so angry and frustrated by the governments extreme control of crucial children, girls and womens rights.
Having traumas as a young child, I read that my brain hasn't had the opportunity to create serotonin as it should. After living with anxiety and depression due to my traumas I find myself 20 years later on citalopram (more than 5 years on) and I have tried to get off this med but the withdraw symptoms are unbearable to me and i become depressed again and irritable .
The same thing is happening to me 😟 I am going to try liquid citalopram and go down even slower. 10mg to 5mg caused me debilitating withdrawal symptoms
@Baixiulan yeah that paragraph you read about was paid for and sponsored by Pfizer!!!! Didn't sleep last night? Have some pills, oh you have sore muscles? Here's some benzos... but wait, there will be plenty more coming over the next decade.... man it's all control... I still can't understand how the whole world hasn't figured this very simple concept out... the ppl with the money and power don't give a flying shtt about the other 99% of the population, as long as they keep getting their money and people continuing to be stupid enough to keep trusting who's in power that they definitely have your best interests... pfft
Paroxetine did not blund my range of emotions at all... it stopped me feeling extremely anxious all the time. Suddenly (and this after years of therapy) there was room for other feelings and there still was anxiety but not so overwhelming and paralyzing. After 10 years I stopped taking the anti depressants and this went well for a couple of years, until now. And this video scared the hell out of me: gives me a feeling of hopelessness. There is no solution anymore.
He's not saying don't take the medication. It sounds like they worked for you. But make sure all your lifestyle stuff is in order because that ages a huge difference and could reduce your need for medication. (I speak as someone who has been there, survived, been a guinea pig for many different meds - some helped and others harmed - and is recovered now with hard work and very careful planning and efforts around lifestyle choices.)
I've been on an antidepressant for over 10 years. With regards to emotional numbness, I've been there at high doses and that's why I decreased back to a starting dose. I won't come off of it completely yet because the antidepressant helps with working memory, focus, and anxiety. I got on antidepressants for depression but stayed on them to manage anxiety symptoms that have been there forever. Regarding sexual side effects, I take L-Citruline and Ashwagandha to help with that. The hepatotoxicity of Prozac is very low so I'm not concerned about any damage to my liver. Less than 1% have a risk of injury to the liver.
After psychiatrists and a lot of research i accepted to to AD (SSRI) against general anxiety. It took a while for it work. But the doctor wanted me to increase the dose, and that appeared to be a bad idea. Stopped myself by decreasing the dose in 2 years. For 6 years or so it worked, but: a lot of stress at my job, and anxiety came back. It was a struggle. Finally started again at the absolute minumum dose. And it changed my life again. When i stop working, i stop the AD, not earlier.
I suffered bipolar/suicidal from age 34 to age 69, then got vitamin B 12 with methylcobalamin last Aug. 2023 and then quit smoking without any withdrawals, dropped two of my meds, and have never had another bipolar incident or depression
I'm 21 years old and it's been 3 months since I stopped taking sertraline cold turkey after 2 months of use. It's absolutely hell the physical symptoms have gone but the emotional damage is done. I can't feel joy, excitement or love anymore, when I look into my girlfriend's eyes I feel nothing. I have no libido, erecticle dysfunction and I feel like my soul has been taken from me. When I read the accounts of people who say that this lasts 6 years, 10 years, 21 years etc it's hard to not lose hope. Sertraline has made me 100 times worse than I was before, I'm just a bag of bones now.
@@TrentAdam People develop pssd which lasts for years sometimes after just ONE pill. Just because YOU got better after some time doesn’t mean that EVERYONE will get better too. Do some research before just blatantly assuming that everyone must be like you. th-cam.com/video/kstt4tM4p04/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared th-cam.com/video/S09B5daPvs0/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
I’ve been on many different antidepressants for 32 years cause drs told me I’d need to take them for the rest of my life. I’ve been thru a LOT of trauma yet I’ve never received quality mental healthcare. It didn’t matter what I was taking, I was obsessed with suicide. Got very close many times. Drs kept adding more meds which included antipsychotics. I had decided to save myself and began meditating daily. I eventually stopped all psych meds and no longer want to die. Mental healthcare has failed us all. They don’t bother with trying to help us heal cause a patient cured is a customer lost.
Your channel is a blessing for sure feel like im coming off my second taper down on benzos, and i rlate my night sweats to that. Ladt night first night i didn't have to change clothes 3 times from sleep to waking up wet, prayers requested thank you and GOD BLESS ALL PLEASE USE PRAYER ALSO
This video describes exactly how my life played out from the time I first went on anti-depressants at 30 until the time I finally got myself off them at 55.
I also started Zoloft first around 33 yrs old and I'm not sure when I switched to Paxil. I'm now 51 yrs old and I don't even care to shower or brush my teeth. Of course I have zero libido thanks to Paxil and menopause. I just want to be normal again. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just lazy..? But seriously, just thinking of showering depresses me. I have to watch motivational videos.
I have been of anti depressants for over a decade and I am going back on. I have had several talk therapies and they did jack sh/t. I have plenty of exercse. Nothing worked on atypical depression I do plenty of exercise as a farm hand. I am a high functioning depressed person. I can function with 4 hours of sleep. I can only sleep 8 hours on SSRIs and I am going back on. I had some adverse life events 20 years ago. Some bad stuff in my childhood before that. SSRIs is the only thing that worked. Talking about my feelings does not make the things go away that make me misserable. Had several therapists. Solved a thyroid issue with medication. Solved a vitamine d issue with supplementation. I made some of my therapists depressed and made them question their life choices lol. The root causes (there are several ones) of my depression cant be helped. One of them is genetics. It runs in my family. I dont have kids to lass these bad genes onto. I have exhausted every option. SSRIs reduce my anxiety and feelings of hopelessness for 10%. I will take it. Meditation works 10%.The other 80% I will just have to tough it out. As a kid I vowed not to yield to the darkness. But if I get Alzheimers or dementia I will pull the plug. Or maybe the dementia will knock out the specific tiny part of my brain that makes me depressed first. If there is a root cause you can CHANGE you are lucky. I have been of anti depressants for over a decade and I am going back on. I have had several talk therapies and they did jack sh/t. I have plenty of exercse. Nothing worked on atypical depression I do plenty of exercise as a farm hand. I am a high functioning depressed person. I can function with 4 hours of sleep. I can only sleep 8 hours on SSRIs and I am going back on. I had some adverse life events 20 years ago. Some bad stuff in my childhood before that. SSRIs is the only thing that worked. Talking about my feelings does not make the things go away that make me misserable. Had several therapists. Solved a thyroid issue with medication. Solved a vitamine d issue with supplementation. I made some of my therapists depressed and made them question their life choices lol. The root causes (there are several ones) of my depression cant be helped. One of them is genetics. It runs in my family. I dont have kids to lass these bad genes onto. I have exhausted every option. SSRIs reduce my anxiety and feelings of hopelessness for 10%. I will take it. Meditation works 10%.The other 80% I will just have to tough it out. As a kid I vowed not to yield to the darkness. But if I get Alzheimers or dementia I will pull the plug. Or maybe the dementia will knock out the specific tiny part of my brain that makes me depressed first. If there is a root cause you can CHANGE you are lucky. I first got on them when I was 34. 52 now
They worked a few years. Stuck on them 16 years. I felt neurological problems last years. Im off now, damaged. Dont know if I ever Will heal. Anyone that felt better off after long term??
9:54 20years now,,, i tried to come off my meds but i can’t handle the systemic nerve and brain damage. My withdrawal side effects are electrical shocks, uncontrollable body movements, sunlight hurts the eyes, headache, nausea, sudden bouts of laughter/crying and so much more. So i intend to take my meds like vitamins till the day i die!
I am also on antidepressant for 20 years but unfortunately i am getting the bad side effects that affect my liver, so basically the Gastroenterologist says i must try to get of them or replace with other ones but they all damage the liver... And then u wonder what to do in such situation...
Physical pain in chronic / severe form has really damaged my life. I can’t exercise or hardly walk, can’t work etc. the doctors had no problem giving me drugs like Cymbalta, which sent me to a psych ward. However to get real pain meds for real pain, I had to wait 18 months of back ground checks and filings with doctors and the DEA to get a 3x a day script…. It’s a broken system.
Josef has a video with an interesting interview with a woman in your similar situation. I absolutely recommend watching it. She has chronic pain and her life got destroyed by; in the end; not the pain but by all the pharmaceuticals. @DrJosef can you give us the title of the video please? 😊
I've been on antidepressants since I was 32 for chromic panic attacks. I am 71 now. I take the lowest dose possible. I go off it every couple of years to see if the panic attacks are gone. Within 6 months, each time I try, they return so far. I am an extremely creative person and have had no side effects. I will continue to go off of the med every once in a while in hopes that the panic and anxiety is gone. However, the meds saved my life. I would not have been able to function with the ever-present anxiety without it. As an FYI, panic attacks run in my family. Father, grandmother, brother, cousins, even my son and daughter have them for no reason that we know of. We are all mentally healthy and have good families.
@@kenofken9458 I guess I'm hoping that someday they will be gone for good. The only way I know how to tell is if I go off of them for a while. I guess it's just a desire to be totally med free at my age. I guess maybe that's just vain.
I had been on so many different antidepressants, mood stabilizers, etc. With, two of the psychotropic medications, Lamictal and Risperadone, that caused something called Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome, which is where, even though when I stopped taking those drugs and they were out of my system they had caused damage in my nervous system that caused my anxiety level to go out of control and I was taking my anti anxiety meds all the time and could have lasted longer than it did for me which was for months and TMS is what finally helped me so much to stop what was going on. TMS hasn't caused me any bad side effects and really lowered my anxiety level and I might only need to take my anti anxiety medication once every couple of months in certain situations. Another thing about why depression being a chemical imbalance is wrong is that 95% of our serotonin is produced in the gut. How could an antidepressant drug help the way its supposed to then. Dr. Josef, thanks for posting this. Really good information.
Lamictal/Lamotrigine has completely messed up my nervous system. I now have Ataxia and Dystonia for the rest of my life. SSRI always made me manic but Dr kept increasing them and adding on others. I stopped all the SSRI on my own gradually and am no longer having manic episodes.Lamotrigine seems to help overall, as long as it’s a low dose.
I’ve been on lamictal and most drugs mentioned in the comments for my epilepsy, it’s very very worrying and weird they use it for anxiety and depression
@radkakulinska6344 TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and it's where magnets are used on the brain in different areas to affect changes. It really worked for me, and no medication was needed. It has been used for people suffering from depression, anxiety and addiction.
You seem very well-meaning and intelligent and I’m sure your advice applies to SOME but not all people. For DECADES I did everything I could to treat myself: years of therapy (which helped me to understand myself but also kept me focused on negativity), walking daily, journal writing, meditation and yoga, getting out with friends… and more. I still do most of these things today in fact but NONE of it helped me to make the right decisions in life because I was anxious, avoided real closeness for fear of not being liked, angry, sad…. I lived and did a lot in my life but I sabotaged myself all of the time and lived well below my ability as far as God-given intelligence and talent. I didn’t want to take medication for years because I thought it was a crutch and made me someone else. Now I actually believe they make me MYSELF. I can accept being successful, I want to get out more and be with people, feel and act deserving of a good life. I just think some people are born so sensitive that today’s world is too overwhelming, and taking the edge off slightly is a good thing.
But how long have you been on antidepressants? Because he doesn’t say they don’t work short time. They made a world of difference for me AT FIRST. But after taking them for years and weaning myself off of them because they were no longer working, I now pretty much have no feelings. I don’t think I am capable of happiness or joy. Further, he didn’t say no one should be on them long term. At the end he talks about people for whom it is appropriate.
As an autistic with ADHD, I already have little or no contact with my emotions. I am easily overwhelmed and intense feelings just push me over the edge. Add to that CPTSD from an abusive childhood followed by an emotionally abusive 21 yrs of marriage. I'm a mess. Without bupropion I would not be here. I am hoping the recent addition of Abilify will help even more. Maybe enough that I can find out who I really am, learn healthy boundaries, and get in touch with my feelings about things. I am a little hopeful. I would do better if I could actually afford a therapist, but that is not in the cards.
This is critical information. Thanks doc. This is the truth about these drugs. I’m a 20 year plus psychotherapist/ mental health clinician. They work best with chronically and progressively suicidal individuals, and those with clinically significant depression- then, they can get off of them once they’ve got all around better coping and have built distress tolerance skills/ cbt/dbt.
Interesting, because from a psychiatric nurse practitioner's perspective who has been through 18years of therapy, has excellent dbt skills, and is in eating disorder recovery, I would be in the hospital with my Pristiq, because guess what? The "chemical imbalance" idea he claims is not real, turns out the scientific community disagrees. How do you think these medications work? Look up the monoamine theory before you praise this "doctor "
They can still harm the people with severe depression too. I had an adverse reaction to the first SSRI I tried for a short time. Withdrawal symptoms for years. Then I developed neurological disorders.
I came off Zoloft after 14 years in 2019. I've never been the same since: flatlining is still there, no libido at all, no real positive emotions but exacerbated negative ones. This is despite a healthy weight, regular exercise, and a family (wife and children) who provide healthy relationships.
When I was on Zoloft, my mood was elevated and then I became more depressed and more irritable. I got off that after a few months and now I take a small dose of Wellbutrin and I don’t have any side effects. They did offer me genetic testing for psych meds so maybe that will become more common to do that so that way it’s not like trial and error on people.
Being on an antidepressant gave me a life, I have ocd and gad, I’ve had years where I’ve come off them and since I can’t handle stress well I went back on them. I am grateful for them. In the old days people abused alcohol for these conditions so I figure you can’t lump everyone in the same basket. Some people with chronic conditions may need them. If you can’t see that as a doctor you have no business practicing medicine.
Came off after 15 years. Not myself. Flat. Low. Dont knowmif you ever be the same, if reverse back. They worked a few years, in the end made me sick and pooped out.
Me too, psychiatrists should be more rigorous on prescribing these meds, FFS my feelings are in a freaking normal range not the "I feel like doing nothing, want to cry all day "
For those of you who have a hard time getting off antidepressants and want to, but keep having withdrawals. Of course the disclaimer is discuss with your doctor first. I got off Effexor on my own. One of the worst withdrawals reported is from that. I was sllllllllooowwwly tapering off. Like I’d remove a few beads from the capsule one one day, then remove the same amount the next and so forth. Then after a week, I’d remove a bit more. And so forth. It did take a good 6 months for me to taper off completely but I did with little to almost no side effects. There might have been a few minor brain zaps which is actually a withdrawal side effect and normal. But nothing crippling. So bottom line, just do it very slowly. There’s no rush. Take your time reducing the intake little by little. Then I started to skip a day when it was down to the lowest dosage. Every other day. Every two days and so forth.
I'm on this one and have been for past 2-3 years dosage of 37.5mg and before that I was on Sertraline for few years, and transitioned to Effexor. However, I now feel that I want to try to get off Effexor completely to see how I feel without taking it! I will discuss with Dr before hand. Thank you for your advice... much appreciated!
Effexor did the same thing to me! My psychiatrist said she'd never heard of someone needing to open the capsule and count the beads. The brain zaps are so uncomfortable.
Thank you Dr Josef! I’m 3,5 yrs off Cymbalta and Lyrica after 30 + yrs use of many different meds. I have all of the side effects. Struggeling with them still. Did a really slow taper of 6,5 yrs. ❤
@@7inchdestroyer959, i have had PSSD for many yrs! Still insomnia most nights, still 25 kg overweight and more. Hope that it will get better. I execise, eat really healthy food and take care of my self. Hope that one day i will be fine again! 🙏🏻❣️
The cymbalta withdrawal for me is what is making it so hard to get off of the drug. How did you taper the cymbalta since it is in a capsule form ? Thanks!
I’m 66 years old and have no relatives or anyone and live alone. Have been on tranxene for 30 years probably. Exact same dose, 15mg twice a day never changes. I pretty much have a normal life with them . Honestly I don’t see any reason on quitting them. Except my doctor retired and I have a feeling like someone is going to make me stop ( which would be cruel) I have nobody at all. And at age 66 putting myself through that seems a bit ridiculous. It would basically be the end of me.
I had a profound depression almost thirty years ago when I got divorced. I took Prozac for approximately three years, and for at least one year I took also ambien (Stilnox) to help me sleep. I was lucky to be able to come off these drugs safely, but gradually, and never to need taking them after this painful period.
Thank you Dr Josef. My GP is anti unnecessary drugs and accepts I need long term anti anxiety medication to function in a stressful life. I can’t change my life. Society doesn’t make life easy for some of us. I am happy to access such support. I can cry and feel emotions strongly still.
I am so thankful to have this information now! I wish my doctor would have had this conversation with me years ago. I am currently tappering off of Lexapro by myself for the second time in my life and your videos have helped the process tremendously! 20 to 10mg was a breeze, 5mg to 2.5 … much harder but sitting at the third week of cut and hold and I can see the light ! Thank thank you again !
Idk, 14 years on antidepressants. I am a completely different person. More intelligent, empathetic, and proactive. I live life now. Before I hid away in fear. I actually have a personality now. Some people thrive on them. I'm proof.
Sleep breathing disorders are a hugely overlooked cause of depression-like symptoms. Obstructive sleep breathing disorders such as OSA and UARS are so common, yet so rarely diagnosed, while it should be the first possible cause to be eliminated whenever someone presents with mental health concerns.
I've had nightmare disorder for 2 years now, every day getting worse. Polysomnography showed I had no problem breathing, but I never really fell asleep. I already had depression way before the nightmare disorder, but I began having nightmares after fibromyalgia symptoms started getting worse. Tried all medications, none of them worked But it's 100% valid to do a check up, all these symptoms I mentioned are all common to sleep apnea
@@thetrawlerman Polysomnography seems thorough, but good interpretation takes time and cost saving has the highest priority. For example, I had all the CFS/ME symptoms including POTS but my AHI score never exceeded 2.5 😆 There are some channels like CPAPfriend and TheLankyLefty26 that explain the problems with common sleep studies.
It's been an absolute outrage watching so many people who just needed some therapy, a vacation or even new friends/spouse- just a positive change- being destroyed by a prescriber seeking their commissions and incentive goals. I'm 55 yrs old and have definitely had major rough patches in my life- never once taken a pill to "cope" with devastating situations. Hard to watch everyone around me turn into zombies, marriages/families ruined & have their lives get harder & revolve around pills. If docs had some accountability- things would be very different.
Why would marriages fall apart if people were taking antidepressants? If anything it would keep people together because they're not so miserable anymore.
@@Mmmmkaaay how extremely naive & unfamiliar you are with all the negative side effects on these drugs. Loss of libido (sex drive) is the most common side effect. A VERY large number of people experience another common side effect- suicidal thoughts and WORSENING symptoms. It would take me DAYS to list all the horrific problems antidepressants and antipsychotics cause. It's tragic that you think these pills just work great for everyone who eats them 🤦😆😂🤣
That is why it is SO important to find a good psychiatrist that works with you! These meds are not one size fits all. It takes a lot to find what works best for individual patients. What actually works for you and taking into account the side effects. I live with Bipolar II (with super rapid cycling) Horrible depression and anxiety cycles. For sure a genetic component to it. If it wasn't for my psychiatrist I would most likely not be here. Obviously still experience the cycling, but it is much more tolerable. I'm 41. I do not have the issues described in the vid. But did have them with some of the meds previous Dr's had me on.
Chicken or the egg argument. When you can’t get out of bed, don’t have the umph to comb out your rat’s nest and spend what minuscule amount of energy you have trying to appear normal enough to avoid concern from friends/family…creating a healthy meal plan isn’t happening. I understand the concept of taking it long enough to get you out of the trenches. Be able to WANT to eat healthier. But still can’t wrap my head around the idea of taking it away. What exactly does it “fix” in your body that makes it possible to stop taking it and stay motivated?
A pill isn't a replacement for family and community holding you accountable. Unfortunately the public teaching around mental health teaches people who aren't depressed to accept depression instead of forcing people to change their life for the better
I've been on low dose prozac for about 14 years, in the beginning it was crucicial. I did go off for a year and a half and ended up going back on it after suffering reoccuring panic attacks during the pandemic end 2020. I certainly have depression, but it has never been to the point of suicide, so I can improve it with diet and exercise, social in most points of my life but what I can't change is panic attacks and anxiety. He doesn't address this. The main reason I have been on them this long is to address this situation.
I feel worse coming off my SSRI (over 10 years' multiple drugs, 3 years' protracted withdrawal and counting) than I ever did pre-drug depressed/anxious. Think very carefully before going on an SSRI for any length of time.
I had been on Lexapro then switched to Cymbalta over a period of 25 years. I was given the initial by my primary care doctor and I don’t think therapy was ever mentioned. I have CPTSD which was not diagnosed until recently. I have been off the meds since 11/23 and am still struggling with emotional regulation and pretty severe anxiety and panic. I wake up and for 5 seconds feel ok then the anxiety kicks in. I am in therapy weekly. I’m exhausted! I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia years ago as well. I try to exercise but the pain afterward is sometimes unbearable. I’m scared this is what the rest of my life is going to be like. I also feel that I’ve wasted my life thus far. My point is If I was informed that therapy was the primary treatment instead of antidepressants the course would have been different. Thanks for the information.
Did you taper too quickly? My most successful taper off paroxetine took months. I tried going off faster but felt vile in every way. So I went back on (hated doing that but had to be realistic) and then stepped down much slower, not taking the next step down until the side effects faded to almost nothing. Re: pain after exercising - yes, I can sympathise. The exercise I tolerate the best is swimming combined with gentle walking and movement in the pool. Some days I almost live in the pool, because it's where my movement feels the most free, unrestricted and least painful. You haven't mentioned getting rubbish sleep to the point where you dread going to bed, but I'd bet that's in the mix for you as well. Do not lose hope, do not lose faith!!! Keep nibbling away at your issues from different angles, keep looking for partial solutions. You will have some successes! I have ended up with a sort of hodge podge of management solutions that HELP and it's always a joy when I find some little thing that I can add to my regime that improves one particular problem, even if it's just a bit (like a hot water bottle and magnesium cream for sore legs at night). Nothing is a complete fix (yet), but I have slowly come around to the idea that complex problems have complex solutions. Stay curious, ALWAYS explore and NEVER give up hope that you can gradually create your own solutions. Keep a journal, track your progress, what does and does not work. I celebrate EVERYTHING - the unexpected friendship I have struck up with a few women down at the pool, the night I slept 4 hours straight, the little happy place I have found playing Geoguessr, haha, the time I made the best cup of tea and enjoyed it right to the very last drop along with a crossword puzzle. NEVER compare your life to others and there seemingly massive health. Cling to and expand on the tiny things that ARE right in your life. Let it snowball in its own good time. There is a path out of the woods, my friend. You just have to be able to tolerate being IN the woods longer than you'd hoped. xo
@@BuntingClipClop Most definitely rubbish sleep. Which is also fairly new. I will try to journal but have historically been inconsistent. Thanks so much for your encouragement and I wish you all the best.
@@BuntingClipClop I probably did taper too quickly but my PCP (as many) really don’t know the effects. I am steadily improving. I do go up and down. My husband and best friend say I am improving to them. The initial stopping of the Cymbalta 90 mg was fine. Then I was on a slippery slope for a few weeks. I worked through it and of course still am. When the lows come it feels like it won’t end, but it does. The lows aren’t lasting as long. It is going to take some time from what I understand. When I am not low I am interested in things again like my art and being with my friends. I do have panic/anxiety on waking daily. It’s tough to start the day like that. I hope it improves soon. Thanks. How are you doing?
@@chriscouri4149 I've been fine once I tapered slowly enough. If I started to feel panicky, I would (reluctantly) take a quarter or even an eight dose of paroxetine and see if that helped. It usually did. And to my surprise, it didn't take much and it didn't set me up for failure - as in, needing it all the time again - it just got my brain chemistry over the hump at that moment. I made a weird promise to my brain that went like this: "I know this is a massive change for you, but I'm committed to supporting you through it. If you're having too much trouble, I'll give you a little supporting dose and then we'll get back on track as soon as possible". Just trying to be gentle with my own brain, I suppose. I STILL give myself a tiny dose of paroxetine rather than start to suffer. To my way of thinking, it's an EXCELLENT sign for you that you feel fine upon waking for a few seconds before you go into freeze response again. That's wonderful and very very positive. But, totally agree, PCP's underestimate withdrawal issues about 1000%. Thanks for asking xo
When I was ON Lexapro, and much more so when I stopped cold turkey, I stopped caring about hurting other people's feelings. In the past, I would internally feel that I may be offending someone and stop, but now, I like not having brakes and just roll over people's boundaries thinking it is good. I somehow think this is okay, good, or there is not other choice, or I just cant take the frustration of putting brakes on this. I can't believe how my life changed in the 5 years since I started and stopped Lexapro. It is like I got a social lobotomy and got this permanent chemical anger and rage, and am also much more sensitive with this to coffee.
So true. So much good stuff here. I was put on anti-depressants as a teenager, 14 or 15 years old. My father passed away when I was 12, and it was a devastating loss for me. I couldn't handle the pain, so I asked for meds, even though the therapists advised against it, and tried to get me to deal with the feelings. I couldn't. Though the meds did take the edge off of the intrusive thoughts, I felt blunted. 09/11 had just happened, and we were at war, and I remember thinking, "I should be feeling pain about this. I need to feel pain about what's going on in the world." They say that "meds and therapy" are the best course of action. You'd think that the meds would simply make the feelings more manageable, blunt them a little, so that you could deal with them on your own time and your own terms. But that's not how they work. They block your ability to feel and to access emotions. When I stopped taking them as an adult, I exploded. I experienced a lifetime's worth of emotions and emotional growth and development. It was terrible.
Hi, thanks for your comment. I’m in a similar situation, was put on meds at 14 but more so because my parents did not have the emotional capacity to work through my problems with me. I’m now 28, been through too many medications to count and for a while now I’ve known they’re not the answer - they’ve probably been hurting me more than helping me. I feel emotionless most of the time, apathetic, stuck, and decided to cut down on my medications with the goal of getting off. I’m afraid though, I’ve never been off of meds since I was out on and I feel like I have so many repressed and suppressed emotions that I don’t know what is going to happen when I come off completely. Do you have any advice? Also what were you like right before you decided to come off of your meds?
@@SportsPro123 Thanks for sharing, sorry to hear what you've been going through. I was very unwell leading up to that time. I had severe burnout at work, sleep deprivation. I was on the brink of collapse, like the meds weren't even working anymore. I made some irresponsible choices, stopped cold turkey. I tried to reach out to my NP for help, she was very careless, just told me to wean off a quarter mg/ week, basically just wrote me off. I also met a guy, who told me he wouldn't be with me if I was on meds, which triggered the crap out of me given past rejections. Thankfully, I found a doctor who helped me and gave me real treatment. She helped me process through past trauma, and unpack it all. I wouldn't recommend doing what I did. I'd suggest finding a trauma informed therapist and psychiatrist. They are hard to come by. Also, I'd recommend CoDA--codependent's anonymous. that would be a good place to start, working through family dynamics and hard emotions. Melody Beattie's "Codependent No More" is Good. Also, Brooke Siem's book, "May Cause Side Effects." "Mad in America" is a website that you might like, too. You might look into some long-term psych treatment problems at reputable facilities.
Right off the top in starting to watch this video, is when he says, "we need to get to the root of the problem". It seems like almost all doctors, specialists, and therapist just want to medicate. Right now, not even including the lifetime mental illness that I've been a victim of, but I've developed really bad rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the past two years. I've been going around and around with specialists to get them to see if we can find the cause, the root problem. No. Only meds.
Im one of them that will be on them the rest of my life. To say they were a life saver for me would be an understatement. Its been 38 yrs since I started them.
My question is this: Does a personality "change" when on anti-depressants/psych meds? I ask because I'm one of the people you warn about: I've been on multiple antidepressants for 34 years now! It's been off and on in the larger scheme of things, but I've mostly been on them. A therapist once said to me, "You've been on meds for that long??" Then she said something like that my personality must be radically different than what it was pre-medication. I was puzzled, but I think I know what she meant. (?) I've wanted to go off my meds, but ultimately, it's riskier for me to be off of them than anything that can occur from them, i.e. side effects, etc. Thank you, Doctor!
This is all well and good to a point. You've told us why long term is bad but that doesn't help if your doc see's nothing wrong and poo poo's you trying to get off so you try to taper on your own, disaster!! Or worse my PA insisted I get off my effexor but set up a taper way to fast and I ended up back on it at double the dose!! It's not a easy path to walk. At this point in my life I don't see ever being off SSRI'S. I've dealt with anxiety since I was a child, being off the medication is hell. Before meds I dealt with my anxiety by controlling my food intake or overeating. Life is good now. 😊
If you started treating people's pain and sleep most other things will fall into place unless you have serious problems I've been depressed for most of my life and it's always been pain related to pain emotional, physical chronic pain
Wow! This video is life transforming. You had the courage to tell the truth about the long term use of antidepressants. Dr Josef you can not imagine how profoundly grateful I am for your words of wisdom for all of us who have suffered with depression/anxiety. Thank you!!
Has anyone come off of an SSRI after taking for 10+ years? Been discussing it with my psychiatrist and he warned me of the side effects coming off and to go slow. I've always thought I just needed to be on it due to my family history of mental illness and my depression/anxiety and I am so grateful for these meds. I couldn't stop crying and Zoloft helped me but now I'd like to see how I do off of it... curious anyone else's experiences? I am also on Wellbutrin now after having some medical issues come up last year but now am doing much better.
I cannot advise you re: Zoloft since that is one I haven't been on. BUT my experience with Wellbutrin is that it's a breeze to go off. I never had to taper and honestly noticed no side effects when stopping it.
Do you mean after 10+ yrs on the same SSRI? Because I was on meds daily for 10 yrs (after being increasingly depressed & unmedicated for 10+ yrs) but I switched antidepressants 8 times. Three SSRIs, four SNRIs & one other. Most I barely had to taper off before switching to a new one. Paxil & especially Effexor I had to taper off for weeks or else the brain zaps were incapacitating- but if tapered, it was fine. Zoloft was the first one I tried, maybe for 6 months. I felt nothing on it & felt nothing getting off of it. In all, I tried 20-25 different meds, the antidepressants, some antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzos, etc.. At most, I took 5 different ones a day. Almost none of them had any effect (besides the benzos). In the end, I slightly tapered off the last antidepressant with no problems at all. I felt fine & wasn't depressed anymore anyway. I actually wondered if any of the antidepressants had ever worked at all since there was no way to know when my depression had gone away. The HUGE problem was the benzos. I got off those a year after all the other meds. That's an entirely different thing & it was horrendous. I was also on those daily for 9-10 yrs. The withdrawal almost ruined my life & I had protracted withdrawal & weird issues for 6-7 YEARS afterward. That was NOTHING like getting off any of the other psych meds.
I have schizoaffective disorder, and Im currently weaning off from effexor, because its not helping with my major depressive disorder too. I tried prozac too, and it was horrible. I will change my diet to mostly high protein low carbohydrate plant-based. I already exercise. Seroquel and propranolol help a lot with other symptons. I think depression is something we need to figure out the root csuse, and work with a therapist. Honestly I feel depression is the worst out of any of my schizoaffective symptoms. I hope those who listen to this video feel better.
You have no idea how many times my abusive family called me crazy or said I a "CHemiCaL imBALancE" while being physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually abusive. Then doctors just wrote scripts for things not caring about how this affects me over all, short and long term. They also misdiagnosed me for over a decade until I met a doctor who said I'm not depressed or bit polar. I suffer from PTSD and I had been prescribed the wrong meds this whole time. Fast forward and I'm a 35/F/Black and I'm just started to understand that it was never me. I was never the problem. Best years of my life and my childhood were wasted by people pretending. I've had a nurse ironically the last couple of years who's been really supportive and has encouraged me to get off of medication. Now after years of back and forth I'm on the lowest dose possible for my meds. And we are actively working on getting me off them completely.
Huge respect for this wonderful Doctor. My Mother has been on these medications as well as list of many others. I have always tried to get her to stop, but somehow the Docs were always giving her more. She is a shell of a person these days. It seems she doesn’t feel any emotion. At one time they change her anti depressant and it was almost like she was walking around with a mask. Just a face with no expression. My Father always taking her side, saying she’ll die if she doesn’t take them. She is now in her mid 80’s and is a mess.
As soon as they are in your system you are risking your health and putting yourself at risk for serious complications. Simply not being able to feel like yourself and enjoy life the way you used to is a horrible experience - and that may be the least of it.
Same! I was on one or more antidepressant for 20 years. Been off for around 5. I wonder if many people experience what I did: you become afraid to go off of them on the off chance they are "doing something," but you also don't really feel that much better.
Been on Paxil for 32 years. I tried to get off but I had severe rolling ( one after the other) panic attacks that went on for months. Also a lot of other horrible side effects . So I went back on . No more panic attacks.
Thank you so much for this information. I relate to the example you gave about being in an abusive relationship and then your doctor just prescribe an antidepressant for you, and there you go. Stuck in that abusive relationship without the clear of mind do break it.
Been on tricyclics or SSRIs for decades, since having depression and panic disorder since age 8. No history of trauma or abuse. No discernable reason for my symptoms. Ive only had sexual side effects, which are the price i pay for being able to function and make a living, socialize, etc. I exercise, see a therapist and try to eat mostly plant based. I see no reason to rock the boat at this point by going off the Lexapro. Ill see what the future holds. I do agree most people put on these drugs do not need them, but when you truly do, it can be extremely helpful. I wish everyone healing.
Oh wow! I was just trying to explain this to my father recently, but didn't think I was making it make sense from my perspective. This is much better than I feel I was articulating! Subscribing and and forwarding to my dad. Thank you for explaining it so clearly!
This is the BEST information! I learned this personally... every word you said. It should be a manditory prerequisite that the mental health community/psychiatrists/therapists have to refer a patient to medical practitioner for testing to rule out all possible treatable causes before any psychiatric medications can be prescribed for more than temporary use. Some mediations shut my colon down so bad I could've died. Recovery from side affects on my brain and body a decade later are still on going and debilitating. Turns out a lesser used test revealed I have multiple autoimmune disorders and hyperkalemia to name a few. I choose to hear my body when it's happy, mad or sad. I let it talk. If it hurts, I don't try to shut it up, I learn to endure the way it speaks and I have respect for it, I give in to it's demands for rest. It's not a beast of burden, it's a loyal companion, a trusted friend.
I've been on anti depressants for 36 years. I've tried coming off but get suicidal quickly. I have complex PTSD and in the UK there is no help on NHS for therapy. We have to take the pills because I cannot function otherwise
I'm on lexapro for the last 14 years. I have tried to taper it off gradually at least four to five times, but every time I ended up having panic attacks . I never increased my dose from 10 mg to 20 despite the the doctor's advice. I have realised that I have to take it all my life if i want to live.
Lexapro saved my life and improved it in every way possible. I went from daily panic attacks--some that put me in the hospital--to NONE within a month of starting antidepressants. I never got any of the side effects, and I'm not even on the highest dose. I still experience emotions like normal, good and bad, but it has taken away my sense of impeding doom and constant anxiety.
I'm so grateful you made this video. I was going to talk to my doctor about the anxiety I've been experiencing. I was already very hesitant to start medication, and now I'm sure I don't want to. I'll explore other ways to improve my symptoms that don't include drugs.
Emotional Freedom Tapping or EFT - take it from me, a rational skeptic.... the method gently effectively shifts you, it really does. I'm still skeptical...as if tapping could help (?) yet keep going back to it because it works well. Weird as. Check it out. Lots of info online.
25 years on them ruined me. Massive weight gain and settling into routine. Off them clear now 2 years after disastrous short taper as prescribed. I went back on then just came off over a few months. The after affects of crashing off were euphoria and downs followed 2 years later by breaking thru many issues that should have been faced decades ago. The last 3 weeks I went back on protein eating boiled chicken and an egg every morning - it has made me feel and look better. Doctors didnt give an F what my issues were.
Psych Nurse 10 years here…… worked on psych ward of large hospital and saw psychiatrists prescribe antidepressants like they were dispensing jellybeans. Truthfully, I never once heard a doctor talk about side effects, long term effects, dangers, SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS, nothing. The physicians attitude was, “Oh, sounds like you are depressed. I’m going to prescribe an antidepressant for you and while you are here in the hospital for the next few days (for repeatedly threatening suicide or self harm or attempted suicide and
IVC’d) please start taking them and we can talk about how you are feeling.” Day after day, week after week. Never once heard a doctor mention moderate exercise, getting outside, a break in routine, increasing socialization, etc. There was a pill for every problem. Excellent talk. You covered it all.
The doctor had no delivery mechanism for those things - it’s not a resort. But doctors are neglectful about not prescribing when it is better not to.
Thank you for sharing the truth whats going on at average psych ward. Thank you
@@claireh.7605well society expect the doctors to "solve the problem" and preferably solve it quickly. They are using the tools they have at hand. It's easier to convince a patient to take a pill than to look over their life and make numerous changes some of which other people may sneer at or question. When society isn't feeling well the symptoms show up in people. To solve the problems you need a more holistic approach, as I see it. Holistic approaches sound expensive and uncertain to many people.
This is all too common
Well, we know about the opioid crisis. Doctors were lobbied to prescribe pain killers for all kinds of pain. Karl Marx called religion opium for the people. This was even better.
I would be dead today without SSRIs. I have been taking them for 30 years. I’ve tried to stop and within 6 days I’m having suicidal ideation and can’t get anything done. My life improved 100% after 2 weeks on the medication. And I still have very strong emotions, almost too strong. And I’m taking the max you should take. I am an artist and still very creative, no problems there. I have never had to up my dose. I would gladly give up a few years of life to feel normal and keep living.
The alternative for me is death.
Google "Tardive Dysphoria", "Antimicrobial resistance" etc.
Good luck
100% me. I think of ssris now as something like insulin, I simply need it for survival or else I cannot sleep, have continuous panic attacks, complete exhaustion, inabiliy to eat and maintain weight, etc. It's a miracle drug that only enhances my life and lifts my creativity to higher potentials because I'm not constantly distracted with the weight of "illness". 25 years of fighting against taking them, on and off for long durations, I'm now just in full acceptance and realize they really do help and enhance my life.
Same.
These drugs are just little better than placebo and cause disasters
I agree, I don’t like this video bc it’s lowkey scaring people who are on psych meds or considering going on them. Some people have to stay on them for the rest of their lives and that’s okay! I’m on 5 different psych meds and at one point I was in and out of the psych ward 7 times in the span of 2 years. I’m finally stable for the first time and I don’t care that I’m on a lot of medication. It’s what’s keeping me alive and wanting to stay alive! ❤
I know antidepressants have helped many people but for me they just numbed all of my emotions. There’s no reason for me to be depressed at this time as I’m in a very happy marriage, I have good health, lots of blessings. I think it’s from childhood abuse and being raised by a cruel father. I’m trying to deal with it but I know I’ll never go on meds again. Thank you Dr J for this excellent video.
hey, I had similar response to yours and the drugs provided no relief, just numbness. have you looked into internal family systems (IFS) or compassionate inquiry or somatic therapy? childhood trauma is huge driver of adult depression, anxiety, addiction, etc. Dr. Richard Schwartz gave us IFS, Gabor Maté compassionate inquiry. tons of vids here, have been very helpful to me. wishing you all the best, and some relief and joy.
@@ericb8413 I think some people really do need them. I do feel that some people may be on stronger does than needed but perhaps I am wrong. However I did not want to go on them at all. One of my friends has been on them for many years and is emotionally blunted. No strong emotions of happiness or sadness ever.
Its great that you dont need medication to help with your mood 🙏
But your statement "i have no reason to be depressed" is in my opinion wrong and kind of offensive. I have litterally 0 reasons to be depressed, but still i am. You dont always have a reason to why you are depressed.
@@Den26juli She was speaking of her situation not yours. The lady has gone through a traumatic childhood and has been trying to find a way to get past depression.
@@Den26juli She was not offensive. She was speaking of her own experience with meds. Also you said the same thing she did.
I have been off SSRI for 5 yrs, best decision I have made for myself. Never again. The taper was rough, but I got through it.
I'm doing it now. I'm having a difficult time getting completly off.
Yea I just completely stopped. Would not recommend that.
What was your experience on them
@@shanecorr1694 When I cut my dose way down, my emotions came back. I never realized they were gone. I know that sounds crazy, but that's what happened. I never did anything for fun. Since almost being off if them, I've obtained tickets to two concert, complelty cleaned out my yard, and am now in the process of planting in the flower beds. I never cared about any of that before. I feel like I have 6 years of life to catch up on.
@@dextermorgan1 take at least 3 months - at least
Eight weeks after my husband passed away my sister - a nurse for 30 years at that time - kept i insisting that I needed antidepressants. We had been married for 33 years and he was a loving, supportive wonderful man with the wickedest sense of humour ever! She pushed me for months. She could not understand why I was profoundly sad, weepy and listless. I did not go on them.
Did she take them herself?
When my husband passed, I was stunned by how clueless the medical profession was about grief.
There are events we experience in life ... not a reason to start taking a pill, that God knows how it will long turn effect be. Say no to these pill pushers!! They are all into it for the MONEY.
So sorry for your loss.
@@CJ-jq4lv Thank you.
I was diagnosed with clinical major depression, panic attacks and panic disorder when I was 19. I barely made it through school. I am now 65 and I have been on SSRIS the entire time. I'm fine and I suspect that they have kept me from having subsequent episodes.
Editing my original comment as it may help someone else since I'm old - do not do what I did most of my life and rely exclusively on the meds. Get outside, EXERCISE, hike, walk, talk to somebody. Get a dog/cat. I told myself that my dep/anx was heredity, genetic in the family, not much I could do about it. Not true. Learn the self care skills, advocate for yourself. Fight this thing. A good source is the Therapy in a Nutshell channel. Wish I'd known her years ago.
I agree!!!
Have you been taking them since you were 19? I am in them for 18 years and I am very worried about longterm side effects..
They came on the market in the late 80s, weren't around before then. Did you start when they became available?
The problem is you've actually no idea the body is made to balance itself. If you're relying on SSRIs for seratonin, your body has probably stopped making it itself as it doesn't need to. If you tried to come off it now you may find your body cannot ever make it itself again. That's three per of the body to calibrate to what is put into it
Problem is, you've no idea. Your body always calibrates itself to accommodate for what goes into it. If you tried to come off SSRIs now you may find you can't as your body may never make it's own seratonin again. It may have stopped the ability to since your giving it artificially
Such a relief to see medical professionals talk about this. I had bad depression a decade ago and instead of taking anti-depressions I asked for a full blood panel. I showed up as severely anaemic and within 2 days of taking iron felt my depression lift. Over the following few months, the anaemia was discovered to be a symptom of ovarian endometriosis, which was treated and allowed me to become and stay pregnant. I can't even imagine where my life would be if i had just taken SSRIs. My anaemia and endometriosis would have worsened while I treated a symptom of my illness without diagnosing the root cause.
My sister in law was admitted to an inpatient facility for her depression, thankfully part of their intake is a very thorough physical. They discovered she had a severe autoimmune disease! Now she’s getting the treatment she actually needs. No doctors or visits to the psych ward had discovered her true illness for years before this!
Definitely a goood idea to get a complete physical when diagnosed with MD and anxiety. There could be a phys cause. They didn't do that when I was diagnosed back in the stone age.
I’m jealous. I know I had endometriosis and rather than that be resolved- surgery wasn’t covered by medical insurance and or the people seeing me didn’t insist I do it. I can’t remember. They never tested my blood. They looked at my thyroid. Many years later a nurse said I had a B 13 and Vitamin D deficiency. Both can be why I was sick younger. Frustrating. Spent 20 years with the stigma of mental illness. And never got my life back.
Im on an anti-anxiety med, and on antidepressants and anxiety meds for 10+ years, on top of working in the medical field. While I agree that antidepressants and the like are handed out like opiods used to be, there GENUINELY are people who need these all the time. I dont feel like any of my other emotions are blunted, its nearly entirely my anxiety, depression, runaway thoughts, anxiety attacks, etc. Even with extensive therapy for longer than I've been on the meds, I have never been able to deal with those issues in any other way.
You talk about long term concerns on peoples life, but the short term is me literally not dying because of my mental health.
I completely agree. I take maximum dose of SSRI daily for 15 years. Took me out of disabled psychotic hell. No side effects, no diminishment of feelings, no reduction in benefits. Sometimes the cause of mental illness is wrong brain chemicals, perhaps similar to an epileptic or ADHD.?
There’s no one size fits all here
I’ve tried REALLY hard to not be on SSRI’s. I’ve been on them since I was 18 and I’m now 35. I have a panic disorder that leads to debilitating panic attacks, heart palpitations etc. I feel “normal” and able to function with them. I know this doesn’t work for everyone
@@JessicaNichole89
@@JosephCymrank I concur with you.
Antidepressants have caused so many more problems in my life than they ever assisted with. As for antipsychotics being used as "antidepressants" or even sleep aids -- NO. THIS IS MALPRACTICE. The dangers of antipsychotics in a non-psychotic population far outweigh the perceived off-label side-effects ("treatment goals")
I just recently fired a doctor for continuously prescribing me anti-psychotics for depression after several decades of severe abuse. I talked to him for less than 10 minutes before he prescribed them to me.
Prescribing anti-psychotics for anger and depression is like prescribing morphine for a broken finger. MASSIVE overreaction.
Here are the things that happened to me as a result of being on them for less than 1 month:
-Tardive dyskinesia that was so bad that I couldn't eat (my jaw was grinding involuntarily, so I couldn't open my mouth; I literally had to force my mouth open with my hands). My legs would also randomly twitch, so I kept falling over.
-Gained 10 pounds.
-Daytime sleepiness
-Couldn't sleep because of the tardive dyskinesia.
@@Hollyucinogen ❤️🩹
I think a psychiatrist knows better than you, you obviously don't read the instructions because insomnia and depression resistant to other drugs are indications for their usage. I've been on 8 different antipsychotics for almost 10 years and I didn't notice any side effects (aside from clozapine and terrible drooling)
@@Silenceeify Ivana, what you think is unimportant to me or the wellbeing of people on a wider scale.
@@Silenceeify Psychiatrists are specifically trained to simply offer as many drugs for as long as possible as "treatment'. And if you get any side-effects from them, then they'll offer you another drug to combat the side-effects of that one before they consider taking you off of it. The number of doctors who don't do that are like, 1/10. I just fired a doctor for doing this less than 1 month ago.
They're banking on people having blind faith in them. The vast majority of doctors only care about their pocket book, not their patients.
I was on antidepressants for years, and it’s exactly like you said. Start with one, works for a while then the dose needs to be increased, then it stops working, then the doctor puts me on a different antidepressant, it works for a while, gradually dose needs increasing, then stops working and so on and so on. I also read studies where long term use has detrimental side effects in your heart.
2022 - Long-term antidepressant use may double the risk of heart disease, finds the most comprehensive epidemiological study to date to investigate ..."There is a lot of evidence, from other research, that depression is associated with increased cardiovascular disease," he said.
"Clearly, there's behavioral things (associated with depression), where people might not look after themselves as well, and there may also be hormonal changes and metabolic changes which might increase risk of physical illnesses in the longer term.
"Without a (randomized controlled trial), it's always going to be really, really difficult to make any inference
Could you have a different/additional condition to the one originally targeted?
I also went through this process for 12 years or so. The brain getting 'used' to a drug can't be a good thing I imagine. I've been off pills altogether 12 months, I'm only just starting to get a bit of feeling back after 12 months of feeling almost nothing! I worry many people will have to go through this to get their brains back to normal
@@LostLevelMusic not too mention long term use of antidepressants can cause heart issues. Something they neglect to mention. It’s all about the $$$$$$
I have had depression since I was 6 years old. I am 65 now. I struggled for years to cope without being suicidal or a walking zombie. I initially started medication after I tried to take my life one night. It’s taken a lot of trials with different medications to find one that had minimal side effects and that gave me a sense of control over my depressive state. I have navigated extreme depression with and without medication and I am now in a stable condition with a particular medication that doesn’t make me a zombie. My siblings all have dealt with depression. Our childhood’s were not so great and we all have differing reasons. We don’t discuss depression. I’m satisfied that my current treatment is working well despite suffering the loss of several close family members and my daughter. At this point, I am not concerned about long term use. It’s doing its job well.
Everyone in my family is on something. Runs in the family. If it keeps me functional I stay on it.
Exactly my experience. I was 50 years old before the right anti depressant was prescribed. 24 years later, I won’t give it up for any reason. I wouldn’t be here today without it.
I think this video is dangerous. Listen to your doctors, not this quack.
You are the perfect clients for the pharma industry , never tried to taper off ?
I have tried to wean off the meds before and experienced severe problems with mood fluctuations and sui*dal thoughts. Have at times been on 2 antidepressants at once but caused TK and I stopped the add on. The maintenance dose I take is adequate to function and I plan to continue with it. The additional medication was for a situational depression due to my sister and her family dying from Covid in one month’s time. My father had died exactly a year before that. I’m coping ok now, just getting through it all. I’m not a stranger to grief, I have lost 2 of 3 children. Not everything is going to have a cut and dried answer.
Misdiagnosed and over medicated . It’s perfect for business 🥳🇦🇺
It worked really well for opiate withdrawal but I was really just kicking the can down the road.
@@sole__doubt 🙏🏻👍🏻
Lol and yeah
Another "addage" in business is "you get what you pay for".
YES!
Young drs are smarter and more intuitive than the old school ones...thank you...I needed you 25 years ago, now I'm stuck on them
Been on it for 18 years.. tried going off multiple times.. withdrawals are horrible 😢
Me too I've been taking mine for 28 years and I'm not even going to try to get off...
38 years on them here 😢
Wow, I didn't realise how long ppl stay in them! Don't the effects of them plateau, so what's the point being on them? But I guess the severe withdrawals is the main factor ppl stay on them.
@@renee3148 you definitely can and I did get immune to some of them so they had to switch me to a different one every so many years.
I grew up in depression as a child. I dreamed of suicide daily and self hatred, on the outside I had a smile on my face. In my twenties, I wasn’t sleeping and hit rock bottom. I met a counselor, who would not put me on antidepressants. I am so thankful. Thru her I finally faced all of the mental and sexual abuse from my family and abusive marriage. It was painful getting it all out but 30 years later, I am happy and whole. Sometimes the extreme anxiety comes around , but I stop and tell myself where it is coming from.
❤❤
Not-sleeping can help a person really get to know their true core strengths.
I'm glad to see more MDs talking about the growing link between Autoimmune Disorders and mental health. As someone with an AutoImmune disease that was misdiagnosed and mistreated as Bipolar for years, I think every psychiatric provider should be considering these in their differentials. It's an actual night a day difference in mental health being treated properly, going from anti-depressants to anti-inflammatory medications.
Which anti-inflammatory meds?
Serious autoimmune diseases like MS also involves serious meds such as immunosuppressive drugs. Putting the patient at much higher risk of cancer long-term. Such as what happened to my twin. But things like Hashimotos, yes, I agree with him by changing diet and then taking the HRT when hypothyroid, such as what I have. But antidepressants can be good for some people both short and long-term. This guy has no clue by generalizing like a fool.
@@24JJ821I don’t think you finished listening. At the end he talks about those for whom long term works.
@@24JJ821 Hard agree. The moment he talked about diet fixing autoimmune conditions and subsequently fixing depression I knew not to take him seriously. When diet fixes autoimmune symptoms, it doesn't cure them completely but often minimizes them. If it were really cured, then you could eat whatever you want without side effects. I am someone with an incredibly limited diet for health reasons, changing my diet made massive strides in my pain, fatigue, and many other symptoms. But it didn't make it all go away. The connection is immense and massively understated, but it's more of a correlation or one of multiple contributing factors than a sole cause and effect narrative, and that is an incredibly important distinction to make. He's working off of half baked notions and it's a dangerous game.
@@24JJ821you need iodine not synthetic t4 that wont convert into t3 cos your liver os too busy processing other toxic meds
Antidepressants have been a transformative intervention in my life for nearly two decades. They have effectively alleviated persistent anxiety, significantly improving my emotional well-being. The efficacy of antidepressants can be likened to a key unlocking a lock. Over the past 20 years, I have never contemplated discontinuing this remarkable medical advancement. It is crucial to recognize that advocating for the cessation of antidepressant use is akin to suggesting that a diabetic individual should discontinue insulin therapy. While it may be desirable to live free of prescription medications under ideal circumstances, the reality is that many individuals, including myself, do not fit into this category.
You have been braiwashed, comparing antidepressants to diabetic issues people have when they lack of natural insuline in their bodies is a markiting tool pharmaceutical companies invented. Truth is truth.You belive in illusion.
It's an emotional well-being that doesn't belong to you though since you didn't produce it yourself. Can you see what I mean? It's okay if you don't. What is wrong with not being perfectly fine all the time? That's how we learn and become stronger; by supering difficulty after difficulty without resorting to drugs and escape. The most important thing in your life is that your emotions are genuine. By altering your emotions you practically live a life that isn't really yours.
Depression is a natural part of life. Completely natural. You've been conditioned into believing you need to medicate. And "fix" yourself to fit the narrative of this society. To get to this truth one needs to arrive to a few enlightenments. In the natural way.
@@camillawikingWhat you’re describing is _sadness,_ not actual depression. They are two very different things. “Life-coaching” your way out of serious depression isn’t an option, unfortunately.
@ettbattresverigenu
There are a subset of individuals who truly need medication. I am one who will continue to have severe melancholic major depressive episodes if I don't stay on my antidepressant. There are other forms of depression that I can deal with by using therapy, exercise, diet, socializing, etc. However, the former needs medication or I would be completely non functioning and causing damage to myself.
Check out Psychotropical..dr Ken Gillman in Australia..an expert on the MAOI group of antidepressants. I’ve taken them for over 40 years and now permanently. Life saver.
I've studied psychology for a number of years in pre-med coursework. What I find amazing about this discussion is that it does not address the topic of combining of drug therapy and psychotherapy. From what my college professors have stressed is that many psychiatrist will refuse to prescribe antidepressants without having their patient ALSO follow through with psychotherapy. Engaging in psychotherapy addresses the issue of identifying the origins of depression and engaging in talk therapy to resolve those issues often leading to a reduction or discontinuance of prescribed psychiatric meds all together.
My family doctor just pulled out her prescription pad. There was no counseling, no discussion of diet change, no inquiry about home life. Just "oh you're depressed", "take this drug". The PCP's are handing this stuff out like candy with no support to go with it.
@@meade5267 Many psychiatrists will do that too - 15 min appointment and you walk out with a new prescription and nothing else.
It’s actually standard of care where I’m from. Crazy how here you just get the pills and out the door you go.
If you’re lucky enough to find a psychotherapist that actually helps you.
Right? It doesn't have to be either/or.
I'd rather die than to take any antidepressants again.
Truth!❤
Same.
Me too and benzodiazepines
Same and benzosss
That's what it does come to
I was on the SSRI-Lithium-Diazepine treatment cycle for about 17 years. I found the ssri's started to have the opposite effect at that point. I have been off of all of that type of medicine for 23 years now. You are correct though I am damaged emotionally and live alone. I am happy to have survived the bad meds at least.
My heart is with you.
I'm 67 on long term sleep meds for anxiety and insomnia. I get very lonely used to sit in coffee shops, managed to give that up during COVID.
When I went on antidepressants I was with an abusive spouse, and I was working with horrible colleagues in my job. There seemed to be nothing good in my life except my kids. I got divorced, and that piled upon financial stress. Antidepressants saved my life and helped me work with horrible people at work, horrible friends, and horrible family members. I don’t have any of those awful people in my life anymore.
Me too. Can we just have purpose and connection?
@@amusedBYfoolsAgreed! Allegedly we're more "connected" than ever before, yet loneliness is now called an epidemic. Hmmm... 👀
I was on Effexor for 7 years. I quit cold turkey in October. Since quitting I have been going through absolute hell!! Horrible anxiety & depression, complete loss of confidence, no motivation, cannot set goals & achieve them. This is not me! I just want the real me back! I believe I am in the throes of antidepressant withdrawal syndrome.
I did the same in 2019 and felt similar withdrawal symptoms. Reinstated after 7 months...it took higher dosages to feel OK....then waited 4 months and started tapering very slowly at rate of 10% of current dosages. Worked better for me that way...Still taking effexor but much less dosages
Yes Effexor are known for bringing terror. I would reinstate and taper very slowly when you are stabil again. 10% taber is to much for many, I would do 5%.
I have been there myself I know how it is.
Slow is fast.
And be extra careful when you get to roughly 20 mg then taper even slower 1-2% a month.
You might need to reinstate if you suffer from akathesia or SI. If so a low dose might be sufficient to stabilize. You will heal but might take longer than if you would've done hyperbolic taper.
Yep, my emotional energy, that intuitive feeling that there might be something magical and satisfying in the future for you. I stopped talking to family, I get really irritated and become mean, I fake being normal, I don't go out to people anymore, just stay by myself and go to work and gym or coffeeshop.
Omgosh you seriously must feel terrible. I’m so sorry. Effexor is not an easy drug to taper from. Cold Turkey it just takes you down to Davy’s locker. I would not reinstate that drug! Dr Josef has many many videos on Effexor withdrawal, injuries and tapering. Stay with it.
Spread the word everywhere you go, save future generations. Do not let your suffering be in vain!
Better yet, refrain from forcing them into this hell in the first place.
I would rather let my child try medical Marijuana than ever take meds. Im stuck on them and they are evil and awful. I hate them so much
@chellefell1331 Stuck on them? How do you mean that? I've taken them most of my adult life but have free will to wean down and quit at any time! How is that any different for you? I'm curious.
@chellefell1331 there is a way slow taper of 10 percent and hold six weeks. It will take years but doable. I'm off after 27 years took me 5.7 years to fo the hyperbolic taper off effexor.
@@denisescruggs2157 thank you for calling that out. the demonizatin of psych drugs can have really negative consequences.
I’m a retired physician. We were taught to downplay the side effects for fear we might give patients ideas! Most of medical education was about identifying the disease and what the drugs were to treat that disease.
It’s only after I retired that I finally had time to do my own research that I figured out almost every disease could be fixed with a very low carb, ketogenic diet. The food pyramid was all about politics, and our regulatory agencies were bought off by big food & big pharma. Our food supply is contaminated with pesticides, preservatives and toxic additives. Our body was never meant to eat a highly processed, high carb diet. 90% of medical research is paid for by big food, big pharma, and the corrupt NIH.
Not every disease, some have nothing to do with diet. Plus complex carbs are healthy, it's refined carbs that cause health problems.
My depression lifted with testosterone replacement after menopause. I am at optimal range now. But, my GP wanted to place me on a low dose SSRI. I said no way. found a GYN who specializes in hormone replacement I am 55 and feel 30 again.
I've been on every touted diet. Changing an individual's food preferences can cause a lot of stress. Two years ago I did the keto diet. Problem was I didn't eat any carbs. I lost 25 lbs in 25 days. I was so weak everytime I stood up I passed out. At 81, I'm not stressing over diets. I'm happy and for me that is hugh.
In your next life, do your own research first. What a load of crap to say you didn't have time for this until retirement.
It's terrible to think that doctors have unwittingly and unknowingly become marketing arms of big pharma.
If not for antidepressants, I'm sure I wouldn't be here. Having said that, I don't think they are a cure, but a crutch to enable one to function on a basic level. I beleive I may have some damage from taking them for so many years. I have been off of them for 6 months and still experience brain zaps.
medication for life is effectively called palliative treatment. It's neither helpful longterm except to Drs/big pharma bank accts. They know it's not helpful esp long term but $$$$ is their Gd and they don't care about curing, healing or patients.
Good explanation. But the injury takes place for many while taking the drug. Some don’t have any withdrawal. But are left with the cognitive and neurological adverse effects they acquired while taking the antidepressants. This needs to be discussed more.
He has 100s of shorts and full podcasts. Wealth of information.
You are absolutely right!
My doctor prescribed a SSRI for me after I fell into a heap after several deaths in my family.
Somehow I ended up taking them for decades as a 'preventative' maintenance dose as recommended by the doctor.
I am now in a protracted withdrawal and it is absolute hell!
I DIDN'T sign up for this neurological damage 😢
Yup so true, I'd love more people to talk about this
Neurological damage and protracted WD for me as well. 18 year use sertraline, 1,5 year off. Hell.
I am a pharmacist and you hit the nail on the head with these 5 reasons.
I think part of the problem is medications guidelines and dosages are developed by people who have never suffered with depression personally. There’s not an in depth understanding of how a person with depression experiences the world. This leads researchers to use antiquated outcomes as a measure of success.
Amen!
The problem is not that these drugs DO NOT treat the root cause. If that was the case it wasn't as bad. The problem is that they PREVENT from reaching (and thus treating) the root cause, the interfere with treating the root cause, since they act as emotional antagonists. They prevent feeling, they INTERFERE with healing.
@pesttanc The psychiatrists handing them out said they did.
Gotta face those negative feelings and sit with them. Running away from them leads to bad things.
@@janedoe6704 depression is your body telling you things need to change. For some people they need to numb their feelings a bit in order to have the capacity to do the work. For people like me that's not a great idea as I need to have some discomfort to get me to the point of wanting to make changes. If I'm numbed out I don't have any incentive to try to change things.
@@1Jason yes I was on an antidepressant for a short time the only thing it did was make me numb and have no incentive to work on things. When I went off of the antidepressant the only thing that happened was I became aware of my feelings again and things felt worse because I wasn't doing the work to improve my situation.
That's not really scientific though. It could just readjust things in your brain and you won't have a problem. It's not necessarily the case that feeling like crap is healing.
Thank you doctor. It is abusive how frequently these meds are prescribed. Patients often not adequately educated. Breaks my heart.
I've been sharing this video with friends and family also on antidepressants. They don't understand why I'm tapering off 2 antidepressants 1 mood stabilizer and 1 benzodiazepine. So far I've tapered off of Bromazepam. I'm starting to taper off of zoloft. I even bought a drug scale on Amazon. In July I'm going to ask my psychiatrist for lower doses of Bupropion and Lamotrigine. They are extended release so I'm not able to cut the tablets. He is shocked at my plans so I hope there won't be a problem. It's been a tough journey but worth it to have a clearer mind and emotions again. I didn't realize how numb I was. Thank you for your videos! I had planned to go cold turkey until I watched your videos.
Good for you! Please be very, very, careful tapering. It rakes a long time!
Yes. It's easy to want to do it now but I'm taking it slow.
❤
Lamotrigine comes in immediate release so you may want to switch to that when you're ready to taper. You can also get chewable dispersible tablets to make a liquid.
I weaned off an antidepressant. I don’t think it’s one that is nearly as hard, particularly not as tough as benzodiazepines. I did it myself and slowly. If I remember it took a year, maybe 18 months. No side effects. Hoping the best in your journey.
My father forced me on antidepressants by saying “take it or leave” in the freezing winter snow when I had no vehicle. He was convinced I was nuts because I was angry over being raped. It ruined my sexual health. I’m 21.
How about abusive family systems with strong correlations with depression (C-ptsd)?
Oh yes. Alcoholism.
I have CPTSD and depression is a feature pretty much across the board.
I was put on psych drugs at 15. Getting off of the drugs at 30 and finally treating the parasitic infection and gut dysbiosis that was causing me to act bi-polar was the best thing I ever did. So many mood problems have a physiological cause that needs to be treated. Psych drugs are just masking the problem with a band-aid. A lot of people are infested with harmful microbes/parasites and don’t have enough of the beneficial bacteria. Especially if you eat sushi and raw meat.
Everyone should see a Functional MD or good Naturopath before embarking on the psych drug path. Those are the Drs that will actually spend an hour or two with you and run tests that are actually helpful to figure out root causes of what is going on. We have so many environmental toxin exposures that are wreaking havoc on our brain health as well. Regular Drs and psychiatrists don’t even test for toxin levels.
Best comment!
I have fought depression for decades and off and on antidepressants as long. Nothing ever seemed to help. A few years ago I attempted suicide twice and come very close to succeeding the second time. I awoke after the 4th day with a tube down my throat and strapped to the bed and was watched 24 hours a day even after I woke. Was transported to a psych ward where I discovered I needed to do everything I could to get out and avoid anything like that happening again. I was on medication short term and therapy. It was difficult but I didn't want to go through it again ever.
I hope you are feeling better now. Take care
Suicidal ideation and attempts are written on the product information leaflet of any anti depressant with a black box warning signifying a ptoven adverse reaction
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
Yes, dr.porassss. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.
I wish they were readily available in my place.
Microdosing was my next plan of care for my husband. He is 59 & has so many mental health issues plus probable CTE & a TBI that left him in a coma 8 days. It's too late now I had to get a TPO as he's 6'6 300+ pound homicidal maniac.
He's constantly talking about killing someone.
He's violent. Anyone reading this
Familiar w/ BPD know if it is common for an obsession with violence.
Yes he is dr.porassss.
Absolutely, his offerings extend to global delivery, prioritizing complete confidentiality for individuals valuing their privacy.
F#ck dude, this whole comments are bots lol
I have bipolar disorder. I will have to take antidepressants the rest of my life. I currently do not have side effects after taking them for 30 years. I hope and pray it stays that way. If I didn't take them I would have been unalive a long time ago
Read the product information leaflet that accompanies your meds. The manufacturers are required by law to include a big fat 'black box warning" that the product can cause "suicidal ideation and tendencies and homicidal impulses" (the latter especially to men)
@@aalliaandreadis5109what a hell does that have to do with them getting better. Meds worked for them.
@@aalliaandreadis5109Are you aware bipolar disorder doesn't have a cure? Or you're just a trolll?
@@aalliaandreadis5109 I think @KepiGal 's comment went totally over your head.
Ssri’s made me manic and then crashed me into suicidal ideation. I take Lamotrigine for BPD, doesn’t case the extreme highs and lows.
I've been on SSRIS's since 14 (I'm 35 now). I've come off of them with slow tapers several times and can't take the protracted withdrawals so always go back on them. I hate these medications. All I want is to be off of them and I CAN'T DO IT!
You CAN do it! Research HOW to taper first. Check out Dr. Mark Horowitz (TH-cam) on protocols. It can take a long time , but worth it.❤
You can ❤
I’m so sorry. I’m right there with you. One day at a time. Did you use hyperbolic taper and super slow reductions with long time between reductions? I’ve had to go up and start over again. There didn’t used to be as much info in the past. Tapering too quickly causes problems. I’m tapering less than 3% each reduction from previous amount- and waits months between reductions. Although it’s still difficult, especially when I get to the point where I had trouble last time. I’m holding for now. But I also have a nurse practitioner helping me and I am using liquid for Clonazepam. Then I need to work on getting off Lexapro.
We really need a place or clinic where they understand tapering and deprescibing. We need help!
Try getting this book:
The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines: Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Gabapentinoids and Z-drugs (The Maudsley Prescribing Guidelines Series)
Mark Horowitz and David Taylor authors. I am unable to read more than a paragraph and remember anything but a friend has read the whole book and helps me understand sometimes.
Perhaps Dr, Josef would see you.
You missed undiagnosed Autisme. I get 4 different types of antidepressiv and anxiety/quetiapin medicin.
Nobody new what to do with me. Everything got kickstarted because of an awful job.
November 2023 my daughter got diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrom and suddenly I understood my life in a better life healing way.
Remember neurodivergent human beings. It matters that you get the right diagnose/the reason why life is just too much.
I hope you see this, doctor. I loved your video.
Hi from Lene in Denmark
😢
That is true, doctors are quicker to diagnose personality disorders before neurodiverse. I was only diagnosed as having ADHD at the age of 37.
My son is the same. He has aspergers autism with major depressive disorder, OCD, social anxiety and he has to take meds permanently. I lost a brother to suicide over 23 years ago due to schitzophrenia. He was 31. Mental health can't be handled lightly. It can be very serious.
I’d get a second opinion, Asperger’s is no longer a diagnosis.
@@xragdoll5662In some countries it may still be. Some countries arre behind on the updates in psychology. Also aspergers is still real(not the term but the neurodivergence). It's just called ASD now, or high functioning or level 1 autism. Oh yeah, he said they're in Denmark so it's probably still called Aspergers over there.
Thank you for this. As a Canadian parent, I’ve been powerless to stop my dr putting my 16 year old on SSRIs. I didn’t even have the right to know what they had put her on. Medicalization of the human experience is horrific, but in North America it has successfully convinced youth that there is a pill to treat every difficult or painful life experience, treating adolescence like a disease, rather than a life experience through which we grow. This is vile profiteering, and I believe any Dr still prescribing them knows it.
You are not powerless. It is malpractice and you can sue.
@@sarahhale-pearson533 Astonishing that the government can do such things without parental consent now! I am so angry and frustrated by the governments extreme control of crucial children, girls and womens rights.
@@aalliaandreadis5109 Not so easy. Very few people can afford the legal fees.
profiteering maybe not so simple cos depression can harm too doc wants to save from that , like it damages brain for one .
Having traumas as a young child, I read that my brain hasn't had the opportunity to create serotonin as it should. After living with anxiety and depression due to my traumas I find myself 20 years later on citalopram (more than 5 years on) and I have tried to get off this med but the withdraw symptoms are unbearable to me and i become depressed again and irritable .
The same thing is happening to me 😟 I am going to try liquid citalopram and go down even slower. 10mg to 5mg caused me debilitating withdrawal symptoms
I do not agree , I have to take med
everyone has "read something".
@Baixiulan yeah that paragraph you read about was paid for and sponsored by Pfizer!!!! Didn't sleep last night? Have some pills, oh you have sore muscles? Here's some benzos... but wait, there will be plenty more coming over the next decade.... man it's all control... I still can't understand how the whole world hasn't figured this very simple concept out... the ppl with the money and power don't give a flying shtt about the other 99% of the population, as long as they keep getting their money and people continuing to be stupid enough to keep trusting who's in power that they definitely have your best interests... pfft
Paroxetine did not blund my range of emotions at all... it stopped me feeling extremely anxious all the time. Suddenly (and this after years of therapy) there was room for other feelings and there still was anxiety but not so overwhelming and paralyzing. After 10 years I stopped taking the anti depressants and this went well for a couple of years, until now. And this video scared the hell out of me: gives me a feeling of hopelessness. There is no solution anymore.
Seriously it must be end game.
He's not saying don't take the medication. It sounds like they worked for you. But make sure all your lifestyle stuff is in order because that ages a huge difference and could reduce your need for medication.
(I speak as someone who has been there, survived, been a guinea pig for many different meds - some helped and others harmed - and is recovered now with hard work and very careful planning and efforts around lifestyle choices.)
I've been on an antidepressant for over 10 years. With regards to emotional numbness, I've been there at high doses and that's why I decreased back to a starting dose. I won't come off of it completely yet because the antidepressant helps with working memory, focus, and anxiety. I got on antidepressants for depression but stayed on them to manage anxiety symptoms that have been there forever. Regarding sexual side effects, I take L-Citruline and Ashwagandha to help with that. The hepatotoxicity of Prozac is very low so I'm not concerned about any damage to my liver. Less than 1% have a risk of injury to the liver.
After psychiatrists and a lot of research i accepted to to AD (SSRI) against general anxiety.
It took a while for it work. But the doctor wanted me to increase the dose, and that appeared to be a bad idea. Stopped myself by decreasing the dose in 2 years.
For 6 years or so it worked, but: a lot of stress at my job, and anxiety came back.
It was a struggle. Finally started again at the absolute minumum dose. And it changed my life again.
When i stop working, i stop the AD, not earlier.
How much is minimum dose ? Any demotivation from minimum dose ?
I suffered bipolar/suicidal from age 34 to age 69, then got vitamin B 12 with methylcobalamin last Aug. 2023 and then quit smoking without any withdrawals, dropped two of my meds, and have never had another bipolar incident or depression
Its too early to talk.. Wait and see. Hope you will be fine 100% without the meds.
I'm 21 years old and it's been 3 months since I stopped taking sertraline cold turkey after 2 months of use. It's absolutely hell the physical symptoms have gone but the emotional damage is done. I can't feel joy, excitement or love anymore, when I look into my girlfriend's eyes I feel nothing. I have no libido, erecticle dysfunction and I feel like my soul has been taken from me. When I read the accounts of people who say that this lasts 6 years, 10 years, 21 years etc it's hard to not lose hope. Sertraline has made me 100 times worse than I was before, I'm just a bag of bones now.
I’m sorry 😔 Sadly your story is all too common. I really hope things improve for you. I hope your gf is understanding ❤️🩹
Don't give up - you will recover- find a good therapist / psychologist and not a psychiatrist to help you.
I promise this isn't true homie. You are overthinking it. I felt that way at that age and it all just changes. Don't worry.
And dude there's no way you'd get permanently stuck like that after only 2 months of use 😆
@@TrentAdam People develop pssd which lasts for years sometimes after just ONE pill. Just because YOU got better after some time doesn’t mean that EVERYONE will get better too. Do some research before just blatantly assuming that everyone must be like you.
th-cam.com/video/kstt4tM4p04/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
th-cam.com/video/S09B5daPvs0/w-d-xo.htmlfeature=shared
I’ve been on many different antidepressants for 32 years cause drs told me I’d need to take them for the rest of my life. I’ve been thru a LOT of trauma yet I’ve never received quality mental healthcare. It didn’t matter what I was taking, I was obsessed with suicide. Got very close many times. Drs kept adding more meds which included antipsychotics. I had decided to save myself and began meditating daily. I eventually stopped all psych meds and no longer want to die. Mental healthcare has failed us all. They don’t bother with trying to help us heal cause a patient cured is a customer lost.
Your channel is a blessing for sure feel like im coming off my second taper down on benzos, and i rlate my night sweats to that. Ladt night first night i didn't have to change clothes 3 times from sleep to waking up wet, prayers requested thank you and GOD BLESS ALL
PLEASE USE PRAYER ALSO
I've been off a benzo for a month now and I'm sweating so bad too. I invested in cooling pillows and bamboo bedding. Night sweats are the worst!
I once got off xanax and the feeling of being outside of my body was terrifying!
This video describes exactly how my life played out from the time I first went on anti-depressants at 30 until the time I finally got myself off them at 55.
I also started Zoloft first around 33 yrs old and I'm not sure when I switched to Paxil. I'm now 51 yrs old and I don't even care to shower or brush my teeth. Of course I have zero libido thanks to Paxil and menopause. I just want to be normal again. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just lazy..? But seriously, just thinking of showering depresses me. I have to watch motivational videos.
@@Heyoudummy 🙏✨
@@EC-yd9yv ty
I have been of anti depressants for over a decade and I am going back on.
I have had several talk therapies and they did jack sh/t. I have plenty of exercse. Nothing worked on atypical depression I do plenty of exercise as a farm hand.
I am a high functioning depressed person. I can function with 4 hours of sleep. I can only sleep 8 hours on SSRIs and I am going back on. I had some adverse life events 20 years ago. Some bad stuff in my childhood before that. SSRIs is the only thing that worked.
Talking about my feelings does not make the things go away that make me misserable. Had several therapists. Solved a thyroid issue with medication. Solved a vitamine d issue with supplementation. I made some of my therapists depressed and made them question their life choices lol.
The root causes (there are several ones) of my depression cant be helped. One of them is genetics. It runs in my family. I dont have kids to lass these bad genes onto. I have exhausted every option.
SSRIs reduce my anxiety and feelings of hopelessness for 10%. I will take it. Meditation works 10%.The other 80% I will just have to tough it out. As a kid I vowed not to yield to the darkness. But if I get Alzheimers or dementia I will pull the plug. Or maybe the dementia will knock out the specific tiny part of my brain that makes me depressed first.
If there is a root cause you can CHANGE you are lucky.
I have been of anti depressants for over a decade and I am going back on.
I have had several talk therapies and they did jack sh/t. I have plenty of exercse. Nothing worked on atypical depression I do plenty of exercise as a farm hand.
I am a high functioning depressed person. I can function with 4 hours of sleep. I can only sleep 8 hours on SSRIs and I am going back on. I had some adverse life events 20 years ago. Some bad stuff in my childhood before that. SSRIs is the only thing that worked.
Talking about my feelings does not make the things go away that make me misserable. Had several therapists. Solved a thyroid issue with medication. Solved a vitamine d issue with supplementation. I made some of my therapists depressed and made them question their life choices lol.
The root causes (there are several ones) of my depression cant be helped. One of them is genetics. It runs in my family. I dont have kids to lass these bad genes onto. I have exhausted every option.
SSRIs reduce my anxiety and feelings of hopelessness for 10%. I will take it. Meditation works 10%.The other 80% I will just have to tough it out. As a kid I vowed not to yield to the darkness. But if I get Alzheimers or dementia I will pull the plug. Or maybe the dementia will knock out the specific tiny part of my brain that makes me depressed first.
If there is a root cause you can CHANGE you are lucky.
I first got on them when I was 34. 52 now
They worked a few years. Stuck on them 16 years. I felt neurological problems last years. Im off now, damaged. Dont know if I ever Will heal. Anyone that felt better off after long term??
9:54 20years now,,, i tried to come off my meds but i can’t handle the systemic nerve and brain damage. My withdrawal side effects are electrical shocks, uncontrollable body movements, sunlight hurts the eyes, headache, nausea, sudden bouts of laughter/crying and so much more. So i intend to take my meds like vitamins till the day i die!
I am also on antidepressant for 20 years but unfortunately i am getting the bad side effects that affect my liver, so basically the Gastroenterologist says i must try to get of them or replace with other ones but they all damage the liver... And then u wonder what to do in such situation...
Get an attorney
This medication saved my life.
Placebo saved your life.
These drugs are just little better than placebo and cause disasters.
Physical pain in chronic / severe form has really damaged my life. I can’t exercise or hardly walk, can’t work etc. the doctors had no problem giving me drugs like Cymbalta, which sent me to a psych ward. However to get real pain meds for real pain, I had to wait 18 months of back ground checks and filings with doctors and the DEA to get a 3x a day script…. It’s a broken system.
Josef has a video with an interesting interview with a woman in your similar situation. I absolutely recommend watching it. She has chronic pain and her life got destroyed by; in the end; not the pain but by all the pharmaceuticals. @DrJosef can you give us the title of the video please? 😊
I've been on antidepressants since I was 32 for chromic panic attacks. I am 71 now. I take the lowest dose possible. I go off it every couple of years to see if the panic attacks are gone. Within 6 months, each time I try, they return so far. I am an extremely creative person and have had no side effects. I will continue to go off of the med every once in a while in hopes that the panic and anxiety is gone. However, the meds saved my life. I would not have been able to function with the ever-present anxiety without it. As an FYI, panic attacks run in my family. Father, grandmother, brother, cousins, even my son and daughter have them for no reason that we know of. We are all mentally healthy and have good families.
I don't know why people feel like they have to get off the med. If it's working and not causing you serious side effects, stick with it.
@@kenofken9458 I guess I'm hoping that someday they will be gone for good. The only way I know how to tell is if I go off of them for a while. I guess it's just a desire to be totally med free at my age. I guess maybe that's just vain.
I had been on so many different antidepressants, mood stabilizers, etc. With, two of the psychotropic medications, Lamictal and Risperadone, that caused something called Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome, which is where, even though when I stopped taking those drugs and they were out of my system they had caused damage in my nervous system that caused my anxiety level to go out of control and I was taking my anti anxiety meds all the time and could have lasted longer than it did for me which was for months and TMS is what finally helped me so much to stop what was going on. TMS hasn't caused me any bad side effects and really lowered my anxiety level and I might only need to take my anti anxiety medication once every couple of months in certain situations. Another thing about why depression being a chemical imbalance is wrong is that 95% of our serotonin is produced in the gut. How could an antidepressant drug help the way its supposed to then. Dr. Josef, thanks for posting this. Really good information.
Lamictal/Lamotrigine has completely messed up my nervous system. I now have Ataxia and Dystonia for the rest of my life. SSRI always made me manic but Dr kept increasing them and adding on others. I stopped all the SSRI on my own gradually and am no longer having manic episodes.Lamotrigine seems to help overall, as long as it’s a low dose.
I’ve been on lamictal and most drugs mentioned in the comments for my epilepsy, it’s very very worrying and weird they use it for anxiety and depression
Whats TMS?
@radkakulinska6344 TMS stands for Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and it's where magnets are used on the brain in different areas to affect changes. It really worked for me, and no medication was needed. It has been used for people suffering from depression, anxiety and addiction.
@@radkakulinska6344 transcranial magnetic stimulation (of the brain)
You seem very well-meaning and intelligent and I’m sure your advice applies to SOME but not all people.
For DECADES I did everything I could to treat myself: years of therapy (which helped me to understand myself but also kept me focused on negativity), walking daily, journal writing, meditation and yoga, getting out with friends… and more. I still do most of these things today in fact but NONE of it helped me to make the right decisions in life because I was anxious, avoided real closeness for fear of not being liked, angry, sad….
I lived and did a lot in my life but I sabotaged myself all of the time and lived well below my ability as far as God-given intelligence and talent.
I didn’t want to take medication for years because I thought it was a crutch and made me someone else. Now I actually believe they make me MYSELF. I can accept being successful, I want to get out more and be with people, feel and act deserving of a good life. I just think some people are born so sensitive that today’s world is too overwhelming, and taking the edge off slightly is a good thing.
But how long have you been on antidepressants? Because he doesn’t say they don’t work short time. They made a world of difference for me AT FIRST. But after taking them for years and weaning myself off of them because they were no longer working, I now pretty much have no feelings. I don’t think I am capable of happiness or joy.
Further, he didn’t say no one should be on them long term. At the end he talks about people for whom it is appropriate.
As an autistic with ADHD, I already have little or no contact with my emotions. I am easily overwhelmed and intense feelings just push me over the edge. Add to that CPTSD from an abusive childhood followed by an emotionally abusive 21 yrs of marriage. I'm a mess. Without bupropion I would not be here. I am hoping the recent addition of Abilify will help even more. Maybe enough that I can find out who I really am, learn healthy boundaries, and get in touch with my feelings about things. I am a little hopeful. I would do better if I could actually afford a therapist, but that is not in the cards.
The drugs are stimulants. Like a long drug chase that never ends.
@@mrnt1257 3+ years and I still have my feelings. I cry, I love my animals, I have empathy. I just don’t feel like hiding under the covers all day.
@@Lulu-kt6grsame here!
This is critical information. Thanks doc. This is the truth about these drugs. I’m a 20 year plus psychotherapist/ mental health clinician. They work best with chronically and progressively suicidal individuals, and those with clinically significant depression- then, they can get off of them once they’ve got all around better coping and have built distress tolerance skills/ cbt/dbt.
Interesting, because from a psychiatric nurse practitioner's perspective who has been through 18years of therapy, has excellent dbt skills, and is in eating disorder recovery, I would be in the hospital with my Pristiq, because guess what? The "chemical imbalance" idea he claims is not real, turns out the scientific community disagrees. How do you think these medications work? Look up the monoamine theory before you praise this "doctor "
They can still harm the people with severe depression too. I had an adverse reaction to the first SSRI I tried for a short time. Withdrawal symptoms for years. Then I developed neurological disorders.
I came off Zoloft after 14 years in 2019. I've never been the same since: flatlining is still there, no libido at all, no real positive emotions but exacerbated negative ones. This is despite a healthy weight, regular exercise, and a family (wife and children) who provide healthy relationships.
Ditto after my use of SSRI for 25 years.
When I was on Zoloft, my mood was elevated and then I became more depressed and more irritable. I got off that after a few months and now I take a small dose of Wellbutrin and I don’t have any side effects. They did offer me genetic testing for psych meds so maybe that will become more common to do that so that way it’s not like trial and error on people.
Being on an antidepressant gave me a life, I have ocd and gad, I’ve had years where I’ve come off them and since I can’t handle stress well I went back on them. I am grateful for them. In the old days people abused alcohol for these conditions so I figure you can’t lump everyone in the same basket. Some people with chronic conditions may need them. If you can’t see that as a doctor you have no business practicing medicine.
Came off after 15 years. Not myself. Flat. Low. Dont knowmif you ever be the same, if reverse back. They worked a few years, in the end made me sick and pooped out.
SSRI SAVED MY LIFE !!!! (OCD)
Me too. Same. I have OCD and ADHD.
Me too, psychiatrists should be more rigorous on prescribing these meds, FFS my feelings are in a freaking normal range not the "I feel like doing nothing, want to cry all day "
Tell me more please 🙏
There are much safer alternatives!
@@sweetbeep Like what ??? Nothimg else semed to help !!!
For those of you who have a hard time getting off antidepressants and want to, but keep having withdrawals. Of course the disclaimer is discuss with your doctor first. I got off Effexor on my own. One of the worst withdrawals reported is from that. I was sllllllllooowwwly tapering off. Like I’d remove a few beads from the capsule one one day, then remove the same amount the next and so forth. Then after a week, I’d remove a bit more. And so forth. It did take a good 6 months for me to taper off completely but I did with little to almost no side effects. There might have been a few minor brain zaps which is actually a withdrawal side effect and normal. But nothing crippling. So bottom line, just do it very slowly. There’s no rush. Take your time reducing the intake little by little. Then I started to skip a day when it was down to the lowest dosage. Every other day. Every two days and so forth.
I'm on this one and have been for past 2-3 years dosage of 37.5mg and before that I was on Sertraline for few years, and transitioned to Effexor. However, I now feel that I want to try to get off Effexor completely to see how I feel without taking it! I will discuss with Dr before hand. Thank you for your advice... much appreciated!
Effexor did the same thing to me! My psychiatrist said she'd never heard of someone needing to open the capsule and count the beads. The brain zaps are so uncomfortable.
Have you experienced emotional blunting as a result of SSRI withdrawal?
Thank you Dr Josef! I’m 3,5 yrs off Cymbalta and Lyrica after 30 + yrs use of many different meds. I have all of the side effects. Struggeling with them still. Did a really slow taper of 6,5 yrs. ❤
Hi. Cymbalta here as well. What are your symptoms now?
@@7inchdestroyer959, i have had PSSD for many yrs! Still insomnia most nights, still 25 kg overweight and more. Hope that it will get better. I execise, eat really healthy food and take care of my self. Hope that one day i will be fine again! 🙏🏻❣️
So discouraging
Have you gotten better at least?
The cymbalta withdrawal for me is what is making it so hard to get off of the drug. How did you taper the cymbalta since it is in a capsule form ? Thanks!
I’m 66 years old and have no relatives or anyone and live alone. Have been on tranxene for 30 years probably. Exact same dose, 15mg twice a day never changes. I pretty much have a normal life with them . Honestly I don’t see any reason on quitting them. Except my doctor retired and I have a feeling like someone is going to make me stop ( which would be cruel) I have nobody at all. And at age 66 putting myself through that seems a bit ridiculous. It would basically be the end of me.
Tranxene is not an antidepressant drug.
I've been taking Escitalopram for many years, and I have no intention to interrupt it...I wanna go on taking it till I die
They don’t work forever
@@cyndijohnson5473they will, I know people on it for decades with no problem
@@cyndijohnson5473 stop saiyng shit. On some they do work for life.
I felt the same way buy after 15 years it started to lose it effectiveness.
I had a profound depression almost thirty years ago when I got divorced. I took Prozac for approximately three years, and for at least one year I took also ambien (Stilnox) to help me sleep. I was lucky to be able to come off these drugs safely, but gradually, and never to need taking them after this painful period.
Thank you Dr Josef. My GP is anti unnecessary drugs and accepts I need long term anti anxiety medication to function in a stressful life. I can’t change my life. Society doesn’t make life easy for some of us.
I am happy to access such support. I can cry and feel emotions strongly still.
I am so thankful to have this information now! I wish my doctor would have had this conversation with me years ago. I am currently tappering off of Lexapro by myself for the second time in my life and your videos have helped the process tremendously! 20 to 10mg was a breeze, 5mg to 2.5 … much harder but sitting at the third week of cut and hold and I can see the light ! Thank thank you again !
Idk, 14 years on antidepressants.
I am a completely different person. More intelligent, empathetic, and proactive.
I live life now. Before I hid away in fear.
I actually have a personality now.
Some people thrive on them. I'm proof.
Sleep breathing disorders are a hugely overlooked cause of depression-like symptoms. Obstructive sleep breathing disorders such as OSA and UARS are so common, yet so rarely diagnosed, while it should be the first possible cause to be eliminated whenever someone presents with mental health concerns.
Echo this, seen in my practice many times ! Wait times are so long to get patients into sleep clinics too
@@taperclinic Ironically in my case, a 60 days waiting list was my salvation. I sent you an e-mail with a link to a brief interview.
I've had nightmare disorder for 2 years now, every day getting worse. Polysomnography showed I had no problem breathing, but I never really fell asleep.
I already had depression way before the nightmare disorder, but I began having nightmares after fibromyalgia symptoms started getting worse. Tried all medications, none of them worked
But it's 100% valid to do a check up, all these symptoms I mentioned are all common to sleep apnea
@@thetrawlerman Polysomnography seems thorough, but good interpretation takes time and cost saving has the highest priority. For example, I had all the CFS/ME symptoms including POTS but my AHI score never exceeded 2.5 😆 There are some channels like CPAPfriend and TheLankyLefty26 that explain the problems with common sleep studies.
There can be many causes for depression. That one can be considered but your suggestion of that being the first thing checked is ridiculous.
It's been an absolute outrage watching so many people who just needed some therapy, a vacation or even new friends/spouse- just a positive change- being destroyed by a prescriber seeking their commissions and incentive goals. I'm 55 yrs old and have definitely had major rough patches in my life- never once taken a pill to "cope" with devastating situations. Hard to watch everyone around me turn into zombies, marriages/families ruined & have their lives get harder & revolve around pills. If docs had some accountability- things would be very different.
Why would marriages fall apart if people were taking antidepressants? If anything it would keep people together because they're not so miserable anymore.
@@Mmmmkaaay how extremely naive & unfamiliar you are with all the negative side effects on these drugs.
Loss of libido (sex drive) is the most common side effect.
A VERY large number of people experience another common side effect- suicidal thoughts and WORSENING symptoms.
It would take me DAYS to list all the horrific problems antidepressants and antipsychotics cause. It's tragic that you think these pills just work great for everyone who eats them 🤦😆😂🤣
That is why it is SO important to find a good psychiatrist that works with you!
These meds are not one size fits all. It takes a lot to find what works best for individual patients. What actually works for you and taking into account the side effects.
I live with Bipolar II (with super rapid cycling) Horrible depression and anxiety cycles. For sure a genetic component to it.
If it wasn't for my psychiatrist I would most likely not be here.
Obviously still experience the cycling, but it is much more tolerable. I'm 41.
I do not have the issues described in the vid. But did have them with some of the meds previous Dr's had me on.
1 pill can cause permanent damages.
Stai away from these drugs.
Chicken or the egg argument. When you can’t get out of bed, don’t have the umph to comb out your rat’s nest and spend what minuscule amount of energy you have trying to appear normal enough to avoid concern from friends/family…creating a healthy meal plan isn’t happening. I understand the concept of taking it long enough to get you out of the trenches. Be able to WANT to eat healthier. But still can’t wrap my head around the idea of taking it away. What exactly does it “fix” in your body that makes it possible to stop taking it and stay motivated?
A pill isn't a replacement for family and community holding you accountable. Unfortunately the public teaching around mental health teaches people who aren't depressed to accept depression instead of forcing people to change their life for the better
I've been on low dose prozac for about 14 years, in the beginning it was crucicial. I did go off for a year and a half and ended up going back on it after suffering reoccuring panic attacks during the pandemic end 2020. I certainly have depression, but it has never been to the point of suicide, so I can improve it with diet and exercise, social in most points of my life but what I can't change is panic attacks and anxiety. He doesn't address this. The main reason I have been on them this long is to address this situation.
I take clonazepam for a panic attack
I feel worse coming off my SSRI (over 10 years' multiple drugs, 3 years' protracted withdrawal and counting) than I ever did pre-drug depressed/anxious. Think very carefully before going on an SSRI for any length of time.
Same experience.
Thanks for saying the truths.
I had been on Lexapro then switched to Cymbalta over a period of 25 years. I was given the initial by my primary care doctor and I don’t think therapy was ever mentioned. I have CPTSD which was not diagnosed until recently. I have been off the meds since 11/23 and am still struggling with emotional regulation and pretty severe anxiety and panic. I wake up and for 5 seconds feel ok then the anxiety kicks in. I am in therapy weekly. I’m exhausted! I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia years ago as well. I try to exercise but the pain afterward is sometimes unbearable. I’m scared this is what the rest of my life is going to be like. I also feel that I’ve wasted my life thus far. My point is If I was informed that therapy was the primary treatment instead of antidepressants the course would have been different.
Thanks for the information.
Did you taper too quickly? My most successful taper off paroxetine took months. I tried going off faster but felt vile in every way. So I went back on (hated doing that but had to be realistic) and then stepped down much slower, not taking the next step down until the side effects faded to almost nothing. Re: pain after exercising - yes, I can sympathise. The exercise I tolerate the best is swimming combined with gentle walking and movement in the pool. Some days I almost live in the pool, because it's where my movement feels the most free, unrestricted and least painful. You haven't mentioned getting rubbish sleep to the point where you dread going to bed, but I'd bet that's in the mix for you as well. Do not lose hope, do not lose faith!!! Keep nibbling away at your issues from different angles, keep looking for partial solutions. You will have some successes! I have ended up with a sort of hodge podge of management solutions that HELP and it's always a joy when I find some little thing that I can add to my regime that improves one particular problem, even if it's just a bit (like a hot water bottle and magnesium cream for sore legs at night). Nothing is a complete fix (yet), but I have slowly come around to the idea that complex problems have complex solutions. Stay curious, ALWAYS explore and NEVER give up hope that you can gradually create your own solutions. Keep a journal, track your progress, what does and does not work. I celebrate EVERYTHING - the unexpected friendship I have struck up with a few women down at the pool, the night I slept 4 hours straight, the little happy place I have found playing Geoguessr, haha, the time I made the best cup of tea and enjoyed it right to the very last drop along with a crossword puzzle. NEVER compare your life to others and there seemingly massive health. Cling to and expand on the tiny things that ARE right in your life. Let it snowball in its own good time. There is a path out of the woods, my friend. You just have to be able to tolerate being IN the woods longer than you'd hoped. xo
@@BuntingClipClop Most definitely rubbish sleep. Which is also fairly new. I will try to journal but have historically been inconsistent. Thanks so much for your encouragement and I wish you all the best.
@@chriscouri4149 It's a process alright. All the very best.
@@BuntingClipClop I probably did taper too quickly but my PCP (as many) really don’t know the effects. I am steadily improving. I do go up and down. My husband and best friend say I am improving to them. The initial stopping of the Cymbalta 90 mg was fine. Then I was on a slippery slope for a few weeks. I worked through it and of course still am. When the lows come it feels like it won’t end, but it does. The lows aren’t lasting as long. It is going to take some time from what I understand. When I am not low I am interested in things again like my art and being with my friends. I do have panic/anxiety on waking daily. It’s tough to start the day like that. I hope it improves soon. Thanks. How are you doing?
@@chriscouri4149 I've been fine once I tapered slowly enough. If I started to feel panicky, I would (reluctantly) take a quarter or even an eight dose of paroxetine and see if that helped. It usually did. And to my surprise, it didn't take much and it didn't set me up for failure - as in, needing it all the time again - it just got my brain chemistry over the hump at that moment. I made a weird promise to my brain that went like this: "I know this is a massive change for you, but I'm committed to supporting you through it. If you're having too much trouble, I'll give you a little supporting dose and then we'll get back on track as soon as possible". Just trying to be gentle with my own brain, I suppose. I STILL give myself a tiny dose of paroxetine rather than start to suffer. To my way of thinking, it's an EXCELLENT sign for you that you feel fine upon waking for a few seconds before you go into freeze response again. That's wonderful and very very positive. But, totally agree, PCP's underestimate withdrawal issues about 1000%. Thanks for asking xo
When I was ON Lexapro, and much more so when I stopped cold turkey, I stopped caring about hurting other people's feelings. In the past, I would internally feel that I may be offending someone and stop, but now, I like not having brakes and just roll over people's boundaries thinking it is good. I somehow think this is okay, good, or there is not other choice, or I just cant take the frustration of putting brakes on this. I can't believe how my life changed in the 5 years since I started and stopped Lexapro. It is like I got a social lobotomy and got this permanent chemical anger and rage, and am also much more sensitive with this to coffee.
Did the symptoms eventually stop? How long did it take? I feel like I can never get off of it due to the symptoms you described
@@rhondaurb the 'hurt brain' where everything irritated me stopped after a year; the rage anger while drinking coffee is still present 4 years later.
@@Hello-zf5lq it only happens when you drink coffee?!
@@rhondaurb yes, i think so; i cant stop drinking coffee so i dont know which is it
@@Hello-zf5lqYou might want to switch to decaf. It's probably the caffeine.
So true. So much good stuff here. I was put on anti-depressants as a teenager, 14 or 15 years old. My father passed away when I was 12, and it was a devastating loss for me. I couldn't handle the pain, so I asked for meds, even though the therapists advised against it, and tried to get me to deal with the feelings. I couldn't.
Though the meds did take the edge off of the intrusive thoughts, I felt blunted. 09/11 had just happened, and we were at war, and I remember thinking, "I should be feeling pain about this. I need to feel pain about what's going on in the world."
They say that "meds and therapy" are the best course of action. You'd think that the meds would simply make the feelings more manageable, blunt them a little, so that you could deal with them on your own time and your own terms. But that's not how they work. They block your ability to feel and to access emotions. When I stopped taking them as an adult, I exploded. I experienced a lifetime's worth of emotions and emotional growth and development. It was terrible.
Hi, thanks for your comment. I’m in a similar situation, was put on meds at 14 but more so because my parents did not have the emotional capacity to work through my problems with me. I’m now 28, been through too many medications to count and for a while now I’ve known they’re not the answer - they’ve probably been hurting me more than helping me. I feel emotionless most of the time, apathetic, stuck, and decided to cut down on my medications with the goal of getting off.
I’m afraid though, I’ve never been off of meds since I was out on and I feel like I have so many repressed and suppressed emotions that I don’t know what is going to happen when I come off completely. Do you have any advice? Also what were you like right before you decided to come off of your meds?
@@SportsPro123 Thanks for sharing, sorry to hear what you've been going through.
I was very unwell leading up to that time. I had severe burnout at work, sleep deprivation. I was on the brink of collapse, like the meds weren't even working anymore. I made some irresponsible choices, stopped cold turkey. I tried to reach out to my NP for help, she was very careless, just told me to wean off a quarter mg/ week, basically just wrote me off. I also met a guy, who told me he wouldn't be with me if I was on meds, which triggered the crap out of me given past rejections.
Thankfully, I found a doctor who helped me and gave me real treatment. She helped me process through past trauma, and unpack it all.
I wouldn't recommend doing what I did.
I'd suggest finding a trauma informed therapist and psychiatrist. They are hard to come by. Also, I'd recommend CoDA--codependent's anonymous. that would be a good place to start, working through family dynamics and hard emotions. Melody Beattie's "Codependent No More" is Good. Also, Brooke Siem's book, "May Cause Side Effects." "Mad in America" is a website that you might like, too. You might look into some long-term psych treatment problems at reputable facilities.
Right off the top in starting to watch this video, is when he says, "we need to get to the root of the problem". It seems like almost all doctors, specialists, and therapist just want to medicate. Right now, not even including the lifetime mental illness that I've been a victim of, but I've developed really bad rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in the past two years. I've been going around and around with specialists to get them to see if we can find the cause, the root problem. No. Only meds.
RA is a registered vaccine injury, written on most product information leaflets that accompany the injections.
I was on 20mg Fluoxetine for 3 years and kicking it was as hard as kicking opiates, I did that in 2019. It took ~6 months to get back to normal.
Im one of them that will be on them the rest of my life. To say they were a life saver for me would be an understatement. Its been 38 yrs since I started them.
My question is this: Does a personality "change" when on anti-depressants/psych meds? I ask because I'm one of the people you warn about: I've been on multiple antidepressants for 34 years now! It's been off and on in the larger scheme of things, but I've mostly been on them. A therapist once said to me, "You've been on meds for that long??" Then she said something like that my personality must be radically different than what it was pre-medication. I was puzzled, but I think I know what she meant. (?) I've wanted to go off my meds, but ultimately, it's riskier for me to be off of them than anything that can occur from them, i.e. side effects, etc. Thank you, Doctor!
This is all well and good to a point. You've told us why long term is bad but that doesn't help if your doc see's nothing wrong and poo poo's you trying to get off so you try to taper on your own, disaster!! Or worse my PA insisted I get off my effexor but set up a taper way to fast and I ended up back on it at double the dose!! It's not a easy path to walk. At this point in my life I don't see ever being off SSRI'S. I've dealt with anxiety since I was a child, being off the medication is hell. Before meds I dealt with my anxiety by controlling my food intake or overeating. Life is good now. 😊
If you started treating people's pain and sleep most other things will fall into place unless you have serious problems I've been depressed for most of my life and it's always been pain related to pain emotional, physical chronic pain
Wow! This video is life transforming. You had the courage to tell the truth about the long term use of antidepressants. Dr Josef you can not imagine how profoundly grateful I am for your words of wisdom for all of us who have suffered with depression/anxiety. Thank you!!
Has anyone come off of an SSRI after taking for 10+ years? Been discussing it with my psychiatrist and he warned me of the side effects coming off and to go slow. I've always thought I just needed to be on it due to my family history of mental illness and my depression/anxiety and I am so grateful for these meds. I couldn't stop crying and Zoloft helped me but now I'd like to see how I do off of it... curious anyone else's experiences? I am also on Wellbutrin now after having some medical issues come up last year but now am doing much better.
I cannot advise you re: Zoloft since that is one I haven't been on. BUT my experience with Wellbutrin is that it's a breeze to go off. I never had to taper and honestly noticed no side effects when stopping it.
Do you mean after 10+ yrs on the same SSRI? Because I was on meds daily for 10 yrs (after being increasingly depressed & unmedicated for 10+ yrs) but I switched antidepressants 8 times. Three SSRIs, four SNRIs & one other. Most I barely had to taper off before switching to a new one. Paxil & especially Effexor I had to taper off for weeks or else the brain zaps were incapacitating- but if tapered, it was fine. Zoloft was the first one I tried, maybe for 6 months. I felt nothing on it & felt nothing getting off of it.
In all, I tried 20-25 different meds, the antidepressants, some antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, benzos, etc.. At most, I took 5 different ones a day. Almost none of them had any effect (besides the benzos). In the end, I slightly tapered off the last antidepressant with no problems at all. I felt fine & wasn't depressed anymore anyway. I actually wondered if any of the antidepressants had ever worked at all since there was no way to know when my depression had gone away.
The HUGE problem was the benzos. I got off those a year after all the other meds. That's an entirely different thing & it was horrendous. I was also on those daily for 9-10 yrs. The withdrawal almost ruined my life & I had protracted withdrawal & weird issues for 6-7 YEARS afterward. That was NOTHING like getting off any of the other psych meds.
I have schizoaffective disorder, and Im currently weaning off from effexor, because its not helping with my major depressive disorder too. I tried prozac too, and it was horrible. I will change my diet to mostly high protein low carbohydrate plant-based. I already exercise. Seroquel and propranolol help a lot with other symptons. I think depression is something we need to figure out the root csuse, and work with a therapist. Honestly I feel depression is the worst out of any of my schizoaffective symptoms. I hope those who listen to this video feel better.
Great info. This is what I call informed consent. 👏🏿
You have no idea how many times my abusive family called me crazy or said I a "CHemiCaL imBALancE" while being physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually abusive. Then doctors just wrote scripts for things not caring about how this affects me over all, short and long term. They also misdiagnosed me for over a decade until I met a doctor who said I'm not depressed or bit polar. I suffer from PTSD and I had been prescribed the wrong meds this whole time. Fast forward and I'm a 35/F/Black and I'm just started to understand that it was never me. I was never the problem. Best years of my life and my childhood were wasted by people pretending. I've had a nurse ironically the last couple of years who's been really supportive and has encouraged me to get off of medication. Now after years of back and forth I'm on the lowest dose possible for my meds. And we are actively working on getting me off them completely.
Huge respect for this wonderful Doctor. My Mother has been on these medications as well as list of many others. I have always tried to get her to stop, but somehow the Docs were always giving her more. She is a shell of a person these days. It seems she doesn’t feel any emotion. At one time they change her anti depressant and it was almost like she was walking around with a mask. Just a face with no expression. My Father always taking her side, saying she’ll die if she doesn’t take them. She is now in her mid
80’s and is a mess.
As soon as they are in your system you are risking your health and putting yourself at risk for serious complications. Simply not being able to feel like yourself and enjoy life the way you used to is a horrible experience - and that may be the least of it.
He is right. Happend to me, 20 year use SSRI.
Same! I was on one or more antidepressant for 20 years. Been off for around 5. I wonder if many people experience what I did: you become afraid to go off of them on the off chance they are "doing something," but you also don't really feel that much better.
Been on Paxil for 32 years. I tried to get off but I had severe rolling ( one after the other) panic attacks that went on for months. Also a lot of other horrible side effects . So I went back on . No more panic attacks.
Thank you so much for this information. I relate to the example you gave about being in an abusive relationship and then your doctor just prescribe an antidepressant for you, and there you go. Stuck in that abusive relationship without the clear of mind do break it.
This is good information, but don’t stop taking these drugs without medical supervision
Been on tricyclics or SSRIs for decades, since having depression and panic disorder since age 8. No history of trauma or abuse. No discernable reason for my symptoms. Ive only had sexual side effects, which are the price i pay for being able to function and make a living, socialize, etc. I exercise, see a therapist and try to eat mostly plant based. I see no reason to rock the boat at this point by going off the Lexapro. Ill see what the future holds. I do agree most people put on these drugs do not need them, but when you truly do, it can be extremely helpful. I wish everyone healing.
Oh wow! I was just trying to explain this to my father recently, but didn't think I was making it make sense from my perspective. This is much better than I feel I was articulating! Subscribing and and forwarding to my dad. Thank you for explaining it so clearly!
This is the BEST information! I learned this personally... every word you said. It should be a manditory prerequisite that the mental health community/psychiatrists/therapists have to refer a patient to medical practitioner for testing to rule out all possible treatable causes before any psychiatric medications can be prescribed for more than temporary use. Some mediations shut my colon down so bad I could've died. Recovery from side affects on my brain and body a decade later are still on going and debilitating. Turns out a lesser used test revealed I have multiple autoimmune disorders and hyperkalemia to name a few. I choose to hear my body when it's happy, mad or sad. I let it talk. If it hurts, I don't try to shut it up, I learn to endure the way it speaks and I have respect for it, I give in to it's demands for rest. It's not a beast of burden, it's a loyal companion, a trusted friend.
I've been on anti depressants for 36 years. I've tried coming off but get suicidal quickly. I have complex PTSD and in the UK there is no help on NHS for therapy. We have to take the pills because I cannot function otherwise
I'm on lexapro for the last 14 years. I have tried to taper it off gradually at least four to five times, but every time I ended up having panic attacks . I never increased my dose from 10 mg to 20 despite the the doctor's advice. I have realised that I have to take it all my life if i want to live.
This is an excellent explanation of how people function (or fail to function) when the CAUSE of anxiety or depression is not addressed! Thank you.
Lexapro saved my life and improved it in every way possible. I went from daily panic attacks--some that put me in the hospital--to NONE within a month of starting antidepressants. I never got any of the side effects, and I'm not even on the highest dose. I still experience emotions like normal, good and bad, but it has taken away my sense of impeding doom and constant anxiety.
I'm so grateful you made this video. I was going to talk to my doctor about the anxiety I've been experiencing. I was already very hesitant to start medication, and now I'm sure I don't want to. I'll explore other ways to improve my symptoms that don't include drugs.
Emotional Freedom Tapping or EFT - take it from me, a rational skeptic.... the method gently effectively shifts you, it really does. I'm still skeptical...as if tapping could help (?) yet keep going back to it because it works well. Weird as. Check it out. Lots of info online.
@@7hilladelphia Thank you for the suggestion.
Never heard this summarised so well for non medical people. So informative and very truthful.
25 years on them ruined me. Massive weight gain and settling into routine. Off them clear now 2 years after disastrous short taper as prescribed. I went back on then just came off over a few months. The after affects of crashing off were euphoria and downs followed 2 years later by breaking thru many issues that should have been faced decades ago. The last 3 weeks I went back on protein eating boiled chicken and an egg every morning - it has made me feel and look better. Doctors didnt give an F what my issues were.