I'm so glad you made it through the absolute hell that you have to live again and enjoy your amazing personality and your awesome creativity! God bless you Russell thank you for hanging on !
This video has turned for me this whole psych meds nightmare into a fountain of everlasting creativity. Now what we’re really talking about is artistic masterpieces and whatnot. Kudos to you, Russ! ♥️
Nightmare transformation is what it’s all about 🙌 It’s an honor to have played a role in that process. Thanks for your support, Fern! Your comment is burst-into-flames good 🔥🔥🔥 11/10 ❤️ 🤘🏻
It is nice to see a one brave man who took his health into his hands. We were trying to get off the drugs. After 5 months the hell started all over again. And another trap into a hospital with the cold blooded docs and empty brains nurses...Russ how did you deal with the psychotic stages when you were going off drugs. Did you ever feel agitation and mood disorder causing everybody around? Thank you for sharing
Thankfully, I didn't have any psychotic symptoms while tapering. Though I definitely felt agitated at times and had mood fluctuations. Are you asking if those things affected the people around me? If so, they did to some extent. It’s unavoidable. But most of my time was spent alone in my apartment, so the majority of my ups and downs happened without anyone around to experience them with me. I will say that having the right taper speed is very important. It won’t prevent or fix all problems, but coming off too fast can lead to so much instability for some people that it’s hard to move forward with the process. People with a history of “psychosis” in particular need to be extra careful about not coming off too fast.
Hey Russell, I like to drop by every now and again because you've been such a huge inspiration to me throughout the entire duration of me getting off medication. You gave me hope when there was so much despair around these drugs. I thought I was a lost cause, but seeing your success is what allowed me to create my own. I was on medication for about 10 years and was put on at 15 years old. I have been off all medication for 3 years now and can't believe I've come this far. This was unequivocally one of the hardest battles I have ever fought because of the severity of the symptoms caused by these drugs, but enduring the suffering allowed me to come out stronger on the other end. Thank you for all that you do and I hope everything is going well with you. I'll probably never meet you in person, but from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
That’s amazing, Matt! Congratulations on how far you’ve come. So much to be proud of 🙌 Really appreciate you checking in and sharing how you’re doing. Not just for my sake, but for everyone who searches through the comments looking for as many success stories as they can find. It does a lot of good for the community. I hope the progress continues (I’m sure it will) and maybe someday there will be a way to do in person meetups. Much love to you!
You're right. I hope people see my comment as well. I know how desperate I was to find success stories online when the internet is an ocean of pessimism and despair. Truth is the people who successfully got off are just too busy living their lives. Thank you for the prompt response and words of encouragement. I'll still look out for new content in the future. Take care and God bless.
I'm 9 months off klonopin. And taper my citalopram currently. Still suffering and can't work currently. So much anger towards the medical field. They are supposed to help us but they just harm us. Disgusting ppl. The whole industry is messed up. Most of the psychiatrics and doctors don't know enough about the long term implications of these meds. Pharma will never disclose that info. It's all evil. I hope I make it through all of this. So many ppl probably gave up and may they rest in peace.
So little has changed with these industries since I began my 5-year taper back in 2008. It's stomach churning. The problems I had with psychiatry and Pharma then are the same ones people are struggling with now. It's like you said, "messed up." We deserve better. On a much more positive note: congrats on making it this far with your taper! I know how hard it's been, but I really believe you'll make it. Stay hopeful and keep believing in what you're doing and why you're doing it, and you'll get there.
Brother...Your Story Telling deserves all sorts of Audience....While Thoughtful and Humorous also Sad ..Hope we all get A Better chance of making the best of ourselves in the next life if there's one....Wish all my Buds a Speedy Recovery from Withdrawals and Treatment..
Wishing you the best with your recovery too 😀 We can experience some very profound healing over time. Thank you for your supportive words about my story telling, and much love to you!
I am very proud of you for getting through all this as well as getting off the drugs. Right now I have no idea how my son or myself will ever get off. My son suffered orthostatic hypotension from his drugs. He has fainted at times because of getting up too quickly. When he stand up, he usually puts his hands on the kitchen counters and lowers his head - sometimes his legs shaking and jerking. Until he can walk. At time, he has fainted, but doesn't stay out but a few seconds.
I absolutely love your videos. Thank you for your honesty and sense of humor on a topic that is so important to all of us trying to come off Seroquel. ❤
If possible, could you please make a vid surrounding insomnia and if/when it gets better? I'm in the sticks right now and am scared that this will never go away - Went a week without sleeping but I'm at least getting bits of being unconscious, usually only medication-induced (I say 'unconscious' instead of 'asleep' because I am not sure how much value it has for actual healthy sleep). This all started from me having a very negative reaction to an antipsychotic that I am now coming off of. My goal is not necessarily to be completely psych-med-free as I do wish to keep Mirtazipine at the low dose that I'm on, but I want to get off all the antipsychotic meds and they already tried to stick me on another to cope with the withdrawals and I've kindly told them that I want to steer clear of them. But, any reassuring words would be appreciated, and maybe do a vid regarding insomnia sometime if you could...
That’s a great idea for a video 🙌 In the meantime, I can say from experience that withdrawal insomnia does eventually improve. Also, in the meantime, you can check out this page for info and tips on how to deal with it as best you can: www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/25270-tips-to-help-sleep-so-many-of-us-have-that-awful-withdrawal-insomnia/ This is a horrible thing to endure but you can get through it. Better days - and nights - are ahead. Much love to you!
Hello Russell!! I recently sent a message via email about a concern I have regarding discontinuing medication (0n July 23). Thanks for the content. A hug, un abrazo desde argentina !!!! ❤
@@russellbyt By the way, I used to be on 350mg of Seroquel and 175mg of Zoloft. Now I'm on 162.5mg of Seroquel and 34.4mg of Zoloft. I plan to be down to 50mg of Seroquel and 25mg of Zoloft within 2 years.
I've been watching you videos on and off for a few years now. Are you still medication free? I've been on and off Anti psychotics for the past 10 years now. Currently 32 years old and unsure now where I stand in all this, I was heavily set on staying off anti psychotics for good, however, my journey so far leads me to still being medicated 'tranquilized' every day until doctors orders say otherwise. I hope you continue to live your life medication free and continue to make content. All the very best to you good sir!
I am still med free. I take some supplements like any good American, Lol. Like magnesium and fish oil. But I'm not on any prescription drugs. As far as where any of us stand with any of this, I think we each have to make our own way and figure out what works best for us. The what, how, and when of our lives is going to be different for each person. It's very possible coming off meds, and staying off them, is in your future, but maybe the timing just hasn't been right so far. And timing and other factors that can be beyond our control are so darn important. But there's still plenty of time, even at 32, for you to figure out where you're going and how you'll get there, so stay hopeful. And thank you for the support for both me and the content! Very much appreciated, and much love to you.
It’s unbelievably hard for so many of us. Those of us who made it through the withdrawals felt the same way. It’s a real leap of faith type of experience. There is a difference though between feeling unsure about whether or not you’ll make it - and _knowing_ you won’t unless something changes. If you’re closing in on the latter situation, you could create an account over on survivingantidepressants.org and let them know the situation. One or more of the mods should be able to give some recommendations. It’s a great resource overall for tips and info on all things tapering and withdrawal. Definitely check it out if you haven’t already. Don’t lose hope. One way or another, you can succeed. Much love.
That’s why I rather not take any medication. I’ve been home for almost 5 years now. I can’t work bc I’m agoraphobic and get severe panic attacks since I was a kid. I feel safe at home and stress free vs going into public places it’s so stressful and overwhelming. 3 weeks ago I finally went to go see a psychiatrist and he prescribed Aprexa - Olanzapine but since I am scared of drugs I did a lot of research on psycho drugs and I hear nothing but horrible things. I have never drink, smoke or do srugs in my entire life bc I always said that my body was precious to me and I would not want to contaminated with all that stuff. So I have accepted that I will never recover from this but at least being home is the best treatment for me even if I am extremely bored but at least I am stress free. 🙏 thank you for sharing your story bro! I saw one of your old vidoes from 5 years ago and I wanted to see your progress and then I saw this video and I was right I should stay away from psycho medication. I am so sorry that you are suffering from this but I assure you, God says thta soon all this will be over ! No more sickness here in earth and God can not lie so I am so looking forward to that time but until then I will wait patiently stress free here at home ❤🙏
Hey skategym, I’ve certainly known enough people who never leave the house _and_ they’re on a ton of meds. (Not to mention I used to be one of them.) And if we're on all those meds and ever decide, or need, to change how we live, then it can be a ton of extra, nightmarish work to remove the pharmaceuticals from the equation. And so many end up homebound just by virtue of undergoing a med taper and the subsequent aftermath. Talk about counterproductive! My experience with psychiatry really drove home that each of us has to figure out the best way to navigate our own lives, and we also need the space to be able to do it. And no matter where we spend most, or all, of our time, I think it’s really important that we find ways to enrich our lives. It doesn’t just help with boredom - it nourishes the mind, body, and soul. If you haven’t yet, I hope you’re soon able to start filling your life with these sorts of things. Even if it’s just a well-fed imagination. Every little bit helps. Thank you for your supportive words and for checking in on me again :) I believe we'll get through all this, and each in our own way. Glad you stopped by and much love to you!
@@russellbyt you are so kind! Thank you so much for replying ! I always thought I was the only one having all these mental issues . Please if you ever feel sad or very scared I am here for you 🙏🙏 💙🙏🙏
Eventually the numbness should improve. But another important, related question is how long that will take, and unfortunately no one can answer that with any certainty.
Hey, I’m still off and trying to build a life for myself, slowly but surely. You can check out my recent-ish video with Dr Josef, if you’d like, to see some proof I’m still alive and kicking Lol. The link to it is in the last community post. Hope all is well with you and much love!
Hello brother my junior brother is on resperidone he's intellect is really down he doesn't make sense anymore what do we do he talks to him self he gets angry at nothing his thinking is blocked we don't know what to do anymore...
I recommend first paying attention to what’s on your mind. Taking an inventory basically. Sometimes there are too many thoughts and too much disorganization and we can’t do it super effectively. But there are often some big ol' lead thoughts swirling around in there and if we can identify those (like, say, an upcoming move or a health problem, just as examples), we can usually start to see the trail of smaller, related thoughts behind it. You may or may not be able to address the leader but you might be able to take on some of the follower thoughts and start lightening your load. How you do that depends on the issue at hand. If you’re talking more about medicinal substances and supplements you could use to manage the problem… that really depends too. But I’m not really an expert on all the options in this area and it can be risky to give specific advice, so we'll go ahead and move on to the next thing. Whatever you do to help the problem, and it’s one that a lot of space could be devoted to discussing, too much for a comment section really, you’re typically going to be pulling from at least one of 3 categories: Lifestyle changes (diet, sleep hygiene, etc); activities (exercise, meditation, etc); and medicinal substances. The latter category is the one that most of us are quickest to dip into but it’s usually best saved for last. For what it’s worth, daily exercise helps _me_ the most. Especially something like riding a bike. Anything that gets the heart rate up.* It cleanses the brain of a lot of junk thoughts. As a bonus, it makes eating healthier easier and more desirable too. And that can really help the mind as well. Another great thing for me is focusing on something good rather than trying to block out all the negative thoughts. I will never have enough energy over the course of a day to accomplish the latter. Sorry for not being super specific with solutions -- it's a pretty big topic -- but maybe something in there will help out :) *For anyone reading this who’s tapering their meds and going through withdrawal: I was rarely able to exercise like this while tapering. And I sometimes did it when I shouldn’t have. It was just too stimulating. So don’t feel discouraged if you’re not able to either. The time will come.
Russell..do u have non stop hallucination in your mind eyes when you first stop the meds and have like dementia like memory symptoms? It's like full blown dementia and schizophrenia with extreme drowsiness and brain pressure and pain
How long have you been on an antipsychotic?I have been on it for 2 years and its been 6 months since i stopped them but i havent recovered and i have lost hope.
I was on them for 10 years before the taper. While 6 months is a _really_ long time when we're suffering like this, it isn't very long in recovery terms. Some of us take years to heal. It's a very gradual process and our bodies are constantly healing, even if it doesn't feel that way. So don't lose hope -- there's a lot of time left for your recovery!
One thing that might help is taking a look at this link to the Surviving Antidepressants page about reducing your med(s) by 10% of your current dose: www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/ That guideline applies to virtually all psych drugs. It’s all about not coming off a med too quickly. Nothing can guarantee it will be easy, but we can take some steps to try and reduce withdrawal symptoms and other complications as much as possible. I wish you the best in your coming-off-meds journey!
Slightly unrelated question but I have a slightly dislocated jaw (but not really to the point where I feel any sort of pain) caused by tardive dyskinesia from after taking Benylin (as I have a flu as of editing this comment) What exactly should I do at home in order to relocate it back to it’s original position without seeking any real medical attention as it’s not that serious (for now anyway)?
Ouch. This is something that’s outside my wheelhouse, but maybe someone else can give some high-quality (and safe!) advice. The only thing I can think of is that it might be helpful to look into how people deal with TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders without medical intervention. Might be something there that could help out and wouldn’t be risky to do.
I’m actually not real knowledgeable about it. I’m familiar with TMJ and was told I had it as a teen, but had to look up what it stands for 😂. My jaw used to pop and click. You could hear the pops from across the room. I’m not sure what made it go away. Never tried any home remedies. I was given a mouth guard to sleep in by a dentist but never used it. The guard prevents teeth grinding, particularly during the night. This grinding is one of the things that can lead to TMJ. It just got better over time, likely coinciding with med changes and to whatever was causing me so much mental/physical tension, agitation and restlessness. But you can just google TMJ remedies and that should start you on your learning path. Hope you’ll be able to find some relief. Jaw problems are extremely irritating.
I am in this hell currently. I was given an benzo and antidepressant for 13 years. I never knew it was harming me more n more. Made me sleep owerwight angry depressed etc. My doctor's always lied me sayin there is chemical imbalance in my brain. Finally i cold turkeyed they 2 years . Since then i went through horrible withdrawals lost everything a human can think off. As i cold turkeyed am bedridden since then my left side is become permanently week numb n tingling. No doctor is able to diagnosise n help me. I am very sucidal as i dont see improvement n help. I cannot work i struggle to get food 2 times as i was the only one earning i ve a son 7 years i cant even feed him 😢 look what these doctors did to us .
That’s horrible and I’m so sorry for everything you’re having to endure. If there’s any hope I can offer it’s that, while 2 years is a very long time, especially when we’re suffering so much, it isn’t very long in psych drug-recovery terms. Our bodies can take years to heal from the devastation. To reach that point where we no longer feel totally ruined by the meds (and psychiatry’s actions and inactions). There’s still a chance for things to improve. But no matter how much we ultimately improve, it doesn’t take away from how wrong all of this is and from the lack of warnings, and help, and accountability on the part of psychiatry. You and your son don’t deserve this. No one does. Sending much love to you and your son.
Hey, sorry for the delay! I had muscle spasms more so than stiffness. I got massages regularly for a span of time, early in my taper, and that helped. Another thing that helped with that is I was able to be open with what I was going through with the massage therapist. That provided some extra relief and comfort and no doubt increased the effectiveness of the therapy. Having said all that: no matter what I tried in my attempts to ease withdrawal symptoms, time had the greatest impact on the healing process.
I had them throughout my 5-year taper, and for a time post-taper. The improvement was very gradual. These issues can last a while, and sometimes they get better, then get worse again, then improve... It's beyond frustrating. But the silver lining is that just because a lot of time has passed, it doesn't mean things won't improve. It still sucks obviously. But there's some hope in there for us to latch on to!
Yeah, it was one of the meds I had to taper. Switched over to it from Ativan to make the process more doable. Edit: Just want to add that I was only on a benzo to help with the side effect of akathisia. Not that anything could help that.
I have been using psydrugs from the past two years ever since my memory became dull should i go to my previous memory when i feel my self again should my intelligence come back to me
I came off too many meds too quickly to be able to figure out what med caused what. But I believe it was stopping the antipsychotic that caused me to feel overwhelmed by everything all the time. That type of drug heavily depresses the central nervous system, so it would make sense for us to potentially feel overly sensitive to anything and everything after coming off it. Especially if we do it too fast, but people can do it very slowly and still have problems too. There aren’t any guarantees with this crap.
Except for the stimulants (Concerta and Ritalin) and Rozerem (a sleep drug that never really worked for me anyway), they were all absurdly difficult to quit. The only reason the stimulants were comparatively easier to stop is because I hadn’t been on them very long.
@@russellbyt how about your sleep?...how much ? After coming off ?my sleep 5 hours for night.....and what now still hard for u after coming off or ITS be normal 🙏
Psychiatric treatment in a lot of ways suppressed my will. Antipsychotics, in particular, had a devastating impact on that. But it goes far beyond the meds. All those years of being a psych patient, and the messaging from docs and so on, led to me not believing and trusting in my own mind. It was a profoundly unhealthy experience. So I’ve actually found it easier to live without psychiatry being involved in my life. And I’m just speaking for myself of course. Not trying to deny any positive experiences folks have had as a result of psych treatment.
@@russellbyt Yeah no kidding man they definitely change you. Doctors bible is the DSM 5 lol its kinda cultic if you ask me. The gaslight anyone who disagrees with their medical studies "which are many times funded by big pharma" Straight up corruption
So like I need caffeine to survive my drugs and I'm already nauseous a lot, it's becoming less so now. But at the time when I was still receiving the shot I would puke so much and it even happened in my dad's car once and it got all over my favorite boots! Sometimes I can't stand the smell of the sink and I can't do my darn dishes cause of it!
That makes sense about the caffeine. Sort of like how some people on antipsychotics smoke a lot of cigarettes because the nicotine perks them up a little. Some meds can be so sedating that it really would feel like a need and not simply a want. Those stomach issues sound awful and I hope they clear up someday!
Hey, nope, no relapse. It’s been a while but there will be more vids, hopefully soon. In the meantime I did an interview with Dr Josef kinda recently. It’s on his channel, but there’s also a link to it in my last community post. So I’m still around and still making progress. Hope all is well with you!
Hey what are you upto? 🌞🌷 I hope you’re having a great Monday! Akathisia has finally left me! I’m getting better ❤️🩹 can’t wait to see more stuff from you. Do you have other videos maybe on a different channel? You’re so good at what you do and I love your personality! What state are you in? I’m in Roadkillhoma 😂 Okc
Hey, thanks, and happy (belated) Monday wishes to you too :) Glad the akathisia’s better! When that goes away, it’s like getting a new life, right? It’s a difference maker. I’m in Hungary currently, but Bama has been my home base back in the States since 2020. It’s where I’m from originally. Moved back to AL cuz there weren't really any other options at the time; I don’t exactly have the wiring to thrive in an area like that and I’ve let that affect my video output. I intend to change that though. Maybe there will be something to share on that front in the not-too-distant future. Being in Europe is certainly helping with that. In the meantime, thanks for your encouragement! 🙌 I really, truly appreciate it. 😀 And I don’t think I’ve been to Oklahoma. Guessing it’s like Bama. A flyover State for most folks Lol. But I’m sure, like Bama, it has its charms :) But I’m also sure, like Bama, it can feel pretty far away from everything. That’s a downer thing to say though, so let’s not end on a negative note. Instead, here’s to the future - no matter where we are!
Awesome! Is it nicer over there? That would be awesome to hear your travel story and why you relocated and if it’s better experience than the states. I’m going to leave this place soon one day. It’s AMAZING that you DID IT! You left behind the states and experiences of a new life are yours to be filled with awesome new beginnings. Thank you for responding you are an inspiration to me. What’s the most awesome things you’ve seen and done since leaving. So you got the passport, got on the plane and left then arrived I assume. Howd you go about getting somewhere to stay? I’ve thought about selling everything I have and backpacking for awhile but I don’t know how logical that is lol ❤ Oklahoma is a megalopolis but it’s loosing the places I knew. There’s Nothing here for me it’s just blah same old “Mexicans riding donkies shooting guns” as a friend in NA said lol. 😂 I feel like a moth to a flame with wanting to travel like you. I want to find a place that’s not really into pharma crap.
It’s pretty dang nice here. I’m staying in Budapest, the capital and largest city, and it’s quite beautiful. A lot of people fall in love with it. It’s easy to understand why. But I’ve done a bit of traveling throughout the country. Lots of great sights to see and people to meet. As for how I got here… I was fortunate enough to find a partner who is a native Hungarian. I’m able to stay with her and we split the expenses. Usual relationship stuff. Otherwise, Hungary might be doable as a destination, but probably not Budapest. The whole experience has (mostly) demystified international travel. And that’s been valuable as hell. Maybe I would’ve caught a plane overseas someday regardless, but who knows how long it would’ve taken. It’s been worth it though. I highly recommend getting out and seeing the world to anyone who is interested and able. Definitely gotta get a passport though! And start learning about the entry requirements and length-of-stay limits and so on for any countries you’d like to visit. Maybe get familiar with what the Schengen Area is (but don’t limit yourself to only visiting that and nothing else, if you have the option). A lengthy backpacking trip is very possible, just gotta do a little advanced planning. Gotta figure out what countries to go to and when, so you can avoid overstaying in any particular country (or in the Schengen Area overall). Oh, and as for the most awesome thing I’ve done here: I’m a simple man. Going for a long bicycle ride around a scenic lake with my girlfriend was the most awesome thing I’ve done during my time in Hungary :) I hope you're able to make your travel dreams come true! (I don’t really want to call them dreams because they’re much more attainable than that, so we’ll just call them “goals.” ✈️ 🙌 😀)
I'm so glad you made it through the absolute hell that you have to live again and enjoy your amazing personality and your awesome creativity! God bless you Russell thank you for hanging on !
Thank you so much for your support 🙏 It really means a lot!
You have my respect
I’m humbled 🙏 Much appreciated and much love to you.
This video has turned for me this whole psych meds nightmare into a fountain of everlasting creativity. Now what we’re really talking about is artistic masterpieces and whatnot. Kudos to you, Russ! ♥️
Nightmare transformation is what it’s all about 🙌 It’s an honor to have played a role in that process. Thanks for your support, Fern! Your comment is burst-into-flames good 🔥🔥🔥 11/10 ❤️ 🤘🏻
Russel, I think your channel is fantastic, and I hope you keep creating more videos.
Thanks for your support and encouragement - much appreciated!
It is nice to see a one brave man who took his health into his hands. We were trying to get off the drugs. After 5 months the hell started all over again. And another trap into a hospital with the cold blooded docs and empty brains nurses...Russ how did you deal with the psychotic stages when you were going off drugs. Did you ever feel agitation and mood disorder causing everybody around? Thank you for sharing
Thankfully, I didn't have any psychotic symptoms while tapering. Though I definitely felt agitated at times and had mood fluctuations. Are you asking if those things affected the people around me? If so, they did to some extent. It’s unavoidable. But most of my time was spent alone in my apartment, so the majority of my ups and downs happened without anyone around to experience them with me.
I will say that having the right taper speed is very important. It won’t prevent or fix all problems, but coming off too fast can lead to so much instability for some people that it’s hard to move forward with the process. People with a history of “psychosis” in particular need to be extra careful about not coming off too fast.
@@russellbyt Thank you May God bless you always. I wish you to have a good life and find happiness in everything you do
Many thanks, and I wish you the very same. Much love.
Thanks for uploading again Russell. Best wishes from a taperer from across the pond.
Thank you and best wishes to you too! Hope the taper is going well :)
Hey Russell, I like to drop by every now and again because you've been such a huge inspiration to me throughout the entire duration of me getting off medication. You gave me hope when there was so much despair around these drugs. I thought I was a lost cause, but seeing your success is what allowed me to create my own. I was on medication for about 10 years and was put on at 15 years old. I have been off all medication for 3 years now and can't believe I've come this far. This was unequivocally one of the hardest battles I have ever fought because of the severity of the symptoms caused by these drugs, but enduring the suffering allowed me to come out stronger on the other end. Thank you for all that you do and I hope everything is going well with you. I'll probably never meet you in person, but from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
That’s amazing, Matt! Congratulations on how far you’ve come. So much to be proud of 🙌
Really appreciate you checking in and sharing how you’re doing. Not just for my sake, but for everyone who searches through the comments looking for as many success stories as they can find. It does a lot of good for the community.
I hope the progress continues (I’m sure it will) and maybe someday there will be a way to do in person meetups. Much love to you!
You're right. I hope people see my comment as well. I know how desperate I was to find success stories online when the internet is an ocean of pessimism and despair. Truth is the people who successfully got off are just too busy living their lives. Thank you for the prompt response and words of encouragement. I'll still look out for new content in the future. Take care and God bless.
Thank u for sharing your story, russel.
You are an inspiration to me and to many of us suffering because of them meds.
Really happy to share and help, and we’ll get through it! 😀
I'm 9 months off klonopin. And taper my citalopram currently. Still suffering and can't work currently. So much anger towards the medical field. They are supposed to help us but they just harm us. Disgusting ppl. The whole industry is messed up. Most of the psychiatrics and doctors don't know enough about the long term implications of these meds. Pharma will never disclose that info. It's all evil. I hope I make it through all of this. So many ppl probably gave up and may they rest in peace.
So little has changed with these industries since I began my 5-year taper back in 2008. It's stomach churning. The problems I had with psychiatry and Pharma then are the same ones people are struggling with now. It's like you said, "messed up." We deserve better.
On a much more positive note: congrats on making it this far with your taper! I know how hard it's been, but I really believe you'll make it. Stay hopeful and keep believing in what you're doing and why you're doing it, and you'll get there.
I hope you consider writing a book b/c you are a terrific story teller. You rock.
I’d really love to do that. Thank you so much for the support and encouragement! 🙏🙌
Brother...Your Story Telling deserves all sorts of Audience....While Thoughtful and Humorous also Sad ..Hope we all get A Better chance of making the best of ourselves in the next life if there's one....Wish all my Buds a Speedy Recovery from Withdrawals and Treatment..
Wishing you the best with your recovery too 😀 We can experience some very profound healing over time. Thank you for your supportive words about my story telling, and much love to you!
Russ, you are an advocate for all of us.
Thank you, Ildi. I do my best!
Iam from India and i really loved ur Channel never seen a such a channel before!
Greetings! Glad you love the channel 🙌 And much love to you :)
I appreciate you for bringing this to light. Be safe and stay well new friend
Thank you, and I wish you the same!
I am very proud of you for getting through all this as well as getting off the drugs. Right now I have no idea how my son or myself will ever get off. My son suffered orthostatic hypotension from his drugs. He has fainted at times because of getting up too quickly. When he stand up, he usually puts his hands on the kitchen counters and lowers his head - sometimes his legs shaking and jerking. Until he can walk. At time, he has fainted, but doesn't stay out but a few seconds.
I absolutely love your videos. Thank you for your honesty and sense of humor on a topic that is so important to all of us trying to come off Seroquel. ❤
Awesome! Glad you like them and find them helpful 😀 Much love!
If possible, could you please make a vid surrounding insomnia and if/when it gets better? I'm in the sticks right now and am scared that this will never go away - Went a week without sleeping but I'm at least getting bits of being unconscious, usually only medication-induced (I say 'unconscious' instead of 'asleep' because I am not sure how much value it has for actual healthy sleep).
This all started from me having a very negative reaction to an antipsychotic that I am now coming off of. My goal is not necessarily to be completely psych-med-free as I do wish to keep Mirtazipine at the low dose that I'm on, but I want to get off all the antipsychotic meds and they already tried to stick me on another to cope with the withdrawals and I've kindly told them that I want to steer clear of them.
But, any reassuring words would be appreciated, and maybe do a vid regarding insomnia sometime if you could...
That’s a great idea for a video 🙌 In the meantime, I can say from experience that withdrawal insomnia does eventually improve.
Also, in the meantime, you can check out this page for info and tips on how to deal with it as best you can:
www.survivingantidepressants.org/forums/topic/25270-tips-to-help-sleep-so-many-of-us-have-that-awful-withdrawal-insomnia/
This is a horrible thing to endure but you can get through it. Better days - and nights - are ahead. Much love to you!
Hope you're doing better ❤
Hello Russell!! I recently sent a message via email about a concern I have regarding discontinuing medication (0n July 23). Thanks for the content.
A hug, un abrazo desde argentina !!!! ❤
Hey, I’m a little slow with email correspondence, so please be patient and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can 😀 Much love!
@@russellbyt Thanks Russell ☘
This is your best video yet!
Please make more videos in this format.
Thank you!!
@@russellbyt By the way, I used to be on 350mg of Seroquel and 175mg of Zoloft.
Now I'm on 162.5mg of Seroquel and 34.4mg of Zoloft.
I plan to be down to 50mg of Seroquel and 25mg of Zoloft within 2 years.
Thank you for sharing
I've been watching you videos on and off for a few years now. Are you still medication free? I've been on and off Anti psychotics for the past 10 years now. Currently 32 years old and unsure now where I stand in all this, I was heavily set on staying off anti psychotics for good, however, my journey so far leads me to still being medicated 'tranquilized' every day until doctors orders say otherwise. I hope you continue to live your life medication free and continue to make content. All the very best to you good sir!
I am still med free. I take some supplements like any good American, Lol. Like magnesium and fish oil. But I'm not on any prescription drugs.
As far as where any of us stand with any of this, I think we each have to make our own way and figure out what works best for us. The what, how, and when of our lives is going to be different for each person. It's very possible coming off meds, and staying off them, is in your future, but maybe the timing just hasn't been right so far. And timing and other factors that can be beyond our control are so darn important.
But there's still plenty of time, even at 32, for you to figure out where you're going and how you'll get there, so stay hopeful.
And thank you for the support for both me and the content! Very much appreciated, and much love to you.
Thank you for continuing to share your knowledge and experience Russ.
Great to know they’re helpful! Much love.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge sir
Glad the vids are helpful!
Good video's. Dont stop😊
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, and i hope you keep creating more videos,new friend here God bless you always,
Glad the videos are helpful! I’m definitely planning to make more of them 😀
"DSM DUMPSTER" Hahahahaha you're a creative one 👍
Im going through withdrawals right now and i don't know if im going to make it to be honest. Its really bad
It’s unbelievably hard for so many of us. Those of us who made it through the withdrawals felt the same way. It’s a real leap of faith type of experience.
There is a difference though between feeling unsure about whether or not you’ll make it - and _knowing_ you won’t unless something changes. If you’re closing in on the latter situation, you could create an account over on survivingantidepressants.org and let them know the situation. One or more of the mods should be able to give some recommendations. It’s a great resource overall for tips and info on all things tapering and withdrawal. Definitely check it out if you haven’t already.
Don’t lose hope. One way or another, you can succeed. Much love.
That’s why I rather not take any medication. I’ve been home for almost 5 years now. I can’t work bc I’m agoraphobic and get severe panic attacks since I was a kid. I feel safe at home and stress free vs going into public places it’s so stressful and overwhelming. 3 weeks ago I finally went to go see a psychiatrist and he prescribed Aprexa - Olanzapine but since I am scared of drugs I did a lot of research on psycho drugs and I hear nothing but horrible things. I have never drink, smoke or do srugs in my entire life bc I always said that my body was precious to me and I would not want to contaminated with all that stuff. So I have accepted that I will never recover from this but at least being home is the best treatment for me even if I am extremely bored but at least I am stress free. 🙏 thank you for sharing your story bro! I saw one of your old vidoes from 5 years ago and I wanted to see your progress and then I saw this video and I was right I should stay away from psycho medication. I am so sorry that you are suffering from this but I assure you, God says thta soon all this will be over ! No more sickness here in earth and God can not lie so I am so looking forward to that time but until then I will wait patiently stress free here at home ❤🙏
Hey skategym, I’ve certainly known enough people who never leave the house _and_ they’re on a ton of meds. (Not to mention I used to be one of them.) And if we're on all those meds and ever decide, or need, to change how we live, then it can be a ton of extra, nightmarish work to remove the pharmaceuticals from the equation. And so many end up homebound just by virtue of undergoing a med taper and the subsequent aftermath. Talk about counterproductive!
My experience with psychiatry really drove home that each of us has to figure out the best way to navigate our own lives, and we also need the space to be able to do it. And no matter where we spend most, or all, of our time, I think it’s really important that we find ways to enrich our lives. It doesn’t just help with boredom - it nourishes the mind, body, and soul. If you haven’t yet, I hope you’re soon able to start filling your life with these sorts of things. Even if it’s just a well-fed imagination. Every little bit helps.
Thank you for your supportive words and for checking in on me again :) I believe we'll get through all this, and each in our own way. Glad you stopped by and much love to you!
@@russellbyt you are so kind! Thank you so much for replying ! I always thought I was the only one having all these mental issues . Please if you ever feel sad or very scared I am here for you 🙏🙏 💙🙏🙏
i feel worse after quitting antipsychotics what do i do ? (i did taper)
Please see my reply on your other comment :)
Please answer me does numbing of feelings go away after stopping the antipsychotic medicines.
Eventually the numbness should improve. But another important, related question is how long that will take, and unfortunately no one can answer that with any certainty.
Thanks for the reply sir.
Are you okay are you still off meds ?
Hey, I’m still off and trying to build a life for myself, slowly but surely. You can check out my recent-ish video with Dr Josef, if you’d like, to see some proof I’m still alive and kicking Lol. The link to it is in the last community post. Hope all is well with you and much love!
@ thank you very much I’ll check it out
Hello brother my junior brother is on resperidone he's intellect is really down he doesn't make sense anymore what do we do he talks to him self he gets angry at nothing his thinking is blocked we don't know what to do anymore...
Please help
Unfortunately I cannot sleep without any meds. What do you recommend for an over active mind?
I recommend first paying attention to what’s on your mind. Taking an inventory basically. Sometimes there are too many thoughts and too much disorganization and we can’t do it super effectively. But there are often some big ol' lead thoughts swirling around in there and if we can identify those (like, say, an upcoming move or a health problem, just as examples), we can usually start to see the trail of smaller, related thoughts behind it.
You may or may not be able to address the leader but you might be able to take on some of the follower thoughts and start lightening your load.
How you do that depends on the issue at hand.
If you’re talking more about medicinal substances and supplements you could use to manage the problem… that really depends too. But I’m not really an expert on all the options in this area and it can be risky to give specific advice, so we'll go ahead and move on to the next thing.
Whatever you do to help the problem, and it’s one that a lot of space could be devoted to discussing, too much for a comment section really, you’re typically going to be pulling from at least one of 3 categories: Lifestyle changes (diet, sleep hygiene, etc); activities (exercise, meditation, etc); and medicinal substances. The latter category is the one that most of us are quickest to dip into but it’s usually best saved for last.
For what it’s worth, daily exercise helps _me_ the most. Especially something like riding a bike. Anything that gets the heart rate up.* It cleanses the brain of a lot of junk thoughts. As a bonus, it makes eating healthier easier and more desirable too. And that can really help the mind as well.
Another great thing for me is focusing on something good rather than trying to block out all the negative thoughts. I will never have enough energy over the course of a day to accomplish the latter.
Sorry for not being super specific with solutions -- it's a pretty big topic -- but maybe something in there will help out :)
*For anyone reading this who’s tapering their meds and going through withdrawal: I was rarely able to exercise like this while tapering. And I sometimes did it when I shouldn’t have. It was just too stimulating. So don’t feel discouraged if you’re not able to either. The time will come.
Russell..do u have non stop hallucination in your mind eyes when you first stop the meds and have like dementia like memory symptoms? It's like full blown dementia and schizophrenia with extreme drowsiness and brain pressure and pain
*Is on 6 psych meds* Doctor: "We're observing some symptoms you're having" Yeah, NO KIDDING
How long have you been on an antipsychotic?I have been on it for 2 years and its been 6 months since i stopped them but i havent recovered and i have lost hope.
I was on them for 10 years before the taper. While 6 months is a _really_ long time when we're suffering like this, it isn't very long in recovery terms. Some of us take years to heal. It's a very gradual process and our bodies are constantly healing, even if it doesn't feel that way. So don't lose hope -- there's a lot of time left for your recovery!
How did come iff sleeping pills? Im having a hard time with it.
One thing that might help is taking a look at this link to the Surviving Antidepressants page about reducing your med(s) by 10% of your current dose:
www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1024-why-taper-by-10-of-my-dosage/
That guideline applies to virtually all psych drugs. It’s all about not coming off a med too quickly. Nothing can guarantee it will be easy, but we can take some steps to try and reduce withdrawal symptoms and other complications as much as possible.
I wish you the best in your coming-off-meds journey!
Thank you
Slightly unrelated question but I have a slightly dislocated jaw (but not really to the point where I
feel any sort of pain) caused by tardive dyskinesia from after taking Benylin (as I have a flu as of editing this comment)
What exactly should I do at home in order to relocate it back to it’s original position without seeking any real medical attention as it’s not that serious (for now anyway)?
Ouch. This is something that’s outside my wheelhouse, but maybe someone else can give some high-quality (and safe!) advice.
The only thing I can think of is that it might be helpful to look into how people deal with TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders without medical intervention. Might be something there that could help out and wouldn’t be risky to do.
@@russellbyt Could you provide me a link to whatever you’re talking about, please? My brain isn’t really wired to do research that advanced. 😅
I’m actually not real knowledgeable about it. I’m familiar with TMJ and was told I had it as a teen, but had to look up what it stands for 😂.
My jaw used to pop and click. You could hear the pops from across the room. I’m not sure what made it go away. Never tried any home remedies. I was given a mouth guard to sleep in by a dentist but never used it. The guard prevents teeth grinding, particularly during the night. This grinding is one of the things that can lead to TMJ.
It just got better over time, likely coinciding with med changes and to whatever was causing me so much mental/physical tension, agitation and restlessness.
But you can just google TMJ remedies and that should start you on your learning path. Hope you’ll be able to find some relief. Jaw problems are extremely irritating.
hello po new friend here from Caloocan PH, watching your new video.
Greetings, and thanks for checking out the channel!
I am in this hell currently. I was given an benzo and antidepressant for 13 years. I never knew it was harming me more n more. Made me sleep owerwight angry depressed etc. My doctor's always lied me sayin there is chemical imbalance in my brain. Finally i cold turkeyed they 2 years . Since then i went through horrible withdrawals lost everything a human can think off. As i cold turkeyed am bedridden since then my left side is become permanently week numb n tingling. No doctor is able to diagnosise n help me. I am very sucidal as i dont see improvement n help. I cannot work i struggle to get food 2 times as i was the only one earning i ve a son 7 years i cant even feed him 😢 look what these doctors did to us .
That’s horrible and I’m so sorry for everything you’re having to endure.
If there’s any hope I can offer it’s that, while 2 years is a very long time, especially when we’re suffering so much, it isn’t very long in psych drug-recovery terms. Our bodies can take years to heal from the devastation. To reach that point where we no longer feel totally ruined by the meds (and psychiatry’s actions and inactions). There’s still a chance for things to improve.
But no matter how much we ultimately improve, it doesn’t take away from how wrong all of this is and from the lack of warnings, and help, and accountability on the part of psychiatry. You and your son don’t deserve this. No one does.
Sending much love to you and your son.
@@russellbyt did u have dystonia type muscle tightness one side of the body ? If so how did it go away away. I ve this from sometime I can't sit walk
Hey, sorry for the delay! I had muscle spasms more so than stiffness. I got massages regularly for a span of time, early in my taper, and that helped. Another thing that helped with that is I was able to be open with what I was going through with the massage therapist. That provided some extra relief and comfort and no doubt increased the effectiveness of the therapy.
Having said all that: no matter what I tried in my attempts to ease withdrawal symptoms, time had the greatest impact on the healing process.
@@russellbyt can I ask u how long did have these issues? An 27 months with pain tightness rigidity I can hardly walk.
I had them throughout my 5-year taper, and for a time post-taper. The improvement was very gradual. These issues can last a while, and sometimes they get better, then get worse again, then improve... It's beyond frustrating. But the silver lining is that just because a lot of time has passed, it doesn't mean things won't improve. It still sucks obviously. But there's some hope in there for us to latch on to!
Were you ever put on Clozapine?
Yeah, it was one of the meds I had to taper. Switched over to it from Ativan to make the process more doable.
Edit: Just want to add that I was only on a benzo to help with the side effect of akathisia. Not that anything could help that.
I have been using psydrugs from the past two years ever since my memory became dull should i go to my previous memory when i feel my self again should my intelligence come back to me
Bro..how much u withdrawl after coming off antipsikotik
I came off too many meds too quickly to be able to figure out what med caused what. But I believe it was stopping the antipsychotic that caused me to feel overwhelmed by everything all the time.
That type of drug heavily depresses the central nervous system, so it would make sense for us to potentially feel overly sensitive to anything and everything after coming off it. Especially if we do it too fast, but people can do it very slowly and still have problems too. There aren’t any guarantees with this crap.
@@russellbyt how about anti-depresan?... Its hard to coming off?
Except for the stimulants (Concerta and Ritalin) and Rozerem (a sleep drug that never really worked for me anyway), they were all absurdly difficult to quit. The only reason the stimulants were comparatively easier to stop is because I hadn’t been on them very long.
@@russellbyt how about your sleep?...how much ? After coming off ?my sleep 5 hours for night.....and what now still hard for u after coming off or ITS be normal 🙏
So how did you find the will to life without psychiatry? Not that I'm pro psychiatry and way
Psychiatric treatment in a lot of ways suppressed my will. Antipsychotics, in particular, had a devastating impact on that. But it goes far beyond the meds.
All those years of being a psych patient, and the messaging from docs and so on, led to me not believing and trusting in my own mind. It was a profoundly unhealthy experience.
So I’ve actually found it easier to live without psychiatry being involved in my life.
And I’m just speaking for myself of course. Not trying to deny any positive experiences folks have had as a result of psych treatment.
@@russellbyt Yeah no kidding man they definitely change you. Doctors bible is the DSM 5 lol its kinda cultic if you ask me.
The gaslight anyone who disagrees with their medical studies "which are many times funded by big pharma" Straight up corruption
Knuckleheads 😂
So like I need caffeine to survive my drugs and I'm already nauseous a lot, it's becoming less so now. But at the time when I was still receiving the shot I would puke so much and it even happened in my dad's car once and it got all over my favorite boots! Sometimes I can't stand the smell of the sink and I can't do my darn dishes cause of it!
That makes sense about the caffeine. Sort of like how some people on antipsychotics smoke a lot of cigarettes because the nicotine perks them up a little. Some meds can be so sedating that it really would feel like a need and not simply a want.
Those stomach issues sound awful and I hope they clear up someday!
@russellbyt they're getting better thanks though
Bliss had replaced piss😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉 Pure gold
Glad the line didn’t go unnoticed!
Piss was replaced with bliss lollolol
❤❤❤
❤️
LOL
Hey did you relapse? How come no more videos?
Hey, nope, no relapse. It’s been a while but there will be more vids, hopefully soon.
In the meantime I did an interview with Dr Josef kinda recently. It’s on his channel, but there’s also a link to it in my last community post. So I’m still around and still making progress. Hope all is well with you!
Hey what are you upto? 🌞🌷 I hope you’re having a great Monday! Akathisia has finally left me! I’m getting better ❤️🩹 can’t wait to see more stuff from you. Do you have other videos maybe on a different channel? You’re so good at what you do and I love your personality! What state are you in? I’m in Roadkillhoma 😂 Okc
Hey, thanks, and happy (belated) Monday wishes to you too :) Glad the akathisia’s better! When that goes away, it’s like getting a new life, right? It’s a difference maker.
I’m in Hungary currently, but Bama has been my home base back in the States since 2020. It’s where I’m from originally. Moved back to AL cuz there weren't really any other options at the time; I don’t exactly have the wiring to thrive in an area like that and I’ve let that affect my video output. I intend to change that though. Maybe there will be something to share on that front in the not-too-distant future. Being in Europe is certainly helping with that. In the meantime, thanks for your encouragement! 🙌 I really, truly appreciate it. 😀
And I don’t think I’ve been to Oklahoma. Guessing it’s like Bama. A flyover State for most folks Lol. But I’m sure, like Bama, it has its charms :) But I’m also sure, like Bama, it can feel pretty far away from everything. That’s a downer thing to say though, so let’s not end on a negative note. Instead, here’s to the future - no matter where we are!
Awesome! Is it nicer over there? That would be awesome to hear your travel story and why you relocated and if it’s better experience than the states. I’m going to leave this place soon one day. It’s AMAZING that you DID IT! You left behind the states and experiences of a new life are yours to be filled with awesome new beginnings. Thank you for responding you are an inspiration to me. What’s the most awesome things you’ve seen and done since leaving. So you got the passport, got on the plane and left then arrived I assume. Howd you go about getting somewhere to stay? I’ve thought about selling everything I have and backpacking for awhile but I don’t know how logical that is lol ❤ Oklahoma is a megalopolis but it’s loosing the places I knew. There’s Nothing here for me it’s just blah same old “Mexicans riding donkies shooting guns” as a friend in NA said lol. 😂 I feel like a moth to a flame with wanting to travel like you. I want to find a place that’s not really into pharma crap.
It’s pretty dang nice here. I’m staying in Budapest, the capital and largest city, and it’s quite beautiful. A lot of people fall in love with it. It’s easy to understand why.
But I’ve done a bit of traveling throughout the country. Lots of great sights to see and people to meet.
As for how I got here… I was fortunate enough to find a partner who is a native Hungarian. I’m able to stay with her and we split the expenses. Usual relationship stuff. Otherwise, Hungary might be doable as a destination, but probably not Budapest.
The whole experience has (mostly) demystified international travel. And that’s been valuable as hell. Maybe I would’ve caught a plane overseas someday regardless, but who knows how long it would’ve taken. It’s been worth it though. I highly recommend getting out and seeing the world to anyone who is interested and able.
Definitely gotta get a passport though! And start learning about the entry requirements and length-of-stay limits and so on for any countries you’d like to visit. Maybe get familiar with what the Schengen Area is (but don’t limit yourself to only visiting that and nothing else, if you have the option). A lengthy backpacking trip is very possible, just gotta do a little advanced planning. Gotta figure out what countries to go to and when, so you can avoid overstaying in any particular country (or in the Schengen Area overall).
Oh, and as for the most awesome thing I’ve done here: I’m a simple man. Going for a long bicycle ride around a scenic lake with my girlfriend was the most awesome thing I’ve done during my time in Hungary :)
I hope you're able to make your travel dreams come true!
(I don’t really want to call them dreams because they’re much more attainable than that, so we’ll just call them “goals.” ✈️ 🙌 😀)