4 year anniversary of withdrawal from psych drug cocktail: healing continues http://wp.me/p5nnb-aoU

[GiaK]

Below is the post for the anniversary of the completion of the psychiatric drug withdrawal process I went through that I wrote for last year. Much of it remains relevant and true, so I thought I’d share it again.
 

I actually have had my best year since coming off drugs this last year. I started seeing improvements somewhat faster in the last year and am getting significantly physically stronger and healthier in general. Discovering the histamine intolerance a little over a year ago led to the most significant personal dietary change I’ve made. The most exciting result has been that I can go to yoga classes in my community with some frequency. Classes are drop in and don’t require a commitment. See: Yoga victory: recovery continues
 

Today, February 9th, 2014 is the 4th year of the completion of the withdrawal process.
 

This is what I wrote on the anniversary last year. February 9, 2013:

 

Three years ago today, I completed a six-year process of withdrawing from six psychiatric drugs.  That process was the impetus to start speaking up about what is happening in psychiatry and to far too many of us who have been inappropriately medicated and made ill by said medication in a myriad number of ways.

 

I learned about what was happening not only from my own personal experience but my work, as social worker, with others who were subject to the mental health system via social service systems. My own experience as both (now – ex) patient and a mental health professional allows for some interesting and sometimes uncomfortable insights into the mental health system in the United States. I try to share those insights with my readers daily.

 

This blog has allowed me to be productive while very ill and in so doing get the word out to many thousands of others that they might make an informed choice — an opportunity I was never given. We’ve had more than a generation of people who weren’t able to make that informed choice. Today with the power of the internet this can change. Still, many vulnerable people continue to be given medications without full disclosure to their sometimes very grave risks, nor are they told about the many ways to heal safely without medications or with minimal, targeted use of medications during crisis.

 

Please familiarize yourselves with the drop down menus at the top of the page. There you can find many resources and information about alternatives to psychiatry. There you can inform yourself and your loved ones about how to never end up crippled by psychiatric care like so many people I’ve come to know through this work.

 

My story of iatrogenic harm was shared in November a couple of years ago on Dr. David Healy’s website RxISK: Monica’s story: the aftermath of polypsychopharmacology.

 

I have a page on this blog too that documents my withdrawal journey in particular for more details: Monica/Gianna: withdrawal documented

 

I’m still recovering from the grave harm the drugs incurred. For some of us with severe withdrawal syndromes the process can take several years. I do continue to get better and at this point I do expect becoming well even though I’m still quite disabled by any standard. The amount I’ve improved in the three years since I completed the withdrawal is really quite a lot, though. I was bedridden for well over a year. I couldn’t even sit upright. During that time I wasn’t strong enough to hold my hand up to my mouth long enough to brush my teeth. Those days are long gone. Rehab continues and it’s often frustratingly slow, but when I remember back to the days I couldn’t sit up in bed I realize how far I’ve come.

 

In the article I link to above on Dr. David Healy’s site I say:

 

I’ve been free of this massive cocktail of drugs for over two and half years now. The sad part is the greatest amount of suffering I’ve ever endured in my life has been a result of my body adjusting to no longer having neurotoxic drugs in my system. Medically-caused harm and a term that often sounds Orwellian to those of us who experience the protracted version: 

withdrawal syndrome.

 It totally fails to capture the grave disability some of us experience.

 

Still, I have not one moment of regret for having freed myself from these drugs because my mind is clear! I have a clarity of mind that is so beautiful I can cry if I spend time thinking about it. My clarity was stolen from me for almost half my life. I have it back and even impaired as I am, unable to leave the house most of the time, I am grateful.

 

 

 

Yes, I am grateful to be able to spend the rest of my life in clarity and purpose I never had while drugged.

 

Below are a few additional posts I wrote in the last year and since the above anniversary post was first published. They offer more information on my recovery process in the last year.

 

• If I Had Remained Med Compliant…
• Internal Guidance
• Everything Matters: a Memoir From Before, During and After Psychiatric Drugs
• Yoga victory: recovery continues

 

And, hey, today is my birthday too. I sort of did that on purpose when I took my final dose of Klonopin four years ago last night, February 8th, 2010.

 

 

Please do not attempt to discontinue psych drugs without first very carefully educating yourselfon the risks involved so that you might minimize the chances of developing grave iatrogenic illness if you decide to withdraw: Psychiatric drug withdrawal and protracted withdrawal syndrome round-up

 

original post: http://wp.me/p5nnb-aoU

[Meimeiquest]

Congratulations on another year of healing!

[Meimeiquest]

And maybe next year your anniversary post won't be at 3:34 AM

[GiaK]

it was 4:34 here and considering I go to bed between 6 and 7 pm it's not as bad as it seems :-)

 

and thank you! 

[compsports]

Congratulations GiaK for a well earned fought victory. 

 

CS

[alexjuice]

Congratulations. I am happy for all of the progress you have made. I am really looking forward to the anniversary post when you are healthy enough to do anything in life that you want which I hope will be the next one!

 

It absolutely sounds to me, from observing you over the internet, that you've seen a lot of improvement in the last 12 months! Congrats again and keep hanging in there cuz you will be tested more (unfortunately).

[alex]

Thank you Gia for your guidance, support and courage.

You are a role model.

And Happy Birthday!!

[Aria]

Gia,

Over the years I've read your blog which was such an inspiration to me. I didn't know another person who had tapered off drugs let alone the combo like I had and it gave me hope.

 

My many thanks to you, your overcoming drug withdrawals and ongoing recovery.  

[mammaP]

Gia you are an inspiration to all of us and I am just one person who is very grateful to you for sharing your journey.

Can't wait to see what the next year brings for you, I can imagine that you had forgotten what a clear mind felt like

and marvel every day at your new brain! 

[Zoe]

Congratulations!! So wonderful & encouraging to see how far that you have come. It gives us all hope. Thank you!!

[Sparrow]

Congratulations Gia! You have been a great inspiration to me in my multi-year effort to get off multiple psych drugs. Can't wait to join you "on the other side"!

 

Hugs,

Sparrow