FAQ

Psychiatric drug withdrawal, also called deprescribing, is the process of reducing or discontinuing psychiatric medications such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or benzodiazepines.

For some people, this process is mild. For others, it can bring on intense physical, emotional, and neurological symptoms that last weeks, months, or even years.

Withdrawal is not “relapse” or “your illness coming back.” It’s your brain and body recalibrating after medication changes. Healing happens gradually as your nervous system finds balance again.

Most psychiatric drugs affect neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers in the brain. When medication is reduced or stopped, the brain needs time to adjust. If the change happens too quickly or the body is sensitive, withdrawal symptoms can appear.

This doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. It simply means your nervous system is healing.

Withdrawal can affect every system in the body, from digestion and sleep to emotions and cognition. Common symptoms include:

• Brain zaps, dizziness, or sensory changes
• Anxiety, fear, or intrusive thoughts
• Emotional flatness or crying spells
• Insomnia or fatigue
• Muscle tension, tremors, or gut issues
• And many, many more symptoms...

Symptoms often fluctuate in “waves” and “windows.”

There’s no single timeline. For some, symptoms fade within weeks. For others, healing takes months or years. It depends on the drug, how long it was used, taper speed, and individual sensitivity.

However, healing is possible, and the brain is remarkably adaptive. Many people fully recover and go on to live peaceful, fulfilling lives.

No. Abruptly stopping psychiatric drugs can be dangerous and often worsens withdrawal. If you’re considering a taper, always do so gradually and with medical oversight whenever possible.

You can explore my recommended deprescribing resources here.

No... but it is happening in your brain and nervous system. That’s why it can feel so overwhelming. Your symptoms are real, and they reflect your body’s effort to restore balance.

You’re not crazy, and you’re not broken. You’re healing.

Yes. Even in protracted withdrawal, healing continues beneath the surface. With time, nervous system regulation, nutrition, and support, many people regain full emotional and physical well-being.

It takes patience, compassion, and faith, but recovery happens every day.

I keep an updated page of my favorite resources here.

I hope my videos are encouraging and helpful as well!

Withdrawal coaching is non-medical, non-therapy support for people navigating psychotropic medication withdrawal or recovery. It’s a space to feel seen, understood, and supported by someone who has lived it.

I help clients manage fear, build emotional resilience, and find practical ways to steady themselves through waves and windows, without diagnosing or prescribing.

Coaching focuses on support, education, and empowerment, not clinical treatment.

It is not:

• Medical advice or taper plans
• Mental health therapy
• Crisis intervention or emergency care

If you need help with tapering schedules or clinical issues, I’ll point you toward medical and community resources that can help.

Withdrawal coaching is for anyone in the withdrawal or post-withdrawal phase who wants compassionate, structured support. It’s ideal for people who:

• Feel isolated or misunderstood by traditional providers
• Need encouragement and accountability
• Want tools to regulate emotions, manage fear, and stay grounded
• Are rebuilding life, identity, or relationships after meds

Sessions are one-on-one via secure video call. We’ll talk about where you are, what’s been hardest, and what you need most right now. Together, we’ll build simple, realistic next steps for grounding, pacing, and staying hopeful.

I also share evidence-informed insights and lived-experience resources from the broader withdrawal community.

You can join my email list to receive an invite link for a free 15-minute intake call.

You can also register for a 1:1 call or a group call straightaway.

My current session rates and scheduling details are listed here. Payment is due at the time of booking. You can reschedule with at least 24 hours’ notice.

Because withdrawal coaching isn't therapy, I can't bill your insurance.

But if you have an HSA or FSA account, you may be able to get reimbursed for our sessions!

I recommend hopping on an instant chat consultation via Flex to see if you qualify for a "letter of medical necessity," which is usually what HSAs and FSAs want in order to reimburse.

If you qualify and get that letter, you should be able to pay for withdrawal coaching with a credit or debit card and then submit it to your HSA/FSA for reimbursement. See my Flex landing page for more info, and talk with your HSA/FSA provider if you have more questions.

Yes, I facilitate support circles twice a week. These are community spaces for shared encouragement and lived-experience connection.

I’ll be direct, honest, and compassionate. You can expect empathy, practical tools, and a deep respect for your autonomy and story. My goal is to walk beside you while you heal.