Coming off of psychiatric medication

This is not medical advice. This is my story.

A year ago today marks the last day I took quetiapine, an anti-psychotic medication that I had been taking since my first hospitalization and diagnosis of bipolar-1 in 2010. From August 2010-October 2010: I took 300mg of lithium and 100mg of quetiapine. Within the first 6 months, with the guidance and support of my psychiatrist, I slowly weened off lithium and made my way down to only 25mg of Quetiapine.

For 12 years I was on anti-psychotic medication. I was able to be on such a low dose because of the OTHER “alternative” holistic healing arts modalities and therapies I was practicing and implementing regularly.

I stayed on the medication for as long as I did out of conditioned fear, fear that my friends and family had, societal fears, fear of being back in hospital again, fear of psychosis, fear of always having this condition. FEAR.

This fear of going off medication also kept me trapped in habits and patterns that weren’t in my highest alignment. Because I was on medication, I felt as though I could continue to not worry about the foods I was eating, all of the sugar, and the alcohol I was consuming. “I’m doing pretty well, for the most part, the medication will balance those ‘little things’ out.”

I felt like I was on the right path in many ways, as I continued to grow my spiritual practices, and yet something still felt a bit off. Of course, right time, right place came into play when my heart decided NOW is the time. Of course when I decided on this, I stumbled upon the work of Will Hall and The Icarus Project and Freedom Center. They have a free PDF online called Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs. Funny how things align for you when you say I’m ready.

This isn’t something I did behind the back of my psychiatrist, I was honest and told him. I still check in with him every 6 months to let him know how well I’m doing. And guess what, 📣 I’M DOING BETTER THAN EVER!

Want to learn the magic formula, the quick fix, the solution? Start today! Find the mentors, support, practices, community, modalities. Develop a supportive stable foundation first! I’m always here for you. When you are ready.