The narratives in this section contain excerpts from a survey conducted on this site some years ago, where individuals were invited to share what each stage of the withdrawal journey was like for them. They are shared with consent and have been lightly edited to ensure clarity and preserve anonymity. Brand names and identifiers have been removed, with references instead to the class of drug. These accounts are not outliers. They represent the collective voice of people navigating prescribed drug withdrawal.
TOLERANCE WITHDRAWAL
“With hindsight, I had been in tolerance for most of the time I was on the antidepressant. The only effect it had was to numb my feelings. It didn’t help me deal with my problems – just delayed it. Now I have to face everything at once.”
“I didn’t notice withdrawal while on the antidepressant, but it became largely ineffective after two or three years. The depression just returned.”
“After years on the tranquiliser, I developed irritability, weepiness, sound and light sensitivity, visual vertigo, and head pressure. I could no longer work or drive. Tapering became necessary but overwhelming.”
“The drugs were never truly effective. They numbed me, took away my motivation and emotions. I never had serious depression until I was withdrawing, and then the neuro-emotions were horrifying.”
“I started on 1 mg of a benzodiazepine and over time it was increased to 2 mg, with gabapentinoids added. I still couldn’t sleep. I tried everything – sleep hygiene, supplements, meditation – but nothing worked.”
“While still on the antipsychotic, I began to feel escalating emotional numbness and biochemical panic attacks. It wasn’t PTSD panic. It felt like something the drug itself was causing.”
“I started feeling ‘not myself’ about a year before stopping the antidepressant. After I completed the taper, I had a wave of sickness, then a brief window, then the symptoms returned in cycles: brain zaps, crying spells, intrusive thoughts, ocular migraines.”
“High anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and tinnitus became daily companions. No one recognised it as tolerance.”
“I developed 40-plus symptoms including internal tremors, boaty dizziness, noise sensitivity, light sensitivity, and a crushing anxiety. I thought it was just me getting older or more anxious. I didn’t know it was tolerance.”
“Doctors kept adding or changing medications. Nothing helped. I was hospitalised multiple times and always came home worse. Once, a psychiatrist slammed his fists on the desk and told me, ‘You don’t believe in psychiatry, and you don’t believe in me!’ It’s been 26 years of being blamed. It was always tolerance. They never saw it.”
ACUTE WITHDRAWAL
“Withdrawal was the most horrible thing I’ve experienced, and I’ve completed three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Only those going through it can
understand. I couldn’t eat for 7 to 14 days. The zaps, the cortisol surges, the anxiety… it was like being chemically haunted.”
“I suffered badly. Withdrawal has been far worse than the depression I was originally treated for. I had a racing heart, unbearable fear, anger, anxiety, and extreme weight loss. There are no words for how bad it was.”
“By week 5, I was admitted to a mental hospital. I stayed seven weeks. Now in week 18, I’m feeling a little less crazy, but it’s been a nightmare. I had severe headaches, migraines, nausea, insomnia, forgetfulness, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. It was as if my whole nervous system was collapsing.”
“After being reinstated at five times the dose I’d tapered to, the acute phase was like acid trips, flashing lights, horror surges, bruxism, visual disturbances, burning nerves, vomiting, fatigue, and total incapacity. I was housebound and bedbound.”
“I had cortisol surges every morning that lasted hours. Prickling skin, burning, numbness, joint pain, tinnitus, grief, rage, and weakness. I follow a perfect diet and lifestyle, and I’m still flattened by this.”
“I was hospitalised with hallucinations and delirium after entering acute withdrawal. I lost my memory and sense of time. After that, I was paranoid, convinced people were talking about me or ignoring me.”
“The darkest depression, brain zaps, neuro-emotions like hate and rage, unbearable cravings for sugar, and suicidal thoughts. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”
POST ACUTE WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME (PAWS)
“Now, two and a half years off, I sleep better four nights out of seven. But my stress and anxiety are still terrible. I don’t feel well most of the time, though I can’t always explain why. It’s like a low-grade, never-ending panic response. I’ve developed sensitivities to medications and have stopped others too. I feel the years of stress have left a toll on my entire system.”
“I had mild symptoms that continued until around 30 months off, but they were manageable. Now I feel largely stable.”
“About 18 months after I cold-turkeyed, the physical symptoms really kicked in: nerve pain, extreme fatigue, food sensitivities, tension, insomnia, emotional instability, and a sense that my brain and lungs were injured. I wake up feeling like I’ve been hit by a truck.”
“Oddly, my lingering symptoms disappeared after I had Covid. I don’t know how or why, but the muscle spasms in my foot vanished. It was unexpected, but welcome.”
“I took my last dose years ago. I still have waves and windows. During windows, I feel 80% healed. But in waves, it’s awful… panic, fear, crying, and a loss of hope. It feels like I’m starting over each time.”
“I feel like I’m finally coming out of protracted withdrawal. The symptoms are still there, but less intense and more spaced out. I’ve learned they will pass and that’s helped me hang on through the hardest times.”
“I’m years off all medication and still suffering daily. Burning in my hands, feet, and mouth. Overheating, early waking with cortisol spikes, deep fatigue, food sensitivities, anhedonia, apathy, and suicidal thoughts. I’ve lost my sense of time and can barely stand. There’s a constant urge to cry. It’s overwhelming.”
RECOVERY
“It feels amazing. I didn’t think I was going to make it, but I kept faith that I would heal. Life is very good now. I love being pill-free and responsible for my own happiness.”
“Even with some lingering issues, I’m proud I did this. I was on meds for 40 years. Now I sleep seven hours a night with no sedatives at all. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but my therapist’s weekly support saved me. He believed in me when I couldn’t.”
“Hardest thing I’ve ever done. It was hell. But I knew others had healed, so I held onto that chance.”
“I’m so much better than even one year ago. I still have healing to do, but I’m grateful for what this experience has taught me. It made me uncover who I truly am, and what brings me joy. I wish I didn’t have to suffer so much to learn it, but I’m here now and I want to be part of changing how we understand this process.”
“My life is wonderful now! I’m glad it’s behind me. I see now that I was strong all along, and I regret being handed pills instead of encouragement. I’m extremely careful now with what I put into my body. I try not to waste time on regrets, even though these drugs stole most of my adult life.”
“I’m almost one year symptom-free. It feels incredible! I feel more stable than ever. I’m back to caffeine, exercise, and joy. Stronger, even.”
“Keep going and never give up! You’ll heal one day; we all do. Stay as positive as you can and keep smiling. It’s just another day in paradise.”
“Healing eventually happens, even if you’re convinced, you’ll never feel normal again. The good and bad days do balance out. Looking back, it’s absolutely worth it.”
“Keep going. It will be worth it in the end.”
“One second at a time. Even when it seems impossible, it gets better. Meditate, pray, eat well… and hang on.”