In this article, I want to share with you what the process of tapering and healing from psychiatric medications looks like—from the perspective of someone who has taken them, withdrawn from them, and gone through a long and painful process of recovery. I’d also like to briefly share the story that led me to where I am today, working as a psychiatric drug withdrawal expert.
My Story
While studying neurobiology, I became fascinated by serotonin theory (at that time, this theory was still current) and the supposed benefits of psychiatric medications, especially in treating social anxiety, which I was struggling with at the time. As a result, I decided to start taking sertraline, prescribed by a psychiatry professor. At first, the drug seemed to work—my anxiety faded, and I became more confident. I ignored side effects like decreased libido and drowsiness. But when I started noticing my emotions and relationships deteriorating, I decided to stop taking the medication.
Some time after discontinuation, I began experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, which developed into protracted withdrawal syndrome. I suffered from emotional numbness, anhedonia (loss of pleasure), cognitive and sexual dysfunction (PSSD), and a loss of motivation to live. I couldn’t function socially or professionally. For many months, I lived in a state of deep apathy, depersonalization, and derealization, often battling suicidal thoughts. Despite the lack of support from doctors, I searched for help online, where I first learned that I was not alone.
The healing process was long and painful, but over time, thanks to diet, microbiome therapy, physical activity, and patience, I began to regain my emotions, cognitive abilities, and sexuality. A few difficult years after discontinuation, I have fully recovered. Today, as a neurobiologist and someone who has been through this hell, I help others safely taper medications and navigate this challenging time. You can find my full story here.
What is Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS)?
Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS) is an increasingly recognized health issue that can occur after discontinuing psychiatric medications such as antidepressants (including SSRIs), antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, or benzodiazepines. Unlike typical withdrawal symptoms, which resolve within days or weeks, PWS can last for months or even years, significantly impacting quality of life.
Common symptoms include:
- Psychological: depression, anxiety, insomnia, derealization, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, irritability, panic attacks, and sexual dysfunction (e.g., PSSD).
- Physical: fatigue, muscle pain, hypersensitivity to stimuli, sweating, tremors, digestive issues, heart rhythm disturbances, akathisia.
- Cognitive: brain fog, short-term memory impairment, trouble thinking clearly, disorientation.
PWS is believed to stem from autonomic changes in the central nervous system, affecting the serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, and GABA systems. The receptors and neurotransmitters in these systems continue to operate in a dysregulated mode, making it difficult to return to homeostasis quickly.
The Healing Process: Restoring Homeostasis
Effective support for someone experiencing protracted withdrawal requires an individualized, integrated approach. It begins with thoroughly assessing symptoms and how they impact daily life. The key goal is to regulate the nervous system and eliminate any factors that may be hindering recovery.
Very often, initial steps include lifestyle changes and activities that calm the nervous system, such as regular sleep, stress reduction, sensory hygiene (limiting overstimulation), and moderate physical activity.
Blood work is also essential, focusing on inflammatory markers, hormone levels (cortisol, TSH, DHEA), vitamins, and micronutrients. Many people with PWS show dysregulation of the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis), which further contributes to depressive and anxiety symptoms.
Diet, microbiome, and neuroplasticity
The role of the gut microbiome cannot be overlooked, as psychiatric drugs often disrupt gut balance. Gut dysbiosis affects the gut-brain axis, so nutritional therapy, probiotics, and sometimes targeted antibiotic therapy combined with prokinetics may be introduced.
Another pillar of healing is supporting neurogenesis and the production of BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). Regular physical activity (e.g., walking, yoga, swimming), daylight exposure, and a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids all support the brain’s natural regeneration processes.
Emotional support and psychotherapy
In the context of long-term psychological suffering, emotional and psychological support is vital. People with PWS often face medical trauma and a profound sense of losing their former selves. Therefore, therapeutic approaches should be empathetic, calm, and adaptable.
Recovery from PWS is difficult, but possible. It requires patience and a multidimensional approach. With a personalized plan, therapeutic support, and working with both the body and the mind, it’s possible to recover emotional balance, cognitive function, and quality of life.
Hyperbolic Tapering: A Safer Way to Discontinue Psychiatric Medications.
Hyperbolic tapering is a method of gradually reducing psychiatric drugs, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, or benzodiazepines, based on a non-linear dose reduction. Its main goal is to minimize withdrawal symptoms and allow the body to gently adapt to changing neurochemical conditions.
What does hyperbolic tapering involve?
Unlike traditional linear tapering, hyperbolic tapering accounts for the non-linear nature of receptor adaptation. In the early stages, dose reductions can be larger, but as doses get smaller, reductions should become more cautious and incremental. This is due to the nervous system’s heightened sensitivity at lower drug concentrations.
Incorrect or too rapid discontinuation can lead to intensified withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, depression, insomnia, dizziness, nausea, and emotional hyperreactivity. This is why an individualized tapering plan is essential, tailored to the drug, dose, therapy duration, and the patient’s history.
Developing a Tapering Plan.
It’s important to establish a tapering plan—hyperbolic or Ashton-method based (especially for benzodiazepines). The plan should reflect the type of medication and the patient’s current health and previous tapering experiences.
Monitoring withdrawal symptoms and supporting symptom management are essential. If symptoms intensify, appropriate supportive tools can be introduced, including supplementation or protective, calming preparations.
Involving loved ones—partners, family—can help create a support system and improve the sense of safety during recovery.
“My Case is Different” – My Approach to Tapering Psychiatric Medications and Supporting PWS
The Place of Patience and Empathy
In working with people tapering psychiatric drugs, I often hear the belief that “my case is unique and hopeless.” While every story is indeed different, common threads include fear, uncertainty, and a deep need for individualized support. In my years of working with clients, I’ve identified key elements crucial to successful healing.
At first, I approached this work like a scientist—data-driven and analytical. I thought that would be the most helpful. But I quickly realized that without empathy, without genuine compassion and understanding, true support is impossible. The people coming to me didn’t need charts—they needed acceptance. They needed to know they weren’t weak or problematic, but going through something unimaginably difficult—and that they didn’t have to do it alone.
Many told me: “My case is different.” And they were right—each case was. While patterns in withdrawal do exist, you can’t put healing in a rigid box. Body, mind, and emotions are intertwined in a process that can last months or even years. People expect headaches or insomnia, but they’re unprepared for the emotional tsunami: the fear, the depression, the derealization. Sometimes, even going outside feels impossible.
As I heard more stories, I realized that knowledge alone isn’t enough—what really helps is patience. Healing doesn’t look like a steady march—it looks like waves: days of relative calm followed by symptom flare-ups that turn your world upside down. You have to go with that rhythm—not fight it. And most importantly, don’t give up when another wave hits.
The Role of Community and Education
Community plays a big role, too. People who’ve been through similar experiences can offer hope when everything else fails. But this can also backfire. Some support groups amplify fear and foster catastrophic thinking. That’s why it’s crucial to choose your environment wisely—look for those who lift you up, not those who (even unintentionally) drag you down.
Over time, I also realized how vital education is. Many people don’t know what to expect from withdrawal. They don’t understand how the drugs work, or why they feel so awful. Just knowing there’s a biological explanation—that it’s not “madness” but a body response—can bring immense relief. I often recommend the book Anatomy of an Epidemic, because I’ve seen how it opens people’s eyes to another perspective.
Overcoming Hopelessness
The hardest conversations were always with those who believed their condition was permanent. That they would never change. That they’d lost themselves forever. They’d say, “I’ll never heal from this,” “I’m the exception—no one else had these symptoms.” I understood. Those dark thoughts, catastrophic stories—that’s withdrawal too. Just as real as muscle pain or tremors. Only harder to see, because they live in the mind.
I was once in that place, too. Convinced that my condition was permanent. That I’d never be the same again. And then one day—completely unexpectedly—I felt a little better. Then another day. It wasn’t a miracle—it was neurobiological adaptation. My body was finding new balance. And I was learning to trust that change was possible.
Throughout this journey, we must beware of toxic positivity—the narrative that “everything will be fine if you just think positively.” But also toxic negativity—the constant fear that “things will only get worse.” The truth lies somewhere in the middle. Just as we protect the body from toxins, we must protect the mind from extreme narratives.
Navigating a Broken Healthcare System
Many people I spoke with had received numerous diagnoses—often vague or even absurd. “Borderline personality disorder,” “chronic fatigue syndrome,” “functional neurological disorder.” These labels didn’t bring clarity—they only added confusion. They began to suspect that they weren’t the problem, but the long-term side effects of drugs meant to help them.
Yet from these stories emerged another image: people who went through hell and came back stronger. More self-aware. More authentic. Healing wasn’t just about returning to their “old selves”—it was about creating themselves anew.
At the same time, I saw how the healthcare system is still broken. How it misunderstands what tapering and protracted withdrawal truly entail. It dismisses symptoms, prescribes more medications, and ignores the patient’s voice. Real change is needed—not just in treatment, but in the entire approach to mental health.
That’s why I believe the foundation of effective support is creating an individualized healing plan. There’s no single path. Everyone starts from a different place. And everyone needs different tools. Some want a therapist’s support. Others seek solitude and nature. What matters most is not trying to rush the process. Give yourself time. And have the courage—not to return to who you were—but to slowly discover who you truly are.
Tomasz Starczewski
Cognitive neuroscientist and neurobiologist specializing in psychiatric drug withdrawal, Tomasz focuses on developing safe and effective tapering programs. His work centers on helping individuals recover from protracted withdrawal syndrome and post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD). Having personally experienced the devastating effects of antidepressants—medications that, instead of bringing relief, derailed his life and future plans—Tomasz brings both scientific expertise and lived experience to his practice. After a long healing journey, he has fully regained his emotional depth, sexual function, and cognitive clarity. Today, he dedicates his work to guiding others through safe medication discontinuation and supporting recovery from the often-overlooked side effects of psychiatric drugs.