The most obvious obstacle to coming off psychiatric drugs is unbearable withdrawal symptoms (or what some mistakenly call “return of symptoms”)-panic attacks, extreme anxiety, nausea, insomnia, and many other effects. These result from stopping use of a powerful mind altering chemical that was never healthy or safe to be taken on a daily basis in the first place. Withdrawal effects are often the first things we think of when someone wants very badly to come off psychiatric pharmaceutical but simply can't. There are several other obstacles though, that can be just as problematic, if not more so.
- Not believing it is possible to live without them. This lack of belief in the option of going off can stem from an idea that you are fundamentally mentally ill, that the diagnosis has validity (which even Thomas Insel, head of the NIMH says it doesn't) and fear of who you are without them if you've been on them for a long time. This obstacle is huge, especially given how much harder it can be to have conviction in ones essence when the mind is being compromised by psych drugs.
The key to overcoming this obstacle is to find your essence once again. It is always there, intact, somewhere within you (the heart is a good place to look) and cannot truly be harmed, ultimately. The key is, once you tap into your essence, to develop a rock bottom trust and belief in that larger Self to guide you. This is the only thing that will ever be your Rock- a drug (or any one impermanent thing outside of yourself) is never the ultimate answer. The belief that living without a psych drug is unsafe for you can make withdrawal symptoms far worse.
- The second obstacle is fear from those around you-your family, friends and doctors. You may know very well that you would be better off without psych pharms, but if most of those who love you think you need them, it is an obstacle, and it can heighten anxiety and withdrawal effects manifold.
The best way to overcome this obstacle is to gather a network of supporters, including many psychiatric survivors and continue to reach out to them regularly. (You can also try educating your skeptical loved ones, especially once you have more support). Use internet forums and social networking sites and groups (as well as local groups if there are any near you) to expand your network of supporters and make sure to have some people on your list who have that rock solid knowing that their essence is gold, and so is yours. Work with me as a coach if you need another believer that You Can Do It.
- The third obstacle in coming off psych drugs is fear of living so vulnerably. Fear of feeling everything in a world that doesn't always honor feelings so well. Fear of being powerful, of being unpopular, of losing control and a whole host of other legitimate fears.
This one requires a long term commitment to mastery. Coming off psych drugs isn't for the faint of heart. It's for those who are utterly and unwaveringly committed to facing big fears and moving through them on life's terms. It becomes necessary to be more committed to the “god” of your higher Self, your larger purpose, your true unwavering essence than to the god of opinion, of “What will they think?” or even “How?” or “Why?”
This obstacle is overcome when your soul is so strong nothing can get in the way of your dreams. The process of strengthening and growing your soul isn't something you can rush or force. It's something you commit to and then surrender to and allow. Fearlessness comes through the back door when you least expect it to. There are practices you can do, however, to increase your chances of hitting the goldmine of soul growth, such as prayer (in your own authentic preferred way), meditation, connecting with nature, exercise, creative expression and time spent with others who are in close touch with their essences and committed to truth and honesty. Being true to yourself as often as possible and sharing your honesty with chosen others, your journal, yourself, your Higher Power (or whatever you call your connection to something larger) can certainly expedite the process of soul growth, but there is no rushing it or getting around the alchemical and downright mystical process.
- Health issues are the fourth obstacle in coming off psychiatric substances. Any health issues make the withdrawal process that much harder. When our bodies are compromised, it's harder to stand strong and integrated in our minds and emotions. Really they are all so connected. Focusing on health can help overcome this obstacle. This means making yourself your priority and learning what works best for you nutritionally, exercise-wise and in all facets of life. It's about no longer saying, “What's wrong with me?” or even “What illness do I have?” but rather, “What do I need to be my healthiest self?” This can be frustrating at times in the withdrawal process if you don't have the resources or access to what you need to be healthy, but continue to list what you need.
In our modern society, few of us have what we need for optimal health but we can do our best with what resources we have and seek out the healthiest food, cleanest air and purest water, and most suitable lifestyle for our constitution. I recommend spending a little time each day reading up on holistic approaches to whatever health issues you have. Learn which foods, herbs, exercises and other lifestyle approaches have helped others with similar problems. Coming off psych drugs and caring for your body holistically go hand in hand. Seek out a community of inspiring friends who take good care of their health and try out their practices which appeal to you. Having health conscious people around you can go a long way in improving your health since good habits are contagious.
Psych drugs often perpetuate other addictions such as cigarettes, TV, sugar, caffeine and others. So long term psych drug use often brings ones overall health down exponentially. Don't despair though-return to your essence that has never been damaged. “Health” also goes hand in hand with self-love, self-trust and soul growth. Don't allow others or external manifestations to entirely define your health. As you practice honesty with yourself and selected trusted others, your health will naturally improve and coming off psych drugs is part of that.
Those are the 4 main obstacles to coming off psych drugs (as well as withdrawal effects, of course). The fruition to overcoming these is being free and wild and living your dreams. Every single one of us, whether on a lot of psych drugs or very little or just the amount in our drinking water, experiences these obstacles in our lives in one way or another. There are other dependencies and addictions that come down to similar obstacles. Keep plugging away at these 4 essentials-we need you-we need your untamed essence, your true self, the you you are underneath any beliefs of there being anything wrong with you at all.