Hi, I'm Melmel

October 5, 2026··

Hi Ive just experienced too many side effects from many medications I've tried. I just need support and to see what others are experiencing with their meds. I have a psychiatric disorder I think inherited from my family. I am not sure about the "chemical imbalance: theory. The hardest taper was effexsor an ssri years ago and now recently olanzapine an antipsychotic.

Viibryd — 10 — 1 year 6 months — holding | Silenor / Sinequan

2 Replies

anne noni moss3h ago

WelcomerPaxil · holding

welcome @Melmel I have found SO MUCH support and help here. I am on 4 meds because doctors never asked "Did you have trauma growing up? Did you parents have trauma growing up?" They just told me that my emotional pain was a mental illness and put me on meds. But I blame myself for putting them in my mouth. Truth is, I wanted a "quick fix." NO. SUCH. THING. That was many decades ago and I worked very hard to stop believing all the lies I believed about myself because of abuse. Now, LOOK OUT WORLD. Yes, I"m very sick from side effects and I have to put up with them for several more years to get off the meds slowly. But now I know I can manage difficult feelings. They are not to be medicated away. Sadly, no one else in my traumatized, dysfunctional family of origin has gotten any help. They still self-medicate and call me a traitor for choosing recovery over bending myself into pretzels in order to "get along" with them. My symptoms became SO MUCH WORSE after trying meds. They injured an already sensitive nervous system. THIS IS JUST MY STORY. But I do believe that FAR TOO MANY of us were told we were "mentally ill" when it was PTSD...normal reactions to being treated harmfully. Take what you like and leave the rest. No matter what you believe, you are welcome here. We will support you in managing the symptoms that are troubling you. Blessings!

atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.

Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper

started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.

⭐

Catina15m ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @Melmel, welcome! If you don't mind my asking, what psychiatric 'disorder' do you think you've inherited? If you don't want to share, that's okay, I am just curious.

"I am not sure about the "chemical imbalance: theory." — @Melmel

This theory has no scientific basis and was promoted by the drug companies to market SSRIs. We're happy that you're here, and we hope our community can provide you with helpful information and support with your taper! Catina ❤️

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 17.92 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Levothyroxine - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

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