Oh The Woes of Withdrawal

I've been tapering off my meds this week and the tell tale signs are making life much less comfortable.

After reading Maisel's "Rethinking Depression" and looking into naturopathy and learning more about the true efficacy of antidepressants in the long term and their effects on mild depression I've been inspired to try a different approach.

Of course, the all-day-long nausea, headaches, and apparently car sickness is taking its toll.

I've yet to actually toss my cookies but it sure feels like I'm toeing the line a lot lately!


Peter Breggin's work has been a large resource for me and correlates well with Maisel's concept of human unhappiness being misconstrued too often as mental disease. I've also drawn encouragement from documentaries about nutrition and the ability of the body to realign itself without the use of psychoactive drugs.

The hubbo is still a bit skeptical and understandably scared about a relapse. We all know that we don't need to revisit the dark places I've been over the past year!

So far I've been slowly accumulating information and learning more to try and cement my intuitive sense that this the right direction. One of the hardest things to comprehend is the bias of the medical community and power of the Big Pharma.

It's hard to accept such a sad reality and part of me would rather believe that antidepressants are the answer than to acknowledge such a cruel practice and dark streak in humanity.

On the other hand, my gut tells me that leaving drugs behind for natural medicine will not only soothe my soul but help me move past this "disease" and get on with a fulfilling life.

I've broken away from consumerism before and the idea that "the latest cure/product/innovation" is the path to happiness-looks like that trend will continue. I am hoping that I will gain confidence and shed this feeling of timid resistance and embarrassment.

As drawn as I am to this new lifestyle I lack confidence in my innate knowledge and feel ashamed as I vary from my family and the path the majority of American society takes. I fear ridicule and I'm afraid to be wrong in the end for fear of unending criticism.

Although, these are mental pathways I can reroute and avoid and I have been working on just such concepts while reading "Natural Psychology!"

Maybe things are all coming together and I just can't see it yet.