This week we talk to Meghann from the USA. Meghann describes starting antidepressant drugs for OCD at the age of 9, how she came to consider her withdrawal after 17 years and how she feels now, 2 years after finishing with the drugs.
In this episode we discuss:
- How Meghann was first prescribed Paxil for OCD at the age of 9, partly because therapy was ineffective.
- How she took those drugs until the age of 26.
- How Meghann felt labelled by her diagnosis when she looks back now.
- How other issues started to arise in addition to the OCD including depression, weight gain, confusion and mood swings.
- How bullying at school over the weight gain caused by her antidepressant led to Meghann experiencing body image issues.
- How she felt that she would never be able to manage without the drugs.
- How, in her early 20s, anxiety started to creep in as well as the other issues.
- That Meghann felt that the drugs did nothing but hold her back.
- How OCD affected Meghann’s day to day life.
- How reading Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker changed Meghann’s whole view of psychiatric drugs.
- How insurance considerations led to Meghann thinking about stopping her drugs.
- How, 2 years after stopping the drugs, Meghann feels near fully recovered.
- How having a support system in family and friends is crucial.
- How Meghann’s withdrawal was isolating and very difficult and she was fighting what she was going through.
- How Meghann feels that she was recovering from a brain injury while withdrawing from the drugs.
Relevant links
Anatomy of an Epidemic by Robert Whitaker
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Hi Lindsey, thank you for listening and for your comment. I am sorry to hear that page doesn’t look right for you. It looks fine to me so I am at a loss as to explain why it might be a problem for you. Are you viewing on a desktop/laptop or on a mobile device (phone/tablet)? Thanks. James