Will Hall
“In working with hundreds of people over many years, we have found there is no way to predict how the coming off process will go. There is really no way to know in advance who can and who cannot do well without psychiatric drugs, who can do well with fewer drugs or lower doses, or how hard it will be. We’ve seen people withdraw successfully after more than 20 years, people who decide to continue to take them after being on for just a year or less, and people who struggle with long term withdrawal.
Because coming off is potentially possible for anyone, the only way to really know is to try slowly and carefully, and see how it goes, remaining open to staying on. Everyone should have the opportunity to explore this. The study by MIND, the leading mental health charity in the UK, confirms our experience. MIND found that “Length of time on the drug emerged as the factor that most clearly influenced success in coming off. Four out of five people (81%) who were on their drug for less than six months succeeded in coming off. In contrast, less than half (44%) of people who were on their drug for more than five years succeeded. (Just over half of people who were on their drug for between six months and five years succeeded.)” Facing these unknowns means remaining flexible and learning as you go: coming off completely may, or may not, be right for you, but everyone can become more empowered.”
Peter Lehmann
“In this manual, 28 former psychiatric patients from (around the world) write about their experiences with withdrawal. Additionally, eight professionals, working in psychotherapy, medicine, psychiatry, social work, natural healing and even in a runaway-house, report on how they help in the withdrawal process.”
Mind
Orange Bottles 