Coming Off Psych Drugs Support Groups

Jennifer Bryant Roeder recently started a support group in Colorado for people coming off psychiatric drugs.  Here is their preamble, which she offered to anyone to use if you’d like to start a group:

Welcome to ‘Freedom From Psych Drugs’ support group!  We are a fellowship of men and women who share our experience, strength and hope with each other, that we may discuss our common issues and help others to recover from the effects of psychiatric drugs.  We have no affiliation with any medical establishments, political, religious or law enforcement organizations.  We do not wish to engage in any controversy, nor do we endorse nor oppose any causes.  Anyone may join us regardless of race, sexual identity, creed, or denomination.  The only requirement for membership is a desire to be psychiatric drug-free.  Our group is for those who are tapering psych drugs and also for those who are no longer taking them.  Members must be 18 or older to join.

Our meetings begin with ‘check-ins’ while allowing new members to go first to qualify themselves.  Each person shares for about 5-10 minutes about how they are doing in their tapering process, such as current withdrawal symptoms, improvements made, goals to achieve, helpful resources discovered, etc…while always keeping the focus on psych drug recovery.  Questions are welcomed during shares, as long as the discussion returns to the person sharing.  We speak for ourselves without imposing our tapering process onto others, always keeping in mind our different biological and personal histories.  What works for one person might not work for another.

Tapering off psychiatric drugs can be disabling and even life-threatening for someone who comes off too fast or stops cold turkey.  Psych drug-wise professionals suggest tapering 5-10% every 2-4 weeks, depending on symptoms and how one is able to tolerate them.  There are many reliable sources available that offer safe tapering instructions and support, such as: survivingantidepressants.com for anti-depressants/other psych drugs, and benzobuddies.org for Benzodiazepines.  We also offer a list of additional resources to help.
We are each responsible for what we take from the meetings, how we use the information shared, and for our own tapering plan.  We are not doctors or therapists, nor are we an advice forum.  The opinions and experiences related here are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, nor do we assert in any way to be qualified to act in this capacity.  It is imperative that each and every person considering this approach solicit the professional opinion of their medical provider(s) regarding the potential benefits and risks of embarking upon this process.

We will incur no liability in regards to how each member chooses to utilize the resources offered through this group.  For any medical emergencies, please call 911.  For suicidal ideation, please call 1-800-784-2433.

Who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here.

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2 thoughts on “Coming Off Psych Drugs Support Groups

  1. Austin Texas office moving says:

    Excellent website you have here but I was wanting to know if
    you knew of any discussion boards that cover the same topics discussed here?
    I’d really love to be a part of community where I can get responses from other experienced individuals that share
    the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
    Bless you!

    • Chaya says:

      Thank you! I actually had one on my old site but when I moved to this one it wouldn’t transfer over. But if you go to support forums in the menu bar of this site you will see I am starting them up again. If you register and post I will respond to you and soon others will too. Also, if you let me know your specific topic of interest I can direct you to a more established one. Thanks!

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