Diagnosed, Drugged, Incarcerated by My Therapist | The Gaslit Truth Podcast with Dr Teralyn Sell and Therapist Jenn Schmitz

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when a crisis call for help becomes evidence of a crime—and the pill meant to steady your mind may have helped set the fire? We sit down with Ben Bathan, a former senior technical artist, to unpack a nightmarish chain of events: a therapist who directed specific SSRIs and dosages, years of escalating side effects, and a conviction for criminal threats after calling a “confidential” emergency line while in a psychotic state. The story presses on a raw nerve—how medication that can alter judgment, aggression, and impulse control is treated by courts that still demand intent.Together we map the fault lines: out‑of‑scope prescribing behavior, akathisia and tardive dyskinesia that erode self‑monitoring, and the gap between what patients experience and what regulators choose to print. We revisit FDA hearings, black box warnings, and how adverse event coding can bury brutal narratives under labels like aggression or irritability. Ben walks us through prison intake and parole practices that funnel people back to the same meds, alongside stark realities of segregation and violence that make careful clinical assessment nearly impossible.We also explore what modern science can add. Pharmacogenomics, QEEG, and SPECT promise new ways to evaluate drug‑induced states, yet courts often block evidentiary hearings while insisting patients were “fully informed.” We highlight high‑profile cases frequently cited in SSRI risk debates, not to sensationalize, but to show why plain‑language warnings and accountable systems matter. Our aim isn’t to fearmonger about antidepressants; it’s to demand precision: clear consent, swift recognition of akathisia and TD, ethical prescribing, transparent labeling, and crisis pathways that protect life rather than criminalize distress.If you’ve ever questioned whether the system sees the whole person—or the whole risk—this conversation won’t let you look away. Subscribe, share with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your take: where should accountability live when medicine and justice collide?We're recruiting for a first-of-its-kind psychiatric medication withdrawal research study. If you've experienced psychiatric medication withdrawal, you may be eligible to participate.  Email [email protected] to learn more.  Savorista Coffee is offering our listeners 25% off their premium craft decaf and half caf blends with bold flavors, ethically sourced beans, and natural decaffeination. Small-batch roasted for exceptional taste. EUse promo code GASLIT at checkout! https://savorista.com/discount/GASLIT 💊 Ready to Deprescribe Your Psych Meds?Psych meds have harmed us—and we’re not just survivors, we’re deeply educated in psychopharmacology, psychology, and nutrition. As hosts of The Gaslit Truth Podcast, we guide people safely off psychiatric medications with strategies grounded in science and brain health🔥 You’ve been harmed. You’ve been dismissed. It’s time to take your brain back—with guidance from people who’ve been there and know their stuff.Support the showAre you tired of being gaslit and want to DEEP THROAT some more truth? We want to hear from you!  Message us your gaslit stories at [email protected] you are at it, Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube @thegaslittruthpodcast.  Be sure to Hit that subscribe button and get alerts for more episodes! Thanks for listening!Follow Us individually atDr. Teralyn:Instagram @Dr_TeralynFacebook  @DrTeralynTik Tok @Dr_TeralynTherapist Jenn: Instagram @TherapistJenTikTok @Jenn.Schmitz