Gaslit by the System: One Man's 20-Year Battle with Psychiatric Medications and Withdrawal

Send us Fan MailKevin Gundersen's story begins at age 12 when a doctor prescribed him Celexa for school anxiety. What followed was a two-decade nightmare of medication side effects, new symptoms, and medical gaslighting that robbed him of his youth and health.With raw honesty, Kevin recounts the vicious cycle familiar to many psychiatric patients: medication side effects misdiagnosed as worsening mental illness, leading to higher doses or new medications, creating even worse symptoms. His original anxiety transformed into debilitating panic attacks, vertigo, severe blood pressure spikes reaching 260/150, and the torturous movement disorder akathisia after starting psychiatric medications.Kevin's experience reveals how medical gaslighting extends beyond patients to families. "My parents were also gaslit," he explains, absolving them of blame for decisions made without true informed consent. This crucial insight highlights how psychiatric medication harms ripple through entire families, creating multiple victims from a single prescription.The podcast takes listeners through Kevin's medical journey, complicated by Graves' disease and Lyme disease, and his repeated attempts to taper off medications. Most powerfully, he describes his December 2023 breaking point: "I am going to do everything in my power to get off these drugs. I don't care if I suffer every day for the rest of my life. I'm not giving any more money to these companies that have fucked me up."Now slowly tapering and rebuilding his life, Kevin offers a profound insight that challenges psychiatric orthodoxy: "I feel the best I've felt in a long time, and I'm at the lowest dose I've been on since I was 16." His story is both a warning about the dangers of psychiatric medications and a beacon of hope for those seeking their own path to healing.Follow Kevin's continuing journey on TikTok and YouTube @fightingback203 and share your own experiences with psychiatric medication through our email: [email protected]'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