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COMING OFF MEDICATION - starting a diary
(Note from Voices Forum: People shouldn't seek to discontinue medication without the advice and support of their doctor, psychiatrist or other mental health professional).
In 1982 I was detained in a locked ward for
5 weeks and diagnosed with schizophrenia. A grim experience with
the walls smeared with human excrement that the staff refused to
clean off. The effects of the drugs I was forced to take were so
severe that I cut my wrists. This is the only time in my life I
have ever harmed myself. It was an act of protest. I reasoned if
I attacked those who had detained me and forced me to take
medicine, even though I begged not to be given it, I would be
sent to a secure hospital. The consultant asked me what I was
unhappy about as I had three square meals a day. The effects of
the drugs were like having a plastic bag pulled over my head. It
felt suffocating and I became desperate. After the month's
section ended the hospital refused to release me and the
consultant said if I didn't like it he could detain me for a year.
I knew this would be the end and I would not survive. Fortunately
junior staff intervened on my behalf to secure my release.
(The hospital was later blacklisted by the Royal college of
Psychiatrists and has now been pulled down.)
I had had an unhappy childhood which was emotionally and
physically violent, and people around me believe my depression
was caused by this.
I spent the next few years attending a day hospital before
finding a job and fully participating in society. In recent years
doctors have thought that the diagnosis was incorrect. The
decision has been made to take me off the medicine I take.
Although the dose I take is low, I am terrified of stopping the
medicine altogether, having originally had the fear of God put
into me about what would happen if I did this. I almost need to
be deprogrammed.
I intend to write a diary for Perceptions of my experience coming
off anti-psychotic drugs to inspire and help provide information
for readers of the magazine. Even if you do have schizophrenia,
is it still OK to stop the drugs after a time? What are the
risks? Is it worth it? Is life better without drugs? Please email
me or Perceptions if you have any thoughts or comments.
Bob Sexton