73. Psychiatry and its Discontents: Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring on Reclaiming Mental Health from Meds

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, a board-certified psychiatrist and former FDA medical officer who has dedicated his career to helping patients safely discontinue psychiatric medications. In this information-packed deep-dive, Dr. Josef and I discuss adverse reactions during and following psychiatric medication use, especially regarding benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Dr. Josef believes that taking a more holistic approach to understanding the effects of psychiatric medication enables better therapeutic use of the drugs. He argues against the notion of merely correcting a chemical imbalance and advocates for a more fulfilling approach to psychiatry. Additionally, he suggests that family medicine doctors should refrain from prescribing these medications unless they have sufficient time to thoroughly assess the medication's impact on various aspects of a person's life. Initially, Dr. Josef pursued a career in psychiatry with the hope of combining personal development and medicine. However, upon studying and practicing psychiatry, he discovered that the field's approach to helping individuals has little to do with personal development. Instead, in Dr. Josef’s view, the field often focuses on prescribing medications, likening it to a production line that simply dispenses medications, masquerading as scientific treatment for neurological deficits. He expresses disappointment in the field's lack of emphasis on personal development within psychiatry.

Dr. Josef Witt-During is a board certified psychiatrist and former FDA medical officer. He specializes in adverse drug reactions of psychiatric medications and is the co-founder of Witt-During Psychiatry, along with his wife, Dr. Marissa Witt-Doerring. Together, they provide comprehensive drug taper programs, conservative medication management, and supportive coaching for those withdrawing from psychiatric drugs.

For more resources related to Dr. Josef’s work, please take a listen to his podcast, Life on Less Meds, his Twitter, or you can find him and others where I did, @PSSDNetwork on Twitter. 

This conversation builds on a previous episode where we explored mental health in the age of misinformation with Dr. Roger McFillin, which can be found here.

Finally, in this episode, I mentioned a couple of great books, "Brain Energy: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health--and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More” by Chris Palmer which can be found on amazon or in my bookshop! 

Episode Topics:

• Post SSRI sexual dysfunction.
• The problem with psychiatry.
• Psychiatric medication and untangling.
• Medication and time-limited conditions.
• Treatment based on informed consent.
• Chemical imbalances and mental health.
• Impact of medication on relationships.
• Sexual dysfunction and emotional blunting.
• Medications and metabolic disruption.
• Withdrawal symptoms and support.
• Lifestyle interventions for withdrawal.
• Gluten allergy and psychosis.
• Quitting caffeine and its importance.
• Increased energy levels and relaxation.
• Tapering off stimulants and sedatives.
• Benzos prescribed for daily use.
• Benzodiazepine withdrawal and neurotoxicity.
• Benzo and antidepressant withdrawal.
• Oral contraceptive pill side effects.
• Birth control's impact on mental health.
• Increase in asexual and trans identities.
• Long-term effects of cross-sex hormones.
• Sexual problems in transgender individuals.
• Drug research and side effects.
• Increased suicidal ideation.
• Using medication for psychosis.
• Adverse drug reactions

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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.

Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.

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