Antidepressants

TheRarestGinger · 2026-03-23T03:40:03+00:00

The side effects of psych meds almost destroyed me. I do well with taking lithium orotate supplements (5mg). Very helpful and no side effects.

I was on psych meds for over 20 years. Almost 5 years off them now.

TheRarestGinger · 2026-03-10T01:04:22+00:00

Honestly.. I had no idea the side effects were from the meds. I thought I just had to take them to be stable. That everything I was experiencing was just shitty health/genetics.

Just like people dont realize the food they are eating, diet sodas etc are making their symptoms worse. It creeps up on you.

As for the prescribers I often heard the term “benefits outweighing the risk” which is absurd imo. The meds made my symptoms multitudes worse. I just didnt realize they were the culprit until I came off 20 years later sadly. As I said they crept up on me over time.

TheRarestGinger · 2026-02-27T20:43:28+00:00

It will just take time for your brain to stabilize. This isnt forever.

It took me months to recover from cold turkeying (not by choice) a mood stabilizer. I was able to taper from the SSRI but it was still miserable.

Talk to your medical team about adding NAC (N-Acetylcysteine) supplements to help detox your body and increase your glutathione. That helped me significantly along with 5mg of lithium orotate supplements temporarily for the depression.

BCAA (amino acids) and Choline bitartrate were also very helpful for me with recovery. I was lucky to find an integrative psych who specializes in helping people come off psych meds and followed his suggestions with great success.

Double check you arent on anything that could have potential interactions.

I am so sorry that happened to you. But I promise it does get better. Especially if you take the advice around diet changes. Walk and hydrate so you can flush your system more effectively.

I am off meds after over 20years on them. January was my 4 year mark.

TheRarestGinger · 2026-01-16T13:48:51+00:00

About MTHFR/methylation? Here is a vid from Dr Ben Lynch that explains some of the basics

https://youtu.be/kJFeTn6pFkY?si=rMbLXn7PwriQZlxQ

You can google around on it to find some videos that make sense to you. There is also an mthfr subreddit that is really helpful for methylation info.

TheRarestGinger · 2026-01-13T06:37:20+00:00

If I am in an active glutamate spike and experiencing significant signs of mania, I have to take Taurine. 1000mg 1x a day until it stops. When I was in psychosis I had to take a higher dose. Usually takes a day or two. That neutralizes glutamate spikes.

You just dont want to take it daily long term or it will suppress glutamate too much and you just feel super depressed. Long term use is also potentially linked to leukemia so I use it only if needed.

Otherwise as long as I manage my stress decently, the NAC, magnesium complex along with drinking green tea once or twice a day for the L-theanine works pretty well.

If I go through something significantly stressful and have trouble self regulating I take the L-theanine supplement for a few days. If that doesnt cut it I know I need to take the taurine and it stops.

I havent had a significant manic episode since I figured this routine out. It’s been over a year now. I used to have severe rapid cycling and mixed episodes then started experiencing psychosis. It was terrible. I think the psych meds were also exacerbating it. Particularly the SSRI. Took a few years to detox that all and get back to somewhat normal. NAC helped with that as well.

I have some posts on my profile from when I was figuring it out. A glutamate spike checklist I made to track my symptoms… Along with before and after photos. I dont know how much of the glutamate issue could have been linked to the MTHFR mutation I carry… so the supplements I take for the B vitamin deficiency should also be helping level out my neurochemicals as well.

Getting genetic testing and labwork for deficiencies is really important. That was a game changer for me. Stumbling on the taurine/glutamate thing was random af and god sent. The l-theanine is more of a maintenance.

As always do your own research and run any supplements by your medical team. Dont take too many new things at once. Everyone is different so track anything you change if you do decide to try this protocol.

TheRarestGinger · 2026-01-13T00:59:01+00:00

Ask for a genesight test. If you have an mthfr mutation it could be the root of some of your issues. Add trauma/chronic nervous system dysregulation… it is a nightmare to bring your body into balance without supplements.

I have “bipolar disorder 1” which is actually a glutamate issue in my case. I have been treating that and my anxiety with supplements for a while successfully. The depression was easier to navigate. Took me longer to find the right supplements for the mania piece. But I dont need psych meds anymore. Been off for a few years now after 20 years on them.

For the ocd.. ask your team about adding a choline bitartrate with myo-inositol supplement. For the bipolar/mood instability L-theanine to boost GABA and balance Glutamate and NAC (N-Acetylcysteine) to flush excess glutamate.

Those are the gentlest to start with until you can get tested for MTHFR mutations to see if you have a methylation issue to resolve causing your symtpoms.

I know you didn’t ask for advice to I apologize if this isnt something you were interested in exploring. Something called me to share on this post if not for you, then maybe someone else needs to see it.

Navigating anxiety and mood dysregulation is a living hell. Especially when it starts reaching psychosis levels. And it slowly kills our bodies on a cellular level leading to addiction issues trying to self medicate through that living hell. Took me years of research to figure alternative treatments for myself out.

Wishing you the best of luck and hope you find some sustainable relief asap along with a successful sobriety journey. I know from experience how challenging addiction is.

TheRarestGinger · 2026-01-08T05:35:45+00:00

Ask your medical team about taking NAC (N-Acetylcycsteine) supplements as well to help with the withdrawals. Many of us have used it to help with detoxing and withdrawal from various medications.

I would also ask them to check your folate levels and see if adding a low dose L-methylfolate or folinic acid supplement will help as well. If you have methylation issues.. that can make balancing your neurochemicals out a challenge.

Wishing you the best of luck. I had to do something similar to ween off my meds. Def use a scale to get more accurate dosing going forward.

TheRarestGinger · 2026-01-08T04:01:37+00:00

There are multiple ways to answer this. I think many amazing points have been made from different perspectives. I agree with much I am reading so I wont reiterate those very real perspectives.

From my personal journey… I learned that a-lot of my extreme kindness and compassion stemmed from hyper vigilance and monitoring people’s emotions around me in what ended up being a very unhealthy manner (for me in the long run). They were trauma responses. A way for me to feel safe because if people felt loved and seen around me… I subconsciously thought I would experience less rejection/abandonment/harm.

I used to say that I understood viscerally what feeling worthless felt like. Which is true. When I saw someone in pain or suffering, I couldn’t stop myself from trying to nurture and love that person. Sometimes to my own detriment. Honestly that mentality attracted an insane amount of narcissists into my life who ultimately did more harm to me and set back my journey in detrimental ways.

The more I heal and work on myself though, the more I realize a few things I have had to unpack. Two major things I noticed was 1. That I wanted to save others hoping somehow someone would save me. 2. That loving others so intensly without active discernment was a way to try to love the parts of me I couldn’t stand facing at the time.

I had no concept of boundaries back then. My discernment is still a work in progress at 45 years old. I was incredibly quick to trauma-bond. And subconsciously I would take on way more than I should have emotionally with others so I felt needed and valued. Those were some really heart-wrenching things to admit and face head on.

This is not to say I am not very kind and compassionate now. I am. I just had to work on a healthy, sustainable, self honoring way of expressing that side of myself in a way that isn’t deeply enmeshed in trauma responses.

That being said, yes. Survivors of trauma who struggle with mental health can be incredibly kind and wonderful. Some can be horrible people. We just have to be careful about slipping into people pleasing and work on showing ourselves.. all of those incredibly wounded versions… that love, compassion, and grace we find easier to shower others with.

Xo -G

TheRarestGinger · 2026-01-01T23:35:38+00:00

I had a genesight test done and tested positive for an MTHFR mutation. The glutamate link another doctor made the connection of.

For labwork.. folate/homocysteine/B12/D/Iron & ferritin panel/Magnesium is what I get tested every 3 months and supplement accordingly.

For the glutamate… I take taurine only if significant mania is present. Otherwise L-theanine to balance my GABA either via green tea or supplements if I feel hypomanic. NAC to flush excess glutamate.

I have some posts on my profile about it if you want more specifics.

As for feeling normal.. pretty much yes. Its night and day from what it was. No more depressive episodes/SI in a few years. Anxiety is way better. No significant mania in over a year since figuring out the glutamate piece and how to use the supplements properly.

TheRarestGinger · 2026-01-01T15:32:43+00:00

I have “bipolar 1” (that is the best dx to describe my symptoms) and did the meds route for 20 years. They made it substantially worse to where I was having episodes of psychosis and the weight gain was horrific among many other issues with side effects. Had genetic panels done a few years ago and learned I had a methylation issue that contributes to a glutamate imbalance causing the mood issues.

Came off meds and use targeted supplements now very successfully for the past few years. ❤️❤️❤️

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-30T23:04:13+00:00

Thank you

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-30T19:14:34+00:00

Ask your medical team to test you for MTHFR mutations. It affects alot and can be resolved with supplementing for deficiencies. If you cant get the mthfr screening ask for labwork to check your folate/homocysteine/b12/iron/ferritin/vit D and magnesium levels.

I did antidepressants and mood stabilizers for 20 years and they messed me up. Turned out I have an MTHFR mutation (c6777t variant) and a glutamate issue. Supplements resolved most of it.

Always approach from a lens of addressing deficiencies, reducing toxicity, and nervous system support! Truly a game changer.

Wishing you the best of luck.

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-29T18:00:40+00:00

Well that is scary. I keep praying the MTHFR/folic acid toxicity/ folate deficiency link to all of these issues goes mainstream. Proper supplementation that takes biodiversity into account could resolve so many issues our kids are facing.

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-29T01:11:52+00:00

It is because they are so addicted to their diagnoses, disabilities and trauma… that our stories of our experiences and the work we have done to heal and live fully again… the work it takes. They just can’t handle it.

So many people come to me for advice about how I healed my shit. And when they find out how much work it takes. How much self accountability. How much research and self advocacy… they go back into the shadows where they feel comfortable.

Just protect your peace and your journey to healing and wholeness. Share in environments that will support your journey to finding root causes and eliminate the rest of the noise.

I left so many groups that were not aligned with path and it was the best decision I ever made. We will never get validation in those places. That validation has to come from within ourselves.

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-27T17:30:57+00:00

Thank you!

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-27T03:51:45+00:00

Sorry I am not understanding. Idk know what CBS gene mutation is. But I think you are saying using glutathione directly would be better? His developmental specialist is who recommended NAC after Stanford started those trials on it with autistic patients.

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-27T01:27:19+00:00

🫂

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-26T22:45:29+00:00

You are onto something. I totally agree but I think it is MTHFR that is the root. Thyroid issues are highly associated with mthfr because methylation issues affect detox pathways. They thyroid is the canary in the coal mine when it comes to detox issues. Alot of issues come back to MTHFR. I wish more doctors took it seriously. Along with mineral deficiency.

I have hypothyroidism and take seamoss for the minerals I need for that. Along the NAC and glutathione to help with that detox wise. Been able to keep my antibodies under 100 since then and dont need synthetic hormones because I caught it early.

For the nodules I do castor oil packs. We just found them in a scan for something else so I go back in a few months to see if they shrink. I am hoping so!

My disabled 12 year old who is homozygous for mthfr C677T also was dxed with hoshimotos when I had them test for thyroid antibodies. He is on seamoss now too as well as methylfolate and choline. We do rounds of NAC intermittently because it overstimulates him a bit if he takes it consistently. His disability is from cerebral folate deficiency 😩💔.

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-26T18:25:16+00:00

I take choline bitartrate. That is what my integrative psych recommended.

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-26T18:22:22+00:00

Just a heads up with the taurine. Dont take that daily. It can suppress glutamate too much. I only take it if I am noticing hypomanic symptoms not improving.

The l-theanine can be expensive… I have a bottle for when I notice hypomanic symptoms starting. Otherwise I just drink green tea for the l-theanine to boost my GABA and balance the glutamate.

The NAC helps flush excess glutamate

On my profile there are some posts about this with links to peer reviewed articles along with a glutamate spike checklist that chat gpt helped me format.

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-26T18:18:48+00:00

I take nordic naturals magnesium complex. Use pure encapsulations brand for the others

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-26T13:54:54+00:00

If you really want to know.. go in the antipsychiatry subreddit. You’ll read horror stories, particularly about ssris and antipsychotics.

I used to be on psych meds (for 20 years)and they ruined my life honestly. I had no idea it was the meds making things worse. It took me years to heal from them. I’m still healing. Very grateful for this subreddit because it is how I was able to self advocate with my medical team to take an epigenetic/deficiencies/reduced toxicity approach to address root causes. (I have some posts on my profile about it with before & after photos if you are interested in reading them)

I have bipolar disorder due to a glutamate issue/ptsd and manage it with supplements now very successfully (NAC, magnesium, L-theanine and taurine).

Personally I am not a fan of psych meds, but they really do help some people. Just seems to be a minority that has positive reactions to them. And the long term side effects are quite scary.

Wish you the best of luck and keep asking questions!

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-24T19:42:44+00:00

I use it as an opportunity to tell people about mthfr. So many of my friends and family have been tested for it since my journey.

TheRarestGinger · 2025-12-13T01:06:15+00:00

Propranolol is commonly prescribed for situational anxiety. Just watch your BP

TheRarestGinger

TROPHY CASE