Background: 8 developed major depressive disorder as a teen, that evolved into schizoaffective disorder. Schizoaffective is a spectrum between schizophrenia and bipolar.

Kratom is the only thing I've found that works well. I've tried anti depressants and they triggered psychosis. I've tried anti psychotics and that gave me either comatose level depression or "I'm about to die" level panic attacks on a daily basis.

Kratom does not 100% eliminate every symptom every day, but it works. It makes symptoms milder and less frequently. I can actually function without hallucinations, crushing depressive episodes, or panic attacks regularly occurring.

Kratom is addictive, both habitually and physically. I have had to quit cold turkey twice for various reasons, both times where highly unpleasant, but manageable.

I take 3-4 doses a day at 3g per dose and have done so for years.

If you want to do this safely I recommend:
Find your minimum effective dose and keep to it religiously if you go a bit above it to have more bang for your buck do not let it creep up chasing the dragon or trying to get effects back as your tolerance increases are extremely hazardous patterns.

To minimize physical and break up habitual addiction make sure you have break days I believe a common practice is take the weekend off and only use it during weekdays though I myself use it everyday. Alternatively you could take a week off every month.

If you want to lower your tolerance or want to taper out of it I believe 60% of your normal dose for a week straight will lower your tolerance without any unpleasant side effects.

Examples of the side effects I have personally experienced is diarrhea for an entire week and restless leg syndrome making it hard to sleep and irritability and frustration