May 24, 2025

14 Years & 19 Meds: Why Laura Delano Stopped Years Of Psychiatric Drugs & Went “Unshrunk” + Paleovalley’s Autumn Smith – Ask Dr. Drew – Ep 484

1 hour 20 minutes

“The more I suffered, the more medical treatments I was convinced I needed, but the more treatments I received, the more I suffered,” writes Laura Delano, author of the memoir UNSHRUNK.

At age 14, Laura Delano was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and prescribed mood stabilizers and antidepressants. Despite academic and athletic success, she struggled with rage and despair. Over 14 years, she received multiple diagnoses and 19 medications. But her condition worsened and was deemed “treatment resistant.” Delano chose to stop medications, challenging psychiatric norms and exploring an unmedicated life, and details the results – and her critique of the mental health and pharmaceutical industries – in her memoir Unshrunk, available now at https://amzn.to/3YWgWfg

Important: suddenly stopping a psychiatric medication can have harmful side effects. Always consult a trusted health professional before starting or stopping medications.

Laura Delano is the author of Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance, a speaker, and consultant. She founded Inner Compass Initiative, a nonprofit helping people navigate psychiatric diagnoses, drugs, and withdrawal. A leading voice in the movement away from medicalized mental health, she supports individuals and families globally with the withdrawal journey and life post-psychiatry. More at https://x.com/lauradelano and https://lauradelano.com

Autumn Smith is the co-founder of Paleovalley, a company focused on nutrient-dense foods. She advocates for rethinking meat consumption and promotes the benefits of bone broth and tallow through Paleovalley’s offerings. More at https://x.com/paleovalley and https://drdrew.com/paleovalley

「 SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS 」 Find out more about the brands that make this show possible and get special discounts on Dr. Drew's favorite products at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ACTIVE SKIN REPAIR - Repair skin faster with more of the molecule your body creates naturally! Hypochlorous (HOCl) is produced by white blood cells to support healing – and no sting. Get 20% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/skinrepair⁠⁠⁠⁠

• FATTY15 – The future of essential fatty acids is here! Strengthen your cells against age-related breakdown with Fatty15. Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit Subscription at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/fatty15⁠⁠⁠⁠

• PALEOVALLEY - "Paleovalley has a wide variety of extraordinary products that are both healthful and delicious,” says Dr. Drew. "I am a huge fan of this brand and know you'll love it too!” Get 15% off your first order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drdrew.com/paleovalley⁠⁠⁠⁠

• THE WELLNESS COMPANY - Counteract harmful spike proteins with TWC's Signature Series Spike Support Formula containing nattokinase and selenium. Learn more about TWC's supplements at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twc.health/drew⁠⁠⁠⁠

「 MEDICAL NOTE 」 Portions of this program may examine countervailing views on important medical issues. Always consult your physician before making any decisions about your health.

「 ABOUT THE SHOW 」

Ask Dr. Drew is produced by Kaleb Nation (⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kalebnation.com⁠⁠⁠⁠) and Susan Pinsky (⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/firstladyoflov⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠e⁠⁠⁠⁠). This show is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more

View all episodes

By Dr. Drew

4.4

769769 ratings