What if your hardest days weren't a "chemical imbalance"… but a medication effect no one warned you about?

For decades, we've been told that antidepressants correct something broken in the brain. But what if that story is not only incomplete—it's dangerously misleading for many people? What if what you're feeling is withdrawal, not relapse?

In this episode of The Grace of Being, Sylvia Huseyin shares a courageous, decades-long journey: 33 years on antidepressants, 21 years trying to get off, and what it took to finally step away. This is a raw, compassionate look at informed consent, withdrawal, and the real-world supports that helped her begin to heal—body, mind, and spirit.

We'll talk about:

• How withdrawal can masquerade as "your depression coming back" (and why that distinction matters)
• Half-life basics: why missing a dose by an hour triggered full-blown symptoms for Sylvia
• Why the last 10% of a taper is often the hardest (and why "slower than you think" can be safer)
• "Kindling": why repeated stop-start attempts can intensify symptoms
• The wide range of effects people report during withdrawal—brain zaps, dizziness, anxiety, emotional blunting—and why they're not "all in your head"
• How nutrition, omega-3s, and reducing inflammation supported Sylvia's nervous system
• Faith, mindset, and community: rebuilding hope when fear is loud
• Self-advocacy in clinical settings and questions to ask when you don't feel heard

I'll also share why I believe deeply in informed consent—and why sitting with real feelings, supported and resourced, can become a doorway to strength instead of a diagnosis.

If you've ever felt worse on or coming off a medication and wondered what's real, or if you're supporting someone in that process, this conversation is for you.

This isn't about shame or blame. It's about truth-telling, honoring lived experience, and remembering that the body is designed to heal when we create the right conditions.

Content note: We discuss suicidality and difficult medical experiences. Please listen with care. Nothing here is medical advice; talk with a qualified, taper-savvy clinician about your situation.

Resources & Links

🌿 EnergyBits Spirulina – 20% off with code "Graceofbeing" https://energybits.com

🌱 AquaTree Home Growing System – 10% off with code "Thomas10" https://aquatreegarden.com

📧 Want to be a guest or know someone who would be? Email me: [email protected]

Sylvia isn't sharing public contact info at this time. If her story resonated, email me at [email protected], and I will pass along thoughtful messages.