On the Evolving Wellness Podcast, host Sarah interviews board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Josef Dering, who previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry and as an FDA medical officer in psychiatry drug safety. He explains why he now believes psychiatric medications don’t work for most conditions and describes how time-pressured, checklist-based care and “chemical imbalance” narratives lead to escalating drug cocktails without addressing root causes. He warns that benzodiazepines may help short term but can worsen anxiety over time, cause interdose withdrawal, degrade sleep architecture, and impair concentration, making them a “Faustian bargain,” and stresses slow, supervised tapering due to difficult withdrawal. Dering outlines non-drug approaches targeting body, mind, and “soul” (health behaviors, skills-based therapies, relationships, and meaning). He also argues high-potency THC cannabis increases psychosis risk and may lead to long recoveries and misdiagnosis.

Connect withj Dr Josef - https://www.youtube.com/@taperclinic

https://www.instagram.com/drjosefwittdoerring/ 

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Timestamp:

00:00 Benzos Quick Relief

00:55 Episode Setup Disclaimer

02:29 Podcast Intro Housekeeping

03:42 Meet Dr Dering

04:30 Why He Questions Meds

07:19 FDA Safety Reality Check

08:44 Host Story Benzos

12:16 Sponsor Red Light

14:29 Benzos Faustian Bargain

15:48 Body Mind Soul Framework

21:42 Sponsor Blue Blockers

23:09 Motivation Rock Bottom

26:30 Medical Trust Broken

29:12 Suicidality on Med Cocktails

31:23 Withdrawal Trap and Tapering

34:20 PR Narrative Around Antidepressants

36:22 Meds and Mass Violence Debate

39:27 Gender Ideology in Schools

42:57 Cannabis Mental Health Risks

44:26 THC Potency and Psychosis Data

48:54 Paranoia as Warning Sign

51:34 Safe Tapering and Final Advice

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This video is not medical advice & as a supporter to you and your health journey - I encourage you to monitor your labs and work with a professional!

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