After being rapidly tapered off 150mg of sertraline following 14 years of use, this is what I faced from GPs and psychiatrists. Most of them initially refused to acknowledge antidepressant withdrawal, repeatedly misdiagnosed me and through their responses, caused significantly more harm. I am one of thousands, probably significantly more, with a similar story. GP 1: After fast sertraline taper (four weeks) and in delayed onset withdrawal, I was rapidly cycled through venlafaxine for three months, escitalopram for two weeks, citalopram for one week, propranolol for three weeks and pregabalin for five days, along with 5-10mg diazepam to “manage” the avalanche of adverse reactions. Diagnosed with adverse reactions such as serotonin syndrome. No mention of withdrawal. Each drug made things worse. GP 2: By this point I had moved back in with my parents because I could no longer look after myself. Highly suicidal, horrific akathisia and unable to sleep for days. Prescribed mirtazapine, which made the akathisia significantly worse. Took for three weeks. Mental Health Nurse: Switched to duloxetine. Denied it could be withdrawal. Took duloxetine for one week and the akathisia reached a new level of hell. NHS Psychiatrist 1: Referred to secondary care. Prescribed vortioxetine. I refused because I was terrified the drugs were making me worse. Told this was relapse and an emerging mood disorder, possibly FND. NHS Psychiatrist 2: Suspected Sertraline withdrawal but advised reinstating at 50mg and increasing weekly to 150mg, plus 5mg diazepam three times daily. I declined after finding information on low dose reinstatement (0.5–1mg) in support groups. Also didn’t want to become dependent on a benzo and was worried about the rapid benzo taper he had proposed with my already fragile CNS. Private Psychiatrist (Priory): Paid £450. Told it was obvious I couldn’t tolerate SSRIs and had likely developed bipolar or another mood disorder. Prescribed flupentixol. I had never been psychotic and refused. £450 I’ll never get back. NHS Psychiatrist 4: Attended A&E with unbearable akathisia and high suicidality. Prescribed PRN quetiapine (25mg up to 4x/day) plus 200mg at night. Developed extrapyramidal symptoms (urinary retention, hand tremors) and was told it was “just anxiety” and “couldn’t be the drugs.” Stopped the 200mg after two nights and have remained on 25mg since. Psychiatrist 4 (again): Insisted I wasn’t in withdrawal, told me to stop visiting online forums and dismissed scientific papers I presented as “nonsense.” Prescribed lamotrogine and in desperation for my life I tried for two weeks. Akathisia flared to life threatening levels. Psychiatrist 4 (again): Stopped lamotrigine and prescribed Abilify. By now I refused, as I recognised this as drug induced and had never been psychotic. Psychiatrist 5: Called me a “difficult patient” and encouraged voluntary hospital admission to increase quetiapine and possibly consider ECT. It was clear neither they nor the system understood withdrawal. I made the decision to leave psychiatric care entirely in order to save my own life. GP 3: A new GP open to learning. I gave her The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines. She was empathetic, supported low dose reinstatement (though still suspected FND) and helped advocate for me. Unfortunately the CNS injury was too severe for reinstatement to work and so I remain on 3mg of sertraline and 25mg of quetiapine to this day. Referred to neurology. Neurologist: Agreed it was AD withdrawal but still recommended the FND pathway. I challenged this, saying I would be taking a place from someone with genuine FND. They admitted they see many psychiatric drug reactions in neurology but “can’t rock the boat.” GP 3: Referred me to an NHS deprescribing clinic and provided what support she could. Psychiatrist 6 (Deprescribing Clinic): Finally validated everything I’d been through and quite possibly saved my life. The care I’ve received there has been exceptional.