Diagnosis, Knowledge, and Selfhood in Coming Off Psychiatric Medications

Abstract

This dissertation examines the process of recognizing withdrawal symptoms, developing lay knowledge, and reconstituting the self within a community that encourages the discontinuation of prescription psychiatric medications through peer support. I focus on “Surviving Antidepressants”—a community that critiques the overuse of psychiatric drugs and the lack of support for those seeking to stop them. This community argues that medical professionals often overlook the various unwanted effects of these medications, especially those experienced during the discontinuation process. To explore how individuals may navigate the discontinuation process with informal peer support, I analyze entries from this large online community and interviews with key informants employing qualitative analysis methods. The manuscript comprises three articles addressing the following questions: How do individuals recognize psychiatric medication withdrawal? How do they construct the knowledge that enables them to assist one another and e