INTRODUCTION

Hello there; nice to meet you.

I began taking psychiatric meds in the Spring of 2008 at the age of 20.  I was suicidal, probably because I was abusing pills and alcohol.  I was officially diagnosed with "mood disorder, not otherwise specified" and had to deal with social anxiety issues as well.  I continued regular and escalating substance abuse until August 2009, when I tried to kill myself and really seriously almost died.  When I woke up in the hospital, I had an epiphany--I knew I was being given a second chance by God and that I had more to accomplish before I left this life.

Fast-forward to Spring 2013...I finally have a job that pays all my bills, I'm stable, and I leave my crazy boyfriend.  I'm kind of starting over and I decide to get off my meds because I no longer think I need them, I read about the long-term health effects, and become interested in natural therapies, supplements, and healthy eating.

I first tried to stop taking Lamictal in July without help from my doctor.  (I lost my insurance over a year ago, so I went to county health where they bounced me between several doctors, none of whom have taken the time to get to know me.)  Knowing that all drugs have withdrawal effects, I cut up my pills and reduced from 300mg of Lamictal to 0mg over the period of a month.  HORRIBLE!!!  I thought I was going crazy, and it took a good friend's Google search for me to find out that I was having intense and debilitating withdrawal effects.  To further prove it was indeed withdrawal, just a few hours after taking my normal dose I was feeling WAY BETTER.  I knew I needed a better plan...

I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS NOT MEANT TO REPLACE THE GUIDANCE OF YOUR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL.