Tag: toxic RX

Withdrawal Facts

In her previous article, Laura Vigiano, 68, a former licensed clinical social worker described working alongside psychiatrists in a psychiatric hospital for 18 years and never hearing one word about withdrawal.

Then she tried to go off Cymbalta and “all hell broke loose” and “the akathisia hit with a vengeance”.

“When I began to fall asleep my body would jolt awake as if sleep was dangerous. I felt like I was shaking inside. I could not eat food. I forced myself to drink soup and smoothies. My arms felt like they were burning—not painful, but hot and prickly (this burning sensation is called paresthesia). In the pit of my stomach was a ball of fire sending out electrical shards of terror. The ball of fire and the burning on my arms came and went with waves of dread. At times while lying in bed, my pulse was 160 bpm.

The burning, intense fear and inner shaking were overwhelming. All I could do was lie in bed clinging with white knuckles to my sanity like I was a tiny dinghy in the middle of the ocean being battered by waves much too big for my fragile boat, with no hope of rescue.”

Read Laura’s full article here on her withdrawals, slow tapering journey and akathisia battles: https://www.madinamerica.com/2025/04/akathisia-after-a-five-year-taper-chained-to-an-antidepressant-forever/?

Laura wrote her previous piece for Prescribed Harm Awareness Day 2021, link in comments section. A true warrior and safe tapering advocate 💜

#StephensVoice #YourVoice #LaurasVoice

𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐕𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐨

Cured to Death – Psychiatric

The photo of me on the left in the blue was taken today, April 8th 2025

The remaining 3 photos were taken almost exactly a year ago.

In March of 2023, I experimented with Psilocybin and Marijuana.

** mine was Xanax , as addictive as Heroin

It was the first time in my 26 years I have ever tried a substance other than alcohol.

Unfortunately, I experienced a horrible reaction to these substances, leading to my psychiatric hospitalization.

Prior to this event in March of 2023, I have never been on any kind of medication, nor have I ever been diagnosed with any kind of mental/physical health condition.

Discharge date from the psychiatric hospital

April 17th, 2023

I was informed that if i “refused treatment,” I will have to stay hospitalized longer. At this point, I was there for 10 days.

Coerced to comply with an

Injection of an antipsychotic and held down against my will.

LAI (Long Acting Injection)

Aristada (Abilify)1064MG 2 month dose

I was sent home with 4 prescriptions of new medications i have never been on in my life.

3 weeks after my discharge date and the injection of the antipsychotic, I started to experience severe negative reactions that were nearly impossible to endure or explain to my doctor and family.

I was told it was ” just my new mental illness ” and that I had to remain on the medication for the rest of my life.

I knew in my heart and gut that this was wrong and did not make sense. At all.

● 22 days in 3 different hospitals

(Psychiatric hospitals + emergency rooms)

● 20Ibs lost after my hospital stay

● 3 1/2 months medicated

(2 month injection + oral pills)

(Lexapro 10MG Antidepressant )

Escitalopram

(Abilify 15MG Antipsychotic)

Aripiprazole

● 2-3 hours of sleep a night

● 50 days pacing with terror 10 hours a day (Akathisia)

Akathisia https://g.co/kgs/byVpBzj

● 300 + days having severe suicidal thoughts

● 350 days unable to work

● 20 + hours a day in bed for 4 months at my worst 80% of my 320 days were spent in bed/couch

● 3 close suicide attempts

● 9 years together with my husband ended in a divorce

● 30+ friends/family members disappearing in the hardship, from lack of understanding and fear

● 20+ doctor appointments/visits

General practitioners, psychiatrists, therapists, neurologists, acupuncturists, nutritionists, and many more. $15,000 + dollars later

● 8 beautiful humans i met in online support groups, who were mothers, sisters, fathers, sons, and partners, unfortunately, lost their battle from medication harm. Ending their own lives due to the constant state of torture.

320 days spent in a chemical straight jacket was the only way for me to describe it.

It has come full circle now in 2025, almost

2 years later, since the day i was injected.

I am now a year into remission/recovery from the iatrogenic injury that was brought upon by the antipsychotic injection.

During the 320 days in the chemical straight jacket:

I was unable to feel life

Unable to laugh

Unable to sleep

Unable to work

Unable to enjoy a meal

Unable to enjoy music

Unable to enjoy a book

Unable to enjoy a movie

Unable to enjoy nature

Unable to enjoy intimacy

Unable to feel love

Unable to feel human connection.

I can not put into words the inhumane experience i endured.

I am not posting this for ” I am so sorry, Jess.”

I am posting this because it’s the human thing to do.

Our children

Our grandmothers

Our grandfathers

Our mothers

Our fathers

Our loved ones are being medicated and not being properly informed of the risks these man made, brain altering chemical “medications ” can cause.

Especially long-term.

I do not know how I am still alive, to be honest.

By the grace of God and my stubborness to live, and to be able to tell the tale of how I almost lost my life, from a man made chemical that a doctor forced me to take after speaking with me in a hallway for 10 minutes.

Please, please, please take the time to always inform yourself and do your research before you put anything in or on your body 🙏 And have a plan of care in emergency situations for your loved ones in case you need to represent/advocate for them.

Thank you for those of you who took the time to read this ❤️