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Psychiatry's dark patterns know no borders. In this eye-opening conversation, Safa Asgari reveals his three-year journey through psychiatric treatment in Iran that mirrors the experiences of countless patients worldwide.

What begins as a straightforward OCD diagnosis quickly spirals into a nightmare of polypharmacy and cascading misdiagnoses. After experiencing severe side effects from Prozac, Safa finds himself labeled with bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and ADHD - each new diagnosis bringing additional medications rather than recognition of adverse drug reactions. At one point, he's simultaneously taking ten different psychiatric drugs.

"Deep down I had the feeling something was wrong," Safa explains, describing moments of clarity that persisted despite heavy medication. When he questioned treatments or reported worsening symptoms, his concerns were dismissed as further evidence of mental illness. Most disturbing is how he was threatened with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) if he didn't comply with medication protocols.

Safa's testimony reveals the global nature of psychiatric gaslighting - how practitioners worldwide interpret medication side effects as new illnesses requiring more drugs, creating a harmful cycle that's nearly impossible to escape. His description of withdrawal symptoms paints a vivid picture of suffering that psychiatry continues to deny exists.

The turning point comes when Safa discovers online communities of psychiatric survivors and resources like Robert Whitaker's "Anatomy of an Epidemic." Armed with knowledge and validation, he begins trusting his own experience over the narratives imposed by doctors. Though still experiencing what he calls "asteroid-sized" symptoms compared to his original OCD, he's reclaimed his agency and understanding of his condition.

Listen to this powerful account of resilience in the face of systemic gaslighting, and consider: how many others worldwide are trapped in similar cycles without the information to understand what's happening to them?

We're recruiting for a first-of-its-kind psychiatric medication withdrawal research study. If you've experienced psychiatric medication withdrawal, you may be eligible to participate.  Email DrTeralyn@DrTeralyn.com to learn more. 

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💊 Ready to Deprescribe Your Psych Meds?

Psych meds have harmed us—and we’re not just survivors, we’re deeply educated in psychopharmacology, psychology, and nutrition. As hosts of The Gaslit Truth Podcast, we guide people safely off psychiatric medications with strategies grounded in science and brain health

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