Why It Took Me 1,139 Days to Taper Off Lexapro | The Gaslit Truth Podcast with Dr Teralyn Sell and Therapist Jenn Schmitz

Send us Fan Mail Day one at zero sounds like a finish line, but for Therapist Jenn Schmitz it is also the start of a whole new chapter. After roughly 26 years on SSRIs and 1,139 days of tapering Lexapro, she finally crosses “zero” and tells the unfiltered truth about what it took: the fear, the patience, the symptom tracking, and the moments where withdrawal did not look like “anxiety” so much as a nervous system on overload. We rewind to how it began: teenage pressure, disordered eating, heartbreak, and a prescribing path that ran through a pediatric provider, then an OB-GYN, then primary care. No psychiatrist. Lots of certainty. Plenty of “chemical imbalance” messaging. Jenn also shares what she found when she pulled her old records, including an earlier SSRI start than she remembered and a switch driven by free samples, which opens up a bigger conversation about pharmaceutical marketing and real-world prescribing habits. Then we get practical. We break down why Lexapro withdrawal can surge 12 to 14 days after a cut, how reinstating and holding can be the safer move, and what “microtapering” looks like when you are reducing by tiny amounts and adjusting to real life. Jenn explains using liquid dosing, dilution for the last milligrams, and the mindset shift that matters most: you can always slow down and make a new decision. We also talk about what comes after antidepressant discontinuation, when emotions return and you have to relearn empathy, parenting, and identity without emotional blunting. If you want a grounded, experience-based conversation on SSRI tapering, nervous system regulation, resilience, and fueling your brain with basics like protein and amino acids, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone tapering, and leave a review with your biggest question about coming off SSRIs. 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 [email protected] to learn more.  Savorista Coffee is offering our listeners 25% off their premium craft decaf and half caf blends with bold flavors, ethically sourced beans, and natural decaffeination. Small-batch roasted for exceptional taste. E Use promo code GASLIT at checkout! https://savorista.com/discount/GASLIT 💊 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 🔥 You’ve been harmed. You’ve been dismissed. It’s time to take your brain back—with guidance from people who’ve been there and know their stuff. Support the show Are you tired of being gaslit and want to DEEP THROAT some more truth? We want to hear from you!  Message us your gaslit stories at [email protected] While you are at it, Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube @thegaslittruthpodcast.   Be sure to Hit that subscribe button and get alerts for more episodes!  Thanks for listening! Follow Us individually at Dr. Teralyn: Instagram @Dr_Teralyn Facebook  @DrTeralyn Tik Tok @Dr_Teralyn Therapist Jenn:  Instagram @TherapistJen TikTok @Jenn.Schmitz