Escaping the addiction to Anti-Depressants and how the Doctors are complicit

Your Doctor and their ignorance/greed may be doing more harm to your health than you may realize. Wake up to the ugly truths about a medical mafia that pushes psychiatric drugs as if they are candy.

Jun 07, 2025

What if your health symptoms are not your fault or your body’s fault, but is in fact Doctor induced harm from toxic drugs? In this context we are referring to Anti-Depressants and the abuse of those drugs not by the patients, but by the medical establishment that hands them out like candy. This interview with Tucker Carlson and Laura Delano exposes the dark and dirty secrets behind the psychiatric drugs industry and one person’s escape and recovery.

Doctors told a teenage Laura Delano she had something they called bipolar disorder, and then proceeded to make her legitimately crazy with psych drugs. She’s one of the few who recovered.
Laura Delano is an author, speaker, and consultant, and the founder of Inner Compass Initiative, a nonprofit organization that helps people make more informed choices about taking and safely tapering off psychiatric drugs.
She is a leading voice in the international movement of people who’ve left behind the medicalized, professionalized mental health industry to build something different. Laura has worked as an advocate within and beyond the mental health system, and has spent the past 13 years working with individuals and families around the world who are seeking guidance and support for psychiatric drug withdrawal.
Her book, Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance, was published in March 2025.

Amazon.com: Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance eBook : Delano, Laura: Kindle ...

Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance
Laura’s website: https://www.lauradelano.com
Inner Compass Initiative: https://www.theinnercompass.org
Laura on X: https://x.com/LauraDelano

Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance - Unshrunk

How to escape a medical mafia that has an in built incentive to keep you permanently hooked on their psychiatric drugs? As a patient you are a billing reference number and your actual needs for health and healing are secondary to the profit motive that drives such industries to poison and abuse their own patients aka customers. A horrifying story of what it is like to be permanently dependent on psychiatric drugs that are actually making you more sick rather than healing you of your initial symptoms. Many lives have been lost and many more lives ruined for a lack of knowledge about these hidden practices.

Here are some key takeaways from this interview;

1. Lack of Scientific Basis for Chemical Imbalance Theory

The idea that mental illnesses are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain is not scientifically proven. This theory is often used to justify the widespread use of psychotropic medications, but it lacks empirical evidence.

2. Widespread Use of Psychotropic Drugs

66 million Americans are taking psychotropic drugs, which is a cause for concern. This widespread use has significant implications for public health and raises questions about the effectiveness and necessity of these medications.

3. Critique of Psychiatric Diagnoses

Psychiatric diagnoses are often subjective and based on doctors' observations rather than objective evidence. The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is criticized for being unscientific and overly reliant on subjective criteria.

4. Impact of Psychiatric Medications

Psychiatric medications, including antidepressants and mood stabilizers, can have serious side effects and may not always be effective. Long-term use can lead to dependence and other health issues.

5. Problems with Informed Consent

Patients are often not fully informed about the potential risks and long-term effects of psychiatric medications. This lack of transparency can lead to patients making decisions without a complete understanding of the consequences.

6. Psychiatry's Financial Motivations

The psychiatric industry is criticized for its financial ties to pharmaceutical companies. This relationship can influence the promotion and prescription of medications, sometimes prioritizing profit over patient well-being.

7. Personal Stories and Recovery

Personal narratives, like Laura Delano's, highlight the importance of individual experiences and the potential for recovery without relying solely on medications. Her story emphasizes the need for alternative approaches and support systems.

8. Alternative Treatment Methods

There is a growing interest in alternative treatment methods, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and lifestyle changes. These methods may offer benefits for some individuals who do not respond well to traditional medications.

9. Importance of Support Systems

Support from family, friends, and community is crucial for mental health recovery. Mutual support groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), can provide valuable emotional and practical support without the need for medication.

10. Need for Systemic Change

The mental health system needs significant reform to address issues like over-medication, lack of informed consent, and the dominance of the pharmaceutical industry. Promoting holistic approaches and patient-centered care can lead to better outcomes and more sustainable mental health practices.

Detailed summary with timestamps;

Laura Delano: The Dark Truth About Antidepressants, SSRIs, and the Psychiatrists Lying for Profit

00:00 Chemical Imbalance and Mental Illness

The assertion that chemical imbalance is the cause of mental illness is not scientifically proven.
66 million Americans taking psychotropic drugs is a cause for concern.
Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction is a common occurrence, yet no one is held accountable.

01:16 Reaction to the New York Times Article

The author of the New York Times article criticizes those who refuse psychiatric treatment.
People are afraid and cannot imagine living without medication and hospitals.
The author believes this is related to their fear of emotional pain and dependence on medicine.

03:43 Reaction to Comments on the Article

Comments on the New York Times article were closed after 13 hours due to reader outrage.
The author was called a fascist for supporting the idea of independence from the psychiatric industry.
This caused surprise and bewilderment for the author.

04:41 The Author's Story

The author grew up in a well-off family in Connecticut.
At 13, she experienced an emotional crisis, losing connection with herself.
This led to aggressive behavior and suicidal thoughts.

07:35 Seeking a Therapist

The author's parents took her to a therapist because they didn't know how to help.
The author felt humiliated and ashamed of the therapy.
The therapist recommended seeing a psychiatrist, which was done.

10:51 Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

The psychiatrist diagnosed the author with bipolar disorder at 14.
The author was shocked and couldn't believe the diagnosis.
The psychiatric industry is based on the idea of incurable conditions requiring lifelong treatment.

12:50 Critique of the Psychiatric Model

Psychiatrists don't listen to patients but filter their experiences through the lens of clinical medicine.
The author learned to explain her thoughts and emotions through the lens of the diagnosis.
Psychiatric diagnoses are based on doctors' subjective observations, without objective evidence.

15:46 Doubts About Diagnoses

Psychiatric diagnoses are often based on observations rather than explanations.
The author didn't question the diagnoses because she was confused.
Comparing it to incurable cancer without evidence seems absurd.

16:42 Paradigm of Psychiatric Diagnoses

Psychiatric diagnoses are always subjective and based on doctors' preferences.
The author was unaware of this because she didn't ask questions.
Attending Harvard didn't bring relief but only intensified the feeling of confusion.

17:37 Life at Harvard

The author didn't feel happy at Harvard despite her achievements.
She started using drugs to escape reality.
Despite athletic success, she felt lost and desperate.

18:26 Returning to the Psychiatrist

The author returned to the psychiatrist to seek help.
She found him at McLean Hospital, known for its famous patients.
The author was unaware of the side effects of electroconvulsive therapy that other patients were undergoing.

21:06 Desperation and Accepting Help

Desperation makes people accept any promises of help.
The author lost the ability to think critically due to pain.
She didn't question the diagnoses and medications because she wanted to get rid of the pain.

22:01 Issues with Confidentiality

Personal information often becomes accessible to data brokers.
ExpressVPN helps protect personal information and privacy.
The author uses ExpressVPN for internet security.

23:49 Starting Medication

The author started taking psychotropic drugs before meeting the new psychiatrist.
She felt like a robot on stage, which was a turning point.
Her parents supported her, and she began taking the medications.

26:44 Chemical Imbalance

Psychiatrists often explain mental disorders as a chemical imbalance in the brain.
The author doubts the scientific basis of this theory.
Most people still believe that mental disorders are caused by chemical imbalances, despite the lack of evidence.

30:16 Mental Health Issues

Mental disorders can be caused by brain chemical imbalances or life circumstances.
In the US, 66 million adults and children take psychiatric medications.
The problem may not be under-treatment but the approach to treatment itself.

31:14 Mental Health Crisis

The levels of suicide and anxiety disorders are rising.
Most people receive psychiatric help, but the problem may lie in the treatment itself.
Treatment should address the causes of problems, not just the symptoms.

32:10 Impact of Psychiatric Medications

Psychiatric medications are often prescribed without understanding the causes of problems.
Patients often don't realize that their problems may be related to life circumstances.
The medical paradigm teaches to relinquish responsibility for one's life.

34:08 Types of Psychiatric Medications

Antidepressants: Prozac, Effexor, Cymbalta, and others.
Mood stabilizers: Lamictal, Depakote, lithium.
Lithium was banned until the 1970s but is now considered the gold standard.

36:04 Evidence Base for Psychiatric Medications

Research on psychiatric medications is often of poor quality and subjective.
The long-term safety and effectiveness of medications are not studied.
The mechanism of action of medications is often not understood.

39:00 Impact on the Body

Psychiatric medications can alter the physical functions of the body.
Digestive problems and weight gain are often associated with taking these medications.
Patients often don't realize these changes, attributing them to the mental illness.

44:21 Impact of Medications on Health

Chronic pain, skin, and hair problems.
Medications affect emotional and mental states.
Antidepressants dull feelings, which can be beneficial.

45:12 Propaganda of Psychotropic Drugs

Propaganda claims that antidepressants help with chemical imbalances.
Long-term outcomes of antidepressants are not always good.
The serotonin system controls many important functions.

46:07 Informed Consent and Marketing

Informed consent requires a conscious choice.
Marketing language distorts the perception of antidepressants.
Changing the language can help make a conscious choice.

47:05 Short-term and Long-term Effects of SSRIs

SSRIs can temporarily relieve symptoms but cause dependence.
Short-term use can be beneficial, but long-term use is not intended.
Dependence on antidepressants is comparable to dependence on cigarettes and crack.

48:59 Medication Enchantment

Antidepressants weaken critical thinking.
Therapists often suggest new medications without questioning the current approach.
Deterioration of cognitive functions and memory.

50:57 Crisis of Psychiatric Iatrogenesis

Antidepressants lead to a loss of vitality and connection to the world.
The treatment paradigm leads to even greater suffering and polarization.
Loss of connection with the human spirit and the world.

53:20 Impact on Relationships and Family

Loss of friends and emotional connection with loved ones.
Family supports but doesn't understand the true state.
Difficulties in maintaining relationships with God and sexuality.

57:09 Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction

Antidepressants can cause sexual dysfunction.
Movement for restoring sexual function after stopping medication.
Lack of accountability for treatment consequences.

58:05 Increase in Suicides and Ineffectiveness of Medications

Increase in suicides with the rise in antidepressant use.
Medications are ineffective if they lead to an increase in suicides.
Need to reassess the approach to treatment.

59:05 Side Effects of Antidepressants

Antidepressant instructions state that they can cause suicidal thoughts.
The author did not take these medications and does not trust psychiatrists.
Mass shootings and calls for gun control have led to thinking about the link between antidepressants and violence.

01:00:01 Reaction to the Question of the Link Between Antidepressants and Violence

The question of the link between antidepressants and mass shootings elicits a negative reaction.
People want this question to be asked and answered.
The professor could not obtain medical records of mass murderers.

01:01:00 Spread of Psychiatric Medications

In the 1990s, psychiatric medications became the norm and were funded by the industry.
Campaigns to combat stigma and raise awareness about mental health are funded by the industry.
These efforts have instilled the idea that emotional pain can be managed and there is no shame in seeking help.

01:02:21 Distortion of the Mental Health Message

Corporations have distorted the important message about mental health by linking it to treatment.
People who question psychiatric medications are perceived as denying the reality of suffering.
The author believes there are other ways to get help besides medications.

01:04:58 Personal Attitude to Mental Health

The author claims that quitting drugs and alcohol improved his mental health.
Reevaluating the approach to health and rejecting medications helped find balance.
Suffering and struggle are part of human nature and should not be a constant problem.

01:10:35 Experience of Going Through Therapy

The author took many medications and underwent therapy almost full-time.
Therapy became the only place where he could open up and receive support.
The author perceived his psychotherapist as a friend and mother, replacing real relationships.

01:13:40 Neglect of Real Relationships

Paying for interactions with people who are not friends.
Loss of interest in friendship due to mental illness.
Patients in psychiatric hospitals feel isolated.

01:14:39 Culture of Patient-Psychiatrists

Patients feel abnormal and not belonging to the real world.
Pride in one's "madness" and a sense of belonging to a "tribe."
Comparison with the pre-industrial era and the importance of family ties.

01:16:34 Modern Problems of Family and Society

Difficulties in creating and maintaining family ties in the modern world.
Influence of toxic culture and consumer mentality.
The importance of social order and economy in maintaining family ties.

01:18:10 Therapy and Medications

Nine years of therapy and discussing failed relationships, family, and work.
Problems with job retention and suicide attempts.
Deterioration of condition and diagnosis of "treatment-resistant bipolar disorder."

01:20:44 A New Chapter in Psychiatry

Pharmaceutical companies are looking for new ways to make money.
Introduction of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treatment-resistant depression.
Risks and consequences of DBS and other treatment methods.

01:24:12 Alternative Treatment Methods

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
People agree to any treatment methods out of desperation.
The need for lifestyle changes and support from loved ones.

01:26:03 Reaction to Criticism and Support

Reaction to criticism in the media and perceiving it as a sign of doing the right thing.
Feeling better despite the absence of complete happiness and peace.
Support from loved ones and the realization of the importance of life changes.

01:28:00 Sensitivity and Stress

The author talks about her sensitivity to stress since childhood.
An example with a dead worm that caused her strong emotions.
Often gets angry and upset over many things.

01:28:56 Psychiatry and Emotional Instability

The author is upset about children being sent to psychiatrists.
Psychiatrists might mistakenly consider her emotionally unstable.
Crying is not a sign of pathology but a sign of life.

01:29:56 Healing and Society's Reaction

An example from the New Testament where Jesus heals a blind man.
Religious authorities react to the healing with fury.
The author believes this resembles society's reaction to her emotional life.

01:30:55 Meaning of Life and Purpose

The purpose of life is not happiness but meaning and purpose.
Finding one's calling helps serve the world.
This message threatens the mental health industry and consumerism.

01:31:41 Self-Help and Narcissism

Answers and knowledge are not on the surface; they need to be found within oneself.
The author prefers to help others to distract from her own problems.
Narcissism in psychotherapy can cause pain.

01:33:36 Alternative Approaches in Therapy

Somatic experiencing helps shift focus from thoughts to sensations.
Traditional therapy teaches to look inward and prioritize one's feelings above all.
This leads to people prioritizing their grievances and fears above all.

01:34:29 Impact of Psychotherapy on Society

People raised in a psychotherapy atmosphere prioritize their feelings above all.
The author is outraged when people yell at her because of their grievances.
There are few places in the culture where one can get free help.

01:36:19 Support and Empathy

The author offers help and support that doesn't require money.
An example with a girl who has had a psychiatric experience and needs support.
Support is based on empathy, not profit.

01:41:55 Intercompass Initiative

The author founded the non-profit organization Intercompass Initiative.
The organization helps people make conscious choices regarding mental health.
It provides information about medications and the DSM so people can make informed decisions.

01:42:53 Mutual Support and Threat to the Mental Health Industry

Mutual support, like in AA, is based on helping people who have been in similar situations.
It is done out of love and a desire to help, not for money.
Understanding the power of mutual support can reduce the need for services and prescriptions.

01:43:48 Danger of Medical Advice and Humanity

Medical advice can be dangerous as it can strip us of our humanity.
It is important not to be surprised by evil but to marvel at acts of love and altruism.
Love and self-sacrifice should astonish us like a miracle.

01:45:40 Psychiatrists and Their Motivation

Psychiatrists often become so due to personal experience and a desire to help.
Many enter the profession out of sincere curiosity and a desire to help.
It is important for psychiatrists to be wise, compassionate, and sensitive.

01:47:32 Problems with Medical Education

Medical education often separates doctors from patients, turning them into objects.
This happens throughout medicine, not just in psychiatry.
Doctors should be emotionally involved in treatment, but this is difficult in the long run.

01:50:07 Love and Healing

It is impossible to heal a person without love for them.
The modern mental health industry turns care into a service, which is incompatible with love.
This leads to the destruction of people and the legitimacy of the industry.

01:52:11 Future of the Mental Health Industry

The mental health industry exists and will not disappear tomorrow.
It is important to help people who feel that this is not their path.
Gradually, the demand for the industry will decrease as people start looking for other ways.

01:54:52 Personal Liberation

A turning point in the author's life came in 2010 when she realized that the industry did not provide answers.
She decided to quit drinking, which helped her deal with bipolar disorder.
The addiction recovery program became an important step on the path to liberation.

01:57:26 Psychopharmacologist and Involuntary Hospitalization

The psychopharmacologist offered Laura a short stay in a psychiatric hospital.
Laura wanted to pack her things first, but the doctor insisted on immediate hospitalization.
Laura was outraged but had to comply after security was called.

01:59:22 Refusal of Treatment and Doubts About Psychiatry

Laura was a compliant patient but now refused treatment.
The psychiatrist could deprive her of her civil rights and send her to the hospital.
Three cases of involuntary treatment made Laura question psychiatry.

02:01:19 Seeking Answers and Robert Whitaker's Book

Laura began to ask questions about her life without medications.
She found Robert Whitaker's book "Anatomy of an Epidemic," which showed that medications could worsen conditions.
Laura realized that her condition might be related to treatment rather than a mental disorder.

02:03:16 Self-Education and Critique of the DSM

Laura studied the DSM, the textbook on which the psychiatric community is built.
She realized that the DSM is subjective and unscientific.
Laura understood that her beliefs about herself and her suffering were a marketing trick.

02:06:03 Medication Dependence and Consequences

Laura did not know that the medications had altered her central nervous system.
Doctors did not warn her about dependence on medications.
Abrupt cessation of medication can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.

02:09:50 Examples from Life and Consequences of Abrupt Cessation

Laura tells about a friend who abruptly stopped taking antidepressants and benzodiazepines.
She was bedridden for about two years due to withdrawal symptoms.
People often realize the consequences of abrupt cessation only after the fact.

02:10:45 Online Communities and Resources

Laura found online communities and non-profit organizations that helped her understand the consequences.
She realized that she had resources that many others do not have.
Laura hopes that more people will understand the importance of gradual dose reduction of medications.

02:11:43 Crisis and Family Support

The first year after the crisis was hell, with each day being a trial.
She lived with her aunt and uncle, who supported her.
The family believed she had a serious brain disease.

02:12:45 Support from AA and Realization

She lived with her aunt and uncle for almost a year, actively participating in AA.
She did not realize that the problems were caused by abruptly quitting five medications.
She attended AA meetings every morning and evening, which helped her.

02:14:20 Progress and Self-Realization

Gradually, she felt better, especially in terms of thinking and emotions.
On the third year, she realized that she had come back to life and felt genuine again.
She understood that she had been under the influence of medications for her entire adult life.

02:15:06 Starting a Blog and Helping Others

She started a blog about her experience and contacted journalist Robert Whitaker.
She received messages from people all over the world, which helped her understand that her suffering was not in vain.
She shared her experience to help others.

02:17:11 The Power of Stories and Mutual Support