Akathisia Stories

Katy Duffy and her husband, Ben, from Oregon share their experience with akathisia—a medication-induced disorder that was missed, misdiagnosed, and mistreated. They speak openly in the hope that others can recognize the signs sooner and avoid the suffering Katy endured. Akathisia affects the entire family, not just the person experiencing it. Katy and her husband describe that impact with honesty and clarity. Katy also partnered with MISSD to bring an akathisia awareness billboard to her Or...

In Part 1, you met Katie Brennan — a Teacher of the Year, mother of six, and respected educator whose life changed after she developed medication-induced akathisia. With no prior history of mental illness, her symptoms were misdiagnosed as DSM-labeled disorders, leading to civil commitments that damaged her career, reputation, and her family. In Part 2, we turn to what comes next. Although medical experts have concluded that her civil commitments were rooted in misdiagnosed and mistreated aka...

Katie Brennan is a former finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year, with a Masters Degree in Education and 48 additional upper division graduate credits in Education and English. During her 20 year teaching career, Katie taught high school English, including English for college credit. Katie is a woman of strong faith and the mother of six children and nine grandchildren. At age 48, with no history of mental illness, Katie was prescribed Ambien and Prozac during a stressful job transition a...

Derek Blumke is a writer, consultant, and veteran advocate dedicated to improving mental health outcomes and reducing avoidable harm. He served more than a decade in the U.S. Armed Forces and Michigan Air National Guard, and co-founded Student Veterans of America, Derek’s work now includes helping veterans who were harmed by the treatments meant to heal them, a journey he personally understands. Wendy Dolin is a licensed family therapist and the founder of MISSD. Widely recognized for her pu...

Kristina Kaiser is a strategic communications consultant and educator with extensive experience in public relations, advocacy, and marketing across education, nonprofit, and public health sectors. She has directed large-scale awareness campaigns and academic programming that have strengthened organizational visibility and improved patient safety. Kristina has also developed accredited courses and educational resources, as well as fundraising campaigns and brand partnerships that expand impact...