EP 69: When Labels Replace Lives: Reclaiming Choice, Curiosity, and Consent with Jenn Schmitz, MS, LPC
Description
We challenge the reflex to medicate and the vacuum around de-prescribing by tracing Jen’s 25-year story with SSRIs, from teenage labels and muted emotions to neonatal withdrawal, metabolic fallout, and a hard-won hyperbolic taper. We share tools for safer tapering, building a support tribe, and reclaiming informed consent and agency.
• prescribers trained to start meds, not de-prescribe
• teen SSRIs without context of eating disorder or stress
• labels and DSM coding shaping identity and care
• pregnancy decisions without full informed consent
• neonatal withdrawal and long-term family impact
• seasonal dose hikes vs nutrition and light therapy
• metabolic dysfunction and dismissal by clinicians
• withdrawal misread as relapse or new disorder
• addiction vs dependence language and why it matters
• hyperbolic tapering and liquid formulations
• micronutrients, amino acids, and restorative movement
• mindfulness to rebuild sensitivity and agency
• research literacy, conflicts of interest, and bias
• how to choose your tribe and educate supporters
• Jen’s consulting, therapy work, and advocacy
Links:
Website: www.jennschmitz.com
TikTok: @jenn.schmitz
Instagram: @therapistjen
Podcast IG: @thegaslittruthpodcast
YouTube: @thegaslittruthpodcast
Bio:
Meet Jenn Schmitz, a woman redefining the field of psychology with a unique blend of expertise and lived experience. Holding a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and having spent over a decade as a traditional therapist, Jenn took a bold step beyond the conventional boundaries of Western medicine. Her personal struggle, marked by the dark process of tapering off psychiatric medication, revealed insights that reshaped her approach to mental health. Today, as a Nationally Certified Neuro-Health Coach specializing in Mental Health and Addiction Nutrition, she empowers others as a Holistic Deprescribing Consultant. By integrating physical wellness, nutrition, and mindfulness, Jenn guides clients safely through the intricate process of tapering off psychiatric medication. Driven by a mission to expose the hidden harm of psychiatric treatments and ignite curiosity, she hosts the internationally acclaimed The Gaslit Truth Podcast.
For more resources, visit www.theupsideofbipolar.com
If you're ready to dive deeper, grab my book, The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder
If you're ready to heal your symptoms, join my monthly membership, The Upsiders' Tribe, to transform chaos into hope.
FREE Mood Cycle Survival Guide: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/free/
The Upside of Bipolar: 7 Steps to Heal Your Disorder: @upsideofbipolar | Linktree
website: https://theupsideofbipolar.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theupsideofbipolar/