Client stories
Real people. Real recovery.
Read first-hand stories from Alternative to Meds Center alumni who came off antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, opioids, and more. Many arrived after years on medication, or after trying to stop on their own.
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“I was reluctant to admit that I couldn’t titrate off these four pharma meds on my own. My kids had to talk me into coming here.”
MG, former clientRead MG’s story →
“I was crippled by depression and consuming a near-lethal cocktail of prescription meds. I had no hope or purpose.”
“I came here as a very scared, undernourished, exhausted, mentally wounded person. I came here with a plan.”
“When I first arrived, I was struggling in multiple areas. Physically, I had severe headaches, body weakness, I wasn’t eating, and a rapid heart rate/chest tightness.”
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“All in all, I am quite pleased by the investment of time, energy, and money I made there at Alternative to Meds Center.”
“I’m hopeful and excited about my future. Back when I started the program I said to somebody that I just wanted to feel strong again, and I do.”
“Within a week or two of being on the diet and supplement plan I was already feeling much better … In short, the program at ATMC works if you work it.”
“I take my experience at ATMC with me in so many ways. Not only the healthy lifestyle I practiced there, but the spiritual well-being that comes with it.”
“The loving support I received there helped me transform and reclaim the best of myself … I will always feel indebted to ATMC and feel part of the extended ATMC family.”
“I injured a disc in my back approximately one year ago and due to poor medical treatment (dry needling) the injury got worse and spiraled into severe pain.”
“After 35 years of stressful business life, I suffered a major mental and emotional breakdown.”
“As I soon found out, their methods were anything from the standard lock-up style, spin dry rehabilitation center … I was grateful for the opportunity to better myself and hopefully the people around me.”
“I stand here today happy, confident, and drug-free. I am so grateful every day that my family and I found ATMC.”
“My detox process was really comforting since I was surrounded in a home-like environment. I’m Deidre from Kenner, LA and I’m an addict.”
“I leave ATMC a changed man; a real man, no longer relying on anger, drugs, alcoholism, and other cheap ways to cope with my true emotions.”
“I found Alternative to Meds Center on the internet when I looked up “Holistic Health Centers for Bipolar Disorder” … This experience has been amazing and transformative.”
“At Alternative to Meds Center I was introduced to the phrase “knowledge is power” which is something I truly believe in, especially after my journey of mental health recovery.”
“When I experienced symptoms of withdrawal, staff members were always there for me.”
“Making the decision to come to Alternative To Meds Center is the best decision I have ever made.”
“Going through the program at ATMC has genuinely changed my life! I will be forever grateful.”
“Prior to becoming a resident at ATMC, I had been on the highest recommended dose of Abilify , as well as the mood stabilizer lithium , and the highest recommended dosage of Adderall.”
“28 Days ago I awoke suddenly on an airplane not knowing why I was on an airplane, where I was going or who I was.”
“I believe coming to ATMC was a life-changing/turning point experience. When I first came to ATMC I was hopeful, but I didn’t really know what to expect.”
“Today I am home and completely off of cymbalta with minimal effects .. thanks to one month at Alternative to Meds Center, I’m back to being me.”
“When I first arrived at ATMC, I was very skeptical that this program would work for me. I had tried many different treatments with negative results and it was hard to imagine myself getting better.”
“I’ve had anxiety for as long as I can remember. I can trace it back to 4th grade, when my family moved and I had to switch schools.”
“After having been in this program for almost two months I am quite sure it has set me on a path of independence.”
“I lived a large life with unlimited potential and high expectations from everyone around me. Shortly after I turned 17, something in me shifted for the worse.”
“I was lost in my life’s journey, looking for a brightness all over during my last 4 years. I’d become a zombie, I’d become the shadow of myself, I’d become my own sadness and pain and fears.”
“I experienced a drug induced psychosis (spiritual emergency) after doing DMT recreationally. I started to hear spirits uncontrollably and have delusions.”
“What led me to come to ATMC was that I’d recently had a manic episode. About two months prior to coming to ATMC I began my manic episode and was then put into a mental hospital, where they then put me on Abilify.”
“Before I came to ATMC I was typically missing 3 nights of sleep in a row and then I would sleep about 3 hours on the 4th day, due to taking an Ambien.”
“Normally I would start this paragraph off with a list of things I FELT was wrong with me before I sought treatment, but the truth is I felt NOTHING!”
“I have struggled for well over decade to balance the internal chaos that managed to manifest itself in every facet of my life.”
“For over a year, prior to coming to ATMC, I was on the psych med roller coaster – never improving, only getting worse.”
“Before coming to Alternative to Meds Center I was in the mental hospital for a manic episode. I’ve been struggling with my bipolar diagnosis for 6 years and have been on and off medication ever since 2012.”
“I am thankful to Alternative To Meds Center for supporting me throughout my detox, and helping me achieve my goals successfully.”
“I am eternally grateful for this amazing place. Each and every member of the staff has a special gift that spoke to my heart.”
“I’m more in in touch with who I REALLY am, and I’ve learned that I am good enough, I am loved, and I will survive.”
“The staff was so kind to me, they were a huge help in getting through my detox, withdrawals, and anxiety.”
“It is so wonderful to feel like the way I did when I was a young kid again. Never have I felt as great as I do right now, ever in my whole life before this.”
“I then came to Alternative to Meds Center and started to taper off my medication.”
“It also made me feel less alone because fellow residents were going through similar issues. Before coming to Alternative to Meds Center I had been on medications for over 10 years for depression and anxiety.”
“I finally have my life back and I will be forever thankful to the wonderful people of Alternative to Meds Center for helping to give it back to me.”
“I have learned more than I could ever have imagined in eight weeks. I’m thankful for all the staff; they made the taper and detox process run smoothly.”
“I have learned a lot about myself and I’ve gained valuable tools to manage anxiety .. I will take with me the tools I need to become a self-loving and healthy wife, mother, family member, and friend.”
“While at ATMC I learned so much about myself … I’ve figured out so much about myself and let go of so much torment.”
“Before coming to Alternative to Meds Center, I was lost beyond the brink of depression, anxiety and pure misery.”
“Thankfully, the Clinical Team at Alternative to Meds Center talked me into staying and giving the program a chance … It took about 4 weeks and things started to change dramatically!”
“Before I came to ATMC, alcohol was a part of everything I did. For about 18 months I drank all day every day.”
“My time at Alternative to Meds Center has helped me feel good about going home and starting life again.”
“Sticking to the Alternative to Meds Center diet and supplement regimen gave me the ability to transition off of most of my medications.”
“If I was helped here, anyone and everyone can be. Before I arrived at ATMC I was clean and sober for ten years with the exception of Xanax and Suboxone due to a major surgery following being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease.”
“I did a full Suboxone taper and it made it easier by more than half. It was so much easier than cold turkey.”
“One month after getting here I am now completely off all my medications.”
“Thirteen years after an array of medication cocktails, I finally am free. Here I am and I can barely believe it.”
“Fortunately for me, my family convinced me to choose rehab … I am now soon approaching my 3-year clean and sober date as well as 3 YEARS COMPLETELY MED-FREE.”
“This program has been a bright light inside of my soul and now I have begun to grow again. This program made my life become fresh.”
“Going through this program was a joy and I loved it. I actually could feel myself becoming cleaner, mentally and physically.”
“Most importantly, I have learned that I am “perfectly imperfect,” and that I can be appreciated for exactly who I am…and at any moment of my day.”
“My appetite has greatly improved for healthier and a bigger variety of food that I really enjoy … I feel more relaxed and calmer … My interaction with other people feels more comfortable and less constrained.”
“I needed help … ATMC really showed me how to live a better and healthier life and for that I am truly grateful!”
“This program has helped to clean and clear my mind … Thank you for all of your help in my recovery.”
“I want to thank you and your staff so much for all you’ve done for my son Chris. I don’t have the words to say or express how awesome you all are.”
“I’m able to go back to sleep if I wake up early. Finally am getting relief from absolutely constant anxiety.”
“I am sleeping well at night and waking up smoothly in the morning. At age 18 I experienced my first psychotic break and was prescribed Clozaril , an antipsychotic, after being hospitalized.”
“I have so much appreciation for all of the staff and the extraordinary support they provide.”
“Simply put, I came in dying and in weeks I turned around and was on the path of the living again … This program leeched toxins and strengthened the underlying health of the body so that it could naturally heal itself.”
“I wouldn’t be where I am at without you.”
“My name is Matt, I’m 25 and was diagnosed seven years ago with bipolar disorder, and it was horrible.”
“To anyone who is seeking alternative natural health to live healthily, I would recommend that they put this establishment at number one on their list.”
“To anyone who is on the fence about doing this program, I can assure you that this program is a lifesaver.”
“What I did find was an extremely caring staff that in the end taught me many things. Most importantly, self-care and love.”
“I loved and enjoyed the program, and everything that it has done for me, it has given my life a second chance.”
“I watched those medications change her very much for the worse. I’ve given over 20 years of my life to professionally helping individuals who are disabled become capable of being employed and securing employment.”
“Alternative to Meds Center is the only place in the world that I know of that can take you off of Geodon without never-ending, excruciating symptoms.”
“I know that you are able to see who my daughter is emerging into.”
“I would suggest ATMC to any person with any sort of addiction, as I have gone to several different rehabs and now I know there is no place that is like ATMC.”
“They gave me back my life faster than I ever could have dreamed possible. To Alternative to Meds Center, I will be forever grateful.”
“We believe the lead toxicity came from water pipes that were lead inside of our Grandparents home where we lived in Vermont.”
“I was heavily addicted to pain-killing drugs when I began this program. I came here to taper off the drugs and then just go home.”
“I have now been in this program for nearly a month. When first starting the program I started on a medication for my blood disorder.”
“With the help of Alternative to Meds Center, I am now drug-free and feel great! I am eternally grateful for that.”
“Without ATMC, I wouldn’t have had the knowledge or resilience to achieve this. Being an alcoholic and an addict who has braved the treatment center world twice before, you could imagine my skepticism when I arrived at ATMC.”
“I am so excited to be really living a med-free life and able to fulfill my potential … Thank you to all the staff and residents at ATMC.”
“Thank you to all the wonderful staff and my fellow companions I have made throughout this journey.”
“I learned at Alternative to Meds Center ways to cope with cravings and the uncomfortable feelings and thoughts that come with being sober.”
“I believe that neurotoxin removal is the most successful way of getting rid of those toxins and cravings, and I’m so grateful for having come to ATMC.”
“Thanks to Alternative to Meds Center and their staff that truly cares, I never have felt better!”
“I am a mother of 3 and a Family Nurse Practitioner. Approximately 8 years ago, I was prescribed Cymbalta 60 mg daily, an SNRI, for PMDD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and dysthymia.”
“The staff at ATMC helps me daily … Since the staff has overcome issues that are similar they are able to relate with me and they are always available to give help one on one.”
“Truly I hope that others can gain all of this knowledge too and find Alternative to Meds Center for help to improve their lives.”
“She has had less and less anxiety over the last 2 or 3 months once returning home from Alternative to Meds Center.”
“With all the help I’ve tried in the past no place comes close to what I have experienced here at ATMC.”
“I investigated ATMC and discovered it was very different in a good way … I am now mentally healthy without the drugs, and my pain is very mild.”
“I’ve been drug-free for over a month now and feel clear, centred and ready to go home armoured with the knowledge of how to lead a healthy drug free life.”
“When my taper was completed, my results were astronomical. I didn’t feel sedated or like a zombie for the first time in my life.”
“I feel amazing, so much better than I did before doing the program. I came into the program on the first day with a lot of toxins in my body.”
“Yes I must admit that words cannot express completely what Olivia’s recovery means to me. We are so grateful for our Olivia.”
“The staff were rather supportive and caring, which I appreciated deeply. What this place had offered was more than I could possibly expect.”
“The results that have come from my detoxification are thrilling! The results showed immediate signs that this program really does work.”
“They addressed all of my issues which included my physical addiction and withdrawal, social welfare, psychological health and environmental adaptation when treatment was over.”
“I know I have done the right thing, my life has been changed. I am finding myself again.”
“Today is my last weekday here, I’m leaving Sunday, and I want to impart what I’ve learned here, and perhaps more importantly how I’ve grown.”
“I was taking three different medications when I began the program; Klonopin , Valium , and Zyprexa.”
“The nutritional part of this program was a huge role in making me feel comfortable while I was doing my opiate medication detox.”
“Before I came to Alternative to Meds Center, I was on Xanax and Zoloft off and on for 25 years.”
“after starting the endorphin pack I did not need my Suboxone. I just stayed busy and kept my mind busy.”
“I went through an awesome program, and it was the most amazing experience of my life so far.”
“Repeatedly I have tried to get off of them and then ended up back on them. Anti-anxiety medication withdrawal has even sent me on trips to the hospital.”
“Now, I truly am happy and I have a better focus on the direction I am going in and also on what is happening right now.”
“Already had I experienced the opiate medication withdrawal and I had not taken Oxycontin for nearly 8 days when first arriving at ATMC, but my body felt low on energy and strength and I was feeling drained.”
“Basically, I must thank everyone for helping me get back into tiptop shape and getting that huge burden off of my back.”
“I feel much better and I am excited to live my life medication-free.”
“And now as I am leaving Alternative to Meds Center, I am able to be off all prescription medications.”
“This place taught me to love myself … Thanks to Alternative to Meds Center I am a much better person not only with my habits but my lifestyle choices.”
“I have been able to get benzodiazepines and opiates out of my body with minimal discomfort in an environment that is safe.”
“The program at ATMC not just saved my entire life, but it allowed me also to be appreciative of life for once in many years.”
“Today, I am completely drug and alcohol-free … my mental and physical health is better than it has ever been in my life … I feel very good about the future … It is remarkable how fast my life has been rebuilt.”
“If someone is trying to decide whether they should get off of drugs or medications or not, I would highly encourage them to do so under Alternative to Meds Center’s direction.”
“I have cut my dosage of Ativan and Diazepam in half since I began the program here. I have solved or at least started to solve some of my life situations problems here, even as I am in the withdrawal process.”
“With the mineral and vitamin regiments specifically created for processing of residual toxins, my mental fog was lifted.”
“I can honestly say that I owe my life to this healing, holistic place and its most dedicated staff.”
“It was an overall great experience which has helped me in feeling more aware of what I surround myself with and more comfortable with confronting situations and people and I am so grateful for that.”
“I no longer experience those up and down mood swings that I used to experience. I feel a lot better in general and I feel excited to live life free of medications.”
“Overall, I have a positive outlook on life again and my general well-being has greatly improved.”
“I am writing this 3 months clean and sober, 2 months medication-free and ecstatic to finally blossom into a happy, healthy young woman.”
“I believe that this experience is the biggest and most painful successes that I’ve ever gone through in my life.”
“The detox definitely helped me a lot with my sleeping patterns and has helped me get back to regular sleep.”
“I am so very grateful… The best thing I could ever have done for my life is this program.”
“In 4 months of treatment, you ended 1 year of suffering (nausea, panic disorder and depression) and returned to our family the woman we love so much.”
“… the food is fantastic; I have absolutely no complaints about my experience! This was, first and foremost, one of the best educational experiences I could have ever had!”
“Approximately eleven days after beginning the program, I started to notice a substantial change in my mood along with a very clear mind.”
“I have my wife and mother of my children back.”
“I first came to the Alternative to Meds Center taking Lamictal, Lorazepam , Geodon, Ambien CR , Estradiol, Levoxyl, etc.”
“I probably could go on and on forever talking about how life-changing the program has really been for me, as it really has.”
“I look and feel significantly better and I would definitely recommend this to anyone. The chelation program, for me, has offered a new life outlook.”
“To get off the medication, the following are the things I did that helped me to succeed so that in 3 weeks I am leaving the Alternative to Meds Center.”
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Stories are shared by former clients and lightly excerpted. Individual results vary. Never stop or change a medication without medical supervision.