Whether you became dependent on SSRIs, antipsychotics, or multiple pharmaceutical products, you may have realized the limits of their effectiveness. But you can’t simply stop taking them. And never without informed and sympathetic guidance.
Your unique divine presence on this planet deserves the best in therapy and care. Listen to Lyle’s video and read further on to find out some of the most effective methods that can help you achieve your most personal and valuable mental health goals.
Prepare to Celebrate Your Medication Independence Day With ATMC
Over the last nearly 2 decades, ATMC has helped thousands of its clients to safely reduce or entirely get off medications safely, as demonstrated in our independently published statistical outcome report. Each July we celebrate Independence Day in America. But at ATMC, every day is someone’s Medication Independence Day.
15 Years Experience by Professionals Who Understand Your Journey.
In America, Independence Day in July is a joyful celebration of declaring independence and freedom from the chains of the past — but what about declaring independence from medication and medication dependency, is it really possible?
Yes. It’s possible because we have the tools that work. We can help you declare your own medication independence day, and do it safely and comfortably in a residential, social setting.
Tools we use at ATMC for successful medication independence include:
Un-poisoning the body, neurotoxin removal
Orthomolecular nutrition for neurotransmitter rehabilitation
Slow and safe tapering methods
Psychological therapies
Physical comfort therapy
A serene inpatient setting
Access to an outdoor paradise
Peer support groups
Please remember, never abruptly discontinue your medication because doing that will just not end well. Always seek informed professionals who are not only competent, but also sympathetic to your own medication independence goals.
Reclaiming Autonomy in Mental Health
When a mental health crisis arises, we may need to turn to others for help. This can be life-saving, allowing the care and sometimes protection in such an emergency. But once the crisis has passed, the next phase in recovery should not be neglected. And that can include learning the skills and recouping the ability to exercise self-care as much as possible.
A very common experience is that medication is resorted to as a first-line treatment. This is very often due to time constraints, and the need for something like medication to bring immediate relief. But the initial relief of symptoms can quickly fade — especially after regular or long-term use. This is called drug tolerance. That can lead to upping the dose, or adding multiple medications to the mix, to “boost” waning effects. Also, drug side effects may develop which can further confuse the situation.
These are some of the liabilities of medication dependence that can begin to entrap a person into continuing to take medication just to avoid the withdrawal manifestations. ATMC provides the skills, guidance, and care that can help you reclaim your natural mental health, and vanquish your medication dependence safely. Yes you can reclaim your autonomy but please seek advice and guidance to help you achieve it.
The Over-Prescription Crisis
According to a large independent study published in the 2019 Clinical Medical Research Journal, antidepressants are among the most overprescribed medications in America.2
We have an over-prescription crisis in America and elsewhere that has been worsening over the past many decades. Somehow, general practitioners, who have no mental health training, and little to no understanding of the thousands of drugs on the market, have now become the largest prescribers of medication for mental health reasons. And their education on the subject comes mainly from drug manufacturer sponsored conventions, or pamphlets dropped off in their offices by drug sales reps. These methods of “training” became necessary because the drugs they are prescribing were not in existence during their medical schooling.3
And thanks to the many CDC, DSM, drug-manufacturer’s and insurance-related documents and publications, psychiatrists have developed a sort of “tunnel-vision” approach to all mental health issues. Assisted in no small part by the relationship between drug makers and insurance companies, drug therapy has become overwhelmingly the first-line approach to helping any mental health issue whether it be mild, moderate, or extreme in nature.
The overprescribing of medications, including polypharmacy treatments has now reached epidemic proportions. This trend has caused great concern due to the high risks associated with psychiatric medications in common use today.
How to Plan Your Own Declaration of Independence from Psychiatric Medications
At ATMC, there are a number of very key pillars that can be used to help a person declare independence from drugs whether psychiatric drugs or street drugs. The journey to becoming drug-free is uniquely personal and intentional. When the correct methods are used, getting free can elevate the person back to their innate state of true health and personal empowerment. The methods used in recovery at ATMC are proven, safe, and reliable.
The first step to successfully achieving medication independence is un-poisoning the body. Then the remaining therapies are bolstered and can actually work. Neurotoxin removal must be done first because toxins block nutritional intake, and impair neurological function. So no matter how many supplements or organic foods you consume, or how many 12-step or personal counseling meetings you attend, (as helpful as these can be), their therapeutic value is blocked by toxins. So these must be removed first, to open the healing pathways.7-9
Methods to achieve medication independence include:
Physical exercise and therapies for relaxation, managing stress, finding peace 5,10,11
BIPOC Mental Health — Unique Barriers Need Unique Solutions
Along with Declaration of Independence day, July is also the month America celebrates “BIPOC Month,” celebrating Black, Indigenous, and People of Color populations. And there is much to celebrate.
But unfortunately, the BIPOC population has seen an inordinate lack of access, a level of ignored systemic bias, and even lingering cultural stigma which we find intolerable.
However diverse our global population, all human beings can suffer equally when it comes to mental health issues. At ATMC we understand and appreciate the unique barriers that can present in all populations including the BIPOC population.
Our approach is a very pragmatic one. ATMC uses the tools that can be applied to the inner workings of the body, central nervous system, hormones, and brain function. Ours is a biophysical approach. Part of that is taking genetic and biophysical factors into account because these can in fact play a huge role in accelerating and easing the recovery process. Genetic polymorphisms that can affect drug metabolism is one area that we do not overlook.
We are indebted to many practices both modern and ancient including genetic testing, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, sauna cleanse as found in Nordic and Indigenous cultures, connecting with nature, neurotoxin removal, precise lab testing, the power of proper nutrition and supplementation, and many others which you can review on our services overview pages.4,11
We are living in a toxic world to possibly the greatest levels ever experienced on planet earth. The importance of de-poisoning the body cannot be overstated.6-9 The body must be addressed from the inside out for it to be the divine gift that it truly can be. That is why holistic detox, a wide variety of physical and psychological support, support for a clean and functioning gut microbiome, all play such a huge part of recovery at ATMC. Addressing these factors can give you the keys to claiming independence from medication, and freedom from symptoms.
How ATMC Helps You Reclaim Your Life
At ATMC, we handle the biophysical factors first, which then enables psychological support to actually be effective. Whether your goal is total independence from medication without symptom relapse, or a reduction to the lowest level possible while retaining the quality of life you can enjoy, the tools that you need are here. We are not “anti-medication” but we are advocates for the use of drug-free methods and alternatives to medications that can provide the benefits that medication alone may not have attained in your life.
You Can Start Your Medication Independence Journey Today
Coming to ATMC for inpatient treatment may be easier than you imagined, since we are insurance friendly, can help with arranging transport, and our complement of over 40 staff are here to assist you. You are invited to call us directly or email us for more information on enrollment.
However, we understand that not everyone can take advantage of an inpatient program due to time, work or other constraints. We would point you to other holistic-based resources that may be more immediately accessible such as acam.org and IMMH.org where you can find like-minded professionals, nutritional psychiatrists, naturopaths, and more holistic-based practitioners who are ready to help and guide you in your recovery journey toward medication independence.
Prepare to Declare Your Medication Independence Day
Medication may have helped overcome an initial crisis, but perhaps now what is needed more is to begin to prepare your own medication independence. We strongly caution against abruptly stopping or experimenting with these potent medications on your own. Always seek guidance from someone you trust, and who you feels truly understands your situation and is sympathetic and nonjudgmental towards helping you.
Not only in July, but each and every day at ATMC is someone’s “medication independence day.” And each day we are privileged to witness the life-changing results of our residents, who come to us from all over the world for empowerment, hope, and recovery success.
With the individualized supplement protocol; sauna; amazing therapy; organic, nutrient-dense food; & loving environment, my tapering process went smoothly. I am now fully off all my meds. My brain has come back, I see more, feel more, sleep better. I feel more balanced & more in touch with who I am & what I need to do. ~T. (graduate)
3. Kallivayalil RA. Are we over-dependent on pharmacotherapy? Indian J Psychiatry. 2008[cited 2025 July 3] Jan;50(1):7-9. doi: 10.4103/0019-5545.39750. PMID: 19771299; PMCID: PMC2745859. [cited 2025 July 3]
This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.
Dr. Samuel Lee
Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches. He graduated with an MD at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and did a residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He has also been an inpatient adult psychiatrist at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital and the primary attending geriatric psychiatrist at the Auerbach Inpatient Psychiatric Jewish Home Hospital. In addition, he served as the general adult outpatient psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente. He is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology and has a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Religion from Pacific Union College. His specialty is in natural healing techniques that promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Diane is an avid supporter and researcher of natural mental health strategies. Diane received her medical writing and science communication certification through Stanford University and has published over 3 million words on the topics of holistic health, addiction, recovery, and alternative medicine. She has proudly worked with the Alternative to Meds Center since its inception and is grateful for the opportunity to help the founding members develop this world-class center that has helped so many thousands regain natural mental health.
Medical Disclaimer: Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.
Our Success Stories
Medication Withdrawal Success Stories
Can you imagine being free from medications, addictive drugs, and alcohol? This is our goal and we are proving it is possible every day!
However diverse our global population, all human beings can suffer equally when it comes to mental health issues. At ATMC we understand and appreciate the unique barriers that can present in all populations including the BIPOC population.
