Akathisia Stories

At 19 years old, shortly after moving out of his family home, Cael began experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks. Seeking help, he turned to his longtime family doctor, who diagnosed him with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and prescribed Lexapro. Cael was not informed of the potential risks or side effects. While the medication initially brought relief, it soon led to emotional numbness,...

Brandon Lawes is an independent natural health researcher, educator, and entrepreneur whose life was permanently changed after a devastating physical injury and severe medication-induced neurological complications. At 25 years old, Brandon developed Akathisia and Tardive Dyskinesia following the use of Ativan (lorazepam), which he says was prescribed in an emergency room without adequate warning o...

Stacey is a 48 year old housewife and artist residing in Southern California. She has had akathisia not just from pharmaceuticals, but also due to hormonal issues and what she believes was PANDAS in childhood. As a result, she has had bouts of akathisia since youth and has had it chronically since a protracted withdrawal from klonopin plus reinstatement that occurred approximately ten years ago. A...

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...

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...

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 hist...

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. W...

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...