Crossing Zero: The Art & Science of Deprescribing with Anders Sorensen
“How to Safely Get Off Psychiatric Medication | Anders Sørensen on Myths, SERT Occupancy & Hyperbolic Tapering”
If you’ve been told your brain chemistry is permanently broken, coming off psychiatric medication can feel terrifying—or even impossible. But what if much of what you’ve been told about these drugs is based on an outdated chemical imbalance theory?
In this episode, psychologist Anders Sørensen, PhD—author of Crossing Zero: The Art and Science of Coming Off and Staying Off Psychiatric Drugs—breaks down the myths surrounding antidepressants, antipsychotics, and other psychiatric medications. We dive deep into:
SERT occupancy and how antidepressants actually affect brain chemistry
Why even “baby doses” can have powerful effects
Why standard tapers often fail and cause withdrawal misdiagnosed as relapse
The hyperbolic tapering method—a science-based way to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms
How therapists can play a key role in medication tapering (even if it’s outside the traditional scope)
The truth about psychiatric drugs as tools for emotion regulation, not cures for “broken” brains
This conversation will challenge what you thought you knew about mental health treatment, and give you hope—and a plan—for moving forward.
📖 Get Anders’ book: Crossing Zero – Practical tapering guidance + deep psychological insights
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When you’ve been told your brain chemistry is permanently broken, the idea of coming off psychiatric medication can feel terrifying—or even impossible. But what if everything you’ve been told about these drugs is based on an outdated model?
Psychologist Anders Sorensen joins us to shatter the myths surrounding psychiatric medication and share evidence-based approaches to safely tapering off these drugs. With his PhD in psychiatry and years of clinical experience, Anders brings a unique perspective that bridges psychological understanding with pharmacological expertise.
At the heart of our conversation is SERT occupancy—the mechanism by which antidepressants affect brain chemistry. Anders explains why even “baby doses” can have powerful effects and why standard tapering approaches often fail. His hyperbolic tapering method follows the actual biological curve of how medications work, preventing the withdrawal symptoms that are often misinterpreted as relapse.
We challenge the chemical imbalance theory and explore how psychiatric drugs function not as disease treatments but as strategies for emotion regulation. This fundamental reframing opens up possibilities for therapists to play a crucial role in helping clients navigate the tapering process—something traditionally considered outside their scope of practice.
Anders’ new book, “Crossing Zero: The Art and Science of Coming Off and Staying Off Psychiatric Drugs,” offers both practical guidance and psychological insights for anyone considering discontinuation. The book deliberately places tapering instructions after extensive context about our relationship with emotions and challenging dominant narratives around mental health.
Ready to reconsider what you’ve been told about psychiatric medication? This episode might just change your perspective on healing and what’s truly possible for your mental health journey.
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