Your Simple Health

A timely article from The New York Times today on deprescribing psychiatric medications.

It reflects a conversation that many patients have been having for years, and that clinicians are only starting to more openly engage with. While some psychiatrists mentioned in the article are bringing attention to this, in practice, many patients are still not well supported when it comes to reducing or stopping these medications.

Reading this also made me reflect on my recent experience at the International Conference on Deprescribing.

There were a few sessions and exhibitors discussing this issue, but overall, the focus was much more on polypharmacy in older adults and those with multiple chronic conditions.

And yet, from both patient experiences and established resources like the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines and the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, we know that withdrawal symptoms from psychotropic medications (like antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, sleeping pills) can be real and, at times, quite significant.

Tapering often needs to be slow, thoughtful, and highly individualized. And when patients are supported through this process, outcomes can be very different.

At the same time, it’s important to recognize that for some individuals, these medications can be helpful and remain an important part of care.

What this highlights for me is the need for more awareness, better education, and stronger support for both patients and clinicians navigating this process.

This is not a fringe issue. It is part of everyday care, and it deserves the same attention as any other area of deprescribing.

Top Psychiatrists Call for a Greater Focus on Ceasing Medication With Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. aiming to rein in the use of psychiatric drugs, psychiatrists are preemptively addressing how and when patients should quit taking them.

Over the past year, I’ve been quietly studying something I deeply believe in.

I’m excited to share that I am now a Certified Health & Well-being Coach. 🙌

This training focused on the pillars of lifestyle medicine and the science of health behaviour change. These are the everyday habits that have the greatest impact on how long we live and how we feel day to day.

Because the truth is simple:
🙅‍♀️ The foundation of long-term health isn’t found in a pill or a quick fix.
🌱 It’s found in the habits that support us every day.

I’ve already been integrating many of these tools into my work with patients receiving medication optimization and deprescribing support, and I’ve seen how powerful it can be when people are supported not only in reducing medications safely, but also in building habits that help them feel better and stay well.

This certification feels like a natural extension of the work I’ve been doing for years through Your Simple Health.

I’m excited to continue integrating these principles into my work and to share more about this approach in the months ahead.

It was a pleasure to join Robbie Spier Miller on this podcast to talk about chronic pain. We also discuss and (of course!), and my work here at Your Simple Health.
If you listen, I would love to hear what you think!

Are your medications still helping or just familiar?

So many people are living with pain, side effects, or fog… not realizing there may be a better way.

🎙️ On this week’s episode of The Habit of Possibility, pharmacist and deprescribing expert D'Angelo joins Robbie Spier Miller to share what most people don’t know about long-term medication use and how combining science with mindset and hypnosis is helping people reclaim clarity, energy, and confidence in their health journey.

Whether you’re managing chronic pain, supporting aging parents, or wondering if you still need that prescription… this episode will open your eyes.

The ideas shared in this podcast are not medical advice. Please be sure to check with your doctor about any medical decisions.

- Watch now: https://youtu.be/98q-pWBUjXE
- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3lsVlXF0efTfxbzg3b5yMi?si=c06e5f3682e9422f
- Listen on Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/new-options-for-chronic-pain-a-whole-person/id1797219183?i=1000735284967

🌐 Learn more: https://www.hypnosistrainingcanada.com/hypnosis-for-pain