Akathisia Stories

Lisa Acquaviva is a Survivor, Educator, Advocate, Speaker, and Lived Experience Consultant who shares her journey navigating extraordinary medical complexity, recovery, and rebuilding. As a Medication Safety Advocate, she brings the patient perspective to conversations about healthcare, medication awareness, informed decision-making, and patient advocacy.While pursuing her nursing degree, she was unexpectedly diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer, beginning a life-changing medical journey involving chemotherapy, numerous surgeries, radiation, palliative care, hospice, and extensive medication exposure.During the most challenging periods of her illness, she faced a complex medical journey that later led her to seek answers and a deeper understanding of her experience. As she gradually recovered, she regained her agency and began connecting the dots through reflection, reviewing her medical history, and learning from others in online patient communities who shared their experiences with medications and the adverse effects they encountered. For more than five years, she used her voice and lived experience across social media, online patient forums, and throughout her ongoing healthcare journey. She is connected with others facing similar challenges, shared what she has learned, and advocated for herself through conversations with her healthcare providers. Through these experiences, she continues to offer hope, encouragement, coping strategies, and support to others navigating complex medication-related challenges, while bringing greater awareness of akathisia and the importance of recognizing potential medication related adverse effects among vulnerable healthcare communities, including veterans, older adults, individuals living with chronic illnesses, and those with complex medical histories.Her mission is to use her voice and lived experience to improve patient understanding of medication safety, adverse effects, and complex medication journeys; encourage meaningful conversations and informed decision-making; and empower individuals to navigate their healthcare with greater confidence and safety.

What happens when a prescribed medication changes your life overnight?In this powerful episode of Akathisia Stories, host Ivan Kaiser sits down with journalist, documentary filmmaker, author, and advocate Katinka Blackford Newman to discuss her extraordinary journey from award-winning BBC filmmaker to international campaigner for medication safety.After being prescribed an antidepressant in 2012 to help with temporary insomnia following a stressful life event, Katinka experienced a devastating adverse drug reaction that led to akathisia, psychosis, hospitalization, and more than a year of life-altering harm. Once she recovered, she dedicated her career to investigating the risks associated with antidepressants, documenting the experiences of others, and raising awareness to help prevent similar tragedies.In this conversation, Katinka shares:Her personal experience with antidepressant-induced akathisia and psychiatric drug injuryHow her recovery inspired her book The Pill That Steals Lives and subsequent documentaryThe creation of AntidepressantRisks.org and its mission to support those harmed by psychiatric medicationsThe importance of recognizing akathisia and improving education among healthcare professionalsDetails about Prescribed Harm Awareness Day and the global Stolen Lives Picnics honoring those affected by medication-related harmThis episode is an honest and thought-provoking discussion about patient safety, informed consent, lived experience, and the urgent need for greater awareness of akathisia.

This month marks a deeply significant milestone. July is the 16th anniversary of the death of Stewart Dolin, a tragedy later understood to have been caused by akathisia—a severe, drug-induced condition that remains widely under-recognized. Out of that loss, Wendy Dolin founded MISSD, the Medication-Induced Suicide Prevention and Education Foundation in Memory of Stewart Dolin. What began as one family’s search for answers has grown into a national and increasingly global effort to raise awareness about akathisia and medication-induced harm.Today, MISSD marks its 15th anniversary. Over those years, the organization has worked to educate prescribers, patients, and caregivers about the risks associated with certain medications—particularly the often-overlooked risk of akathisia. What many families initially believe to be a rare and inexplicable tragedy can, upon closer examination, reveal patterns of iatrogenic harm, gaps in disclosure, and systemic failures in how risks are communicated.In this conversation, we’ll explore that journey—from shock and disbelief to advocacy and education—and discuss how MISSD continues to expand its reach through public engagement, training, and resources.I’m joined today by Wendy Dolin, founder of MISSD, and Jenna Sachman, Director of MISSD.

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, social withdrawal, depression, and persistent suicidal thoughts—symptoms he had never experienced before.Over the next several years, Cael was prescribed multiple psychiatric medications, including Lexapro, Effexor, Zoloft, Pristiq, Seroquel, Mirtazapine, and Cymbalta. With each treatment, his condition worsened. He experienced severe emotional blunting, cognitive difficulties, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, panic attacks, and escalating suicidal ideation. Despite repeatedly reporting these symptoms to medical professionals, his concerns were often dismissed or attributed to underlying mental illness rather than the medications themselves.At age 21, after discontinuing Zoloft, Cael experienced a prolonged withdrawal syndrome that left him struggling with extreme anxiety and insomnia. Eventually, after taking Cymbalta, he developed severe and persistent sexual dysfunction, genital numbness, emotional numbness, and a profound loss of pleasure in everyday life. A urologist later diagnosed him with Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD), and he was also diagnosed with idiopathic neuropathy.Now 23 years old, Cael continues to live with the lasting effects of these medications. His story highlights the challenges faced by individuals who experience serious adverse reactions to psychiatric drugs and underscores the importance of informed consent, patient advocacy, and greater awareness of conditions such as PSSD.

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 of potential risks. He has now suffered with Akathisia for more than seven years, alongside serious complications related to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, slipping rib syndrome, cardiovascular issues, and other ongoing health conditions.Despite immense physical, emotional, and financial hardship, Brandon continues sharing his health journey online to raise awareness about Akathisia, medication side effects, and what he believes are deeper problems within the pharmaceutical industry. He considers Akathisia and severe medication reactions a growing national health emergency.Grounded in his Christian faith, Brandon advocates for a holistic approach to wellness centered on lifestyle changes, community, fitness, herbalism, nutrition, supplements, and responsible medicine. His work is driven by a desire to educate others, encourage critical thinking about health care, and offer hope to people suffering from chronic illness and medication injuries.

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. At the time of the withdrawal, she was wrongly diagnosed as bipolar and polydrugged. She is currently working on tapering off these medications. 

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 and clarity.Katy also partnered with MISSD to bring an akathisia awareness billboard to her Oregon community. Speaking out and advocating has been part of her healing—and a way to help others.

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 experts have concluded that her civil commitments were rooted in misdiagnosed and mistreated akathisia, Katie is still seeking to have those commitment records expunged — records that continue to affect her professional standing and civil rights.Katie also raises important questions about how psychiatric diagnoses are defined. Disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) are developed through committee review and voting by expert panels. These decisions shape how human experiences are understood and labeled in clinical settings.For example, the DSM labels "Prolonged Grief Disorder" as grief lasting beyond 12 months (6 months for children and adolescents), as a diagnosable condition — a change that has prompted discussion about where grief ends and pathology begins.Genetic differences in drug metabolism can increase the risk of adverse reactions to medications like SSRIs, yet most patients are prescribed these drugs without prior pharmacogenomic testing.Akathisia is one of several medication-induced disorders that can cause extreme inner torment and suicide. Others harmed by prescribed psychiatric drugs — including those suffering from PSSD and severe withdrawal — have also experienced life-altering consequences and iatrogenic death.Katie’s story is about accurate diagnosis, informed consent, and recognizing medication-induced injury before lives are permanently altered.Watch Part 2 — because surviving iatrogenic harm is only part of the journey. Reclaiming your name and your future is also a difficult path.One misdiagnosis can change everything. One informed voice can help protect others.

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 history of mental illness, Katie was prescribed Ambien and Prozac during a stressful job transition and developed crippling akathisia. While suffering from akathisia, Katie was misdiagnosed as mentally ill, which led to three wrongful civil commitments within five years. These commitments justified the continued inappropriate and harmful use of the psychiatric medications causing the akathisia, perpetuating her suffering for an agonizing seven years. She has been in an ongoing legal battle since 2021, in both federal and state court, to vacate the wrongful civil commitments and restore her reputation, her dignity, and her civil and constitutional rights. Katie’s journey has taught her that her experiences in the mental health system, in which akathisia and other life-threatening medication reactions are often dismissed and ignored, are not unique. Katie, who is alive by the grace of God, is now dedicated to raising awareness of akathisia to prevent more needless suffering, offer hope, and save lives. She also advocates for better training on akathisia for providers, social workers, and court officers and the need for oversight and accountability in civil commitment proceedings. 

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.Wendy Dolin is a licensed family therapist and the founder of MISSD. Widely recognized for her public health advocacy and education, Wendy has received humanitarian honors for her work helping both the public and medical community recognize akathisia — before tragedy occurs. Though honored by such recognition, the messages she receives from people who say MISSD helped them identify akathisia in time to seek appropriate care, mean more than any award.