Peter Lehmann, Dr. phil. h.c., is a certified pedagogue, independent publisher, author, freelance activist in Berlin, and Associate of the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. Since 1979, he regularly speaks on and publishes in the field of alternatives beyond psychiatry, support in coming off psychiatric drugs, and safeguarding human rights of people with psychiatric diagnoses. He was co-founder and, until 2010, for many years board-member of the European Network of (ex-) Users and Survivors of Psychiatry. In 2010, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and in 2011, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by the President of Germany. English publications include, "Withdrawal from prescribed psychotropic drugs" (edited in 2022 together with Craig Newnes), "Alternatives beyond psychiatry" (2007, edited together with Peter Stastny, ebook in 2022).

Millions of people are taking psychiatric drugs, for example Haldol, Prozac or Zyprexa. To them, detailed accounts of how others came off these substances without once again ending up in the in the doctors office are of fundamental interest. In Coming off Psychiatric Drugs 28 people from all over the world write about their experiences with withdrawal. Additionally, eight professionals, working in psychotherapy, medicine, psychiatry, social work, natural healing and even in a runaway-house, report on how they helped in the withdrawal process.

Summary of the contents:
Introduction - The Decision to Withdraw - Withdrawal Without Pharmacogenic Problems - Coming down Step by Step - Counterweights - To Withdraw with Professional Help - Better Sometimes than Forever - Professional Acting - Marc Rufer (Physician and therapist): Creating Fear/Removing Fear: When You Wish to Withdraw, the Opinion of Your Doctor is Dangerous - Josef Zehentbauer (Physician and therapist): Who is Afraid of Withdrawal? Medical Advice and Psychotherapeutic Counseling During Withdrawal from Sedatives - Martin Urban (Psychologist): Psychotherapeutic Support During Withdrawal - Roland A. Richter: Supporting Withdrawal with Orthomolecular Medicine - Constanze Meyer (Psychologist): Thoughts About Withdrawal from Benzodiazepines and Analgesics Among Women - Klaus John (Natural healer): Withdrawal and Detoxification from a Naturopathic Point of View - Kerstin Kempker (Runaway-House, Berlin): Withdrawing from Psychiatric Drugs in the Runaway-House - The Time After - Closing Words

The first book in the world about the issue of successfully coming off psychiatric drugs primarily addresses people in treatment who decide to withdraw. It also addresses their relatives and therapists. Millions of people are taking psychiatric drugs, such as Haloperidol, Prozac, Risperidone or Zyprexa. For them, detailed accounts of how others came off these substances without ending up once again in the doctor's office are of fundamental interest.In this manual, 28 former psychiatric patients from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, Germany, Hungary, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Serbia & Montenegro, Sweden, Switzerland and the USA write about their experiences with withdrawal. Additionally, eight professionals, working in psychotherapy, medicine, psychiatry, social work, natural healing and even in a runaway-house, report on how they help in the withdrawal process.The chapters: The Decision to Withdraw - Withdrawal without Pharmacogenic Problems - Coming off Step by Step - Counterweights - To Withdraw with Professional Help - Better Sometimes than Forever - Professional Support - The Time After "This book is a must read for anyone who might consider taking or no longer taking these mind altering legal drugs and perhaps even more so for those able to prescribe them." (Dr. med. Loren R. Mosher [1933-2004], Soteria Associates, August 26, 2002)"The book has a provocative message: life-experiences sometimes differ from scientific agreements. Based on the personal experiences of (ex-) users and survivors of psychiatry and the few professionals who assist people to come off psychiatric drugs, the book is a good place to open the discussion. The book should be available in every medical practice, in every therapeutic ward, in every patient library." (Pirkko Lahti, President of the World Federation for Mental Health 2001-2003, August 19, 2002)