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JOURNEY PAST DRUG PRESCRIPTIONS
by Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ July 10, 2025
*Although we wrote this post together, we have chosen to present the following through Mom’s eyes.
Mom's Story: Journey Past Drug Prescriptions
After seeking support for her mental health, my daughter Nikki was swiftly placed on a regimen of prescribed medications.
Over the course of seven years, she rarely experienced a sustained sense of well-being. The fleeting moments of relief she did find often came from the initial effects of a new medication—a drug high as we frequently referred to the effects she had—before they faded, leaving her back in discomfort.
Ultimately, Nikki made the courageous decision to step away from prescription medications entirely. The withdrawal process was slow and deliberate, spanning more than a year as she carefully tapered off each drug.
Even after the initial withdrawal, lingering effects persisted for some time. And to this day, Nikki continues to navigate the long-term consequences of her treatment journey.
Today, my daughter faces new challenges stemming from her years on a prescribed drug treatment plan.
How and why?
Throughout Nikki’s treatment, I often heard healthcare professionals reassure her with statements like:
- Don’t worry you are an easy fix.
- These medications will help you think differently, more normal
- Take another drug because you don’t want to lose any progress you’ve made
Over time, these words shaped how Nikki saw herself. They reinforced the idea that she needed to fix herself to be normal. That without medication, she wouldn’t move forward in life.
While taking prescription drugs, my daughter changed—not just in subtle ways, but profoundly. I watched as her sense of identity shifted:
- The way she dressed
- How she processed information
- The way she thought
- Her eating habits
- How much alcohol she consumed
Sadly, most of these changes weren’t positive. In fact, they rarely were.
Even before she was prescribed medication, Nikki wasn’t an overly confident person. But the drugs amplified her insecurities, deepening her struggles with social anxiety.
They also impacted her cognition, leading to memory fog and even memory loss.
With time, some of these effects have improved. Others, however, remain—a lasting imprint of her journey through prescribed treatments.
There are also hidden and unspoken negative effects after stopping prescription drugs (long-term effects).
Number 1:
The most heartbreaking effect of her prescription drug treatment program is the loss of time Nikki experienced not being herself.
- Time, she has no recollection of.
- Time, she feels embarrassed of.
Number 2:
Additionally, at this time she was not able to establish a career path for herself due to the negative effects of the drugs she was prescribed.
Number 3:
Since the drugs provided that initial high, she continues to crave a high she cannot receive without them.
Number 4:
With the consistent promise of making Nikki normal with drug treatment, she now feels she isn’t.
Even though my daughter knows and believes that everyone is different, she strives to have confidence in herself. To overcome the feeling of not being normal.
Number 5:
Following the false hope and promises given to my daughter throughout the years, Nikki now lacks the trust she once had.
Not only has she lost the trust in the health care system but her overall trust in others.
Number 6:
One of the hardest things she has to face is the loneliness, because others cannot understand that a drug treatment program can cause such negative effects in someone’s life.
Nor could they accept the reasons why she reached out for help to begin with.
Of course, not everyone will have this experience with a prescription drug treatment plan.
But for those who have faced its difficult effects, we come together each week to share our journeys—so you know you are not alone.
Through our stories, we offer the knowledge, insights, and awareness we’ve gained over the years.
These conversations provide the essential tools to help guide you toward the path that feels right for you.
Learn More
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Note: All information in “Nikki’s Story and Mom’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
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