Symptoms: Sexual dysfunction, cognitive impairment, muscle/joint pain
In my case I needed psychiatric assistance, but not forever. The antipsychotic had reached its therapeutic benefit period, but I was left without much information about the medication, no knowledge of side effects being a possibility, and not even told a diagnosis. I spent years on medicine yet resenting myself because I wasn't informed that it would cause sedation.
The levels of sedation and stiffness were extremely high, and I was in the world of academia at the time. I normally love academia, but I wasn't flourishing like I used to and had no clue what was wrong with me, so I blamed myself. Imagine not being able to reach your potential in an area that almost defines your identity. That's what it was like. I scored so low, just passed, and I've not been able to hold my head up high in workplace conversations to speak confidently about subject matter for collaboration. I feel so much shame there.
I then stopped medication myself and experienced withdrawal symptoms, which led to me making unwise decisions (resigning from work), so long story short, I was forced back onto them. That cycle of getting off and being forced back on has occurred multiple times, but I know now that it wasn't relapse but withdrawal. All those years I still knew something didn't add up, yet I was on the meds and still on them. I've finally come back to my first doctor, who has agreed to eventually taper me off.