Ep. 815: Are Psychiatric Drugs Making Mental Health Worse?

About this episode

JJ Flizanes interviews Robert Whitaker about the potential negative impacts of psychiatric medications on mental health.

What if the medications designed to help depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and schizophrenia are actually worsening long-term mental health outcomes? In this powerful and thought-provoking conversation, JJ sits down with investigative journalist and bestselling author Anatomy of an Epidemic creator Robert Whitaker to explore the research behind psychiatric medications, the chemical imbalance theory, and the growing mental health crisis in America. Robert shares how his work as a medical journalist led him to uncover a major disconnect between what the public has been told about antidepressants, SSRIs, antipsychotics, ADHD medications, and mood stabilizers — and what long-term research studies actually show. Together, JJ and Robert discuss: The origins of the “chemical imbalance” theory Why serotonin deficiency was never scientifically proven The pharmaceutical narratives used to market psychiatric medications Long-term studies on antidepressants, antipsychotics, ADHD medications, and bipolar treatment Why mental health outcomes may be worsening despite increased medication use The difference between healing and symptom management How trauma, childhood conditioning…

People in this episode

Host: JJ Flizanes

Guest: Robert Whitaker

Topics covered

• psychiatric drugs
• mental health
• chemical imbalance theory
• long-term outcomes
• alternative healing
• emotional processing

Keywords

• depression
• anxiety
• bipolar disorder
• ADHD
• schizophrenia
• SSRIs
• antipsychotics
• mental health crisis
• emotional suppression

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Anatomy of an Epidemic

More episodes of Fit 2 Love Podcast with JJ Flizanes

• Ep. 817: Why We Need More Ritual and Less Hustle · June 9, 2026 · 22 min
• Ep. 816: Near-Death Experiences, Psilocybin & Spiritual Awakening · June 2, 2026 · 1h 20m
• Ep. 814: Seasons of Life Celebrations · May 19, 2026 · 45 min
• Ep. 813: Lowering Cholesterol Won't Prevent Heart Disease · May 12, 2026 · 1h 5m
• Ep. 812: The Real Reason You Can't Change Your Behavior · May 5, 2026 · 56 min
• Ep. 811: Blood Sugar and Weight Loss · April 28, 2026 · 47 min