Brooke Siem: The Shocking Truth About Antidepressant Side Effects, Withdrawals + How To Reclaim Your Brain Health

In this episode, I have the privilege of sitting down with Brooke Siem, a celebrated chef and advocate who is reshaping the conversation around mental health and medication. Brooke's journey through antidepressant withdrawal offers a powerful testament to resilience and self-discovery. As one of the first generation of minors prescribed antidepressants, Brooke faced the daunting task of navigating psychiatric interventions at a young age, following her father’s sudden death. Her recent book, “May Cause Side Effects,” chronicles the profound impact of this experience and her courageous decision to reclaim her wellness beyond medication. Join us for an insightful conversation that explores the complexities of mental health, identity, and the journey toward healing.

Brooke Siem (@brookesiem) is a chef to professional athletes and the surprising face of psychiatric drug withdrawal awareness and advocacy. Her book, MAY CAUSE SIDE EFFECTS, won the 2023 BIBA Prize for memoir and was named as one of Good Morning America's most anticipated reads. Her work on antidepressant withdrawal has also appeared in The Washington Post, New York Post, Psychology Today, and more. She is a Food Network "Chopped" Champion, founder of the newsletter Happiness Is A Skill, and creator of the Fuckit Bucket™. As of the day of this recording, she has 16,682 days to live.

A few of my favorite things we cover in this episode: 

• Brooke's journey through antidepressant/psychiatric drug withdrawal.
• Strategies for healing the gut after prolonged prescription drug use.
• Insights into Brooke's personal depression recovery journey.
• Mental strategies for managing extreme diet overhauls, drawing from Brooke's own experiences and expertise.
• Brooke's surprising revelation about the impact of vegetable consumption on her well-being and gut health.
• Brooke's unique role as a chef for professional athletes, discussing her approach to nutrition and cooking for high-performance individuals.

Links to things we talked about in this episode: 

• Visit us.jshealthvitamins.com/willcole and use code WILLCOLE at checkout for20% your first order or subscription.
• Visit PendulumLife.com and use code WILLCOLE at checkout for 20% off your first month of membership.
• Order the new Black Cherry and Double Hopped flavors today – only available online and take advantage of this fantastic offer for my listeners - 20% off sitewide - plus get Free Shipping when you order 24 cans or more. Only available when you order through my exclusive URL: hopwtr.com/WILLCOLE.
• Fatty15 is on a mission to replenish your C15 levels and restore your long-term health. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to fatty15.com/WILLCOLE and using code WILLCOLE at checkout.
• Control Body Odor ANYWHERE with @lumedeodorant and get 15% off with promocode WILLCOLE at LumeDeodorant.com! #lumepod
• Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code WILLCOLE at checkout to receive 10% off site wide. Our Place offers a 100 day trial with free shipping and returns. 

Happy listening and we hope you learned a little bit more on the art of being well!

If you like what you hear, please rate and review the podcast, hit subscribe and pass it along to a friend. 

In Health,

Dr. Will Cole