Weaning Off Antidepressants, Hormone Healing, Peptides & Hidden Gut Triggers | Ask Me Anything

WATCH THE FULL-LENGTH EPISODE HERE ON YOUTUBE! 

In this week’s Ask Me Anything, my clinical team and I dive into the topics I’m most often asked about - antidepressant recovery, hormone imbalance, and gut healing.

We talk through the functional medicine approach to tapering off SSRIs safely and the specific nutrients that support serotonin balance. We also explore why sugar can fuel inflammation in your throat, how stress and restriction can lead to hormone shutdown, and what it takes to rebuild your period naturally.

Finally, we discuss the long game of gut healing - why it often takes up to two years to fully repair the gut microbiome, and how peptides, adaptogens, and nervous system regulation can accelerate the process.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between symptom management and true healing, this episode will help you bridge that gap with clarity, patience, and science-backed strategy.

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

•   How to safely taper off SSRIs with functional medicine support and why slow, supported reduction is essential
• The gut-brain axis and how nutrient deficiencies can worsen antidepressant withdrawal symptoms
• Natural compounds to support mood balance during recovery (saffron, GABA, magnesium, curcumin, omega-3s)
• The hidden connection between sugar, inflammation, and recurring sore throats
• How bacterial overgrowth in the throat and gut can be triggered by excess sugar
• The real root of period loss (hypothalamic amenorrhea) and how stress, under-eating, and overtraining shut down hormones
• Protein and fat intake as essential building blocks for hormone balance and menstrual health
• What it takes to achieve autoimmune remission and when it’s possible to taper off biologic medications
• The long-term nature of gut repair - why it can take up to 24 months to fully heal
• Functional tools that accelerate recovery, from peptides (BPC-157, KPV, CJC/Ipamorelin) to adaptogens and nervous system support

Products & Resources Mentioned:

• Gut Feelings (gut-brain axis support)
• BALANCE, PROTECT, and CHILL (hormone, detox, and stress formulas)
• Referenced episodes: Brooke Siem (SSRI recovery), Lily Nichols (fertility & hormone health)

Episode Sponsors:

• For a limited time, Prolon is offering listeners 15% off site wide plus a $40 bonus gift when you subscribe to their 5-Day Program! Just visit ProlonLife.com/WILLCOLE.
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Happy listening and we hope you learned a little bit more on the art of being well!

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In Health,

Dr. Will Cole