Jonathan Van Ness Shares What Happened When He Tried to Quit Antidepressants Cold Turkey

If you’ve ever watched Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” you know hair guru Jonathan Van Ness is larger than life. But, as many people can tell you, a bubbly personality doesn’t mean you haven’t had your fair share of struggles. In a new interview with Time Out, Van Ness opened up about his “psychotic depression” around the time of his stepfather’s death.

Van Ness said he was on and off antidepressants and quit them cold turkey. It was around this time he experienced major depressive disorder with psychotic features. People with this subtype of major depression can experience hallucinations and delusions.

“It was, like, six months of psychotic depression,” he told the magazine. “So, don’t [quit cold turkey]. If you do decide to get off, definitely wean yourself off.”

Van Ness added that he doesn’t want to give readers advice about their medications because he “doesn’t know you.” While Van Ness may give life to other’s hair, he’s not a medical professional, and it’s important to talk to one before changing or discontinuing any prescriptions.

Instead of medical advice, Van Ness shared some thoughts about self-care. For him, self-care includes working out, getting massages, brunch, mani-pedis and other activities.

“The biggest thing about self-care is to be gentle with yourself and remember there’s no one way up that mountain.”

Learning to be gentle with yourself, as Van Ness said, can help you climb your mountains. Mighty contributor, Lauren Marino, reminded others that recovery can be a fight, adding:

Nobody can promise you tomorrow will be easier, but you will be stronger and better equipped to meet it. And you can be sure this war is not going to last forever. You may not see it while you’re crouched in the trenches, trying to see through the dark. You may not believe it when you’re trudging through the muddy turf, beaten down by rain. But one day you are going to wake up and your burden will be just a little bit lighter. One day a tiny bit more sunshine will peek through and illuminate your soul. One day you’ll see exactly why all your fighting was so worth it and you’ll see the beauty recovery brings.

It’s important to be “gentle with yourself” as you work your way through recovery.