Akathisia Stories
Akathisia Stories is a podcast produced by the Medication-Induced Suicide Prevention and Education Foundation in Memory of Stewart Dolin (MISSD). Each episode shares real conversations to raise awareness of akathisia — a dangerous, medication-induced disorder that can cause self-harm, suicide, and violence. By combining lived experiences with education, the podcast advances MISSD’s mission to improve patient safety, prevent avoidable harm, and save lives.
Episodes
10 episodes
Episode 10 - Katinka Blackford Newman on Her Experience with Akathisia and Her Mission to Educate Others
What happens when a prescribed medication changes your life overnight?In this powerful episode of Akathisia Stories, host Ivan Kaiser sits down with journalist, documentary filmmaker, author, and advocate Katinka ...
Episode 9 - In Remembrance of Stewart Dolin, the founding of MISSD
This month marks a deeply significant milestone. July is the 16th anniversary of the death of Stewart Dolin, a tragedy later understood to have been caused by akathisia—a severe, drug-induced condition that remains widely under-recognized. Out ...
Episode 8 - Cael from the PSSD Network
At 19 years old, shortly after moving out of his family home, Cael began experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks. Seeking help, he turned to his longtime family doctor, who diagnosed him with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and prescri...
Episode 7 - Brandon on advocacy, awareness, and being diagnosed with akathisia and tardive dyskinesia at the age of 25
Brandon Lawes is an independent natural health researcher, educator, and entrepreneur whose life was permanently changed after a devastating physical injury and severe medication-induced neurological complications. At 25 years old, Brandon deve...
Episode 6 - Stacey on living with akathisia for over 30 years
Stacey is a 48 year old housewife and artist residing in Southern California. She has had akathisia not just from pharmaceuticals, but also due to hormonal issues and what she believes was PANDAS in childhood. As a result, she has had bouts...
Episode 5 - Katy and her husband share their experience with akathisia
Katy Duffy and her husband, Ben, from Oregon share their experience with akathisia—a medication-induced disorder that was missed, misdiagnosed, and mistreated. They speak openly in the hope that others can recognize the signs sooner and avoid t...
Episode 4 - Katie Brennan returns with an update on her legal hearing
In Part 1, you met Katie Brennan — a Teacher of the Year, mother of six, and respected educator whose life changed after she developed medication-induced akathisia. With no prior history of mental illness, her symptoms were misdiagnosed as DSM-...
Episode 3 - Katie Brennan on her misdiagnosis and related legal battle
Katie Brennan is a former finalist for Minnesota Teacher of the Year, with a Masters Degree in Education and 48 additional upper division graduate credits in Education and English. During her 20 year teaching career, Katie taught high school En...
Episode 2 - Derek Blumke, from the Grunt Style Foundation, and Wendy Dolin, MISSD founder, on their work with veterans to reduce prescribed harm
Derek Blumke is a writer, consultant, and veteran advocate dedicated to improving mental health outcomes and reducing avoidable harm. He served more than a decade in the U.S. Armed Forces and Michigan Air National Guard, and co-founded Student ...
Episode 1 - Kristina Kaiser on her daughter Natalie and her work with MISSD
Kristina Kaiser is a strategic communications consultant and educator with extensive experience in public relations, advocacy, and marketing across education, nonprofit, and public health sectors. She has directed large-scale awareness campaign...