I'm the GP of this comment chain. I actually did a 16 week long trial of CBT with a professional where my symptoms were tracked during each week. I actually ended the 16 weeks worse than before I started.

I later learned that CBT can have that effect on people with ADHD, so I attribute that to being a possible explanation.

I still do therapy, but honestly, I think it's a waste of time and money. I predominantly do it for cathartic purposes and so other people/professionals will stop recommending it.

> terrible the withdrawal symptoms are when stopping

I tried one when I was in my early 20s too. I swore I would never take one again. Withdrawals weren't my issue really. It was the clarity I gained after getting off. I realized how awful I was to people around me. I had such blunted emotions, that I basically became devoid of empathy. I also learned that I needed high levels of anxiety to function, which the medication took away from me.