Do psychiatric meds leave the patient inn extreme stress if they are discontinued?

No: If a patient is treated for a psychiatric condition with psych meds & it helps the pt. And pt. Become stable & functional. If the medication is then discontinued, patient's illness and symptoms may return back. This may lead to distress and can make the patient dysfunctional. Although, this may not happen and pt. May become stable after going through some withdrawal symptoms. Thx.

Yes, sometime.: The benzo meds like xanax, ativan, Klonopin and others can be additive. Stopping them suddenly can cause much anxiety, restlessness, and even seizures. A gradual taper over 4-6 weeks is more safe. Paxil and Effexor (venlafaxine) also need to be tapered slowly.