tl;dr: Growing research shows SSRI withdrawal is far more common and severe than long assumed, with studies finding up to 79% of users experience withdrawal symptoms and many unable to fully quit — problems often misdiagnosed as depression relapse. Long-term use has also been linked to cardiac risks and faster cognitive decline, prompting new guidelines in the UK, Australia, and US that recommend slow, liquid-based tapering and periodic reassessment of prescriptions. Psychiatrists increasingly frame SSRIs as one tool alongside therapy and exercise, rather than a default long-term treatment.