My gut call? You're meant to TAPER off, as you said. You went cold turkey. That can cause rebound effects in many if not every med I've ever heard of---so that could've been a bigger part of the issue than you know (or can know till you indeed do try tapering off under doc's supervision).
And I am a slave to my epilepsy meds. It's them or grand mal seizures with respiratory distress in the worst ones. So I try to minimize meds as much as possible, but.... If it's necessary, it's necessary.
I think of my psych meds as crutches. When I can, I'll downgrade to "canes". And then one cane. And then... walk free if I can, keep the cane if I can't. Time will tell.
And forever's a looong time, so think of it more like... for a while longer.
Gentle smiles,
Leo

It's okay if they provide you with a sense of control, not the zombie avoidance amount. (Though a zombie moment does have it's charm some days.) Give yourself some lee way.

If you were diabetic, meds are necessary, they don't cure it, but manage it. adding in the diet changes and other helps to it, will keep you from losing a kidney or two and other more drastic items like vision and feet.

The same with your mood stabilizers. I know if I am without I don't sleep. I sleep very little as it is, but when my arm broke they were discontinued, because of pain meds conflict.....man oh man...cold turkey? not good.

Given the help even in unseen ways, because of them you can cope better. They may be on a need list as well as Food shelter and clothing, basic to living for now.

Yes there are some that you could taper off, but you are on low dosages, so the benefit you get is worth the stability they provide. especially if you don't suffer side effects.

There is a residual effect of what has built up in you, that will carry you, so that is also the reason you may have felt okay the first week or so. add in some coping exercises, that help with the anxiety and maybe you could go even lower, but not something to try unless all the duckies in your life are in a row.

Best to you,
Jewells

There is such a thing as too much medication. I have permanent kidney damage from it. I was part of a university study using a medication made for another mental illness. We were trying to see if when used in high doses it could help with flashbacks and nightmares.

So now I can't take any meds because my kidney damage is extensive and irreversible. Wish I could sometimes, for those extreme trigger moments you describe having.

You say you're on low doses, though. Don't you think you'll be fine long term if you keep it like that, combining that with group support here and your talk therapy?