Emotional Blunting with Antidepressants
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- čas přidán 29. 07. 2024
- Emotional Blunting with antidepressants. Many people who take antidepressants will say they feel flat, numb or like they can't experience normal emotions. In this video I discuss why that happens and what can help it.
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Hi doctora. Didn't know about this effect at all, such an useful information. I thought that it was an effect of mood regulation in the way I was no longer "so needy" of other's approval and I found it fantastic, but I have become more distant and less affective with my family as well... my anxiety was triggered by wittness or found out someone was in pain or struggling with serious issues, street animals especially; to the point I avoided going out because I was afraid to witness lonely animals, homeless people etc... now I deal better with that. I guess in my case the benefits are greater than the unexpected "less" affective Aza...
Hi Az Abarca. Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, sometimes the dampening down can be a good thing so you're not so reactive to everything. Thanks for bringing this out, it's an important point. The "blunting" isn't always bad. 🙂
@@DrTraceyMarks yes it is. it is always bad. You can so easily go to a trained psychologist or therapist and easily sort out these issues through many recent methods (ERP, ACT), rather than damage the brain. This is like saying my pinky is broken, let me cut off my whole arm so I can not feel the pain of my broken pinkie.
nice and you will never get those emotions back, enjoy your new found psychopathy
Billy Harriton agreed. I cannot understand the logic that emotional blunting is ever a good thing but we live in a society tells us we are ill when we are being human and profits by creating more imbalance and actual chemical dependency with pills that make you insane as treatment. Emotional blunting is emotional blunting so you may not be as sensitive about A LOT of things you SHOULD be sensitive about, it’s not like you are only blunted to certain things. You are blunted. How could anyone argue that being emotionally blunted is a good thing for mental health or processing emotion? How is this therapeutic long term? Seems dangerous and sad.
@@billyharriton7130 stop talking out of your ass
Depending on how severe your case is, this "blunting" can be heaven sent.
Story of my life
THANK YOU.
SSRIs caused me permanent emotional numbness and sexual dysfunctions.
I suffer from PSSD (Post ssri sexual dysfunction)
My life is ruined
Forza pes SSRIs are poisons and everyone should be warned of these horrible side effect before being put on them. I’m sorry to hear of it.
Bruce Wilson you’re so annoying. Let people rescue themselves from their mental illnesses, what doesn’t work for you work for others and so is the opposite, for you to sit here and give people negative opinions which make them even more scared of getting help is beyond selfish and cruel. I don’t care, keep it to yourself
The dullness was weird as hell . A big family bomb was dropped on us and i disassociated through the hole meeting and felt numb to the situation after . Learning about our long lost brother should have brought me joy , anger or tears . I said cool and went to sleep and forgot about it
I know what you mean; two family things came up recently one good one bad, and I’m just indifferent about it.
Your comment actually made me LOL 😂.. thanks
Yeah, I don't like it. You feel so weird and disconnected compared to other people.
Did you get your feelings back?
@@commonercoffeeaddict In my experience yes and they come back stronger than ever! You do eventually reach baseline and feel things on a more “normal” level.
Depression is horrible. The most intense pain I’ve had in my life. I feel for anyone going through it now.
Wish i don't have depression
It is truly agonizing. I eventually had some issues with the emotional blunting, but the initial numbing effect gave me a relief that is literally beyond description. Meds obviously don’t solve everything but they can give you enough reprieve to pull your head above water and work on your problems.
Yep. Being more numb is so much better, my emotions are too painful
Permanent anhedonia from antidepressants is more devastanting than depression.....believe me.
@@pietrasale9804 At least you have a brain brother, these idiots have no idea what they're getting theirselves into.
And I know it sounds harsh but what has to be said has to be said, these people are nothing but idiots. I was an idiot. An idiot that trusted the evil doctors without even taking into consideration what anhedonia feels like. Depression is like an ant, anhedonia is like a tarantula. I would take crying all day ANY DAY over emotional numbness
My sister told me recently that she has lost all motivation since starting a new med. I asked her what it was. She said Zoloft! I've been on 100mg for years but never connected this dull apathy to it. I don't pay bills, almost didn't get our taxes in on time, our house looks like an episode of Hoarders. Right away I cut down to 50 mg and 2 weeks later I feel more productive. Thanks for your video Dr Marks! I know I'm on the right track!
Oh that's great to hear Jan! I'm glad you were able to salvage being on the medication while improving the apathy effect.
Lmao 😂 - I know it’s not really funny, but I can relate. Everyday chores are such an effort...
I can relate to that i feel that way everyday half the time its so diffcult medications can make you feel like a zombie ..
I describe it as a flat mood😮
Is it bad of me to not mind the emotional blunting? I felt so much for so long that it felt like a relief to not feel as much.
Not at all. That’s probably a good thing because then you can tolerate your medication longer than other people and get benefit from it.
That's what I was saying. This seems more reasonable to me.
Chloe Rudel-Holland tbh I hope this happens to me. I’m so off the wall and depressed and too energetic...it’s like I’m going hypermanic sometimes.
No girl you're good. Love yaaa. ;;)
I feel like you. I used to cry when see dead animals in the streets or a simple video of abusive behaviors towards anyone or animals. Now I can handle it better. Is not like I don't feel anything. I don't overreact to it. That's all. Some people don't get it.
For me I was feeling too much. I could feel myself emotionally react too strongly to family/ health issues, too empathetic and reactive. I feel the dulling helps me because I can be more reasonable. I'm fine with it.
Me tooo!
I was crying daily and over mundane insignigicant events. Escitalopram helped alot
I'm feeling I'd need it either for me bcs I react and feel a lot
@@far1998a give it a try. I'm able to react better now.
yes - i don't cry so much because I absorb so many others peoples feelings. But I do need to be aware of others feelings and react with compassion.
This is so true....I feel numb everyday...I feel like I am not growing because I do not face problems in a normal way due to emotional blunting. So I take half to at least feel what im going through in life and face it in order to take back my normal life again. The more I dont face my emotions the stronger it will be. Whats worst is to let my emotions conquer me. I want to face it , be exposed of it and learn from it. So that I'm better and stronger than yesterday. We cannot always run from life. Life wil;l always be hard if we dont face and grow from it emotionally. Thank you for the information Dr Tracey.
Without antidepressants I couldn't live anymore. It's really painful without it, all those feelings and emotions making you sick. I feel numb due to the antidepressants but I'm grateful.
I have been on SSRIs for over 30 years and I’ve discovered that many of my problems are due to emotional numbing, sexual numbing, cognitive impairment, and a general inhibition of feelings. There is no sharpness. So I’m going on a long taper and it’s extremely difficult. People don’t need new drugs to control the depression. They need something that will not screw up their physiology.
i shouldn't say this but HTP 5 may help your reliance on medication. i can only speak from personal experience
Amen. I took Celexa for 14 years and it took me 15 months to gradually taper off it. It was one of the most difficult things I've done.
Couldn't get off Lexapro and broke myself going off too fast and had to go back on and ended up on a benzo daily. It's all poison to me and I want to be free of all of it. I was was eating strict carnivore and fasting and feeling great and got horrible advice from my then psych. Now I have no motivation for anything as I wean the Benzo and am taking more Lexapro than ever. I put all the weight I lost back on too.
@@jb6061 She has another video where recommends a taper that is much too rapid. This psychiatrist has a lot of influence and I wish she would do her homework rather than listening to other shrinks and the pharma industry. Getting off SSRIs can be HELL which I testify. It does not take a few weeks; it can take years. She should know better.
@@jb6061 I’ve been in it for right at two years. I want off. How did your journey go? Are you still not taking them? Can I ever feel normal again
Being on Zoloft, I do find I am pretty blunted. But, with how intensely I felt all of my emotions before and the massive highs and lows, this blunting actually makes me feel super stable and like "this is what normal people must feel like"
From how many months u r on fluoxetine and do you feel to talk with people
Oh my goodness! You could knock me over with a feather right now. This video popped up in my feed for no apparent reason (obviously, I was meant to watch it). Thank you, Dr. Tracey- I am not crazy! For years I have felt like a different person. Not "me" at all. I used to have a great sense of humor, so empathetic that it caused exhaustion, but the kicker was when my grandchildren moved three states away and I didn't shed a tear. You have given me so much information in such a short time that I can now dig deeper into this topic. The medications I take for depression and migraines MUST be the culprit. I have turned into a dull person with a small sense of humor and very little apathy. There IS hope! Thank you again!
I’ve been finding myself pulling away , not wanting to be bothered with ppl . I went into a little bubble . I had random times where I cry for no reason
Same
Without crying
Hello Dr! I wanted to say that I have been following you for years and started cymbalta in 2016 due to fears and depression living with my ex husband. This year my doctor and I discussed tapering and he told me he thought I was ready. So it took about 9 months but I tapered by taking a pull every other day, then every three days, then once a week and now I’m flying solo for the 7th day. No dizziness or too much zapping.
I will say that I took my medicated time to learn coping strategies, meditation, Wim hof and as my emotions bloom back into my heart, they feel so 3 dimensional. It’s absolutely beautiful, including the sadness. I never thought I could be so capable to manage my emotions and I’m grateful for the job the cymbalta did and I will happily go back on it when needed but peace out! I’m still going to watch you for sure.
There is hope, you just declare it and reach out for help!
Thanks you for sharing.
How you feeling now?
Wish you the best.
I relate to your post. Living with an abusive partner means your already anxious personality (well, speaking for myself) will go into overdrive ☹️☹️
How’s it going now !?
Thank you for making this video. It made me aware and feel less alone. I thought I was the only one experiencing it.
Did you get back to normal?
When that “emotional dullness” happened it was HORRIBLE. I couldn’t feel ANY type of emotion. I’m not naturally like that so it was very distressing. On top of the fact that I am a musician and I felt my creativity was slowly being stripped away....what did I do to fix this?? Nothing. I just stopped taking my meds. Hell, if it’s gonna make me feel this way then I don’t wanna keep trying different meds. I already have enough health issues as it is.
Hi Porter. I’ve heard this many times. It’s usually the creative people who are very sensitive to this issue and will often stop taking the medication because they don’t want to lose their creativity. It’s especially a problem when they need their creativity for work.
@@DrTraceyMarks same here. As a musician I couldn't work while on drugs.
@@DrTraceyMarks hi I am also a musician and took zoloft for 8 months. Off them for 5 months now and I feel the emotional bluntness a lot of the times, obv bit less than when on it but I am scared Zoloft damaged my brain for good.
@@billyharriton7130 The effect should not be permanent. It may take a while to wear off though.
@@DrTraceyMarks okay its just that I read about the permanent sexual side effects some people get which is rare but again these drugs are heavily understudied... who knows what else they can cause...
She is so spot on. I work in the entertainment industry and for depression I took zoloft with emotional blunting and because I have nerve pain due to 2 car accidents I was put on cymbalta (DO NOT TAKE) and yet again an even worse emotional blunting. Im also a singer song writer and the drugs blocked my ability to feel emotion when trying to sing the songs and reach emotional depths to project the right energy to the audience.
Are you better?
Hey Dr. Tracey Marks I am currently going through this serve emotional blunting everything feels like hell; but I can say one thing out of everyone I’ve spoke to, or every video I have watched this has genuinely put my mind at ease and gave me reassurance that I would feel again. Thank you Dr. Tracey Marks from the very bottom of my heart.
You’re so welcome Adam. I hope it resolves for you soon.😊
When you mentioned creative people being affected harshly, cried a bit cause this is exactly what it feels like for me now. I didnt know about the deflation at all. I've been on several combos over the years. Currently the main is Zoloft and I think this is what is happening.
SAME. I feel like I lost my inspiration and interest in the beauty of everyday life. I feel so empty inside.
Me too. I had to go down to 25 mg Zoloft. 50 mg took away my creativity and emotions. I over worry and catastrophize. I’m just learning “Radical Acceptance “. I will have to practice it every day. There are videos on radical acceptance on CZcams 👍🏻
I increased my ssri and lost all my creativity
@@mmaries9052 I switched to Trintellix ( Canadian brand ) Brintellix is USA brand) and my feelings came back. Started at 5 mg. Went up to 10 mg now
@@AP-nx6xo thank you. That is one I have not taken. I appreciate it. I’m now on 150mg of Effexor and informed my dr that going up has made symptoms worse in some ways. I’m weaning down but still terrified because I ended up in the hospital with medication switch. Just so damn tough. If I didn’t have the perseverance I have I would of lost this battle in my teens. I’m now going on 50.
lexapro makes me feel like a robot :( and gives me scary, vivid nightmares
That sounds like two really big strikes against it.
Same... And I feel tired the whole day, yet can't sleep at night. Can't feel my emotions and do impulsive stuff many times. Memory deproved and I have so many dreams. When I wake up I still feel tired unless I have 10+ hours of sleep. Exercise is the only thing keeping me going at this point.
Christina T Please tell me you’ve been weened off... Lexapro ruined my high school experience...
dsfasd That’s exactly what happened to me
Dr. Mark’s seems like all SSRIS do this to me on super low doses. Any reason why this happens?
Thanks a million for your lovely, clear videos. It's great to get this education. I really appreciate your kindness in doing these for everyone.
Hi caroconga! Thanks so much. It feels good to be appreciated and motivates me to keep going. 🙂
I don’t cry even if I do I just stop automatically, I feel nothing like I don’t get joy anymore from things. I feel so weird like if I’m listening to music I can’t really enjoy the music and I lose interest so fast
Antidepressants cause adhd
yup this really hits home.really accurate things that i've had moderate to severe depression since my 20s and now recently moderate to severe anxiety,possibly anxious depression now near almost to my 40s.
So glad I found this video. After decades my Dr. never told me about this. Thank you Dr. Marks.
Thank you for the confirmation that it a common side effects.
You're welcome Oxnyx of The Winter Stars. 🙂
But with a difference Perception, of what a drug can be usefull in one condition and in another condition: one need More Serotonine and the other more Dopamine.
@@DrTraceyMarks Hello Dr. Tracey Marks. First you are the only psychiatrist I know who recognizes that antidepressants enhancing serotonine blunt emotions. I was very suicidal with those since I wasn't enjoying anything. I have a question : do you know why some people don't recover even after they have stopped the drug, sometimes for years ? What is the mechanism behind it ? Lack of synaptic plasticity ? Is it possible ? How can we enhance it ?
@@alicefaitdescarabistouille924 is this a problem you are facing?
@@commonercoffeeaddict hello, yes it's a problem I am facing (along with cognitive and physical problems as tremors after antidepressants)
Wow. You described my experience. I say I feel blank. I will bring this up with my Psych nurse practitioner. Thank you, Dr. Marks.
Wow! You just explained why I had writing block for music writing, when I started with antidepressants.
Glad I found this video. I’ve been experiencing this “blunting” for almost a year, in retrospect. It’s like I’ve been scooped out. I know what emotions I should be feeling, but it’s like there’s nothing there. I’m currently ramping down my meds (and already starting to feel better ... starting to feel anything) and will be switching to a different med in a couple of weeks. Thanks, Tracey, for another great video. 🤗
"I know what emotions I should be feeling, but it’s like there’s nothing there." Uuhf i really felt that. No pun intended. 😃
How did it work out for you? Did you get the same emotions back?
@@commonercoffeeaddict it worked great. The transition to the new meds was a little rough, but once that was over, I’m feeling things. And feeling much better.
@@kuurakarppi7778 what about you? Did you get back to your previous state of emotions?
I had to lower Zoloft to lowest dose to feel again It is not the said therapeutic dose but it works for me 25 mg
I'm so glad that i'm not the only one who feels like this, thanks so much
I have discovered your channel today and I am loving it. I had the same issue with emotional blunting on lexipro and my doctor added Wellbutrin to the mix. It didn’t help really since I am super anxious as well, so I later switched to Cymbalta only. It feels very very good to know that other people (especially creative people since I work as an artist in the film industry) have been through this as well.
You're not going to believe how informative and precise Dr. Marks is. I'm so happy to be fortunate to have found her. She is super smart and having the correct information and able to understand brings hope. Take care.
Do you still have emotional blunting?
I had to add a small dose of Adderall to get rid of the bluntness, spaciness, disconnection.
Holy crap thank you! I thought I was alone on this one! My doctor did not listen to me when i asked so I’ve been living emotionally blunted for years about 7 years! I found a new doctor recently that helps me much more. I feel like I’ve been woken up from a dream
Did the doctor change meds or did they wean you off the SSRI?
How did he help you
Thank You Dr Marks have watched your channel grow since its inception. Well done. Im taking antidepressants for the 2nd time in my life, after using alcohol for years. Alcohol does not work. I'm 56 now and suffered for years with C-PTSD due to being in care since I was 2 years old. It was a succession of abusive experiences across multiple families for 14 years. I am liking the fact that Im emotionally blunted. It helps me discern my priorities and responses to stressors so that they do not overwhelm or interfere with my daily goals. Im also wishing to pursue further studies at University so this will keep me even keeled and focused. While it can be uncomfortable, there is a real benefit. I miss some aspects of my emotional landscape but there is a freedom not to be in constant sadness and anxiety on a daily basis. To have a more stoic centre that keeps me emotively regulated, and intellectually focused on my goals both large and small. I will be pursuing appropriate counselling on a long term basis and in time wean myself off the medication.
I’m glad I found this video. I’m still kinda going through this blunting. I never knew how to explain it but it always felt like everything was gray, melancholy, and just a numbness. I used to take lexapro but stopped because it made me feel like there was a kind of mental block. I also tried to OD on the lexapros. But prior to that I was taking Wellbutrin and I still am, I prefer those than the lexapros.
Nearly 4 weeks into Lexapro 10mg. Never had bad side effects. Taking it for anxiety. My energy increased, sex drive through the roof and anxiety decreased. I feel like my moods stabilised and could handle stressful situations better. Had to put my dog down recently and I still cried a lot but was able to deal with the loss better and without anxiety.
It’s so nice to learn about different medications specifically. My doctor explained the same anxiety issue to me with Wellbutrin. It would be cool if you could create a playlist/series that explains common medications in depth. :)
That’s a great idea. With that I’ll never run out of video ideas 😊
I’m on Zoloft for clinical depression and came across your videos. I love them! I was diagnosed as a teenager. I’m now 57 (and was a nurse), I’ve been on disability about 3 years for degenerative joint disease, fibromyalgia, and depression so my life has changed drastically. As well as a divorce 2 years ago and my son, 34 at the time (will be 2 years ago in August) was in a very serious car accident causing severe brain damage. I took care of him until he was able to care for himself). He’s doing great now and back to work by the grace of God!!! I watched this video and sounds kinda like what I’ve been going through lately. I have never heard of this before. I don’t do well with most antidepressants at all. I be been on 25 mg. of Zoloft for many years. Helped some but not much. Increasing it always brought side effects. We did get it to 37.5 mg. about 3 months ago and was doing ok. However the last month or so sleep is back to being an issue and I just don’t want to leave my house or do anything. I hate it! Sleep has always been an issue, unusually lack of sleep to an extreme. Until about a week ago I started sleeping about 12 hours a day. I’m way more tired waking up than when going to bed. This past week it goes from excessive sleep to insomnia. Maybe this is what you’re describing? I’m so tired of being tired sad, in pain, alone. Although sometimes when I sleep I have fun dreams with no pain and I want to stay there. Very confused, not even sure what normal is. I know this isn’t it. I can’t function in the morning, that’s normal for me as far as my 20’s. If I tried I get physically sick, nauseous/vomiting so I don’t even try. I worked evenings because of it. ?????
The emotional blunting tends to be a little more subtle than what you described. You may have returning depression symptoms or could be a part of your fibromyalgia.
Dr. Tracey Marks thank you for replying back.
It’s been so long since I’ve not been in depression, especially about the last 5 years I don’t remember not being in depression. I know several years ago there were different levels and each day different. However the last 5 years it’s been bad. From crying constantly to now everything seems not worth the effort. When I was on gabapentin a few years back I became very suicidal, hallucinating all the time. It was a very bad time. I was the one to figure out what it was and I was on the lowest dose possible. They said I have sleep paralysis the original diagnosis for the hallucinations. I still have them occasionally, maybe once in a couple of weeks. And crazy wild very vivid dreams weather good or bad. I pray constantly there’s hope out there somewhere and someone will figure it out. I appreciate your time and your videos. I keep searching for answers.
This is helpful- it will give me the words to speak to my nurse practitioner about this. I am 47 and have never been given definitive answers on these issues- thank you for taking time to explain.
The emotional bluntness definitely has me wanting to give up. I told my doc ahead of time that I had experienced this before on different SSRI’s and once again I was prescribed another SSRI when I really know the problem is ADHD 😔 They hand out SSRI’s like candy, and I’m really not myself anymore.
Just stop taking them, it takes time but it gets alot better and you don't need antipsychotics/antidepressants at all unless you got something like schizophrenia with halucinations, it's just not worth to transform yourself to a zombie without feelings I have bipolar and now my mania is a bless compared to when I was on meds and didn't feel anything was like walking robot that's why I'll never take any kind of pills again.
How long will it take I feel so bad that I can't feel anything
@@kimaniruth964 Depends on how long you taken them and the dose, for me it took about 2 months and I started to feel emotions again.
What was your dose and how long were you on the meds? I’m sorry, I know you posted this 11 months ago, but I need hope to feel again
Totally understand
This was so helpful! It makes a ton of sense because my meds have helped so much, but I'm in animation and work in story and I feel like I haven't been able to get as deep as I want lately!
This has happened to me and has been happening to me for a couple years now and everybody was increasing the dosage at first 😅 unfortunately I am still struggling with the issue after trying multiple medications but this video is more informative than I could ever tell you and I am so appreciative that I found your channel! I look forward to watching more of your videos 💖
Thanks! I was starting to worry about my blunted emotions. I think I will talk to my doctor about upping my buproprion. I have shared your channel, it's great. Thanks for what you do.
You’re welcome 😊
Thank you for this video Dr.! I was actually feeling this myself and I was worried about telling my doctor. I've been feeling a little bit of a dulling effect on my emotions lately. I'm usually a lot more creative too and I've noticed that dulling affect as well. I'm going to let my doctor know about it tomorrow when I go in thank you so much!
Are you better?
I’m glad to find out about this. I’ve been telling my psychiatrist for years about the emotional blunting and she hasn’t changed the medication! We are about to have a chat about this.🤨
I came here because I realized that I haven't been crying as much before I took Prozac. Which is good considering I was crying a lot due to intrusive thoughts, and thankfully my intrusive thoughts have dulled down, but when I feel sad in my heart, I just can't react no more. No tears, not facial expression, I'm just there.
I would go back to my therapist, but my parents said I can go when it's needed and I don't think that something like this is urgent enough for them to take me.
You could talk to your doctor to see if lowering the Prozac just a little helps with your emotions, but is still effective for your mood.
Yeah, we are about to go back. We've recently went up to 20 mg because 10 mg wasn't doing any change to my behavior
It's so hard being a kid and have to depend on others. I have 2 kids and 2 grandkids, all have needed therapists at one point. Sounds like you don't want to bother your parents with something ""not urgent". It's been 4 months since you commented and I really hope that you found some motivation to ask for help.
Ok I have intrusive thoughts soo bad that I’m literally drowning. Has it stopped them ?
An update from my sophomore year in college:
So funnily enough, I'm looking back on this from 2 years ago. For an update, apparently Prozac made me have a anxiety attack my senior year of high school- with the fear of committing it at home because I would be alone for 3 hours or so.
Thankfully, we replaced Prozac with Lexapro and its been working wonders after trying to battle myself into taking it. I started back on it this year after off and on attempts to stop taking it, and I've been doing so much better.
It’s happened to me and I haven’t been able to fix it, ever since 2012 I’ve tried multiple antidepressants and after getting off of them (some I tried for months, others years) the flat emotions stayed. I miss my old self, and personality and so do my family and friends. Thanks for putting reasoning behind this, i hope I can resolve it one day and get back to being my old self again one day. This is the reason I now don’t trust taking any meds for my mental health, all my drs promised nothing bad would happen, but failed to warn me that I’d turn into a completely different person for years, and I still see no end in sight.
how you been doing now:(
So sad I’m depressed and totally get you…❤️
Did you have pretty severe or chronic anxiety before the numbing? I did. I'm hoping the numbness is a result of anxiety and not of some permanent damage from medication because I'm having the same problem. I'd also like to know if you're feeling better yet
Gone from obsessing to numb in just 1 week but liking it because I don't cry as much
So happy to find this information. I have been on lexapro for a few years for anxiety and depression. I have still struggled a lot but I've been trying to see if it'll get better. Lately I have been feeling less in love with my fiance who I have been with for 3 years and I have recently just found out that anti-depressants can cause this issue. I am glad to know most likely it is the medicine, but I am scared it can't be fixed and no medicine will work. I am also very overweight and I know how that affects emotional health, so I am working to get healthy.
I’m emotionally blunted and apathetic. I have bipolar I and have been diagnosed for over 10 years. My manias lasted sometimes as long as 3 months and we’re severe. My depressions were much longer and very severe. I have been ok with my blunted mood for years, but have recently talked it over with friends and family and I have decided I want more. I was taking a mood stabilizer (topamax 150mg), antidepressant (cymbalta 120mg), and antipsychotic (vraylar). This allowed me to avoid any and all emotions, practically. I have recently stopped taking my mood stabilizer (with my doctor’s help) and am now tapering off the cymbalta to a lower dose (60mg). I’m currently going through withdrawals from the cymbalta, which are pretty awful. I want a better quality of life, even if I do have to deal with more highs and lows. Thank you for your video, it validated what I’ve been feeling.
Such a relief to hear this! I'm so glad I stumbled upon it. The tone and style of the video is also nice and comforting!
It’s horrible I feel nothing. No emotion, no facial expression I’m just living and breathing. I feel like crying but I physically can’t cry. I don’t know what to do and my ocd is worsening it...
Did you recover?
how are u now? what did you do?
are you okay now?
Thank you so much Dr Tracey! I now know why I feel this way!! I feel bad for my husband because I don’t show much emotion of any kind. Not love, or real joy. I feel nothing. And I feel it’s difficult to be sexual now, because I don’t feel the closeness and affection. I thought it was just me, and that I’m just Weird. Like a robot just going through life in a numb way. I’ve been on a combo of Pristyq and Wellbutrin for 15-18 years. I don’t miss the anxiety, but I want to feel pure joy and love and happiness, and I miss that. Thank you again for sharing this information for free with your viewers. Very grateful for you.
Antidepressants caused you pssd which is permanent , and Anhedonia. You can't feel happiness now
Thank you for adding the word sharp. It took me forever to describe the “dull” effect but the sharpness that is what I would like back
Can you make a video why SSRIs can cause derpersonalization and derealization?
Have tried SSRIs, SNRIs and Tricyclic and all blunted my emotions even on very low doses. They turned off my ability to feel love. I have bipolar and borderline diagnosis. Unmediated my emotions go all over the place but I can always feel love for loved ones, medicated I am suspended in a low grade depressive state and can not feel love or desire. I have always had to come off the medication due to other side effects virtigo, dizzy spells, fainting, extreme excessive sleeping, physical pain and rage among the side effects. Once off the medication my ability to feel range emotions returns often very painfully but ability to feel love is also restored. After 20 years on and off medications I am left with very little faith psych medications have much good to offer me.
Oh Laura, sorry to hear this. There are the bigger treatments like ECT or TMS (TMS is for depression). DBT for bpd can be very helpful as well.
I described this to my doctor but wasn't in his experience, thx for making this video
Your doctor is a liar ahahahaha
Dr. Marks wonderful video thank you
I stopped ssirs and thnaks god my emotions are back and I started feeling myself again
How long did you take it for
@@User-pz4re don’t take it the Doctor lied to me he said it will make me feel better, but I took it and started feeling weird, so I stoped it after couple of months, please don’t take it it is a trap.
Say more please!!! How?
I was prescribed sertraline for PMS. It caused severe emotional blunting and genital numbness. Despite stopping the drug over 7 years ago, I still suffer the blunting and no longer experience sexual sensation/pleasure. Please do a video on PSSD and how it is a very real risk of SSRI use. I wonder how many people have PSSD but don't realise as their doctor does not acknowledge the condition...
Hey, thanks, Dr. Marks! Your information has been very helpful and informative.
You’re welcome Donell. 😊
I had strong emotional blunting after being on Paxil for a number of years. At first, I didn't really notice it as I'm not a naturally emotive person, but then I realized that things that usually touched me in a poignant way (such as film or TV scenes meant to draw tears not doing so even though I would previously cry when watching them) were no longer affecting me. In fact, it would seem like I could get right to the edge of crying but physically no tears would come out and it left me feeling puzzled. I also started going into deep trance-like states while on Paxil and would often stare aimlessly for up to five minutes before snapping back to reality. It usually happened when I was engaged in a mundane task such as using the bathroom (I would stare at the wall in front of me to the point that I would have burned a hole in it if I had laser beam eyes lol) and even when I was typing up reports at work. Oddly, I wasn't thinking anything in particular while I stared, no definite thoughts as if I was daydreaming; I was just staring lol. It freaked me out enough to gradually wean myself off the Paxil when I started experiencing gaps in my time awareness. It wasn't massive as though I were missing hours or even days of time, but sometimes I would be at my desk doing something, and then it was as if I subconsciously blanked out and then woke up after several minutes and I was doing something else in the office; almost as if I was going into a dissociative state. I got scared that I was doing that creepy staring thing at the office when I was losing time like that so I cut back the Paxil until I was off completely and that staring/time loss thing stopped completely.
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Very informative, Dr. Marks!
Thanks Patty!
and you know what, loosing the ball after every alittle bit fater dribbling aswell as loosing orientation and not knowingwhere to go anymore and getting ridiculed isn'T so serotonine inducing over time........ you feel like shit......
and then I go surf, because there at least I feel better thanks to the ocean and the happier people and the wave dynamics
Holy shoot! The dopamine drop theory makes a lot of sense! I'm on Zoloft for the second time over a long period, and I notice that my emotions have been kind of dulled each time I get on it. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one, and there might be an explainable reason for my practice rut aside from "I'm being lazy" or "I'm depressed even though I'm on anti depressants" thank you for the informative video!
Does it go away when you stop?
@@commonercoffeeaddict that’s a good question.
Have you got any answers!
@@OnAllahwedependalways i feel completely emotional blunting after taking fluoxetine 20 mg ( prozac).even i completely left it for two months but still remain emotional blunting
@@mieeroHave you returned to normal? If so, how long did it take?
@@furkanyolcu8880 no fucking no, but now i live without it.
Oh wow.... Now I understand better why my psychiatrist decided to add Welbutrin to my regiment of Zoloft. He said it's commonly known as 'Welloft'. Thanks for this video, Dr.
Oh to comment on the blunting.... This explains so much for me. I've lost a lot of creativity and have not done any art in a while. This explains it!
Thank you for your videos, truly life changing for me and my family.
I started taking Zoloft almost 3 years ago, because the “anxious depression” became so overwhelming that I couldn’t handle it anymore. Did 50mg for about 7 months, then depression crept back so the doctor bumped me up to 75mg. This was over 2 years ago, and that emotional bluntness has been with me for a while now. About 7 months ago the doctor prescribed me 100mg Wellbutrin to go with my Zoloft. Past few months I’ve felt really strange, seemed like the meds weren’t working anymore. Bad anxiety and depression started coming back with a vengeance but still had the emotional bluntness. About 4 weeks ago the doctor upped my Zoloft dose to 100mg and the Wellbutrin to 100mg twice daily. In that time my anxiety has exploded and I’m now an emotional basket case, I’m just hoping that it’s just a temporary side effect of my brain adjusting to the new dosage. I really hope it goes away soon because I feel like I’m really loosing it. I have an appointment next with with a psychologist. We’ll see how that goes…
Have you read the replies to the other comments? If not I think you might find them insightful.
It is awful. I wish you the best, hoping you're doing better now.
Yeah bro I took lexapro and some other things along with it years ago because of a misdiagnosis and whole time I never had anxiety I just had a infection in my face and taking the meds while they weren’t needed cause me to develop anxiety depersonalization and become suicidal to and extent well atleast talk suicidal never actually attempted it’s been a longgggg battle now I know longer have anxiety but i deal with detachment problems and these robot feelings the only med that should be taken is Prozac I don’t recommend taking those other meds and lexapro causes people to become bipolar definitely not recommended just deal with the anxiety and depression cause these meds cause permanent damage after a while of taking them
How about a video on PSSD? Permanent sexual disfunction after cessation of SSRIs. I don’t have it but it’s a horrifying thing that people should be aware of before they go on these drugs. Also, withdrawal needs to be far longer than what most psychiatrists recommend. Please make a video of that as well.
I asked my doctor about this and they said that it’s made up and is impossible. But online people say it is
@@cameronbowers7349 Sorry but your doctor is a liar!
@@e.liza_kb dude I said fuck it and did it. I did a lot of research and I’ve talked to a lot of doctors. Pssd is smt that happens extremely rarely and if u have a predisposition or some kind of underlying condition. I was so scared to take it. And I legit don’t have any side effects at all. It takes longer to orgasm and u get some cool dreams.
I’m on week 2 now and anxiety is not better, but apparently it takes up to 6 weeks to work and once u find smt w little to no side affects u start upping your dose
@@e.liza_kb i know right
I have a question I have been using Zoloft as well as a lot of other different meds and recently after being in the hospital I was updated medication to given lithium along with one other medication that I cannot remember what that is or of the others that I’ve been given could you make a comparison in this video as an update to do the selloff and lithium
Thanks Doc. Very nice and honest videos.
I don't even take antidepressants and this is how I feel 😶😔 Thank you
Try therapy, exercise, yoga, whatever... but please stay away from psychiatric "doctors"
I started on Zoloft 25 mg and I feel so numb. I never expected to feel this empty. Before taking it I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression but I still cared about things. Now it’s like I’m numb and I’m just floating, not caring about small things like hygiene.
Sounds like depersonalization
Same happened to me, i took an antidepressant in mexico, hypericum 300mg a pill and ever since the past 6 days I feel numb both physically and mentally. I’m trying. Before I was depressed really bad but now after the pill I don’t feel love or fear. I’m hoping it’s just a side effect and it’ll last maybe a couple weeks or months.
are you able to lower the dose a bit?
@@Metroidkid97 are you better?
Are you better?
Thank you so much doctor for the easy explaination of these drugs information. Now I able to understand little what's exactly happening to me.
Dr Marks,
Your videos are a godsend.
Heather
I had my dose lowered .... and my creativity is slowly coming back. I love your videos. Thank you for these!
Did u feel emotional blunted, took a lower dose then the emotional blunting started to go?
Oh, what a blessing, I miss mine
That's very interesting. I actually had the opposite effect from all serotonin enhancers- they sent my anxiety through the roof, and I even got serotonin toxicity from a tiny dose of Zoloft and a single dose of Tramadol. However, dopamine and norepinephrine seem to be where it's at for me. I now take lithium carbonate and methylphenidate.
This is interesting. I've been taking 20mg of fluoxitine for a couple of years. Although it works well with taming my crying spells it no longer tames impulsive eating. Which worked really well in the early days. Feeling flat is a great description of how I feel. I never gained weight while taking fluoxitine do I'm leary about taking other meds. Any suggestions or feedback?
This video is very helpful for my upcoming psych appt to discuss new meds and treatment! Thank you!
Yeah for me emotional blunting heavily occurred when I was on fluoxetine.
I basically just waited until my depressive episode got better, then once I felt stable enough…
I started slowly decreasing my dose till I ran out. I regret not informing my therapist or my doctors, but it’s ended up fine.
Since then I’ve had much less fear of psychotic depressive episodes and I would feel comfortable taking medication again
Thats been my experience with Fluxetine. Its an easier ssri to taper off since it has a relatively long half life. And i usually end up back on it after having taken it for about 7 months, then i stay off it for a year or two until something else makes me hit rock bottom, then i end up back on it. Which sounds worse than it is.
The book "30 Days to Reduce Depression" by Harper Daniels is recommended. Gives good daily mindfulness exercises. Worth a try.
Hi doc, I've been on SNRI and I've been getting better as it helped but recently i faced emotional blunting (while being on SNRI) and before (at starting of medication) i had SSRI which effected me badly and progressed my mental status in a negative way. So it was changed to SNRI, as for now after placing my issue with blunting I've been on a combination of SSRI and SNRI together ( SSRI tablet in morning and SNRI tablet in evening). My question is if SSRI causes blunting then why have I been prescribed SSRI and over that why I've been feeling better too?
Hi Dr. Marks, I am on 50mg of Sertraline. Can this low dose lead to emotional blunting or is this something that only happens with higher doses of a drug? How would we recognize emotional blunting vs just not being anxious or overwhelmed anymore
I have emotional blunting and I still write dispite the pills. She's Right, you need to work with your doctor. But the most important thing about creating anything is to remember the spark that got you started. Granted, the obbessiveness of depression has it's benefits too, but at least I can write in short bursts.
Doc, you just found the last piece of my puzzle! I will talk to my psychiatrist. Thanks a looooot!
How about using l tyrosine to increase dopamine? Btw trintellix does nothing to anxiety
Hello doctor, why is it usefull to take an AD that increases sérotonine AND norepinepgrine ? Instead of just sérotonine ?
Whats the major difference between those two types of AD ?
Thanks a lot
Sertraline has been great for me! I've suffered from EUPD since childhood and its been a sheer RELIEF to be without the constant turmoil of emotions. I'm less impulsive, think more and feel less and I have a sense of emotional safety. There are other side effects but the good has outweighed the bad for me.
This sounds like my feelings or the change I need thanks for your comment
I noticed this after a few months of taking lexapro, and then paxil. I used to pray to have my emotions taken down a few notches. It was so much for me to constantly deal with. The only thing I really like about each medication.
Did you recover from.that?
Hi doctor, may I know if the side effects of antidepressants can still have an effect on u like over a year after of not taking said medication? I've been off of psychiatric medication over a year now but I do find myself feeling this slow apathy especially lately.
Hello Dr Marks,thank you for your videos.Could you make a video on Lithium?and does it have any effect on memory
Hello! Thank you for this- I have been on Remeron for 8 months now and added an anxiety medication to my regimen 5 months ago and upped the anxiety dosage 2 months ago. I have noticed the emotional dullness and have been worrying that this is no longer just my body getting used to the new anxiety drugs- because the dullness has been going on for 2 months now.
Does emotional blunting feel almost like, for a lack of better terms, being a complete airhead? I feel like I'm zoned out a lot lately, and I want to have the high energy that I normally would; my brain is begging for my body to have some enthusiasm in work but my body is just not willing to make the effort. It's like a fog that has come over me.
I call it blunting and dullness. But yes it can also feel like a brain fog.
Could you, in your next video, talk about how SSRI's can make you fall out of love?
Damn, I felt that.
@@futurehealthprofessionalsu3272 pssd
man wow. i for 12 years was so inlove and had a soulmate, now 3 months off of ssris after 12 or so years i instantly for no reason stopped loving that person and its so sad wtf?? i have no emotion toward them now is this what u mean? coz this is horrible
@@drEAmzZzza Have you ever heard about "PSSD" ? Emotional numbness can persist or start after discontinuing meds
@@nipotte6215 nah im not numb im awake more than i evrr was but i have no love now
I want to find a fix for muted motivation. I have been taking effexor for many years and have for several of those years complained about muted motivation. My mood seems stable but I really dislike the lack of motivation...to the point that I lie around all day. What can I do. Most recently my primary doctor has told me to force myself to become more active. It's not working. Help, please!
I feel as if every individual has different challenges, life experiences, responsibilities, genetics, triggers, baggage, traumas etc....... With so many different meds, the trial and error process can be a coin toss with brutal and unknown side effects. It seems as though no one really knows how the meds affect each individuals. I am glad and happy some find stability and peace with the med combinations they find as everyone deserves happiness and a positive life. However, I really wish society, family and med. community, would prioritize from a young age proper nutrition (too many "food - like" substances), exercise, finding passion/joy/nature, sleep hygiene and mental health resilience, stress management (meditation, mindfulness, social connection). Wish I had this knowledge early in life to help deal with challenges. I know meds are needed but can not 100% solve mental health. Thanks for your videos as they are helpful. Peace, love and understanding to all.
For me I felt that way a lot before I started antidepressants. I'd feel nothing during the day and it was frustrating that I couldn't feel anything and I'd cry every night
You couldn't feel anything but you cried every night? Or do you u mean could not feel positive emotions?
I’ve been taking generic fluoxetine (Prozac) for about 5 years now. I’ve only recently noticed some blunted emotions. The problem is my main occupation is being a composer and I feel that I’m becoming dull to music. I also have synesthesia, but that’s becoming less vivid. Would stopping the medication likely help? I’m only at 20mg and taking it for OCD, for which I’ve had some CBT that has helped quite a bit. Just hoping to not loose that spark so to speak.
Impacts your cognition
@@Annapurna818 I had forgotten I posted this. I've been doing great after making some lifestyle changes. Honestly doesn't seem like the drugs were the problem. My cognition seems much better than before I took the medication to be honest.
@@zacharyrich4069 I feel permanently emotional blunting after taking prozac 20mg for three months.i left the medicine almost 2montgs ago but still on emotional blunting
Plz help me or atleast motivate me because doctor here not understand the condition of emotional blunting over all.
@@zacharyrich4069I also have OCD but mine is severe. CBT was not at all helpful and my horrible therapist just dropped me.
Hi Doctor. What do you think of the combination between remaron and pramipaxole?. Your guidance would greatly appreciated.
Dr I'm trying to taper off Zoloft and it's hell . I'm down to about 20 mg liquid . I want to swap to prozac as never had withdrawal with that but my GP won't let me cross taper. I can't just stop Zoloft and start Prozac cos I tried and had bad withdrawal from stopping . What do you suggest
As others have said, I like this side effect up to now. I've only recently started on citalopram (20 days in) it's not supposed to take effect until around 6 weeks but about an hour after that first pill I felt almost sedated. I was zombie like for around 5 days and its slowly lifting but I'm still feeling that flat nothingness, it's way better than how i was feeling before though so its been kinda nice to have a break from that clawing anxiety.
I've also noticed my short term memory is shot, like I find it hard to really remember what I was doing yesterday or piece together my week but it's a slow price to pay if you ask me. I'm looking forward to seeing where I am in 6-8 weeks from now. It's been a long road.
SSRIs caused me permanent sexual dysfunctions and emotional numbness.
Google "PSSD"
Hi Dr. Tracy I’m experiencing this dulling and not enjoying anything anymore. I’m on Remeron and Abilify and have been for about 8 months now, however my current psychiatrist doesn’t think we should add or change anything but I feel that something needs to change. But my question is how do I fix this “dulling” effect or perhaps overcome it if possible?
Hi Greg. Usually the way we fix it is by decreasing or changing the Serotonin agent (in your case Remeron) or adding Wellbutrin. It might be that your psychiatrist is afraid to rock the boat if you've been on other meds without success. Another thing though is the Abilify. That's a whole other issue. Abilify can cause a similar problem. So depending on how important your Abilify is, your psychiatrist could consider adjusting the Abilify first.
Dr. Tracey Marks thank you so much for your reply, I will talk more with my psychiatrist about that
Are there ather meds that can do the same affect without Numbness?
HI Doctora, this is Angélica from México City. Is this occur with lttium for people with bipolar dissorder?