I remember years ago when I was severely overmedicate with drugs that I felt suicidal because I couldn't feel anything. I kept telling my psychiatrist, "I can't feel and it makes me sa sad and desperate." He recommended ECT. Now that I know more, I can see I was suffering from emotional blunting and the doctor should have known that instead of recommending an even worse "treatment."
I wish my brother Brian had met you before the SSRIs, the Lithium, the Depakote. I am quite convinced that that and other drugs have made his diagnosed "Bi-Polar disorder" worse, not better. He will be 64 soon, but he will die young from the damage they have caused.
My almost 10 year old son struggles with social anxiety and selective mutism. I’m no where near deciding to get him on medication, but it’s a possibility…but the emotional numbness is definitely a thing. I certainly don’t want that for him. I am on SSRIs myself, have been for most of my adult life. There was a time a few years ago when I tapered off them (it took a LONG time), and I found myself feeling things about events from years and years past. Unfortunately I went back on them because I had to work, and they did help with that… but what else am I losing?
There are so many people in my life that I wish would read this. Starting with the doctor who encouraged me to take an anti- depressant less than six months after my daughter died.
I wish the world could be more receptive to the message of this article, but unfortunately the pharmaceutical companies did such a good job spreading the chemical imbalance theory, it seems impossible to overturn it in most people's perceptions.
Thank you for the kind words and taking the time to read the article. I tend to answer these questions with some facts prior to providing my opinions. First, we do not have any "medicine" in psychiatric treatments. We have drugs- which have drug effects. In the example you are referring to- is there a situation where somebody poses a risk to themselves or somebody else due to a psychotic episode and a drug is a useful tool? Yes in emergency situations these drug can induce a drug effect that blunts emotional and cognitive processes that could be initially stabilizing (it could also worsen the condition). However, the long term use of these drugs and many other drugs used for psychiatric purposes can actually induce the same symptoms you described above. Mania, psychosis, violence and suicide occur when prescribing these drugs. Starting ,stopping, adding new drugs or increasing doses are particularly dangerous. What tends to be most dangerous is taking the drug and then abruptly stopping the drug (forgetting to take it or purposely stopping it because it makes them feel horrible)- which may have been the case with your ex-boyfriend. People assume the symptoms occurred because they stopped their "medicine" when it is more likely the abrupt ceasing of a powerful psychiatric substance. Dependence and withdrawal is serious. Negative health effects and worsening of symptoms are common. When it comes to the majority of cases where people turn to drugs for "mood/anxiety" (which is significant and represents most drug sales) - my articles focus on this phenomenon. No- I do not recommend drugs for these purposes and have not in my career. I believe the harms are substantial and the narrative we have created around them even more damaging. Hope that helps.
I remember years ago when I was severely overmedicate with drugs that I felt suicidal because I couldn't feel anything. I kept telling my psychiatrist, "I can't feel and it makes me sa sad and desperate." He recommended ECT. Now that I know more, I can see I was suffering from emotional blunting and the doctor should have known that instead of recommending an even worse "treatment."
Incredible piece of work you have written .
Brilliant piece; thank you!! Will be sharing this—with someone today in fact.
Phenomenal piece, I’m still processing what I’ve read and very grateful for it, thank you.
I wish my brother Brian had met you before the SSRIs, the Lithium, the Depakote. I am quite convinced that that and other drugs have made his diagnosed "Bi-Polar disorder" worse, not better. He will be 64 soon, but he will die young from the damage they have caused.
My almost 10 year old son struggles with social anxiety and selective mutism. I’m no where near deciding to get him on medication, but it’s a possibility…but the emotional numbness is definitely a thing. I certainly don’t want that for him. I am on SSRIs myself, have been for most of my adult life. There was a time a few years ago when I tapered off them (it took a LONG time), and I found myself feeling things about events from years and years past. Unfortunately I went back on them because I had to work, and they did help with that… but what else am I losing?
There are so many people in my life that I wish would read this. Starting with the doctor who encouraged me to take an anti- depressant less than six months after my daughter died.
I wish the world could be more receptive to the message of this article, but unfortunately the pharmaceutical companies did such a good job spreading the chemical imbalance theory, it seems impossible to overturn it in most people's perceptions.
Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words and taking the time to read the article. I tend to answer these questions with some facts prior to providing my opinions. First, we do not have any "medicine" in psychiatric treatments. We have drugs- which have drug effects. In the example you are referring to- is there a situation where somebody poses a risk to themselves or somebody else due to a psychotic episode and a drug is a useful tool? Yes in emergency situations these drug can induce a drug effect that blunts emotional and cognitive processes that could be initially stabilizing (it could also worsen the condition). However, the long term use of these drugs and many other drugs used for psychiatric purposes can actually induce the same symptoms you described above. Mania, psychosis, violence and suicide occur when prescribing these drugs. Starting ,stopping, adding new drugs or increasing doses are particularly dangerous. What tends to be most dangerous is taking the drug and then abruptly stopping the drug (forgetting to take it or purposely stopping it because it makes them feel horrible)- which may have been the case with your ex-boyfriend. People assume the symptoms occurred because they stopped their "medicine" when it is more likely the abrupt ceasing of a powerful psychiatric substance. Dependence and withdrawal is serious. Negative health effects and worsening of symptoms are common. When it comes to the majority of cases where people turn to drugs for "mood/anxiety" (which is significant and represents most drug sales) - my articles focus on this phenomenon. No- I do not recommend drugs for these purposes and have not in my career. I believe the harms are substantial and the narrative we have created around them even more damaging. Hope that helps.