Posted by MChain on January 22, 2009, at 4:06:32
In reply to Re: Long Term SSRI Use Has Destabilzed Me » Connor, posted by Garnet71 on January 20, 2009, at 20:46:55
Connor and Garnet,
I am both relieved and distressed to tell you that I feel exactly the same way you guys do. I'd like to know more particulars about your situations but let me tell you more about mine to see if you can relate.
I started a variety of SSRIs at the age of 12 for "clinical depression" and seemed to recover with the medication until around 3 years later when I noticed that I got less stimulation from the things I used to enjoy. I got off the medication for a few weeks at the age of 16 after tapering in the summer but had an unbearable time with social anxiety after returning to school and got back on the medications (this severe anxiety may have been withdrawal)
Anyway things continued more or less the same way, with constant boredom etc, and I also thought I began to notice a certain cognitive weakening, confusion and sometimes difficulty speaking. My recollection of the onset is fuzzy but it became difficult to concentrate, retain information, organize thoughts and speak.
After my first semester of college I decided I had enough and tapered quickly off the meds (zoloft at the time) and have been off for 10 months now but the status quo has seemingly not changed all that much. I managed good grades in school but didnt enjoy anything, was socially reclusive to say the least, didnt get involved in anything etc...and i still can't enjoy the things I used to movies, music, sports, nothing seems to affect me. Also I've noticed I can't cry, even at the death of close relatives for whom I feel (or once felt) much affection for.
I've felt days where things appear to be getting back to normal, like small waves, but nothing sustained. Anyway I hope you guys can relate to this and we can share our progress/trips to doctors/solutions.
poster:MChain
thread:874312
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090104/msgs/875383.html