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Flat/Blunted Affect?
- Thread starter Pebble mouse
- Start date
Hi Pebble
Yes, I've been on some psych meds that make me "flat".
It is a nasty catch-22. Without the medications I am unstable, and with, I have no emotion.
I've tried many types of medication. The best one so far is Abilify (apripazole (sp?)). I still have my feelings and emotions but am generally stable.
You may want to let your prescriber know that this is distressing, and see if a med change is warranted.
Best of luck to you in your healing journey.
Yes, I've been on some psych meds that make me "flat".
It is a nasty catch-22. Without the medications I am unstable, and with, I have no emotion.
I've tried many types of medication. The best one so far is Abilify (apripazole (sp?)). I still have my feelings and emotions but am generally stable.
You may want to let your prescriber know that this is distressing, and see if a med change is warranted.
Best of luck to you in your healing journey.
If you are talking about just not having the facial expressions or body language relaying your emotional state, I had this as a result of longstanding PTSD in my past. My therapist said that is fairly common with PTSD. You learn not to show any emotion because that's one way to become invisible, and the less attention you attract, the less punishment as well. I have overcome this through working around the false beliefs that were adaptive during my upbringing but are now maladaptive. It took a lot of work; more than a couple years. But now my face is a little TOO expressive. Others know what my emotional reaction is earlier than I do now!
If you are talking about also not feeling the emotions, that is something that was a problem for me using SSRI meds, and taking the dose down a notch helped. I experienced it as a wall of muted, fuzzy filters on everything that would normally be more defined.
If you are talking about also not feeling the emotions, that is something that was a problem for me using SSRI meds, and taking the dose down a notch helped. I experienced it as a wall of muted, fuzzy filters on everything that would normally be more defined.
Yeah, I'm dealing with that right now too. I had my Meds changed 5 weeks ago from sertraline to duloxetine. My GP said I need to give it at least 6 weeks, but nothing has changed from the start, so I'm going to ask to go back to sertraline.
This is the 4th med I've tried now, I just want to feel normal.
This is the 4th med I've tried now, I just want to feel normal.
My understanding is that blunting describes an internal emotional flatlining, while affect describes your external emotional presentation.
In my case I am both blunted and affectively flattened, not seeing the point in faking, and also inclined to act genuine as a matter of principle anyways.
People most certainly do recognize it. It is obvious in the way they react to me.
In my case I am both blunted and affectively flattened, not seeing the point in faking, and also inclined to act genuine as a matter of principle anyways.
People most certainly do recognize it. It is obvious in the way they react to me.
I'm trying my best, @Lifeisthis. Thanks for being so supportive.
I hope you're doing alright despite the questioning and the struggle with this @Pebble mouse . Are you still going to the gym for workouts? I suppose it depends on the gym but I've always felt they're a good way to get some healthy exercise but also to feel a bit less lonely, be around people without anyone paying all that much attention to each other.
You're well like here, and do not come across as lacking in response or empathy.
You're well like here, and do not come across as lacking in response or empathy.