Numb on antidepressants

[Willower]

Trigger warning for self harm, just in case.

I’ve recently started taking antidepressants and while I feel less horrible and self loathing than before, I’ve just become sort of, empty? I don’t feel anything at all without stimulants (caffeine, nicotine etc) and my self harm has increased as a result. I’m pretty sure that stems from wanting to trigger some kind of emotional response. I feel absolutely nothing all day, go to bed and repeat. It’s causing concern to the people around me because I can’t hide my depression as well anymore, I can’t figure out how to fake genuine emotional responses to things.

Do I continue with the medication and wait for some improvement? Or should I mention it to my doctor? Just wondering if anybody else has experienced this.

 

[CrashArtemis!]

Always speak with your doctor. It may be right to reconsider your dosage or type of medication.

All the best, it can be difficult to find the right treatment, and that may take some tries.

For now I recommend looking at some strategies to avoid the SH, and discuss with your prescribing doctor as soon as possible.

 

[Sad Elf]

It's best to mention to your doctor. Anti depressants can increase the urge to self harm so it's best to be honest with the doctor

 

[Ash600]

As the others have said, mention what you've been experiencing to your doctor.

With particular regards to your antidepressants, although some effect can be felt after about 2 weeks, it can take slightly longer for the full effect to kick. Sometimes, the dose may need to be upped or just switched to another type of antidepressant. It's really just a case of patience, trial and error to find one which helps.

 

[Saint Rita]

I've also suffered Anhedonia and it was terrible.

You should talk about it to your doctor and definitely ditch his/her ass if s/he tries to Gaslight you into believing that it is because of your depression and not because of medication.

 

[KM76710]

Definitely agree with the others. Seek out help from your doctor.

 

[may71]

Just wondering if anybody else has experienced this.

I've heard quite a few people say similar things about the way medication affects them.

I think it's totally ok to talk to your doctor about this.

 

[RageAgainstTheDyingLight]

Trigger warning for self harm, just in case.

I’ve recently started taking antidepressants and while I feel less horrible and self loathing than before, I’ve just become sort of, empty? I don’t feel anything at all without stimulants (caffeine, nicotine etc) and my self harm has increased as a result. I’m pretty sure that stems from wanting to trigger some kind of emotional response. I feel absolutely nothing all day, go to bed and repeat. It’s causing concern to the people around me because I can’t hide my depression as well anymore, I can’t figure out how to fake genuine emotional responses to things.

Do I continue with the medication and wait for some improvement? Or should I mention it to my doctor? Just wondering if anybody else has experienced this.

More support to you to reach out to your doctor to discuss.

I think it says a lot about your insight and personal awareness that you recognize these changes in yourself and realize they may require intervention.

Self-care is so important.

 

[Willower]

Always speak with your doctor. It may be right to reconsider your dosage or type of medication.

All the best, it can be difficult to find the right treatment, and that may take some tries.

For now I recommend looking at some strategies to avoid the SH, and discuss with your prescribing doctor as soon as possible.

Thank you, I‘ll make sure to discuss it with him.

 

[Willower]

Always speak with your doctor. It may be right to reconsider your dosage or type of medication.

All the best, it can be difficult to find the right treatment, and that may take some tries.

For now I recommend looking at some strategies to avoid the SH, and discuss with your prescribing doctor as soon as possible.

Trigger warning for self harm, just in case.

I’ve recently started taking antidepressants and while I feel less horrible and self loathing than before, I’ve just become sort of, empty? I don’t feel anything at all without stimulants (caffeine, nicotine etc) and my self harm has increased as a result. I’m pretty sure that stems from wanting to trigger some kind of emotional response. I feel absolutely nothing all day, go to bed and repeat. It’s causing concern to the people around me because I can’t hide my depression as well anymore, I can’t figure out how to fake genuine emotional responses to things.

Do I continue with the medication and wait for some improvement? Or should I mention it to my doctor? Just wondering if anybody else has experienced this.

More support to you to reach out to your doctor to discuss.

I think it says a lot about your insight and personal awareness that you recognize these changes in yourself and realize they may require intervention.

Self-care is so important.

Thank you for the encouragement, I’ll be discussing it with him very soon.

I try to stay self aware, I really appreciate that you mentioned that. Reaching out for intervention is pretty new to me and can be daunting.

 

[may71]

The information in this link might be helpful too:

Treating Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, Pain; Other Suicide Help

 

[No Harmacy]

There is definitely a hugely variable response to medications between patients. I would consider getting a pharmacogenomic test if possible (they will test your genetic profile for being able to metabolise drugs and make sure you are not on a drug that your body can't handle properly). It shouldn't necessarily be 'trial and error' when there are other tools out there that can help you get the right medication (or avoid the wrong medication).
The other thing is consider multi-vitamin and mineral supplementation to support your biochemical production of neurotransmitters.
Watch the TEDx talk by Julia Rucklidge, she has done a bunch of research studies on the benefits of micronutrients for mood, stress, anxiety, ADHD etc. Micronutrients are co-factors in the production of all of our various neurotransmitters and there is no easy way to test if deficiencies are inhibiting our ability to produce these compounds.
If you are numb on antidepressants then it is possible that things are out of balance and supporting your body to correct the balance will help.
And don't feel scared to talk to those people closest to you about how you are feeling. If the medication is making you feel more suicidal, make sure they are aware, because those closest and most important to you will actually show up for you if you need it.
My brother committed suicide and if I had of known how low he was feeling I would have been there for him whenever he needed it.

Good luck Willower, you are not alone...

 

[Winslow]

@Willower
Your plight is exactly why I weaned myself off my meds. The Side-effects were so disturbing to me, to the point where the cure was worse than the disease itself!! Luckily, my therapist is good at cognitive-therapy, so he also taught me Zen-meditation which I still practice to this day. So now I don't need the meds at all. Besides the Zen practice, I also do occupational therapy at the clinic, which I actually look forward to, each time, because of the social interaction. How grateful I am to have something to look forward to, twice a week.
In comparison, in Your case, you might still need meds despite the side-effects, so weaning off them might be counterproductive to you, I don't know. All I'm saying is what worked for me, because I managed to wean off them safely, with the Zen practice. But the Zen is something I have to keep doing diligently.

 

[foreverforgotten]

I've had this side effect for a while too. But Im ok with my apathy right now. Life would be devastating to me otherwise, right now.

Its possible you may find a better med. self harm increasing is not a good thing, and I hope you find a different one to try. I would tell your GP.
Are any other family members on any antidepressants? Sometimes the same genetics responds similarly to a medication... Maybe something worked for them?