4 ms·

Hmmm.. having been on an SSRI (at the time I was depressed) and suffering from a mild to middling social anxiety disorder (which stems from a chronic childhood

Hmmm.. having been on an SSRI (at the time I was depressed) and suffering from a mild to middling social anxiety disorder (which stems from a chronic childhood one which lessened as I reached my mid 20's), for me SSRI's made me feel indestructible and fearless. But they also made me feel like I had no emotions at all and removed sexual desire and affected pleasure, so I stopped taking them and instead dealt with the causes of my depression. I still get bouts, but I have a mechanism in place to handle the symptoms and they mostly dissipate. That coupled with an ability to separate/compartmentalise personal and work life (as in, they just don't cross over in my mind), a lot of the stress I feel is only in the parts of my day when I am in the section of my life that I'm having issues with. The human brain is wonderful. So in short - I don't think I fully believe what they have found. I think the problem is that the extra Serotonin papers over the cracks well enough to work for most people. So, maybe my experience is just due to the fact it made me relax and that was the reason for my issues in the first place? Who know, I'm not a doctor. All I know is that more Serotonin felt better than less at the time.

plausibility 11y ago
I've had a similar experience. Taking SSRIs (Sertraline, initially 50mg/daily, now 100mg/daily) for social phobia and depression. They definitely helped increase my baseline for positive feelings (i.e., I don't spend as many days curled up in bed feeling hopeless), but it's true that it brings down other aspects of life. Decreased sexual function, loss of emotion in other areas, stuff like that. I wonder whether serotonin is really the magic trick to increasing moods or whether it's just a stop-gap solution that works well enough for most.
- pja 11y ago
  I wonder whether serotonin is really the magic trick to increasing moods or whether it's just a stop-gap solution that works well enough for most. You’ll find a stack of articles on this topic in amongst the others at http://slatestarcodex.com/ http://slatestarcodex.com/ Maybe start with http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/07/ssris-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know/ http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/07/ssris-much-more-than-yo... ?
Eduard 11y ago
> I still get bouts, but I have a mechanism in place to handle the symptoms and they mostly dissipate. Can you tell me about the mechanism that helps you?
- henderson101 11y ago
  For me, it's a lot of accepting what I can change and putting things I can't in to perspective. Treating others as I'd like to be treated. And really, trying to find peace without creating conflict. Think of it as a form of meditation, without the sitting and relaxing part. It is hard to explain because there are many layers to the technique, but keeping different aspects of your life in isolation is another important factor. Bad day at work? When you walk out of your office, throw it away. Argument with your partner? When you leave your house, don't dwell on it. Stop beating yourself up about things... materialism isn't jut about physical objects, it's also about your environment. If you feel self entitled, you feel like things conspire against you more frequently. Accept that you're no better than anyone else, learn to love the incomprehensible.. There's no magic fix. Accept that. Drugs can mask your symptoms, but they can't fix the underlying problem if your attitude towards life doesn't also change. This is all pretty vague I know, but without trying to sound like psychobabble - take what you can from my suggestions and reject what you doesn't work. And never let anyone tell you you're cured or still ill... you're cured when you feel cured. You will relapse, but if you fall back to your mecanism to survive all should fall back in to place.
- richmt 11y ago
  Not OP, but the biggest thing my therapist recommended me was practicing mindfulness through meditation. The idea is that it makes it easier to fall back in that same mental state when suffering everyday anxiety. Another thing she recommended which I just started doing was exercising regularly. I just started lifting a few weeks ago with a friend at the gym, and already its had a huge boost on my confidence levels. Sorry if you've heard these before, but they do help a ton, trust me.
  - heroku 11y ago
    I started exercising and it gave me a huge confidence boost that further lead to being attracted by girls. After a year though I got used to lifting weights and I wasn't progressing as I wanted to be so that didn't help. But I am sure if you get shredded you will be cured.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

plausibility 11y ago

I've had a similar experience. Taking SSRIs (Sertraline, initially 50mg/daily, now 100mg/daily) for social phobia and depression. They definitely helped increase my baseline for positive feelings (i.e., I don't spend as many days curled up in bed feeling hopeless), but it's true that it brings down other aspects of life. Decreased sexual function, loss of emotion in other areas, stuff like that. I wonder whether serotonin is really the magic trick to increasing moods or whether it's just a stop-gap solution that works well enough for most.

pja 11y ago
I wonder whether serotonin is really the magic trick to increasing moods or whether it's just a stop-gap solution that works well enough for most. You’ll find a stack of articles on this topic in amongst the others at http://slatestarcodex.com/ http://slatestarcodex.com/ Maybe start with http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/07/ssris-much-more-than-you-wanted-to-know/ http://slatestarcodex.com/2014/07/07/ssris-much-more-than-yo... ?

Eduard 11y ago

> I still get bouts, but I have a mechanism in place to handle the symptoms and they mostly dissipate. Can you tell me about the mechanism that helps you?

henderson101 11y ago
For me, it's a lot of accepting what I can change and putting things I can't in to perspective. Treating others as I'd like to be treated. And really, trying to find peace without creating conflict. Think of it as a form of meditation, without the sitting and relaxing part. It is hard to explain because there are many layers to the technique, but keeping different aspects of your life in isolation is another important factor. Bad day at work? When you walk out of your office, throw it away. Argument with your partner? When you leave your house, don't dwell on it. Stop beating yourself up about things... materialism isn't jut about physical objects, it's also about your environment. If you feel self entitled, you feel like things conspire against you more frequently. Accept that you're no better than anyone else, learn to love the incomprehensible.. There's no magic fix. Accept that. Drugs can mask your symptoms, but they can't fix the underlying problem if your attitude towards life doesn't also change. This is all pretty vague I know, but without trying to sound like psychobabble - take what you can from my suggestions and reject what you doesn't work. And never let anyone tell you you're cured or still ill... you're cured when you feel cured. You will relapse, but if you fall back to your mecanism to survive all should fall back in to place.
richmt 11y ago
Not OP, but the biggest thing my therapist recommended me was practicing mindfulness through meditation. The idea is that it makes it easier to fall back in that same mental state when suffering everyday anxiety. Another thing she recommended which I just started doing was exercising regularly. I just started lifting a few weeks ago with a friend at the gym, and already its had a huge boost on my confidence levels. Sorry if you've heard these before, but they do help a ton, trust me.
- heroku 11y ago
  I started exercising and it gave me a huge confidence boost that further lead to being attracted by girls. After a year though I got used to lifting weights and I wasn't progressing as I wanted to be so that didn't help. But I am sure if you get shredded you will be cured.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]