Do antidepressants contribute to a flat emotional feeling?!

I experienced feeling emotionally numb when I was on high doses of two anti-depressants at the same time. I'm not sure if it's the drug themselves. Some people say that it just feel like you're flat because when your depression is out of control,most people are used to emotions running abnormally high, being sensitive and everything being raw. So feeling "normal" may feel odd compared to how you're used to feeling, which makes sense to me.

I'm now off the anti-depressants and I think if a person is clinically depressed they are worth it. Depression feeds on itself and gets worse usually if left untreated. The longer it is the more impact it can have on your life and it makes recovery harder. If you're on an anti-depressant and dose that is suited to you it should stop or reduce things that depression often leads to like self harm and feeling suicidal which can't be a bad thing. With symptoms under control you are in a good position to make changes to your life that will make your mental health better or to engage in therapy. Having said that I think sometimes therapies like CBT are given at the wrong time, when your managed by medication so you don't get as good practice at dealing with the issues as they are not so present.

There is evident that certain anti-depressants can lead to for example, your brain managing serotonin better even once you have ended your course of the drug. For me my recovery only began when I was on the right medication.

I really think you should speak to your doctor about the Efexor not having a positive impact. Sadly some people have to try several anti-depressants before finding the right one for them.

Antidepressants have never made me feel 'flat' or any other feeling except for better. They don't 'mask' what is wrong if you are chemically depressed, meaning you have a chemical imbalance of the serotonin levels in the brain which has nothing to do with being depressed over what is going on your life. They instead level the serotonin out which in fact cures you while you are taking the drug. All of the massages and self help in the world will never level out those serotonin levels without some chemical help. If this drug isn't working well for you try another and another until you find the one that does.

As for feeling suicidal, just last week a 21 year old young woman jumped from a 7 story building to her death here in the town of which I live. I will never be able to drive past that building again (which is in the very center of town) without my heart breaking over the loss of her life for no reason, at least no reason large enough that I can think of. What a loss! There is nothing in life that cannot be overcome. Believe me I know better than most. I've lost a child, I became disabled from severe chronic pain when I was in my mid 30's, 11 years ago, I live in horrible pain every day of my life and the pain medications just aren't strong enough to handle it, they just barely take the edge off. I haven't slept in a real bed in 11 years, I sleep sitting up in a chair! I have no life, I rarely go anywhere, I could go on and on. But what I won't do is take my life because of this.

You are stronger than this and have too much to live for. You said you have children? Count your blessings. Find the right medication and be strong.

Personal experience.

as a person who suffers from depression, i have found the pills to be very helpful in keeping me and my life level and stedy. i have experianced these 'flat feelings' they are scary and not fun. but i found they were usally related to stuff that was going on in my life at the time.

i would recomend going back to the doctors and talking to them. they will be able to sugest what is better for you. some of these pills just dont mix with some people. i take citalopram, it comes in small doeses and can be increased if needed.

hope you feel better soon, xx

life experiances

STOP GET YOURSELF INFORMED
what is vitally important is to choose your healing route- for this problem ----- carefully from good information—that means knowing druggs/meds treatment for this can/will be damaging to your mind and body .drugs only mask the symptoms they do not cure.

This info well –it will save ---years of suffering = if you apply it ..

All treatment recommended by the doctors should be tested and approved and quite rightly so.
That makes sense
It costs millions of pounds to test and approve just one treatment.

Drug companies pay for most testing and will only and I mean only look at treatments, which show the promise of good deal of a profit, --they will actively dismiss any therapy which does not have profit potential— thus your doctor will only recommend therapies that have been tested with profit potential in them.

Despite The fact that some of these other therapies mentioned below do have overwhelming benefits some, which have saved massive amounts of suffering

Drugs are not the answer for any mental illness-- at best they mask symptoms

This is a fundamental principle grasp this fully –

Have you heard your local doctor recommend, Massage Spiritual healing, reiki Light therapy, Colour therapy, the violet ray therapy, Osteopathy, Electrical Frequency devices. Karma therapy and u wont because no one can put a patent on these powerful therapies .

For much more info/ detail and research behind this protocol
Go here http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/theholi…
Upon joining this group you will be sent a file giving the info –or go to the files section within the group and u will see it there

Print this all off save it and enact it and share it --- of course someone to help you get these therapies in your life is invaluable but do not be swayed by anyone trying for short cuts …
.
1,get someone to massage your back and legs at least 3 times a week use peanut oil or a mix of 50-50 olive and peanut oil.

2 use the violet ray machine an Edgar Cayce device google search this --- 3 times a week on the other days especially on the spine….we use it every day with very positive results

3.get a tent sleep out side 3times a week utilising earth energy - nature can help big time especially with how you feel how much energy you have

4 study and apply good nutrition— adele davis books =protein minerals =iron essential fatty acids omega 3 6 9 protein etc

5 ensure your thyroid is working well get it checked

6 ensure you do at least I hr per day some kind of voluntary work when you are able..the reasons you are ill , or poor or have allsorts of bad things happen to you is because of karma -----usually from past lives but some from this one –voluntary work will offset your mistakes--- how much it offsets well that is down to god and how much you do. Healing us is in direct proportion to the help we give others ie your healing comes with helping others achieve theirs so if people are doing very little in helping others ---they suffer more and longer...and if they are doing a lot they get well faster....so now you know what to do ,,and like a lot of us are already doing being of service.

7 be amongst people who are giving, friendly who have time for you who love you , choose your friends well . choose your company well.

8 get to a place which personally love or like

9 do some work which you like or love

10 ensure you do no acts which hurt or inflict on anyone –don’t want to add to your karma do we !!!

11 spiritual healing and reiki find good therapists who offer this service in your area many spiritualist churches which are all around offer this for free as part of their vocational offerings to the divine.

12 focus your mind - think good positive thoughts, laughter, look at comedy, play good uplifting music,

13 avoid at all costs exposure to violence, murders, suffering ,death ,tragedies, -feed upon good things uplifting things, things that feel like a breath of fresh air..

14 Positive affirmation- t programme your self in the mirror , thoughts are things words are things actions are things , all have influence, few people realise these things can have an effect on themselves .

15 get a detox ------ toxins can influence how you feel big time

16 hugs get plenty of them in your daily life you would be amazed at how people feel after a few decent hugs.== find a big tree and hug that.
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17 loads of exercise running walking climbing but something which you enjoy

18 light therapy sunshine /light box and vitamin d and ensure water intake 2 litres a day

A total cure however is tied up with karma so you can imagine just how important is the voluntary work. The more u do the better u will feel .

Get the spiritual healing /reiki in place asap

And remember this

Voluntary work for you is a very good idea especially when u consider this principle

,.all our healing and happiness - yours and mine is linked right alongside our efforts and contribution to others.in direct proportion to the help we give others

ie your healing comes with helping others =so if people are doing very little in helping others ---they suffer more and longer...and if they are doing a lot they get well faster...

.so now you know what to do ,,and like a lot of us are already doing being of service.

Do not even dream of healing to come to you if you are doing wrongful acts , wrongful words , wrongful thoughts. All you are doing is making more of a burden for yourself

1 hour a day will make a difference to you and to others

thats interesting, i would have thought that anti-psychotics like risperdal would cause a flat feeling and anti-depressants would cause a HIGH

try drinking more coffee, and taking ginseng

you wont feel flat then!

Switch drugs. I had the same problem with Abilify, doctors understand that it's a side effect and they'll take you off and put you on a similar but less sucky drug.

CAll your doctor and tell them you want a different med. Are antidepressents work it? YES. However, THAT particular med isn't working for you and never will

they can be very helpful, if you want to feel less dull, lower the dose