In the words of Linkin Park: I've become SO numb
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi everyone
Hoping people may be able to respond to this with some thoughts...at the very least, even if not, it'll be a good chance to unload
In a nutshell...I am getting incredibly frustrated \ sad \ annoyed with the fact I feel 'numb' in terms of emotions- I feel no highs, no matter how fleeting and no matter how warranted they may be. My background is this: I have been on Fluoxetine since 2008 and Mirtazapine since 2009 for low level depression, but mainly for OCD \ sleep and anxiety issues, having had 3 lots of CBT for OCD (some more successful than others).
My recent ire with myself is that I am simply not enjoying a life in which I feel I should. This has always bothered me low level for years and I am convinved part of it is due to the medication that I'm on- I've read that my respective tablets can sometimes lead to a 'numbing' sensation (good to take the edge of OCD and depression, but not so much for feelings of enjoyment)
Ultimately, it may be the meds, it may not. Either way, recently I am getting not only frustrated at my lack of 'feelings', but just downright anxious about it all. Case in point- everything in my life is, on the face of it, exactly what I wanted it to be: I have a girlfriend who is just perfect for me and love very much, (we've just bought a house together) a job I really enjoy and a fit and healthy lifestyle. But with this comes my own high standards of expecations of 'how' I should feel, and I resent the fact that I don't feel good about it all. I don't feel 'bad', I just don't feel good- no pings of happiness, no constant or even brief optimism, and it breaks my heart.
I chatted with my latest CBT therapist about it and she said that I have this assumption that everyone feels happy and I don't, which she believes is essentially not true and that I have set myself ridiculously high standards of wanting to 'feel' happy. I said that I remember, pre medication and in my teenage years that I did have spells of feeling truly positive, upbeat and happy- perhaps that's rose-tinted glasses, I'm not sure.
I have tried various types of vitamins to help aid in dealing with low mood (all to no real avail) and it's really hard to describe to someone, but it's just that now I feel anxious, edgy and negative in relation to this numbness- whereas it was always there before, it is really bothering me now and is always on my mind to the point where it is merging with my anxiety and low level mood. I went to my friend's wedding last weekend and I felt...nothing. Nothing at all. Did the majority of the guests there feel the same? Or did they feel happy \ emotional at the points I feel I 'should' have done? Even on his stag do...one I tried so hard to enjoy (and maybe that's part of the issue, the trying rather than it coming naturall), amidst a time where it looked like everyone was having a blast, I wasn't (although no one would have known on face value). Not even alcohol gives me a temporary buzz anymore (but that's probably a different topic)
Well...that wasn't exactly in a nutshell, but nonetheless, thank you if you've taken the time to read. If you've had any similar experiences or tips, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks.
2 likes, 9 replies
sophika DBE86
Posted
I think 2 things: firstly, yes, it's your meds and the numbness is the compromise you have to make that surely is better than the condition you are being treated for in the first place. And secondly, I think you're overthinking this. You're watching yourself too closely. At the wedding and the stag do, you were examining yourself to see if you were "feeling" anything instead of just letting go and enjoying yourself.
Ask yourself this. If something wonderful happened to you, like say, you got promoted at work, or you inherited a lovely house from a relative or something like that , how would you feel? And the opposite, God forbid, if something awful happened, would you feel anything? Medication has the tendency to numb our feelings and emotions so you need to decide if you'd rather feel things more but feel pretty crap most of the time or if you'd rather be numb but on an even keel.
I was on Seroxat for 15 years and recently came off it. In the years I was on it I don't think I cried more than half a dozen times. Now that I have been off it I have cried so much it's ridiculous. But I wouldn't go back to it in a million years. Keep well.
stephx DBE86
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xmaryx DBE86
Posted
DBE86
Posted
Sophika, I agree it's almost certainly due to the meds. My concern is that I cannot tell if I am getting especially anxious \ down about it BECAUSE I am in the midst of reducing the meds, or if it is because of the meds that I am feeling down \ anxious because I feel numb. I suspect this is something that doesn't have a clear cut answer. The truth is is that I would come off them more readily were it not for my sleep- I sleep badly and feel very edgy about sleep as it is, and the thought of not having any medication for it is what is scaring me into me staying on them (perhaps ultimately at the cost of feeling emotions...)
Stephx- yup, you've summed it up really well (unfortunately!) that is how it is :-\ Hope you are doing as okay as possible.
xmaryx- good to hear your son is back on the right track. I take Cod Liver Oil with Omega-3...ultimately, it is hard to say whether these (along with other vitamins I am on, including chamomile for anxiety!) are having any effect, or whether I'd be worse without them. They didn't have the clear difference I hoped for but again, that may be due to the weighty, high level of expectaton that I set myself (the same one that 'expects' me to feel a certain level of happiness, and when I don't I get edgy).
xmaryx DBE86
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Davesoapbox DBE86
Posted
namaste
DBE86
Posted
david- I think you make a very legitimate point. I think it is about me changing as a person and also going back to that thought on what i'm 'expected' to feel. I suspect most people at, say, the wedding for example weren't feeling too disimilar to myself, but the key to it is that they weren't overanalysing \ anxious about it like I was! Thank you.
Davesoapbox DBE86
Posted
dave
Babette DBE86
Posted
This is exactly how i feel and u couldn't have described it any better. I have been on citalopram for 13 years. Went to see my gp 2 weeks ago and said that I had enough of feeling numb.. My bf keeps saying you never seem happy... So I was like that's it, off to the gp. He told me to try sertraline which I've been on for 18 days now. So far my anxiety is over the roof so I can't tell but I'm hoping it will help... I'm just like you I don't get excited. Going on holiday but feel nothing kind of whatever I'm not bothered. It's awful!!! If anything changes I shall let u know but please know that you are not the only one and I totally understand.