2 replies to this topic

[stillhaventfound]

I'm supposed to start a low dose tomorrow and I'm pretty uneasy about it, because
a. I'm kind of against antidepressants and
b. I've heard SSRI's just stifle your emotions, and I really don't want that.

The only reason I'm open to taking it is because of the awful muscle tension (back of head/neck) and head pressure I've had. I don't experience much DP/DR now, but apparently the tension is stress-related.

I'm just not really sure if antidepressants are right for me, because it's not like I need to stifle negative thoughts. the stress is mostly social avoidance-related. I don't have much anxiety anymore (though that's what initially caused the avoidance), it's mostly just a struggle to change my behavior when I feel so exhausted. I guess it is overwhelming to try to make such major changes in my life, but I've taken some major steps forward in the past couple years and the tension doesn't seem to correlate with my progress at all?

I don't know what I'm trying to say exactly, it's just like--my emotional stress* is mainly from behavioral issues and isn't something I consciously experience on a day-to-day basis, so I don't understand how taking medication is going to help me. Unless it increases my energy, but it seems like my lack of energy is mostly from how terrible I physically feel. I've already tried Flexerol, Skelaxin, yoga, exercise and massage (none helped at all) and my doctor won't prescribe me anything else.

And it's not like the tension/pressure goes away even when I'm socializing, happy, totally anxiety-free, etc. I'm so confused and I don't know what there is for me to do..

*I don't even feel like I'm emotionally stressed because I'm not significantly worried or sad about anything. it doesn't even make sense to me that it would be subconsciously bothering me, I thought I'd gotten over that. I'm optimistic, have decent self-esteem, my anxiety is pretty low and I enjoy life.

Anyway, based on what I've said do you think Zoloft would help / what is it supposed to do, exactly?
and what experience have you had with it?
thanks. (:

[Macky]

Hello there, I've had experience with Zoloft in the past. While it is an antidepressant medication, it can also help regulate OCD. Like you said, it can definitely stifle your emotions - even stagnate them - but if you really need a kick and nothing seems to help, it's definitely a viable option. If you're not really having any depression or OCD then maybe an SSRI is not the right drug.

If you're having behavioral issues then maybe you could try CBT -- which works to change your behavioral thinking patterns. I've never done it but I've known people who have benefited from taking it.

Have you tried taking Naturopathic medication? If you have low energy and you don't want to experience the side effects of an SSRI, maybe try going that route. Haven't tried it myself but I've looked into it.

Good luck!

[omnisest]

Zoloft did nothing for me except make me feel even more empty. If anything it made my depersonalisation worse, as well as my anhedonia. My experience was extremely negative, but I'm quite sure others have probably had better ones. SSRIs, I think, just don't really work with me.