FlyingFinn: PSSD and the fear that comes with it

[FlyingFinn]

Hello I am 24y old male. Around july 2019 my medication was switched from valdoxan (agomelatine) wich I used for 4 years without any problems to some SSRI medication and some antipsych. - meds. I cant remember the name of my medication since it was switched numerous times cause  I instantly felt that it affected my sexual drive. The condition gradually got worse with symptoms like: total death of sexual drive, erectile dysfunction, absent feeling of sensation in orgasms. I finally stopped taking any meds cold turkey around this july 2020 with my last medication being sertraline accord 50mg if I remember correctly, so I was on the SSRI -meds about a year. Now 5 months later after quitting the meds my symptoms are still as bad  with a new symptom of  having numb feelings: I dont feel sadness nor hapiness and its hard for me to feel interested romantically. 

 

I learned about PSSD several months ago but found this forum about a week ago. One post really shocked me here. In the post user wrote something like this: "there are over 4000 users in this forum yet only 40 success stories". This really made me sad and desperate, even suicidal. Is the situation really this hopeless? I'm really running out hope right now, and would like to hear your stories and some encourageing news and studies. 

I can also provide exact medical history next time I have an appointment. 

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, FlyingFinn.

 

To give members the best information, we ask them to summarize their medication history in a signature -- drugs, doses, dates, and discontinuations & reinstatements, in the last 12-24 months particularly.  If you don't remember some, that's not a problem.

 

Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature.

 

Numbness of feeling is a common withdrawal symptom, known as emotional anesthesia.  Lack of interest in romance is an aspect of this.  A related and also common withdrawal symptom is anhedonia, inability to experience pleasure.  The sexual issues you describe are also typical in psychiatric drug withdrawal.  It has been our experience here that we all heal, though it can take some time.  

 

I haven't counted the success stories, but I'm sure there are quite a few more that forty.  The reason that there are fewer success stories than you would expect, given the size of the site, is that the majority of members who have healed want to get on with their lives and, once they've healed, don't return to the site and  don't write their success story.  So the situation is far from hopeless.  Google SurvivingAntidepressants.org PSSD success stories   The number of those who heal but don't post a success, I would strongly guess, would be many multiples of those who do write a success story.  I'd also suggest you visit the general Success Story forum on the main page of this site and read through them.  They are very encouraging.

 

So that you have a better idea of what you're experiencing, here is some i formation on withdrawal and the healing process.

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Daily Checklist of Antidepressant Withdrawal Symptoms (PDF) 

 

When we take psychiatric medications, the CNS (central nervous system) responds by making changes over the months and years we take the drug(s). When the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all the changes it made. Rebuilding the neurotransmitter production and reactivating the receptor and transporter cells takes time -- during that rebuilding process symptoms occur.  

 

These explain the healing process really well.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems. Get supplements that are single ingredient (not mixed with other types of supplements).

 

This is your Introduction topic, where you can complete your drug signature, ask questions and connect with other members.  We're glad you found your way here.

 

 

 

 

 

[Deepu]

U shouldnt quit cold turkey .....sex drive will return......but quit cold turkey can mess situation

[FlyingFinn]

Thank you Girdley, I will read this properly with a proper translator, since english isnt my native, so Im not possibly able to grasp the information here well enough on my own. 

 

I'm also sorry that I took so long time in responding, I tried to not think about PSSD and kept myself away from internet, because I found a finnish thread at some site where this self claimant researcher said that there is no known case of recovery and that its impossible since PSSD is basically brain damage. This  really terrified me, so I quit internet for a while. 

 

I will provide you guys my medical record next Thursday since then I can get acces to them when I have an appointment with my doctor. 

[FlyingFinn]

On 11/18/2020 at 10:35 PM, Deepu said:

U shouldnt quit cold turkey .....sex drive will return......but quit cold turkey can mess situation

What do you mean by this? How mess? 

[ChessieCat]

29 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

I'm also sorry that I took so long time in responding, I tried to not think about PSSD and kept myself away from internet, because I found a finnish thread at some site where this self claimant researcher said that there is no known case of recovery and that its impossible since PSSD is basically brain damage. This  really terrified me, so I quit internet for a while. 

 

We have members that have recovered from PSSD.  Here is the link to a search for PSSD in the Success Stories forum:

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q=pssd&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=28

[ChessieCat]

And this member:  danieln-pssd-recovery

 

[ChessieCat]

pssd-success-story-for-pssd-and-ongoing-discontinuation-symptoms-please-read

 

☼-theautomator-recovering-from-pssd

 

djderek-i-had-pssd

 

[FlyingFinn]

1 hour ago, ChessieCat said:

 

We have members that have recovered from PSSD.  Here is the link to a search for PSSD in the Success Stories forum:

 

https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/search/?q=pssd&quick=1&type=forums_topic&nodes=28

Dear ChessieCat, thank you for your responses and the time and effort you put on this. 

 

Im glad to see theese recovery stories, all tho allmost all the stories didnt have so severe symptoms as I have, this really scares me if im able to recover.

[ChessieCat]

But they DID recover.

 

Many people think that their case is severe or the worst.

 

Instead of thinking that way, it is better to think of it as being "bad at this time".  That is an objective way of viewing it rather than an emotional way and will be less stressful and aid your recovery.

[FlyingFinn]

19 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

But they DID recover.

 

Many people think that their case is severe or the worst.

 

Instead of thinking that way, it is better to think of it as being "bad at this time".  That is an objective way of viewing it rather than an emotional way and will be less stressful and aid your recovery.

I feel like this is an obsession to me as well, not an hour a day goes by that I dont think about my condition, this surely doesnt help me either. 

I also have a habit of believing that the worse will happen, this sort of doom-thinking. This got worse when a guy with similliar symptoms on PSSDforum  said to me basically that there is no hope. I think I might have seen him or at least a dude with a same username here as well.