Do Anti Depressants cause emotional numbness?

I didn't really know where to put this so i thought i would put it here. Heres my story.

So me and my ex split up 5 months ago we are still good friends with the added benefits still can't let go and still in love, in past 4 months shes been going through a really dark stage with things going wrong with her family and friends ,self harming and having sudical thoughts.

So 4 weeks ago her sister and fiance and there little boy were up for a week , they think of me as family so i was around alot to see them, we were both all over each other we have always been like that when we hook up or see each other.

A week after they left we had planned to go see them, everything was ok the first 2 days then it went downhill, she was very distant wouldn't cuddle in ,give me a kiss you know the usual stuff, she was very moody and sometime wouldn't talk to me, she wasn't just off with me though her sister saw it as well she was quieter than usual. This lasted most of the week

So we came back up and she had planned to see doctor and was put on anti depressants, this has killed her sex drive completely as she has said to me even if she wanted to she is isn't in the mood. The distance thing is still here, she will cuddle in at night but she wont really kiss me or have anything physical contact, i tend to think she is trying to move on but she still wants to meet up and phone me. She has only been on these for a week Prozac but i think she has had depression for a couple of months.

When i did ask her about it and said she was being distant she turned to me and said you know everything that is going on and i cant believe your saying am being distant. This doesn't really explain anything in my terms.

I just wanted to see if anyone has been with someone or went through this it causing people to be distant as if they have no emotion towards them. The distancing thing just is very unsual for her she still has strongs feelings for me and am not sure if its to do with the anti depressants or she not interested.

 

in a nut shell ,, yes.

 

Yes, it numbs emotions, that's how they work. They also kill libido, cause weight gain, and can worsen suicidal thoughts.

 

If the pills are causing unwanted side effects, she needs to talk to her doctor. There are a lot of other pills she can try, that may not have such negative side effects for her. For some antidepressants can do great things, but they aren't for everyone. Also, it is not uncommon to do lousy on one medication but do fine on another.

Since she has opted to use antidepressants, perhaps you could try mentioning to her that you have noticed her mood change, and perhaps she should talk to her doctor. The 'right' antidepressant should not turn her into an emotional zombie.

 

Antidepressants cause emotional numbness. I actually had a Psych Doc tell me this was a good thing, it means the drug was working. One month later I had a complete mental breakdown... But that's another story.

 

I don't find my anti-depressants numbing at all. But the sex drive is almost non-existant.
I've tried coming off them just for my libido but that was a disaster. I'm sick of not getting any and so is my SO. I try to work on it to combat the drug's effect but it's an up hill battle. It can be done! It's just a pile of effort on her part and a pile of understanding on yours.


"When i did ask her about it and said she was being distant she turned to me and said you know everything that is going on and i cant believe your saying am being distant. This doesn't really explain anything in my terms."

Yeah. Been in her shoes. "What's wrong?"
Oh maybe the same damn thing that was wrong last night. That was wrong last week. That was wrong last month. That I keep telling you about over and over but since I didn't nail a sign saying 'My drugs fuck up my sex drive' to your head, you'll keep asking me.

Now, I get that it's tough to be with someone who's got a fucked up drive. You'll start to feel unwanted. And perhaps you start to believe the drug thing is an excuse and that it's really about you. It's not. This effects you, but it's not about you. Honest.

 

I'm on anti-depressants and yes it makes you have no interest in it at all. My husband and I have been having problems with this because it's been going on for a little over a year and I'm still trying to find the right medication. That doesn't mean your girl won't be able to find it quicker. I was on Prozac and that was one of the ones that did completely kill my libido. It's hard not to take it personally but like the person above me said, you can still have a sex life it just takes some work. Try to be patient. If it concerns you then I would talk to her to see if she would be open to trying something different. The only medication I've been on that doesn't affect your libido is Welbutrin. However it is a stimulant and if she has anxiety you run the risk of increasing her chances of having an anxiety attack but it doesn't happen to everyone. Good luck with everything and I hope she finds something that helps her.

 

I have been on different anti-depressants for 12 years and they have NEVER caused emotional numbness in me!

One gave me headaches. Others stopped feeling like they were working well after using a particular one for several years, but NEVER have a felt emotionally numb.

I am able to experience a full spectrum of healthy emotions when I take them. That is what they do for me, where as having depression leaves me missing out on lots of positive emotions and feeling the negative ones mostly.

They don't decrease my libido either. I have a healthy sexual appetite. When I was on Effexor for a couple of years is when I was in my most sexually active (very much so ) relationship.

I have had really good experiences with most of the anti-depressants. I couldn't live without being on one. I've tried and that always ends with me so depressed that I can't function.

EDIT: I just wanted to add that I only use alcohol and recreational drugs very rarely. This includes weed. Maybe that's why I have the experience that I do with anti-depressant medications.

 

Whether they cause emotional numbness is subjective as there are varying depths of depression and a plethora of different medications/severity of medications, different dosages and on top of that we are all unique and can react differently.

They can cause it though and they can almost zombify a person.

Give your girlfriend time, four months is nothing in the great scheme of things and any such medication takes around 6 weeks to fully kick in.