Sertraline - numbing of emotions?

[Rzim]

Just that - anyone experienced this? I've recently come off it after 2 years and am actually feeling emotions again! Which is good obviously! Know they are meant to be a leveller - but just wondered if anyone has experienced this? X

I took sertraline for a year and found I couldn't cry! Even at things I knew I really should've cried about, I was glad to come off it really.

I have recently started on 50mg and said today that I feel like I need to cry but can’t! I’m on week 5 and was feeling a bit better but I feel awful today, went out last night and had a drink, I don’t think I should have!

I agree milkybutts - I struggled to show any emotion and much interest! I was getting sober at the same time which is why I was put on it

Yes I definitely felt this with sertraline. Someone close to me died and I went through some major live upheaval while I was on it and just felt numb.
Also, I felt it stopped me taking action during said upheaval as nothing ever felt "bad enough" if that makes sense?! Has anyone else experienced that?

Well done on your sobriety @Rzim

Many thx - kind words - I've had my 3 major deaths and a house move and not much emotion! Hopefully now - once I recover from COVID!!! X

Oh hope your get better soon!
I did find I'd have overwhelming days, when I just couldn't stop crying at the slightest thing after I stopped taking it. I wonder was it all that unprocessed emotion coming out finally! So mind yourself is what I'm saying I suppose. Don't get scared by it if it happens,as it does pass.

I was at supper a few weeks ago and just felt like bursting into tears - just us and our best friends - very odd! But then I suppose it makes sense - 2 years of not feeling - needs to come out somehow!!

I've been on it for 4 years. And I also feel numb. I can't feel real joy, and I don't actually give a shit about much at all. It's like apathy. But at the same time my awful health anxiety is not there because I don't give a shit about that either.

I’m on 25mg now and I definitely recognise what you’re saying although I’m not sure I miss crying all that much. That said, I do tear up at random shows sometimes but I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve cried in the five years I’ve been on it. Interestingly I missed two or three days not long ago and after a while I got very anxious and upset about work for the first time in a while. I can’t really remember what life was like before sertraline now, it must have been exhausting.

I'm actually thinking of going back on it tbh.i have zero motivation and am just going through the motions of life. What a tradeoff eh? No emotions vs crushing depression.

I was on it for 3 years; various doses but mainly 150. Felt v numb/protected. Came off it in June and am an emotional wreck. Can’t decide if I prefer emotional suppression or feeling it all fully.

I'm a bit worried reading this thread :/ I've had horrendous PND with waves of anger and irritability and was told by the doctor today that sertraline would be the answer. I've got small DC so was banking on that but don't want to take it if it stops me from feeling anything towards them :/

I feel totally normal on 100mg. Happy, sad, emotional, whatever. I'm much calmer and less frustrated with the kids so get more chance to feel love and enjoy them. Never felt numb except at first when I was very unwell but I think it was me that was numb, not the sertraline. It gave me a chance to recover and rest my head.

@dottypencilcase I never had any problems feeling love towards my dc while I was taking it x it definitely helped with what you're describing.

[quote ReiltinDubh]@dottypencilcase I never had any problems feeling love towards my dc while I was taking it x it definitely helped with what you're describing.[/quote]

Thank you so much for this. I've been in denial for a long time re: my MH decline. Thought it was me and id manage it somehow but a few years later and I'm wishing I wasn't here because I don't deserve my DC and they'd be better off without me. The anger, hurt and frustration towards myself (for letting my kids down) spills out and I'm a shouty, horrible mess. I need to get better...

@Peanutmnm

I feel totally normal on 100mg. Happy, sad, emotional, whatever. I'm much calmer and less frustrated with the kids so get more chance to feel love and enjoy them. Never felt numb except at first when I was very unwell but I think it was me that was numb, not the sertraline. It gave me a chance to recover and rest my head.

Thank you for this. Again, I can relate. I came to a realisation just today that I've been in survival mode since having the Dc and haven't really enjoyed them. I've felt paralysed with the anxiety of raising them and have felt burdened with the expectations of parenting. I just want to relax and be happy again which I haven't been the DC were born. Really hoping the medication helps.

I stopped taking mine a month ago, and I've actually cried (once) for the first time in years. I very much needed my emotions to be numbed at the time because they were negative and scary, but it also dulled the highs. Being able to "feel" again is good, I think.

The only bad thing is I'm getting snappy at DP and it's annoying him.. but I genuinely think he's just been getting away with murder for a few years because I haven't had the emotions to actually give enough of a shit to argue about things! I've been like a robot, doing everything round the house, just generally sorting everything, and it's suddenly started pissing me off that he's not pulling his weight.

I've got the fire in my belly back - without the crippling anxiety that led me to the tablets in the first place.

EDIT: I found that sertraline damaged my sleep patterns, increased my appetite and ruined my sex drive.. the first two weeks after stopping the sertraline was rough, but suddenly I'm sleeping better, eating better, and wanting sex!