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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on September 5, 2010, at 19:04:32
When I think of recovery from depression, I don't want to be "happy". SSRIs can sometimes produce a "happy" feeling with me, but this is not what I want.
Does anybody feel the same way, i.e. a desire to be "well", not "happy"?
Like perhaps, the ability to cry?
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on September 5, 2010, at 19:14:04
In reply to happy vs. well, posted by linkadge on September 5, 2010, at 19:04:32
Never made me happy just normal. I guess I'm normally a happy person when working at what I love. Phillipa
Posted by morgan miller on September 5, 2010, at 20:46:45
In reply to happy vs. well, posted by linkadge on September 5, 2010, at 19:04:32
If I am well, meaning if I feel good and have my health, depression usually does not get the best of me for very long. As far as antidepressants go, I required their use in order to feel normal or well, not just for the antidepressant effect. I will take feeling well any day.
You said antidepressants have made you feel happy but you also say they don't work, I'm confused?
Posted by linkadge on September 5, 2010, at 21:05:55
In reply to Re: happy vs. well, posted by morgan miller on September 5, 2010, at 20:46:45
Well, me and my best friend have discussed the fact that we can't cry on SSRIs. I might feel the need to cry, like I want to, but I can't.
I don't consider this to be "well" as I don't feel I have a full range of emotions.
P.S. I started this post to see if others could identify with what I am saying.
Linkadge
Posted by violette on September 5, 2010, at 21:19:38
In reply to happy vs. well, posted by linkadge on September 5, 2010, at 19:04:32
Linkadge,
Happiness = mindfulness.Violette
Posted by violette on September 5, 2010, at 21:21:11
In reply to Re: happy vs. well, posted by violette on September 5, 2010, at 21:19:38
Haha just kidding!
Happiness isn't a destination/end result to me...being content with myself & relationships and living to my full potential is what i seek.
Posted by morgan miller on September 5, 2010, at 21:28:36
In reply to Re: happy vs. well » morgan miller, posted by linkadge on September 5, 2010, at 21:05:55
> Well, me and my best friend have discussed the fact that we can't cry on SSRIs. I might feel the need to cry, like I want to, but I can't.
>
> I don't consider this to be "well" as I don't feel I have a full range of emotions.
>
> P.S. I started this post to see if others could identify with what I am saying.
>
> Linkadge
>
>I hear ya, I couldn't cry very easily on Prozac but had no problem crying on Zoloft. I felt tons of empathy and even cried for others while on Zoloft. Prozac on the other hand really blunts my emotions. I wouldn't blame anyone for not wanting to be on a drug that blunts their emotions so much to the point that they can't ever cry about anything.
For me, even when on antidepressants, if I feel really good, I am more likely to be able to be in touch with my emotions and cry just the same as I would off antidepressants.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on September 6, 2010, at 14:17:37
In reply to happy vs. well, posted by linkadge on September 5, 2010, at 19:04:32
>SSRIs can sometimes produce a "happy" feeling with me, but this is not what I want.
I wish they did for me! They make me feel OK, but not happy. I will not acheive happiness until my life is better.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on September 6, 2010, at 14:20:52
In reply to happy vs. well, posted by linkadge on September 5, 2010, at 19:04:32
> Does anybody feel the same way, i.e. a desire to be "well", not "happy"?
>
> Like perhaps, the ability to cry?Hmm, do you mean 'euphoric' rather than happy? I think happy people do cry, because truly happy people are emotionally balanced.
Posted by linkadge on September 6, 2010, at 18:59:01
In reply to Re: happy vs. well, posted by ed_uk2010 on September 6, 2010, at 14:20:52
>Hmm, do you mean 'euphoric' rather than happy? I >think happy people do cry, because truly happy >people are emotionally balanced.
Well, I think we are arguing semantics here. Some would say that to cry, you have to be sad, unless they are "tears of joy". Regardless, I would say that emotionally balanced is not happy. Emotionally balanced is the ability to be happy when appropriate, sad when appropriate as well as a full range of other emotions (when appropriate). On SSRIs there is no other dimention, just this shallow, artificial, zombie feeling for me I can't feel emotion, I can't cry when I am on SSRIs.
If I can't cry, I would not consider this to be well, I would say my emotions have just been blunted.
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on September 6, 2010, at 19:03:20
In reply to Re: happy vs. well, posted by linkadge on September 6, 2010, at 18:59:01
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/emotionalblunting.htm
"Compared to controls, patients [on ssris] reported significantly (p&0.05) less ability to cry, irritation, care about others' feelings, sadness, erotic dreaming, creativity, surprise, anger, expression of their feelings, worry over things or situations, sexual pleasure, and interest in sex."
Can anyone identify? How can you be "well" like this?
Linkadge
Posted by Phillipa on September 6, 2010, at 19:57:33
In reply to Re: here's a link, posted by linkadge on September 6, 2010, at 19:03:20
I spend days and nights worrying and anxious about what could happen is this kind of what you mean? Phillipa
Posted by europerep on September 7, 2010, at 6:16:42
In reply to happy vs. well, posted by linkadge on September 5, 2010, at 19:04:32
yes, that's what sounded so intriguing to me when I read that buprenorphine in TRD made those who profit from it feel "just normal".. how terrible would it be to have a drug that made you permanently happy? where there is only sun, there's usually desert.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on September 7, 2010, at 15:03:59
In reply to Re: happy vs. well, posted by linkadge on September 6, 2010, at 18:59:01
>Well, I think we are arguing semantics here.
Maybe. You said that SSRIs sometimes made you feel 'happy', but it sounds like you just felt numb.
Posted by ed_uk2010 on September 7, 2010, at 15:06:15
In reply to Re: here's a link, posted by linkadge on September 6, 2010, at 19:03:20
>Can anyone identify? How can you be "well" like this?
Yes, I can definitely identify. I do not think that I can be truly well like this, but I seem to be more unwell (in a different way) without SSRIs, so I guess I will keep taking them. There aren't really many other options.
Posted by Maxime on September 11, 2010, at 15:00:00
In reply to happy vs. well, posted by linkadge on September 5, 2010, at 19:04:32
If I was well, then I would be happy. I don't think the two are mutually exclusive.
This is the end of the thread.
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