Posted by Caleb462 on April 24, 2003, at 0:40:22
In reply to Social phobics: how do SSRIs make you feel?, posted by Rocket Jackson on April 23, 2003, at 23:31:06
> But what I'd really like to know is, how do the SSRIs make you "feel" when you suffer from SP? I've read of numbness, detachment, apathy, etc., but how do they help deal specifically with social anxiety? Have they been the silver bullet for some? Do you feel more calm, less worried about criticism, have fewer of the persistent negative thoughts, etc.? I'd really appreciate hearing of any of your experiences out there. The side effects may be frustrating, but if they can help me unleash from this imprisoning cloak of inhibition, they just may be well worth it.
>I have a good deal of experience with SSRIs, and also suffer from mild/moderate SP, so maybe I can shed some light. There is a familiar "SSRI feeling" that you'll get after 4 to 6 weeks of being on one. On the positive, it's a feeling of inner strength, self-sufficience, and emotional stability. On the negative, it can also be a feeling of detachment and an inability to feel strong emotions. In the past, SSRIs have enabled me to function much better in social situations. There was a large reduction in persistent negative thoughts about the situation, and a huge reduction in worries about criticism. I felt much more secure with myself. This happened to me with both Paxil and Effexor. Unfortunately, Effexor has pooped out (I have recently upped the dose, so hopefully it will kick in again in a few weeks) and I switched off Paxil a long time ago cause of side effects. The main two side effects were severely delayed ejaculation and sweating. I really wish I wouldn't have stopped Paxil, actually. I did that about a year ago, and this past year has been by far the hardest of my life.
poster:Caleb462
thread:221893
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030423/msgs/221905.html