SSRI’s can numb patients range of emotions and this may be a reason to wean the dose or cease them. Some will tolerate a mild numbing if it’s mostly the lows that are numbed and not the happiness. It’s up to the patient if they can or will tolerate this side effect. The benefits are often as clear, mood lifts, suicidal thoughts stop, anx…
SSRI’s can numb patients range of emotions and this may be a reason to wean the dose or cease them. Some will tolerate a mild numbing if it’s mostly the lows that are numbed and not the happiness. It’s up to the patient if they can or will tolerate this side effect. The benefits are often as clear, mood lifts, suicidal thoughts stop, anxiety lessens and panic attacks lessen or stop. These and other benefits will often outweigh mild numbing and is for the patient to decide the risk benefit ratio. Obviously severe numbing or blunting of mood should not be tolerated by patients or their doctors. I’ve had many patients who can only tolerate the work of psychotherapy when their mood has lifted enough and anxiety lessened by medication to then solidify their improvement with therapy.
Thanks for sharing your insight and experience. It's clear your approach is patient-centred and that's the bedrock of good medical practice. Are you still in practice as a psychiatrist and if so, have there been any threats to your licence?
SSRI’s can numb patients range of emotions and this may be a reason to wean the dose or cease them. Some will tolerate a mild numbing if it’s mostly the lows that are numbed and not the happiness. It’s up to the patient if they can or will tolerate this side effect. The benefits are often as clear, mood lifts, suicidal thoughts stop, anxiety lessens and panic attacks lessen or stop. These and other benefits will often outweigh mild numbing and is for the patient to decide the risk benefit ratio. Obviously severe numbing or blunting of mood should not be tolerated by patients or their doctors. I’ve had many patients who can only tolerate the work of psychotherapy when their mood has lifted enough and anxiety lessened by medication to then solidify their improvement with therapy.
Thanks for sharing your insight and experience. It's clear your approach is patient-centred and that's the bedrock of good medical practice. Are you still in practice as a psychiatrist and if so, have there been any threats to your licence?