A major Oxford study- by researchers who actually support antidepressants—explored the lived experiences of SSRI users. What participants revealed about “emotional blunting” is both disturbing and important. Here are the key findings:
1. General flattening of emotions
Most participants described a dulling or blocking of
emotions. Some felt completely numb—thinking about how they should feel rather
than actually feeling it. Joy, grief, and love often became distant or hollow.
2. Loss of positive emotions
Nearly everyone reported a drop in joy, excitement, love,
affection, and passion. Things that once lifted them-music, hobbies, time with
loved ones- lost their emotional impact.
3. Relief from distress- at a price
Negative emotions like fear, sadness, and anger were
reduced, which initially felt like relief. But this same blunting muted the
ability to grieve, cry, or feel deeply when it mattered.
4. Emotional detachment
Many felt like they were watching life through glass, living
in limbo, or functioning like “robots.” Even empathy toward partners or
children was dulled. Some valued the calm, others found it deeply isolating.
5. Apathy and ‘not caring’
Participants often described losing motivation or urgency.
They cared less about themselves, others, and their responsibilities. As one
put it: “I just didn’t care anymore, about anything.”
6. Changes in personality
Some felt their personality had shifted or been stripped
away. One called it becoming “a shell,” another said it made them behave out of
character.
7. Impact on daily life
The blunting affected parenting, work performance,
creativity, and relationships. While a few saw benefits, many found it worsened
quality of life-and in rare cases, led to self-harm.
8. ‘It’s the meds, not the illness’
Most believed the flattening was not their depression
returning. Clues included: onset after starting SSRIs, improvement after
stopping, and a distinct “chemical” feeling to emotions.
9. Mass societal implications
With 9 million adults prescribed antidepressants in England
last year, the potential societal impact of widespread emotional numbing—from
personal relationships to public empathy-is enormous.
10. A call to therapists and policymakers
These effects aren’t rare. Many now consider emotional
blunting a primary effect of SSRIs. Therapists must factor this into their
work, and politicians should recognise that mass numbing has cultural as well
as clinical consequences.
To read the full study: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/emotional-sideeffects-of-selective-serotonin-reuptakeinhibitors-qualitative-study/88C72E9EA0961CDE777C2FDCDBCE1CA9
Courses
