Thoughts on SSRIs

Personal experience with SSRIs

A couple of years ago, I decided to take a very small dose of escitalopram (2.5mg) for self-improvement purposes (I wanted to pharmacologically replicate stoicism). After about 2-3 weeks, feelings of stress and anxiety were completely gone. I am not a stressed or anxious person in the first place so even a very dose of escitalopram was highly effective in this regard.

Furthermore, I became more rational in my decision-making. Unfortunately, the price of “stoicism” was emotional apathy and I lost my ability to feel deep emotions, whether positive or negative.

I eventually tapered off because of four reasons:

• Escitalopram reduced some of my ability to experience negative emotions. I believe that, in healthy amounts, negative emotions are important for learning, personal growth, and change.

• Escitalopram killed my brain’s ability to generate anxiety. For many, this is desired, but for me, it is not. I believe that the difference between the feeling of contentment and the feeling of meaning is partially a function of anxiety levels. I would rather have meaning than contentment.

• I had less empathy for others, perhaps as true empathy is not really possible with a brain that is incapable of generating anxiety.

• Escitalopram crushed my emotions for my then-girlfriend and I felt that I was “less in love” with her.

I discuss my experience with vortioxetine, an atypical SSRI I liked much better, here.

SSRIs – Introduction

The above is only a fraction of the article. This article is currently undergoing final revisions and is expected to be published within the next few weeks to months. To receive a notification upon its release, sign up for my newsletter.