First off, I'm very very ignorant of all this. Suck at science. I know the basic "key-lock" model of receptors and whatnot but really I'm pretty ignorant, so I apologize if this is a stupid question.
But yeah. Most antidepressants act by in some way increasing the amount of Serotonin in the brain (as well as, in many cases, Dopamine and Epinephrine). I understand that Serotonin is associated with feelings of euphoria and relaxation, Dopamine and Epinephrine with stimulation, a more excited euphoria, loss of appetite, etc. etc.
But how come antidepressants can cause a numb, empty feeling if they're increasing the levels of neurotransmitters that cause feelings of euphoria? I just really don't understand this. I mean, they basically do the same thing in your brain as drugs like Cocaine do - inhibiting the reuptake of those neurotransmitters - but, while they can sometimes cause feelings of euphoria and jitteriness, they also can cause a numb, empty, mildly euphoric but mostly emotionless feeling.
Why is this?
But yeah. Most antidepressants act by in some way increasing the amount of Serotonin in the brain (as well as, in many cases, Dopamine and Epinephrine). I understand that Serotonin is associated with feelings of euphoria and relaxation, Dopamine and Epinephrine with stimulation, a more excited euphoria, loss of appetite, etc. etc.
But how come antidepressants can cause a numb, empty feeling if they're increasing the levels of neurotransmitters that cause feelings of euphoria? I just really don't understand this. I mean, they basically do the same thing in your brain as drugs like Cocaine do - inhibiting the reuptake of those neurotransmitters - but, while they can sometimes cause feelings of euphoria and jitteriness, they also can cause a numb, empty, mildly euphoric but mostly emotionless feeling.
Why is this?