Really Apathetic

[MikeRWK]

Lately im getting more and more apathetic, im not depressed or anything but i just dont give a fuck about anything, i have no interest in socializing anymore.My house could burn down and i wouldnt give a fuck, im numb to other peoples emotions, i have no interest in much of anything.I've been doing some googling and i think its a side effect of my Effexor im on 75mg XR.

I know the thing to do is go see my doctor, does anyone know what she'll do? I mean every doctor is different but what do they typically do in these situations?

 

[S.M.F.G]

MikeRWK... apathy and depression can go hand in hand same as anxiety, adehonia etc... Could be a side effect of the efflexor although it may be the shit getting into ur system often you feel worse before better on those drugs. How long have you been taking it?
I'd definitly voice this concern with ur doctor, every one is different in how they approach treatment based on the individual, But its worth getting checked out either way for ur best interests. If ur not happy ur always entitled to a second oppinion.
Best of luck Mike sendin you best wishes

 

[MikeRWK]

I should have mentioned im on it for 'social' anxiety, ive been taking effexor for about 6 months now before that i was on paxil but it wasnt doing enough.

 

[S.M.F.G]

Yer i dunno i thought effexor was more of an anti depressant, ive not heard of it for anxiety bit im in OZ so practices could be different, either way if ur feelin uncomftorbale on ur meds you should definitly let ur doctor know. do you have access to a therapist ova there? CBT is a good tool in dealing with anxiety, although im also stuck on meds atm it is a help.

 

[MikeRWK]

I've never heard of any therapists around here but im deffinately going to the doctor asap, im just not me anymore.

 

[qwe]

I've been doing some googling and i think its a side effect of my Effexor im on 75mg XR.

i think that doctors are prescribing us the wrong drugs. the system favors money over medicine.

then again, it could be related to why you were prescribed the effexor in the first place?

if it was for anxiety, it's understandable that you'd develop anhedonia... all i can say is, try to find ways to stay as relaxed as possible, change your environment, make sure your responsibilities match your ability to work

(take it easy, one step at a time, but make sure you're progressing, basically)

i don't think we have medications that can help with this. sucks eh.

 

[MikeRWK]

Honestly im not sure what it was, maybe it was the 2 weeks of shitty weather that got me down.The first sunny day in a while and i felt good again, i guess im just one of those people who get all screwed up if the weathers shitty for too long.My sleeping pattern is fucked though, usually dont goto sleep until 3-4am and get up around 12pm.I ordered some kava kava extract and valerian root hopefully they help.

 

[qwe]

neither of those herbs help with this issue for me. kratom and opiates help, until tolerance sets in; and then, if you hop off of them, the problem becomes far worse.

 

[eukaryote]

Having not examined you in person, I cannot give a 'professional' opinion.

However You sound like you are clinically depressed. It sounds like the Effexor may not be helping or may be worsening your condition.

I suggest you talk to your physician and tell her/him of your feelings and ask to switch to a different ant-depressant. In my personal practice, I found Celexa and Prozac to both be very effective, economic and tolerable, so ask your doctor about these medications and if they are right for you.

 

[RedLeader]

Mate, I'm with you on the depressing weather. If you can, and you're still young and with options, try and use moving to a place with more favourable weather to your advantage. It may sound silly, but when I was younger, I really hated cold/snow/gloom/etc and I had the chance to live for two years in the tropics. It really did affect me too. Is there anywhere you really would rather be? Seriously, make it a goal.

Which is an example of a general theme going on for ya. It sounds like you feel like you don't have much to live for. Why don't you have goals? Because you have no ambition. Why don't you have ambition? Because you have no goals. Clearly that's a problem.

To get out of it, you either got to set some goals or get some ambition. Problem is that when people like us seek ambition, we tend to use chemicals to motivate us, which is ultimately setting us up for disaster. Instead, I'd suggest that you focus on goals. Your goal for today should be to come up with 10 goals. Moving could be one of them. How about a job? How about school? How about getting into shape? Learn to cook? Learn an instrument?

I think you'll find that you feel apathetic because you don't feel like you're very good at anything, but after working toward goals for a bit and seeing some progress, it will help a lot. What kinds of things would you actually want to get better at? We might be able to help.

As for Effexor, I was on this in my early twenties and I hated it. It did nothing for my anxiety or my depression, and it just gave me horrible side effects and a horrible withdrawal (though I did cold-turkey it). If you don't like it, don't take it. You've been on it long enough that you should let your doctor prescribe you a taper, but seriously the only time (in my opinion) that a person should be taking daily medication is if it is helping that person. Your doctor wants to see you be helped, either because he genuinely cares about you, does not want you to blast him on the internet, or something in-between. Give him a call this week. Make it a goal .