32 minutes ago, Chippy said:

Anhedonia to me is feeling nothing, blank.

Exactly the same. And even sadness or grief is not available… just complete nothingness in a very unnatural / chemical way..

1 minute ago, Sophia said:

Exactly the same. And even sadness or grief is not available… just complete nothingness in a very unnatural / chemical way..

I have it in a mild way. Like I can feel things, but it's flatter and situations I should normally feel strongly over I don't!

5 hours ago, Sophia said:

I feel the same way… It’s a very specific separate symptom. But I really have seen and read recovery stories on this… but it takes (a lot) of time unfortunately :(

how much time generally on average?

On 6/8/2026 at 2:44 AM, skamen said:

@Luke, how long have you endured mental symptoms before feeling some relief?

I can't pick out a specific point, and although I have improved over the years, I still suffer with them.

On 6/8/2026 at 9:48 AM, Chippy said:

I agree, if you feel depressed I think it is depression or Neuro-depression rather, Anhedonia to me is feeling nothing, blank.

I don't quite agree with this. Anhedonia is the lack or absence of positive emotions like pleasure and enjoyment. Feeling pretty much nothing across the board is emotional numbness or flatness.

Something else to mention is apathy: experiencing a lack of interest, concern, or motivation.

When I was on an AD I experienced general numbness after a few months of use. I could sometimes feel sadness and anxiety and that was about it. Now my emotional range is wider but still nowhere near where it was before.

Edited June 9Jun 9 by Niels91
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8 minutes ago, Niels91 said:

I don't quite agree with this. Anhedonia is the lack or absence of positive emotions. Feeling pretty much nothing accross the board is emotional numbness or flatness.

Something else to mention is apathy: experiencing a lack of interest, concern, or motivation.

I experience anhedonia most of the time and apathy to some extent but definitely less so than anhedonia.

When I was on an AD I experienced general numbness after a few months of use. I could sometimes feel sadness and anxiety and that was about it.

Chat gpt seems to agree with you.

Anhedonia is the reduced ability or inability to experience pleasure from activities that were once enjoyable. It is a common symptom in several mental and physical health conditions, especially Major Depressive Disorder, but it can also occur with stress, burnout, trauma, substance use, and some neurological disorders.

There are two main types:

• Social anhedonia: decreased enjoyment of social interactions and relationships.

• Physical (or sensory) anhedonia: reduced pleasure from experiences such as eating, music, touch, or hobbies.

Common signs include:

• Losing interest in hobbies or activities you previously enjoyed.

• Feeling emotionally “flat” or disconnected.

• Not looking forward to positive events.

• Difficulty feeling rewarded or motivated.

I've been fairly ill, on and off, pretty much constantly, however today I couldn't make it to work and could barely shower etc due to being so physically affected and ill. Various old symptoms have also flared up.

Most people reading this won't be on support groups at all at past 3 years off, and in the uncommon case that they are, it's very uncommon to be this affected this far out. I took this drug for just a few months, a few weeks after my 31st birthday. Later this year, I'll be 35. I was in the prime of my physical health, prime of my career and generally my life. That person and life are long gone.

Surviving this long has been utterly pointless, I totally resent it.

Hi @Luke im truly sorry for your suffering. I’m in similar hell. Crying my eyes out. Wonder what justification there is for this. I hope you feel better soon.

On 6/7/2026 at 1:37 PM, Sophia said:

Really? I see she talks a lot about it and said she had it for years on and off the meds in withdrawal.

Me personally think that there are two types of anhedonia.

1. Feeling lots of negative emotions like being anxious, sad, overwhelm, down/depressed and/or ruminating a lot. This takes up so much space for the brain that there is no room to enjoy anything.

2. Anhedonia where your mind is completely blank. There are no emotions or thoughts at all. Brain receptors completely dysregulated that even alcohol or other substances have 0 effect on brain as it is completely chemically numb. Just a blank existing zombie where even the body is numb (inside and out). 0 response of brain towards anything. All signals dead. At my worst even my skin was completely numb and my pain was also blunted.

I think many people in withdrawal experience the first thing, but not everyone experiences the latter. Its a very specific main symptom and not a consequence of other symptoms. Like the brain and body fell into complete chemical shutdown.

I experience the 2nd in withdrawal… is this what you also experience? Really curious to your thoughts on this and why you felt Angie didn’t understand? 😊

I'm sorry for me it's just the first kind, wish I could be of more hope to you

On 6/9/2026 at 3:44 PM, Luke said:

I've been fairly ill, on and off, pretty much constantly, however today I couldn't make it to work and could barely shower etc due to being so physically affected and ill. Various old symptoms have also flared up.

Most people reading this won't be on support groups at all at past 3 years off, and in the uncommon case that they are, it's very uncommon to be this affected this far out. I took this drug for just a few months, a few weeks after my 31st birthday. Later this year, I'll be 35. I was in the prime of my physical health, prime of my career and generally my life. That person and life are long gone.

Surviving this long has been utterly pointless, I totally resent it.

I'm so sorry I can't imagine how difficult it is when all this was just cause by one action that wasn't even your fault.

On 6/7/2026 at 1:37 PM, Sophia said:

Really? I see she talks a lot about it and said she had it for years on and off the meds in withdrawal.

Me personally think that there are two types of anhedonia.

1. Feeling lots of negative emotions like being anxious, sad, overwhelm, down/depressed and/or ruminating a lot. This takes up so much space for the brain that there is no room to enjoy anything.

2. Anhedonia where your mind is completely blank. There are no emotions or thoughts at all. Brain receptors completely dysregulated that even alcohol or other substances have 0 effect on brain as it is completely chemically numb. Just a blank existing zombie where even the body is numb (inside and out). 0 response of brain towards anything. All signals dead. At my worst even my skin was completely numb and my pain was also blunted.

I think many people in withdrawal experience the first thing, but not everyone experiences the latter. Its a very specific main symptom and not a consequence of other symptoms. Like the brain and body fell into complete chemical shutdown.

I experience the 2nd in withdrawal… is this what you also experience? Really curious to your thoughts on this and why you felt Angie didn’t understand? 😊

I'm sorry I think you messaged on reddit too but I couldn't reply, I think I know your account. The only thing I can say is if your PSSD is truly that advanced have you considered trying other things? MAOI's or stuff? Can you check out user Ghost on the pssdforum.org? They have a guide I think on what to start trying if nothing is improving and symptoms are severe. Note I am not condoning taking anything just sharing what other severe cases are doing in cae it might be of hope to you

Edited June 11Jun 11 by wheretogonow

No worries @wheretogonow !

I am seeing improvements, especially since this month so I will not touch any other med! I think I will eventually heal but I think it will take at least 1,5-2,5y.

Hopefully sooner than later tho 🥹

I’ll be here for 10+ years

19 hours ago, Sophia said:

No worries @wheretogonow !

I am seeing improvements, especially since this month so I will not touch any other med! I think I will eventually heal but I think it will take at least 1,5-2,5y.

Hopefully sooner than later tho 🥹

It could be way sooner you were only on it for a short time

13 hours ago, Catbird said:

I’ll be here for 10+ years

oh damn I hope not much earlier

Hope today was better for Luke

Luke is a really incredible person, when I was at my worst this time last year, he went out of his way to give me hope despite his own suffering. In addition if we didn't have this site I'm sure a lot of us would be worse off. He has survived so much, I hope he sees another massive corner very very soon.

On 5/11/2026 at 7:45 AM, Luke said:

So far, I've found that nothing I've tried has made any difference to my symptoms, positively or negatively. If anyone has any thoughts, feel free to share.

I will say though, that I am not going to try any kind of special diet without compelling evidence it will help, and by evidence I don't mean one example of someone who tried it whilst not severe and not off for years.

If I do not eat regularly, and I allow myself to become hungry, I start feeling much worse, rapidly. Overeating is the only thing I've discovered that can sometimes take the edge off of symptoms, so please keep that in mind before suggesting that I cut out all carbs or other similar dietary strategies that would likely have me bedridden.

I've tried numerous supplements, none have done anything, most of the usual recommended ones, various types of magnesium, various multi-vitamins, various vitamins and minerals individually.

Doing nothing doesn't help. Doing things doesn't either. Getting outdoors for short walks is likely good to stop my health deteriorating even more, but it doesn't help symptoms nor help me recover.

I don't drink alcohol, smoke, take any OTC drugs like painkillers or anything. I can tolerate caffeine, but I only have a cup of coffee after breakfast. Occasionally another late morning, but rarely. I have gone periods with 0 caffeine- no difference.

I feel exhausted, run down, off, depressed and stressed almost constantly, as a baseline. Ontop of that, I have other symptoms that regularly crop up and go away. Very occasionally, I have days or parts of days where all of the "baseline" feelings described above are much milder (but not gone), but they're uncommon.

I try to keep bedtime fairly consistent, I'm not perfect at this, and if I go to sleep too late, it affects my sleep quality. If I go to bed early, it's not as bad but still poor.

Life is a constant, miserable struggle to push through all of this, with plenty of stress trying to cope, for example, if I need to get up in the morning, this is always very difficult. I rarely plan anything, because I almost always regret it if I do. I'm desperately unhappy and I do not consider this life to have been worth surviving years of this for. There are no upsides, I do not like living this way at all. If it wouldn't harm anyone to stop, I would.

Luke, I'm truly sorry to hear your going through such a rough time, I wish I could take some of the pain away and give you some relief which is so needed. I myself didn't believe I would ever see a window, but one did come, and gave me hope that this isn't forever. Not ever in my wildest dream did I think it would take me this long to feel a somewhat of normalcy, but slowly, patiently, it does happen. When I first started out I didn't believe, but I started reaching out and tried to find my faith in God, and many times I would ask how much more pain, and torment must I endure. But I have to keep going, I'm tell myself, "Bernie, don't you dare give up, you've made it so far, just a little longer " Do I ask the lord my God for guidance in my most trying times, Yes. If I could, I wish I could sit and talk to you in person and say, keep the faith, the Lord is still putting thing in place for just the right moment. At this time I'm sending you the biggest hug 🤗❤ and asking a extra special prayer for a glorious window. Sincerely Bernadette,

On 6/10/2026 at 11:34 PM, Sophia said:

No worries @wheretogonow !

I am seeing improvements, especially since this month so I will not touch any other med! I think I will eventually heal but I think it will take at least 1,5-2,5y.

Hopefully sooner than later tho 🥹

Cyproheptadine might be able to help you out a bit with the pssd stuff as long as you’re stable otherwise

Hi luke

It’s been a while since I read your thread.

Firstly, I’ve tried 4 WD coaches 🙊 and can say that Baylissa is the one that’s worth seeing. Even if just for a one off. Not that you are keen, but if you were, I’d spend my money on her. She’s has worked with SO many people for many years and is adamant that every person can heal and she has worked with some people she said who were sick well over 5 years and had spontaneous healing. It happens. In my views she’s one of the few people who can actually offer you real hope with real facts of people she’s worked with.

just thought I’d mention in case you did change your mind. She lifted my mood when I spoke to her. Hope is so important and she knows how to deliver in that department.

Secondly, you are so helpful and supportive to others and I can only offer my sincere apologies for the suffering you are still enduring. My moaning at 16 months must feel like a drop in the ocean to you and I’m so sorry for what you are experiencing.

You felt a shift not that many days ago, maybe that shift will come again:

As you know I don’t understand my own windows and waves they make zero sense to me…..

But I do know that it the brain and body can make the shift once, they can make it again. I’m sure you told me that even? Or chippy maybe?

I have no idea what life will look like for either of us in the next year or two, or three. But I hope you keep making progress. I hope we all do.

All the hope 🕊️

Rosie xxx

@Its-me-Rosie who is Baylissa that you mention? Sounds like someone I may want to connect with

Pokey

Hi @Pokey449 :)

I think @Its-me-Rosie means https://baylissa.com

Thank you @Sophia

On 6/14/2026 at 9:42 PM, Bernadette said:

Luke, I'm truly sorry to hear your going through such a rough time, I wish I could take some of the pain away and give you some relief which is so needed. I myself didn't believe I would ever see a window, but one did come, and gave me hope that this isn't forever.

Thank you for the kind words. I get that, but equally I've been off of these drugs for a full year and a half longer than you without any windows. Still, I'm slowly getting better.

@Its-me-Rosie thank you so much for the kind message. I do appreciate it a lot.

On 6/21/2026 at 4:25 PM, Its-me-Rosie said:

Secondly, you are so helpful and supportive to others and I can only offer my sincere apologies for the suffering you are still enduring. My moaning at 16 months must feel like a drop in the ocean to you and I’m so sorry for what you are experiencing.

Was I really quite severely harmed? Absolutely.

However, none of the harm done to any of us is ok, and my suffering is not more important than yours nor anyone else's. It's all equally unacceptable.

Anyway, 3 years and 2 months off today.

In the last month I've had a LOT of very, very difficult days. Flare ups of old symptoms and so on. The exhaustion and fatigue have really ramped up again at times.

However, I've also had a handful of fairly tolerable days, although today is one of those days and I've been awake since 3am, so it's not like the tolerable days are good, they're just not raw suffering with a big array of symptoms.

I still think it's progress. I am better than I was a few months ago, on average, and way better than at the start of this year on average.

My hope is that in the next month more of my days are tolerable, and/or that I reach a point where it's all tolerable despite lingering symptoms soon.

You are very strong @Luke …. Never forget that. Thank you for all your support to us while still suffering so bad yourself.

I am glad to hear that you do notice a slow upward trend. Hopefully you will get a sharp corner soon ❤️‍🩹