A Conversation w/ Emily Grey: Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD)

[@MedicatingNormal]

If you like what we do and want more of it, for the mere cost of a cup of coffee you can support us! Buy us a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/MNFilm

[@dawnsonntag8443]

Such a serious and tragic issue, and outrageous that the medical system dismisses and denies it and continues to push these drugs with no informed consent.

[@harryphil8479]

Thank you both for what you are doing to raise awareness for the harms that these drugs can do to some people. PSSD and withdrawal should not have existed for so long before recognition. There is something very broken at the heart of medicine.

[@yoga_iaini]

Thank you for the interview, and thank you Emily for sharing your story. I hope you fight for your dream of having a partner and becoming a mom, please don't lose hope of recovering your sexuality, it's still possible. Best of wishes ❤

[@yoga_iaini]

I'm so sorry to hear that, sorry if my words seemed insensitive or ignorant. Best of wishes.

[@marti13798]

Thank you Emily and Nicole for this excellent and very emotionally moving podcast. Emily- you are a wonderful, brave and very well/ soft spoken lady. You both are doing very important work on behalf of all victims of psychiatric drugs. I applaud you 👏

[@garyjagoe9541]

Hi and thanks for sharing your journey Emily. I was on Prestiq for depression for just over ten years. And my emotions were frozen. Weaned my self off over three months. I have had trouble with erections for years and now I’m wondering if I ever will again. Even the “pills” to help don’t have a great effect. Pharmaceutical companies and doctors who prescribe have a lot to answer for. ❤

[@AdamSS202]

Thank you for sharing your story, Emily.

[@TomArto-rg3cr]

I am a 23 yo man with PSSD. I hope research is undertaken, this condition truly understood and a treatment developed. This is a living hell for many of us.

[@ajomshah1668]

Yes

[@sandrajohnson2491]

From the bottom of my heart, thank you Emily and Nicole.❤️

[@BenjaminPlaysRust]

It's so therapeutic listening to Emily's story. I've had PSSD for 13 years, also from Citalopram, with zero improvement. Complete genital numbness and zero libido whatsoever. The worst part is that doctors don't believe you, not even neurologists specializing in rare conditions.

[@carpediemcotidiem]

00:40 PSSD stands for Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction. 03:22 Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) includes more than just sexual effects, with no known biological mechanism or reliable treatment. 08:08 Hypotheses about PSSD causes 10:41 PSSD can cause substantial damage to penal tissue 15:26 PSSD symptoms can occur months or years after exposure to the drug 17:46 PSSD can have severe and lasting effects on individuals' physiological symptoms post-medication withdrawal. 22:04 Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) impacts all aspects of life. 24:11 Challenges of motherhood and relationships post-SSRI 28:13 PSSD can affect individuals who were put on antidepressants before or during puberty. 30:20 Personal experiences with alleviating PSSD symptoms through dietary changes and gut treatments. 34:47 Variability in withdrawal symptoms and PSSD correlation 36:55 SSRI caused significant interference with relationships and led to dramatic physical changes. 41:14 Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) affects emotional and physical aspects. 43:06 Struggle to get medical assistance for Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) 47:06 Challenges in finding help for Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) 49:09 Struggling with explaining PSSD to family and coping with the impact on life trajectory. 53:25 Longitudinal study at Queen's University aims to track and follow up on recovery from PSSD over five years. 55:28 PSSD can last for decades 1:00:01 PSSD is not formally recognized as a medical condition in many countries. 1:02:14 Informed consent crucial for medication risks 1:06:28 Lack of awareness about reporting systems for medication side effects 1:08:29 Report any adverse effects to country's agency 1:13:08 PSSD treatment is similar for men and women. 1:15:17 Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction leads to lack of pleasurable sensation in the penis. Crafted by Merlin AI.

[@CorneliusSpivey]

God work Nicole 💜

[@arvid7872]

Great video!

[@danletras]

Thank you for this. I went through very violent protracted withdrawal coming off of 30 mg Lexapro cold turkey after 12 years, which I did after having two incidents of serotonin syndrome. I was hospitalized after eight months of extreme withdrawal and reinstated. I am all better, taking 5 mg Lexapro daily, *except* after seven years, the sexual dysfunction and extremely low-to-no libido persists. It has been shattering and has pressed my relationship with my partner to the brink. Emily describes quite well how our sexual desire is not separable from the rest of our self. That is the most devastating part.

[@celestepiccolo6586]

I am still able to get pregnant even though I have sexual dysfunction. I’ve had 3 children and I have a wonderful supportive spouse. My hope is that my body will eventually heal after I finish my slow hyperbolic taper off the drug.

[@vapeking466]

I have read that this is a much bigger problem than most realize. Please never give up. Unfortunately lots of womem now are no longer interested in having a husband and or family. They also say the birth control is causing a decline in the female libido. I hate to see when people have more negative side effects from a drug than positive. Perhaps a lawyer and lawsuit is in order. They will often work for a portion of the proceeds if you win. God help us! ,🙏

[@udgt9389]

Thanks for making this video. I hope they find a cure one day for my sake and all the other sufferers out there. I’m sorry this happened to you so young Emily, I understand I was 27 when it happened to me. They should ban the drugs that cause it so there are no new cases. The drugs aren’t safe for human consumption. Sex was a big part of my life so it’s hard to accept that it’s gone forever

[@Solscapes.]

They started me on a certain product at 8. Now 40. If I'm not engaged in particularly kinky (and oftimes dangerous) acts, I can't complete. Not happy about it. "Maimed" is the right word for how I feel.

[@kisht7469]

😔

[@GlaxoDecline]

Have had severe irreversible PSSD for 30 years now, developed shortly after starting aropax/paxil and effexor.Have complete genital numbness/ shrinkage, cognitive and sensory issues since 20 years of age onward.Havent been on ssri's or snri's for at least 20 years.Anxiety and depression 10 times worse now than what i sort help for in first place 30 years ago.Completely gaslit by the australian medical fraternity.When i was about 21 my doctor asked me if I'd maybe stuck something like uncooked spaghetti down the shaft of my penis(She knew the meds i was on she referred me to prescribing psychiatrist).This was her brief attempt to diagnose??? the numbness as some sort of autoerotic misadventure gone wrong??? She also once asked me if i was still a solitary fellow(sounds like a fricken name for a neil diamond or billy joel album where you'd have a "solitary fellow" on the album cover sitting alone on a park bench feeding bread to ducks) or if i was seeing any women or men? sure sherlock that must be it i must be a repressed homosexual(not that theirs anything wrong with that but seriously?)I was way to depressed at the time to have even thought of reporting these people or changing docs(they all seemed of the same patronizing ilk to greater or lesser degrees one from another anyway.Have numerous other humiliating horror stories of my attempts to seek help with urologists,psychiatrists, doctors. I avoid the medical community like the plague now.They try to treat an iatragenic medical issue (that they caused) like you are a hysterical malingerer with maybe a weird sexual fetish involving spaghetti thrown in for good measure when i have no sexuality at all just anxiety and depression etc etc that is off the charts.We cant even get compensation because correlation is not causation yada yada yada tricky pharma lawyer speak.If i did manage to get it to court (LOL) Their defence lawyer could call my ex doctor as a surprise character witness to testify something along the lines of "your honour after carefully examining the plaintiffs emotional affect in my office on numerous occasions, I've come to the conclusion that he very possibly has a severe sexual perversion with bizarre fetish indications involving spaghetti and other objects that may have caused the numbness in his genitalia rather than it being caused by any humble psychiatric medication." Great to see such shining lights in this space like the super articulate Nicole and Emily.Wonderful advocates and beacons of hope.

[@MedicatingNormal]

Hi Jack, Would you be willing to speak to our filmmaker about your story? If so, email us: [e-mail]

[@GlaxoDecline]

@@MedicatingNormal Unfortunately due to my anxiety it would be an absolute train wreck so I will decline. I am very appreciative of the offer, you people are doing great work, thankyou so much.

[@MedicatingNormal]

@@GlaxoDecline ok, understood. Thank you

[@kathrynhartleroad1497]

Thank you for spreading awareness

[@josefdez8258]

Stop Antidepressants!

[@celestepiccolo6586]

I am currently tapering off of SSRI Lexapro and I’ve had varying levels of sexual dysfunction for the entire 10 years of being on the drug.

[@ajomshah1668]

Sir did you ssri induced Sexual problem improve?

[@rajvo7406]

Did you get better

[@celestepiccolo6586]

Not yet. I’m still tapering.

[@celestepiccolo6586]

Not yet. I’m still tapering off of the SSRI.

[@celestepiccolo6586]

@rajvo7406 not quite yet. I’m still tapering.

[@shan4145]

When is the free documentary translate in Cantonese coming out? Thank you so much!💎🦋💎💖💁🏻‍♀️🇨🇦

[@MedicatingNormal]

The film is on KZbin now in English. Spanish, French, German, Italian and Danish are coming soon!

[@Emu-lb4wc]

I’m sick of being alive with the anhedonia . Theres no point in being alive if im in constant discomfort and pain . All I want to do is drink wine until I die or pass out

[@celestepiccolo6586]

Holistic healing and TIME are my personal preference.

[@Error_-qz2zr]

Emily is so sweet

[@MedicatingNormal]

she is!

[@navagatingthroughthebeasts2908]

Yes

[@montesa9136]

Awesome interview !!!

[@Emu-lb4wc]

It’s not even about sex now , even though not being able to enjoy sex is very depressing and demotivating . It’s about the general discomfort and unhappiness I feel on a daily basis . Cant even enjoy food and that’s the one thing I used to enjoy . What’s the point

[@BRM101]

I don’t have this thankfully when I was offered an ssri yearscshoni refused it, I’m wondering if anyone with pssd had tried micrododinh psilocybin mushrooms apparently it has many benefits. I hope you all see resolution of your symptoms.

[@montesa9136]

After being on SSRI's for 30 years, I'm now 4 years off. My libido simply Vanished overnight a couple of years before I weaned off. However, I'm old (66) so it might be part of my normal aging process? My cognitive functioning is slowly returning, but I have no hope about my libido. Also, I don't have the energy I used to & I struggle with persistent anhedonia. I believe, recovery happens for most people, but I think full recoveries are unlikely .....

[@montesa9136]

@@aliciafinch6310 - I've been through it twice! 30 years on SSRI's & 20 years on a Benzo (clonazepam). It took a year to wean off each drug then about 2 years to heal. I lost at least 6 years of my life & I'm still not completely healed. Personally, I don't believe in complete recovery, in most cases. I've found people accept 60 - 80% healed after a few years of protracted withdrawal

[@montesa9136]

@@aliciafinch6310 - I went through at least 3 years of severe protracted withdrawal, unable to leave my apartment, having to shower sitting down, avoiding sunlight & noise, & incredibly angry & confrontational. All that is gone now, but sometimes I still get tearful reading a certain book, or listening to a certain song. I'm back & plugged into society, but don't have the vitality or energy I used to. It feels like I'm just passing time .....

[@JoJo-sl7jt]

I was just wondering if you are taking HRT? I came off ssris (and worse snris) around 15 / 20 years ago. Regret ever taking them, coming off them was like coming out of a 10 year fog. I've been on HRT (topical body identical) for around 3 years including testosterone and symptoms have improved (I went though an early menopause, now wondering if being put on ssris at 19 played a role in that)

[@montesa9136]

@@JoJo-sl7jt - I've never tried HRT, I don't know much about it. I'm guessing it's something that's not covered by basic medical insurance. It's impossible to say caused your early menopause, but if you feel suspicious that it could have been your years of medication, you have every right to be! As you know, the insidious, far reaching detrimental effects of these medications are not even recognised by most of the medical community. I'm happy to hear you have found something that is helping ......

[@nwicconsultants6640]

Extremely informative. Nicole...excellent questions as always and Emily thank you so much for the work you are doing. Would like to know the difference between informed consent which is finally somewhat being recognized esp. with "black box'" warning now incorporated on labels of benzos and informed consent that will require patient actually signing off on understanding possible risks that may come about by taking SSRI's. It almost seems that a signature will be used as "evidence" the patient was fully informed and therefore reduce the liability of those prescribing these drugs. What am I missing here?

[@shaun4443]

SAME, I HAVE BEEN SIX MONTHS OFF ZOLOFT AND STILL LIVING IN HELL!

[@Iliketurtlezz]

symptoms?

[@shaun4443]

​@@Iliketurtlezz I can't sleep more than 4 hours a night, i wake up in panic sweating and hyperventilation, all day I have waves and windows, with a feeling in my stomach of impending doom or like someone had died, then I feel increably depressed that I missed three years of my life and I was aching different without a care in the world, no respect for people, no ambition and that's the operside of me. I have been given mirtazapine and I'm close to tracking it but I'm scared now of mediation.

[@Emu-lb4wc]

Hi I’m 28 years old and have suffered with varying degrees of physical anhedonia for about two years . Basically every physical pleasure has been taken from me . I can’t enjoy , sex , bathing, touch , massage and sometimes even the food I eat . I’m completely pleasureless . Because of this condition I have been unable to have a relationship for ages , my ex bf broke up with me because I didn’t want to have sex and I don’t want to try again . There’s no point in doing something if it isn’t enjoyable

[@Emu-lb4wc]

I’ve also been on antipsychotics for 5 years and I think they worsen the sexual dysfunction and anhedonia I experience . I have learnt to live with it but sometimes I feel left out when I see my friends in relationships and able to enjoy sex and intimacy

[@visiteurvisiteur7301]

@@Emu-lb4wc I am so sorry...be strong

[@Emu-lb4wc]

I will try but I don’t think I will ever be in a relationship again , the anhedonia and sexual dysfunction is so bad . I’ve had it for two years , it feels permanent my ex boyfriend already broke up with me I doubt I can maintain another relationship

[@RSweeklyChallenges]

​@@Emu-lb4wcsame had pssd for 5 years, i wish i had a girlfriend like you who understands what its like living with these symptoms. Just wanted you to know hope is not lost, plenty of us guys have this too

[@Adrem37733]

​@@Emu-lb4wc these drugs can cause permanent anhedonia

[@shan4145]

Wow Thea drug med adverse effects are deadly

[@js7018]

Does anyone have a link to Dr Goldstein research results?

[@KarsonsChannel]

could it be exacerbated by long covid?

[@The_New_Abnormal_World_Order]

Where online can people go to talk about this? I'm a female and I think that a psychiatric drug has caused some permanent damage sxually. It's not an SSRI it's a mood stabilizer.

[@MedicatingNormal]

Hi, look in the video description for links to resources. I believe PSSD Network might direct you to where you can talk about this! www.pssdnetwork.org

[@karliann1]

Our species depends on sexual functioning this is seriously fucked up WOW. I have no interest in sex and rarely feel anything I thought it was just me. I'm on triciclyc and buperenorphine and I am up at 3am right now i can't sleep

[@karliann1]

@emu1028 I am so sorry. Are you still taking medication??

[@karliann1]

@emu1028 I've been on the meds like 11 yrs and I have pssd almost like 6 yrs or so

[@karliann1]

@emu1028 I understand. I actually just prefer to be alone because I don't trust people and I am a loner in that sense so I don't miss the relationship aspect of it. For me it isn't all the time but it is mostly a numb feeling. I feel for you and unfortunately I see myself on the meds forever. I'm sorry we're going thru this if you want to talk I'll be here to listen. Just send me a comment or reply.💜

[@hulk-jv6cz]

Tapered off sertaline. Now sexual function completely lost. No recovery in two years.

[@navagatingthroughthebeasts2908]

Didn't come on until you tapered off ?

[@ajomshah1668]

I have stop antidepressants yet no recovery from pssd

[@user-vf8ti4dq3d]

Wellbutrin isnt an snri its an NDRI

[@celestepiccolo6586]

Ice bath therapy?

[@veganaise2383]

Short cut basically dont touch the shit.

[@Emu-lb4wc]

I feel what happened to me was medical malpractice. Medically induced anhedonia and apathy . Sexist horrible treatment , because im a woman it doesn’t matter about my sexual function or libido