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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by andyboy on May 7, 2002, at 16:37:09
Hey folks
Been awile since I last posted, but noticed something that could perhaps be credited towards my Klonopin therapy. When I first started, I can remember reading that for some individuals, it not only dulled the panic/anxiety, but sometimes strong feelings in general(indifference). Anyway was recently "dumped" by girlfriend of 4+ years, who I was very much in love with. However when she "dropped the bomb" I was seemingly uneffected. I absolutely could not explain it. No tears, no anger, nothing. Just the "oh well..."philosophy. The reason I am saying this is because I came accross and old journal the other day that described my feelings after my 1st girlfriend and I broke up (years back) and I was devistated at the time. I mean Im not saying that Klono is the reason for my indifference-but it has surely helped take the sting out of the breakup.
Andy
Posted by JohnX2 on May 8, 2002, at 0:17:33
In reply to Unexpected Klonopin benefit...?, posted by andyboy on May 7, 2002, at 16:37:09
> Hey folks
> Been awile since I last posted, but noticed something that could perhaps be credited towards my Klonopin therapy. When I first started, I can remember reading that for some individuals, it not only dulled the panic/anxiety, but sometimes strong feelings in general(indifference). Anyway was recently "dumped" by girlfriend of 4+ years, who I was very much in love with. However when she "dropped the bomb" I was seemingly uneffected. I absolutely could not explain it. No tears, no anger, nothing. Just the "oh well..."philosophy. The reason I am saying this is because I came accross and old journal the other day that described my feelings after my 1st girlfriend and I broke up (years back) and I was devistated at the time. I mean Im not saying that Klono is the reason for my indifference-but it has surely helped take the sting out of the breakup.
> AndyHow did your girlfriend react to your ?indifference?.
Was she surprised?John
Posted by Pattisun on May 8, 2002, at 0:50:18
In reply to Re: Unexpected Klonopin benefit...? » andyboy, posted by JohnX2 on May 8, 2002, at 0:17:33
Is this a good thing? I'm still trying to answer that question for myself. I kind of want to have my emotions back. Benzo life is good protection from stress, but its all beige.... After 7 years I would like to try life without Klonopin and see what it would be like to add some color back in.
I'm glad you are not too upset or depressed over something that would send many of us spinning downhill fast!
Patti
Posted by Rathrbfishn on May 8, 2002, at 4:56:07
In reply to Unexpected Klonopin benefit...?, posted by andyboy on May 7, 2002, at 16:37:09
Just some thoughts...K does give many back a life, or at least they can function again, rather than suffering from panic/anxiety and shutting out the world. But I am wondering how healthy it is to be so indifferent to the loss of someone you love after 4 years. NO FEELINGS? What a dilema. Suffer with panic/anxiety/shutting out the world, or take klonopin to function to get some semblence of your life back. But at what cost? Your feelings? I'm not judging, I use xanax for panic disorder. I can relate to the blunting effect that benzo's can have. I have recognized the indifference in my own feelings that you speak of. So what to do. Live life void of feelings, yet functioning. How fullfilling is that? I think about this all the time. What is the quality of my life using benzo's? Certainly better than living with debilitating PAD. I know I have feelings, but are they appropriate for the situation? After so many years on benzo's I know the lines get blurry. And another thought that I know my pdoc would bring to my attention if I relayed your story to him. He would pose this question, "do you think the indifference with feelings contributed to the breakup of the relationship?" I don't have answers, but lots of questions, almost daily, that your post inspired me to write about.
Just one more thing that I do to deal with these questions. When something happens to me, and I wonder if I am feeling appropriately for whatever it was that happened, I skip or reduce my next dose of xanax as long as I can to see if my feelings don't change. What I find is that I've been at this so long, I know WHAT it is that I should be feeling, but I still have to wonder if I'm feeling it in an appropriate way. Is the intensity of the feeling healthy or have I been on xanax so long that it has reprogrammed me so that I can't feel in a healthy and healing way. It's a double edged sword. I guess we all do what we have to, to get by in this world. With mental illness there are so many compromises.
Posted by JaneB on May 8, 2002, at 7:10:54
In reply to Is it a benefit?, posted by Rathrbfishn on May 8, 2002, at 4:56:07
I've had the same problem with Klonopin but I thought it was the Celexa. When I have feelings or lack thereof that are not like the old me that seem inappropriate for the ocassion (ex. death of mother) I am very careful not to act on those feelings. The grief came, just not when I expected it to. But I acted appropriately at the ocassion knowing it was med induced. that is difficult to do and can be risky and therefore I am considering going off meds. However, I am equally wondering if I need a mood stabilizer to even out moods to have the appropriate feelings during events. Does this make sense?
JaneB
Posted by wendy b. on May 8, 2002, at 8:22:30
In reply to Re: Is it a benefit?, posted by JaneB on May 8, 2002, at 7:10:54
> I've had the same problem with Klonopin but I thought it was the Celexa. When I have feelings or lack thereof that are not like the old me that seem inappropriate for the ocassion (ex. death of mother) I am very careful not to act on those feelings. The grief came, just not when I expected it to. But I acted appropriately at the ocassion knowing it was med induced. that is difficult to do and can be risky and therefore I am considering going off meds. However, I am equally wondering if I need a mood stabilizer to even out moods to have the appropriate feelings during events. Does this make sense?
> JaneB
Hi again, Jane,All of these are interesting questions... I am on a mood-stabilizer, maybe that's the ticket. I still have strong emotions, but I can keep them in check better, so I don't act impulsively, or slip down into a deep depression. Maybe that is a trade-off, but I ask you: Who needs to feel badly?? Life is better with me not OVER-reacting to huge griefs and problems... I take your point about the differences between using benzo's to regulate, and other mood-stabilizers, though. Benzo's appear to flatten mood, while MS's may allow the ups and downs, just not allow you to go too far up or too far down... Just a hunch.
Thank you for starting this discussion, Andy. I'm sorry about the breakup. Maybe you should talk to your dr about the lack of affect?
Wendy
Posted by andyboy on May 8, 2002, at 9:15:55
In reply to Unexpected Klonopin benefit...?, posted by andyboy on May 7, 2002, at 16:37:09
wow!
I am surprised at the reaction and discussion that my post has brought up. I'm glad that people can relate, and bring something new to the surface. Thanks for the responses-and everything is going fine (regarding the break-up...)
Andy
Posted by tex1 on May 9, 2002, at 2:44:41
In reply to Unexpected Klonopin benefit...?, posted by andyboy on May 7, 2002, at 16:37:09
> Hey folks
> Been awile since I last posted, but noticed something that could perhaps be credited towards my Klonopin therapy. When I first started, I can remember reading that for some individuals, it not only dulled the panic/anxiety, but sometimes strong feelings in general(indifference). Anyway was recently "dumped" by girlfriend of 4+ years, who I was very much in love with. However when she "dropped the bomb" I was seemingly uneffected. I absolutely could not explain it. No tears, no anger, nothing. Just the "oh well..."philosophy. The reason I am saying this is because I came accross and old journal the other day that described my feelings after my 1st girlfriend and I broke up (years back) and I was devistated at the time. I mean Im not saying that Klono is the reason for my indifference-but it has surely helped take the sting out of the breakup.
> Andy
Really very good post. Coming up with this questions is always interesting. Seing how meds may change feelings.I believe that not only benzos can blunt your feelings but even the ADs. The "oh well.." philosphy can be both useful or dangerous. Who know which is the appropiate reaction to the loss of a loved one ? I believe that in this case personality traits play an important role. Being dependent from a every single move of our partner can be dangerous for some of us. I've always suffered an intense separation anxiety and one can even say I have dependent personality traits with some obsessive thoughts. The only sign that can prelude to a possible broke up make me very very anxious. I believe that not react to the same way to a certain stimulus, then I believe that is important to look for the way we WANT to react.Tex
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