Nothingness

Thank you all who have posted to me.  I wanted to know if any of you that are "stable" feel nothingness.  I don't feel happy or sad just there.  Granted this is better than the rollercoaster I was on and better for my kids. I have no interests in anything.  I miss the up, the energy,the go till you drop kind of days.  Does anyone else feel this way?  It's like life is passing me by.  I am getting a bit motivated to do some stuff but I am working emotionally hard to get there.  Any ideas?  On the other hand, for those of you who are still struggling to find the right meds to get "stable" it is worth trying the different meds.  If it means more than one well okay that's what you do to have peace in your life.  I wasn't diagnoised properly until I was 36.  So it was a long and trying road for me and the family.  I am lucky to have a husband that was there for me all the way.  He knows how to "handle" me  if I get a rare low.  Thanks for being there and any advice would be great.

[bernie40]

That was how I felt on the first lot of meds that I was on - emotionless, even my husband commented that I never cracked a smile even though I wasn't down.  I spoke to my psychiatrist and said that although I was happy to be rid of swings I was not prepared to be a "nothing" person either.  She lowered the dose I was on and this made a big difference.  I have been on a fair few different combos since and think I may have finally found one that works.  All I will say is that you don't have to settle for "nothingness", you can get a combo that allows you to feel, without it getting out of control. It just may take a while and can be a rough journey whilst you find it.

Good luck.

[freefallingsj]

That's exactly what my husband says, I never smile.  I'm not reallly down but I don't laugh and act light hearted.  I also should mention that I had a total hysterectomy at 38 and am on hrt.  I know that has something to do with my mood.  I felt great after that,no more ups and downs, pms , mood swings.   But I also started respridal right before that and I know that keeps the anger and frstration away.  I put on 40 lb. in 3 months!  I didn't eat any differently but became insulin resistant, now I am pre-diabetic due to the weight and lack of exersis.

[Venora Moonwind]

You should be having emotions Thats part of being stable. Your meds might need adjusting as Bulldozer said. Might meds took alot of adjusting before we got the dose  right. Hang in there.
Love Venora

[ILADVOCATE]

I'd be concerned about the weight gain and the pre-diabetes. Risperdal can cause that. Perhaps you could speak to your psychiatrist about changing it. The other issues you mentioned could come from cognitive confusion and sedation of medication but also when a person is depressed they also have lost their energy and ability to enjoy life. I can't tell which one it is but you should speak to your psychiatrist about it. Mood stabilizers are there to settle moodswings not to numb a person but this effect you are describing can come from depression as well. Hard to say but speak to your psychiatrist about it more. Google "Depression Central" or anything else on the links page. If you just have to be on a straight mood stabilizer (of course some people need an antipsychotic I would not know) Lamictal is one that is less likely to have this effect. As for antipsychotics Abilify is the least likely to cause weight gain. You could ask your psychiatrist about this option and others as well.