I honestly believe I can't really work on the underlying issues of my anxiety while I am in episode. During a psychotic episode, I am on all-natural, self-replenishing drugs and as rational as a sloppy drunk. Not a good time for forming intelligent approaches for feeding myself, much less solving the conundrums of mental illness.

My shrinks call that empty feel, "Dissociation." It is a survival mechanism that allows us to survive inhumane circumstances. In my case, that survival mechanism is so over-developed that it has grown into reflexive habit. That light-headed feel is my first symptom of dissociation.

Is it any consolation to you that med side effect isn't the only route to this psycho snot knot? I worked my way into dissociative catatonia while I was stone cold sober and drug/med free. Not a fun place to try to pull back from. As so often happens in the healing arts, prevention is far more effective than cure.

For what it's worth:
These days I start plying grounding exercises with that first light-headed feel. I practice those exercises between episodes so that my skills are fit and ready for action when needed.

You may not feel emotions for several reasons. You could just not be a super emotional person, which is perfectly ok. Or you could be more like me, and feel things so deeply that you learned to block feelings a long, long time ago.

I have anxiety to really bad along with social anxiety disorder. And I know how it feels specially when you feel manic like I have felt. It makes everything worse. It makes me feel like compulsive than like obsessive and that gives you more anxiety the only help with my medicine that made me sleep at night and my meds that I taken the afternoon to calm me down. Thank God for meds. Good luck if you need anything, let me know.

I prefer natural care rather than prescriptions if possible. Sometimes they aren't enough and a Dr is needed, but sometimes they do the trick, they do for me anyway. I take a good multi with extra magnesium ( calms the mind body and spirit) and B complex (gives good energy and focus). Also, I take ginseng which gets rid of sticky negative thoughts that loop around. Getting outside, even just to walk to mailbox or around neighborhood is good, it gives us fresh air and sunshine. Helps a lot! Also, helping others helps us, so think of who you want to help and either directly help them or thru a volunteer group,that will give you purpose, Best to you dear! <3