Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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That Flat Feeling

beckyp
beckyp
I have been basically stable for a few years now and have gradually been working on getting a life back. I go to school and work part time. A big success for me.

The reason I'm writing is because I always just feel flat. No emotion at all. Never cry or get angry, nothing like that. I'm thinking it is the abilify I'm on, but don't know for sure. I'm thinking of asking my pdoc if I can reduce the dosage a little bit and see what happens, but I'm afraid that if it doesn't help I'll get sick again and when we increase the med back up it won't work.

I don't know if it is worth it? What do all of you think, or what has been your experience with this?

Thanks.
tommymott
tommymott
When I was using haldol and thorazine I was very flat and the flatness went away as I moved on to other meds. I think it's worth discussing with your doc since flatness can be very frustrating.
dancingd
dancingd
I am very familiar with the "Flat" feeling.
I called myself an emotional zombie...driving down a dark desert highway

7 years on Depakote really blunted me .

It's only lately.....like in the last few weeks, that I feel some emotion coming back.

I really couldn't explain exactly why it happened , but it has .
spacepony
spacepony
I agree with Tommy that it is worth a discussion. And I hear your reluctance to mess with stability. My advice would be to make any change incremental and one at a time. Feeling may take awhile to return. It will likely be different than what feeling was before-/but that could be good!
octobermom79
octobermom79
I agree a discussion with your pdoc is in order.

I just recently went off of resperdone for the same reason. I couldn't take having no emotions anymore. I won't say it is easy to change because the change threw me into hypo mania. However, the needed has started to work and I have emotions again.

I wish you luck with whatever your desicion is.
beckyp
beckyp
Thanks everyone for your responses and suggestions. I really appreciate it.
spacekat
spacekat
I really like abilify - it doesn't turn me into a zombie (like dd said). I feel sad, and happy, and confused but I FEEL and that's what counts.
Community Leaderacuriousfish
acuriousfish
I think when I was feeling flat on lithium and discussed it with my psychiatrist the response was that it was actually depression - so definately worth talking over with your doctor.
got2breal
got2breal
Sometimes meds can make you feel flat, but if your stable that might be a good thing. I like to feel my emotions but sometimes they get way too intense like laughing too much or crying. So not sure which is best. I guess this would be a great discussion thanks for bringing it up.
sadiegirl13
sadiegirl13
I had to weigh this option with lithium too. We did reduce the dose a tiny bit, and I'm def not as flat and blunted anymore, but some symptoms have come back as well : \ I know I won't go back up on the dose bc I really can't stand the blunting, but now we have to find a different solution for the symptoms that I have.
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