106-zack-walker-antipsychotics-blank-empty-numb

“The stuff made me numb, a walking zombie with no will, no emotions, no motivation to move or even speak. … I didn't think anything or say anything or feel anything for decades … I'm not surrounded by nothing anymore, it doesn't feel blank and empty inside my head. … I hadn't heard what was in my head for almost 20 years … then I was in the silent desert of my mind.”

Cause

Antipsychotics (specific index drug not named). Sequence: unnamed AP → numb zombie; another that helped also caused tardive dyskinesia; further AP (<6 months) caused metabolic syndrome and emotional numbness so deep she felt nothing watching grandma die. Off all pills ~6 years at writing; attributes decades of no thoughts / silent head / no feelings to the antipsychotics.

Duration

Blank/empty mind + numb/no-feelings framed as almost 20 years / 'decades' on then after APs; ~6 years fully off any pill before late breakthrough; recovery surge 'this year' with sudden full return the day before posting.

Recovery notes

Time off all psychotropics (~6 years). Gradual return of emotions and thoughts over the posting year, then abrupt 'tsunami' day when inner speech/noise and laughing/enjoyment returned. No specific protocol named beyond staying off pills. Hope message that recovery can arrive after years empty.

Source URL

https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-reverse-the-brain-damage-caused-by-antipsychotics-after-youve-stopped-taking-them/answer/Zack-Walker-72