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Administrator
Administrator
14915 Posts Gratitude: 577
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Posted - 09/23/2007 : 13:25:44
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Dear Members,
Research has shown that lack of emotional expression is often a problem in both schizophrenia and depression.
Lack of Emotional Expression is defined as:
Face usually lacks emotion; lacks humor; appears emotionally cold, aloof or “flat”. Could you please tell our community if lack of emotional expression was part of your schizophrenia, and what made this better or worse.
Your comments will greatly help others facing these same problems.
Phil Long M.D. Administrator |
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firebird
Amazing Member (1000+ posts)
1555 Posts Gratitude: 525
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Posted - 09/23/2007 : 16:23:06
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I am a very physical person, kissing, hugging and holding hands in public or private are no problem to me. What is life if one cannot show affection?. Love is the spice of life. |
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peewee
Amazing Member (1000+ posts)
1520 Posts Gratitude: 486
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Posted - 09/27/2007 : 07:03:45
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I don't have a problem with that at all. I love telling my husband and child and my mom that I love them. I believe that I must always encourage it in my home and fill it with love. |
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spirit
Amazing Member (1000+ posts)
1055 Posts Gratitude: 168
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Posted - 10/15/2007 : 08:15:33
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Yes, primarly with trust, expense, and playing the courting game. |
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Quirky
Starting Member
11 Posts Gratitude: 4
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Posted - 11/17/2007 : 15:11:27
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This is something I experience to the worst degree, not that I can't express it but that I don't think i can even feel it (love/hatred). I mentioned in another post way back that I felt guilty because I know I should feel this overwhelming love for my kids and husband but I don't.. just an acceptance that they are the ones I have.
I haven't overcome this yet, I just accept it is part of what is wrong with me. My doc says it is called apathy and that it should get better once my pdoc starts treatment. In the meantime I am forcing myself to show affection even when I don't feel it as i wouldn't want my kids to feel unloved simply because I am screwed up. My husband has even gotten me to the point I can actually relax into a hug and am starting to enjoy it, where as before i couldn't stand having anyone hug me. I think it boils down to my noticing that it isn't the way everyone feels, that when they try to express their affection to me they aren't being fake but are sincere and my understanding now that this is a problem with me and that it will be treated so i can finally experience what they have felt all this time.
The pen may be mightier than the sword but the tongue is the only weapon that gets sharper with use |
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mae
Super Member (250+ posts)
992 Posts Gratitude: 108
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Posted - 02/24/2008 : 02:13:59
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We show alot of love and expression in our home but if I am depressed my husband will always ask me what is wrong with me I guess he can tell by the look on my face and my actions as usually I sleep alot and am not responsive to his love but for the most part he tries to make me laugh and that helps. I guess thats why I love him so much
mae |
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Shawn6294
Super Member (250+ posts)
258 Posts Gratitude: 33
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Posted - 03/05/2008 : 00:46:03
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Well you mentioned humour so anyway yeah I like to laugh, I laugh at stuff other people don't find funny and a lot of other people laugh at stuff that I don't find funny, I guess I use humour to deal with a lot of my problems. I used to wanna be a standup comedian but I couldn't get up there in front of all those people-my nerves again. |
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Fruitcup (inactive)
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
2298 Posts Gratitude: 563
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Posted - 03/05/2008 : 19:48:54
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I hug my children and tell them I love them all the time but I don't laugh anymore...is it the medication?
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Mike412
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
3633 Posts Gratitude: 61
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Posted - 01/12/2009 : 08:37:41
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I guess it's like you gotta know it to show it |
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hercules21
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
5726 Posts Gratitude: 435
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Posted - 04/17/2009 : 21:46:13
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I have always been reserved and shy. During my psychosis at one point I perceived someone talking about me and they were saying what do you do if he want him to react to our torments "what if he gives you the tim duncan and just stands there with a blank look on his face" - so my subconscious mind obviously decided that I wasn't reacting very much to the things being said around me.
I just think it is in my nature though not to react. I have been told that Intj personalities from myers briggs personality profiling - often only react with their eyes and show very little body language.
Regardless of whether I show emotion or not - I find that there is very little emotions in my actions. I am inactive and indecisive. It is a big thing for me to take any action to improve my lot in life. There is no fire driving me. I feel like my life is behind me and I live my life thinking about my regrets and how I handled this illness instead of looking forward. I have lost so much I guess. Still doesn't explain why I am so flat - I just am. |
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chris5555
Starting Member
1 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2009 : 15:33:34
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mine's pretty bad i think. havent felt any form of real love in the past two years, besides a few short times. same with any other emotion really.
the flat effect definately affects me and my wellbeing. i get confused when i look back years ago, feeling love for my family and friends and maybe other people. then looking at how its been for the last two years.. no love for anyone. it sucks.
no sadness.. not alot of empathy. no real happiness or anger..
my therapist once brought emoption out of me. i started crying because he was asking questions about how i was treated in school.
after i cried that time.. i definately felt more like a human being. it was great. i was appreciating things more and felt closer to my family and all that. i could look at myself in the mirror and sort of recognized that reflection. was enjoying a song i was listening to. it all didnt last long but while it did it was nice. i just felt normal for a little while. |
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hercules21
Incredible Member (2000+ posts)
5726 Posts Gratitude: 435
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Posted - 06/14/2009 : 22:44:13
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Hi Chris555.
Welcome to the site. Good to see your post. I am sorry you have had problems with emotions for the past two years. When was your breakdown? Have you had a psychosis?
Are other aspects of your life ok? Do you work? Do you have friends? Family?
Let us know when you get some time
Hercules |
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Tommy C.
Starting Member
20 Posts Gratitude: 5
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Posted - 08/26/2009 : 22:51:14
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I often fake emotions. I have a hard time getting over my apathetic-ness when it comes to my feelings. Even when I feel like I've hit rock bottom I have a hard time outwardly showing it. |
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Tommy C.
Starting Member
20 Posts Gratitude: 5
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Posted - 09/02/2009 : 22:37:35
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Yeah, so I tested myself. I watched the video of that guy who stalked Bjork. I watched him blow his brains out. No emotional response came to the surface. I can tell that I felt something because I got a super weird feeling in my stomach. But, no tears, no gasps, no moans, no outward expression of any emotion. I did not directly feel an emotion come from that. |
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sopater
Amazing Member (1000+ posts)
1005 Posts Gratitude: 68
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Posted - 01/28/2010 : 21:47:58
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I've had lack of emotional expression as a direct side effect from antipsychotic medication. I've gone off and on meds so much in the past that I started to figure it out. For example on a dose of doctor regulated meds I would have serious trouble connecting with other human beings on an emotional level, and when I would stop taking meds for a long period of time I would slowly start to connect again, empathizing, and sympathizing. Eventually without meds I would be able to recognize cues like vocal tones of another person’s happiness. I guess what I'm trying to say is that in my personal experiences on and off psychiatric medication, the meds flattened my emotions and made me appear more reptilian. It really makes me wonder how many people diagnosed with schizophrenia appear apathetic as a direct side effect of these powerful brain drugs that are given to any person who walks into a doctors office and complains of psychotic symptoms. |
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warbird
Super Incredible Member (10000+ posts)
100629 Posts |
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