Posted by X_ander on November 27, 2008, at 20:54:27
Hi everyone
In my attempt to find an answer to my own issues of anhedonia and emotional numbness/apathy, I was scouring the web and found a theory that is completely different to that involving dopamine hypofunction.
Instead this doctor posutlated in a patent and a couple journal articles that the emotional numbness was induced by the body's response to severe stress as in PTSD...that this response involved the body's endogenous opiates..that is endorphins..over activity of endorphins, as the body's defense mechanism against very painful and stressful situations.
His solution...opiate antagonists. Naltrexone, thebaine and others...he goes on to talk about good reponses with war veterans etc...and that it may not be exclusive to PTSD, sometimes depression and other disorders..
I'd never heard of it, but maybe some of you have?? Anyone try it?
google: "treatment for emotional numbness" it'll be a free online patent thing..
Just searching for answers like the rest of us I suppose.
poster:X_ander
thread:865523
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20081123/msgs/865523.html