The following episode has been featured on TVI, Portugal’s most viewed channel. This was aired over live television on April 12, 2024. The informative video features multiple victims of PSSD, who share their experiences living with side effects many years after discontinuing their antidepressant. You can find the full video below with English subtitles. If you would like to view this episode without subtitles (in Portuguese), you can find the original video here.

The article “Can Antidepressants Make You Permanently Asexual?” by Olivia Flint describes the rise in Asexuality via Tiktok, and how some young women are proudly proclaiming their Asexuality. Olivia makes a link to the antidepressants that Gen Z has been using since their childhoods, which could cause PSSD after getting off the drugs as an adult. PSSD sufferers often describe the loss of romantic feelings as Asexuality because they can no longer find attraction to others. Olivia also states that there has been a rise in influencers telling young people that there is nothing wrong with being Asexual, however there is a fear that some who identify as such might be suffering from PSSD, which needs to be addressed.

The following episode has been featured on RaiPlay, a streaming service with over 11 million viewers per month in Italy. The episode “Can A Drug Make Us Happy?” aired for the show ‘Petrolio’ on March 19, 2024. This informative video features multiple victims of PSSD, who share their experiences living with side effects many years after discontinuing their antidepressant. Some of the featured scenes are from the previous PSSD documentary on BBC. You can find the full clip below with English subtitles. If you would like to view this episode without subtitles (in Italian), you can find the original video here.

The article “It feels like we’ve been lobotomized” by David Cox narrates the horrific experience that some patients are being put through after stopping their antidepressants. PSSD (Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction) has taken a huge toll on the lives of those suffering, and the symptoms that sufferers endure have made life feel impossible. The article highlights the fact that research is being self-funded by PSSD victims rather than the companies responsible for causing the problem. A PSSD sufferer within the article explains the dismissal and lack of acknowledgement by the medical industry, stating that harmed patients are being mocked and ridiculed. Researchers are still puzzled over the cause of PSSD, prompting the urgency of more research funding.

The article “Are You Asexual Or On Antidepressants?” by Freya India describes Gen Z and their dependence on antidepressants. Alongside the discussion regarding the reliance on sedative medications, India sheds light on PSSD. The article discusses the persistent symptoms that sufferers endure such as emotional blunting, no libido, and further sexual dysfunction.

The piece also highlights the admission from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, stating that these drugs have been used to castrate sex offenders. India expresses her concern amongst girls who identify as asexual during and after the use of antidepressants, indicating that they could be dealing with PSSD and are actually unaware of the fact. A great point is made throughout the entirety of the story. Do you think antidepressants are the leading cause of asexuality?

The article “Can We Please Stop Bullshitting Patients With PSSD?” by Awais Aftab speaks an important message to professionals who are still gaslighting PSSD victims. “Patients deserve better” Awais says as he explains why it’s important to recognize PSSD in clinical settings. This piece is a must read for professionals who either feel skeptical of the condition or in denial.

Series 2 Episode 9 of ‘Dr. Xand’s Con Or Cure’ discusses the harmful side effects of antidepressants. PSSD was discussed to the audience as a doctor explains that more awareness and research is needed for the condition. As PSSD is discussed in this episode, a sufferer is also interviewed, who explains that various side effects have persisted since stopping antidepressants. This informative episode reveals the horror in what could really happen after stopping these drugs.

The article “Antidepressants Could Permanently Destroy Your Sex Life - And Much More” by Lucy Sarret discusses a concerning amount of people that are now experiencing PSSD. Sufferers of the condition have spoken out and described their persistent symptoms, such as sexual dysfunction and emotional blunting, despite stopping their medication many years ago.

Throughout the article, Dr. David Healy weighs the pros and cons of taking antidepressants. He acknowledges that the issue is often misdiagnosed as a mental illness, such as depression. Due to the negligence and lack of informed consent, patients discuss taking legal action as a hope to get their justice and catch the attention of the companies responsible for this.

The article “Reckoning Looms For Depression Drugs” by Natasha Robinson, discusses the worlds first approach to begin deprescribing antidepressants due to the rising overprescriptions and iatrogenic injuries. A sufferer of PSSD also shares their story and their ongoing battle with the condition. Although the deprescribing debate continues, the impact that these medications may have are being uncovered in this piece.

The article “Medicines used to treat the mind cause some users problems that continue after they stop using the medicine” by Miia Vistilä is about two PSSD sufferers who developed the condition after stopping their antidepressants. The sufferers mentioned throughout the article have agreed that the condition has ruined their lives. Risto Roine, the neurologist who is currently seeing PSSD patients is defining PSSD as an autoimmune disorder. This is due to antibodies, however more research is needed to confirm this theory.

The Finnish article “Like Just A Shell” by Sini Saaritsa paints the picture of what it looks like to live with PSSD thanks to the guidance of a victim named Emma. Emma’s story explains what life feels like living with this condition, “Totally Disabling. PSSD completely locks up your emotional life. You don’t infatuate, you don’t fall in love, you don’t feel sexual desire and you don’t enjoy sex” she states. Emma’s story is an important learning lesson for professionals who overprescribe these medications, as the outcome could lead to serious consequences such as this.

The Swedish article by Eleonore Lennermark goes into detail regarding Arvid’s suffering from PSSD. Arvid has been fighting PSSD for the past 14 years and counting. He states “All of my sexuality disappeared, I feel castrated.” The symptoms have caused a significant amount of damage on his life and he hopes to find a way out of this.

The article: “After Antidepressants, a Loss of Sexuality”, by Azeen Ghorayshi, discusses a group of patients experiencing severe sexual problems even after discontinuing the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a common type of antidepressant. These long-term issues, known as Post-SSRI sexual dysfunction, include symptoms such as numb genitals and pleasureless orgasms. While some health authorities acknowledge these lasting effects, researchers are just beginning to quantify the prevalence of the condition.

Controversy exists among psychiatrists, with some attributing the problems to recurrent depression rather than the medications. The article highlights the need for further research and understanding, as well as concerns about potential impacts on prescribing these medications for mental health.

The article “Charlotte Hasn’t Had Sex in 16 Years” by Karsten Kehr highlights the past 16 years of suffering from a PSSD sufferer in Germany. “I’m a switched off zombie” Charlotte says as she describes her experience and never-ending battle with the condition.

Hamish, 33, opens up about his battle with post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD), a condition he compares to being "chemically castrated."

His libido vanished after taking anti-anxiety medication, leading to mental health challenges. Hamish sheds light on the lack of awareness surrounding PSSD, which can persist for years, causing ongoing distress.

The article highlights the prevalence of sexual side effects from antidepressants, underlining the need for informed consent and better understanding of potential risks.

PSSD (Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction) emerges as a haunting aftermath of SSRIs, revealing distressing sexual side effects even after discontinuation of medication. Symptoms, including persistent genital numbness, loss of libido, anorgasmia, erectile dysfunction, and emotional detachment, can persist for over three months post-cessation.

Luke, a representative from the PSSD Network, voices the long-standing lack of awareness about PSSD and its debilitating impact. Luke shares his own ordeal of enduring PSSD and anhedonia, a struggle to experience happiness or connection.

Many stories echo similar hardships, likening the condition to a loss of vital connection and profound humanity. Recent academic efforts and documentaries contribute to greater understanding and recognition of PSSD.

The Irish Independant sheds light on the often-neglected issue of Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) caused by long-term use of SSRI antidepressants. The condition manifests as prolonged sexual and emotional numbness in some users, leading to devastating consequences on their lives. The article features personal accounts of individuals who have suffered from PSSD, highlighting the constellation of symptoms they experience, including emotional blunting, anhedonia (the inability to experience pleasure), and a loss of sexual function.

The experiences of individuals like Tom and Simon illustrate the impact of PSSD on relationships, identity, and overall quality of life. Their stories emphasize the urgent need for increased awareness and research into potential treatments for this condition. Sufferers often face disbelief from medical professionals and struggle to find adequate support. Some resort to seeking solutions from the dark web, risking their health due to the absence of established treatments.

Dr. David Healy, a psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist, stresses the importance of research to identify safe and effective treatments for PSSD. He explains that genital numbness is a key criterion for diagnosing PSSD, and he suspects that peripheral nerve endings in the skin might be dysfunctional in these cases. Establishing a medical test could provide validation and help patients overcome medical disbelief.

Despite the challenges, individuals like Tom and Simon share glimmers of hope and determination, advocating for greater recognition of PSSD and contributing to a growing patient-led community aiming to raise awareness and promote research into this distressing condition.

Around one in seven people in the UK are on antidepressants but do we know all we need to about the risks and benefits of taking this medication?

Anton Ferrie investigates the impact of these pills on the minds and bodies of the thousands of young people who take them, and meets those for whom their use has had profound consequences.

Some say these drugs have saved their lives; others that they’ve changed it permanently, wiping out their sex lives and numbing them to the world around them.

Mira’s article for Giddy Magazine highlights the lack of awareness and research on the condition and the impact it has on affected individuals' lives. It also mentions the PSSD Network's efforts to raise awareness and advocate for research and treatment options.

In the UK, around one in seven now take an antidepressant. Globally they have made the pharmaceutical industry billions. When the current generation of drugs was launched 35 years ago, they promised a safe and effective treatment, free from the side effects of older medicines. But have they lived up to those claims?

While many people say they have benefited from taking them, Panorama reveals evidence of some companies trying to conceal concerns about their drugs, following patients who have suffered serious side effects as they continue their fight to be heard.