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Notes from Underground

  And, indeed, I will ask on my own account here, an idle question: which is better—cheap happiness or exalted sufferings? Well, which is better?---Fyodor Dostoevsky ---Notes from Underground Fyodor Dostoevsky ---Notes from Underground Even now, so many years later, all this is somehow a very evil memory. I have many evil memories now, but ... hadn’t I better end my “Notes” here? I believe I made a mistake in beginning to write them, anyway I have felt ashamed all the time I’ve been writing this story; so it’s hardly literature so much as a corrective punishment.  Why, to tell long stories, showing how I have spoiled my life through morally rotting in my corner, through lack of fitting environment, through divorce from real life, and rankling spite in my underground world, would certainly not be interesting; a novel needs a hero, and all the traits for an anti-hero are expressly gathered together here, and what matters most, it all produces an unpleasant impression, for we are...
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Hope

To be human is to be a miracle of evolution conscious of its own miraculousness — a consciousness beautiful and bittersweet, for we have paid for it with a parallel awareness not only of our fundamental improbability but of our staggering fragility, of how physiologically precarious our survival is and how psychologically vulnerable our sanity. To make that awareness bearable, we have evolved a singular faculty that might just be the crowning miracle of our consciousness: hope.-- Erich Fromm


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Lives destroyed by SSRI/SNRI and Benzos - WELCOME TO THE HELL ON EARTH

 



This is one of the worst cases , but still

DO NOT TAKE IT UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE AND EVEN THEN THINK AGAIN



What is percentage of people that have extreme adverse effects of taking SSRI or benzos

When it comes to "extreme" adverse effects, the numbers depend heavily on how you define the term—whether you mean life-threatening emergencies, permanent changes, or side effects so "bothersome" they cause people to quit.

Here is the breakdown of the most severe risks for both classes based on clinical data.

1. SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)

SSRIs are generally considered safer in overdose than older antidepressants, but "extreme" effects can still occur, particularly regarding psychological states and long-term function.

Adverse EffectFrequency / PercentageNotes
"Extremely Bothersome"~10%In surveys, about 38% report side effects, but only 1/4 of those (~10% total) call them "extremely bothersome."
Suicidal Thoughts2% – 4%The risk primarily affects those under 25, roughly doubling the baseline risk (from 1% in placebo groups to 2%).
Serotonin Syndrome0.1% – 0.2%A life-threatening reaction; rare in monotherapy but higher if mixed with other drugs (up to 12% in some hospital units).
PSSD (Irreversible Sexual Dysfunction)~0.46% (1 in 216)A controversial but documented condition where sexual function doesn't return after stopping the drug.
Akathisia~2%A state of "inner motor restlessness" that can be extreme enough to cause suicidal ideation.

2. Benzodiazepines

The "extreme" effects here are usually related to long-term dependence, withdrawal, and the risk of fatal respiratory depression (especially when mixed with alcohol or opioids).

Adverse EffectFrequency / PercentageNotes
Severe Withdrawal~16% – 32%While 40–80% experience some withdrawal, about 40% of those report it as "moderate to severe."
Withdrawal Seizures<1%Usually occurring with abrupt cessation ("cold turkey") after high-dose or long-term use.
Suicidal Thoughts (Chronic Use)Up to 50%Some surveys of long-term users show high rates of suicidal ideation, likely due to "emotional blunting" or depression.
Overdose Involvement~30%Of all prescription drug overdose deaths, benzos are present in nearly 1/3 (though usually combined with opioids).
Protracted Dysfunction~10% – 15%Known as "Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction" (BIND), where symptoms persist for years after quitting.
[!IMPORTANT] A Note on "Cold Turkey": Stopping benzodiazepines suddenly can be medically dangerous (seizures/death). If you are experiencing what you consider an "extreme" effect from either medication, do not stop abruptly without a doctor's guidance on a taper schedule.

How many people have permanent extreme disfunction/malfunction of the nervous system or other debilitating side effects once they stop SSRI/SNRI or benzos ?

Defining "Extreme"

  • The "Physical" Extreme: For SSRIs, this is Serotonin Syndrome (very rare). For Benzos, it is fatal respiratory failure or withdrawal seizures.

  • The "Quality of Life" Extreme: For SSRIs, it’s often PSSD or Anhedonia (emotional numbing). For Benzos, it’s permanent memory/cognitive issues or years-long withdrawal.

This is a deeply concerning topic for many, and the medical community has only recently begun to formally recognize the "permanent" nature of these effects. Because of this, there is a major gap between official clinical data (which tends to be conservative) and patient-reported data (which reflects higher numbers).

When you stop these medications, "permanent" or long-term dysfunction is usually grouped into three main categories:

1. SSRIs & SNRIs: Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD)

This is one of the most well-documented "permanent" conditions. It involves a "numbing" of the nervous system’s sexual response that persists for years or even indefinitely after the last pill.

  • Prevalence: A large 2023 study published in The Annals of General Psychiatry estimated the risk at roughly 1 in 216 patients (0.46%).

  • The "Extreme" Factor: Patients report "genital anesthesia" (total loss of feeling), a lack of romantic/emotional connection ("anhedonia"), and a total loss of libido.

  • SNRI Difference: SNRIs like Venlafaxine (Effexor) and Duloxetine (Cymbalta) are often linked to more severe and "electric" withdrawal symptoms (like brain zaps) because they have shorter half-lives, making them harder for the nervous system to stabilize.


2. Benzodiazepines: BIND (Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction)

This is a relatively new term used to describe the "brain injury" or lasting nervous system changes that occur in some long-term benzo users.

  • Prevalence: Researchers estimate that 10% to 15% of chronic users develop a "protracted withdrawal syndrome." However, a survey of 1,200 users published in PLOS ONE found that 76.6% of respondents reported symptoms (like memory loss or motor issues) lasting longer than one year.

  • The "Extreme" Factor: This includes "tinnitus" (permanent ear ringing), "paresthesia" (burning or tingling skin), and "cognitive slowing" that can mimic early-onset dementia.

  • Life Impact: In the same survey, nearly 47% of people with these symptoms reported they had lost their job or were unable to work due to the dysfunction.


3. Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS)

This refers to general nervous system instability—anxiety, "brain zaps," and extreme sensory sensitivity—that lasts far beyond the expected 2–4 week withdrawal window.

FeatureSSRI/SNRI Protracted WithdrawalBenzo Protracted Withdrawal
DurationMonths to 10+ years (Average ~3 years)Months to Indefinite
Severe Incidence~3% (Clinical) to 25%+ (Patient Surveys)~10-15% of chronic users
Key SymptomsAnhedonia, Akathisia (restlessness), Brain ZapsTinnitus, Muscle Spasms, Memory Loss
Nervous System Change5-HT1A receptor down-regulationGABA-A receptor downregulation/damage


The Reality of "Permanence"

Is it truly permanent?

  • Neuroplasticity: The brain is highly adaptive. Many people who feel "permanently" damaged at year 2 find they are significantly better by year 5.

  • documented Persistence: However, there are documented cases where receptor changes (specifically the 5-HT1A receptor for SSRIs) remained visible on brain scans 29 months after the drug was stopped.

  • Functionally Permanent: For a subset of the population, these effects are "functionally permanent," meaning they may not recover to 100% of their pre-medication baseline.


Jordan Peterson case
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