[raintrees]

After a whole lot of stuff coming down at once (divorce, December holiday season, back taxes due) I was prescribed with Prozac. I took it for maybe 3 months, then stopped. I noticed that I became a plodder for the time being, which worked well for all of the crises. I got over the ex, I got through the holidays, and I set up a repayment plan.

But all in all, I had zero creativity. I do not remember coding anything of significance. Pretty much just a maintenance lifestyle. I behaved the same with alcohol and cannabis, so it is probably my specific make-up.

I really enjoy the creative side, and I choose to remain clear. It makes for better relationships for me, all around. I also love what I do, and I seem to get better enjoyment from it.

FWIW...

[petercooper]

Interesting. My father took Prozac for a while some years ago and his creativity shot through the roof. For the whole time he was on it, he became an almost expert woodworker - something he'd shown no interest in before - making some great pieces week after week. Once he came off, within a few weeks he was back to programming again, but no hands-on creative work anymore.

[skinnymuch]

Good post. I think what you just explained is exactly how antidepressants should be thought of for 99% of the population. They are in almost all cases only meant for temporary use. Hell I was suicidal and basically a useless vegetable for a year and surprisingly survived before I got on three different anti-depressants (still on all three right now). But neither my psychiatrist nor I feel like I'll be taking any more than one in a year or two.

So Prozac definitely helped but yeah the creativity thing is a pain. I work like a robot now. I list out a schedule and have to follow it exactly or I get annoyed. I don't like to do anything out of the ordinary now :(