I found an interesting post on the post-SSRI yahoo group, which I would like to share. We all know that their symptoms are very similar (if not the same) to ours. Here, the author brilliantly describes what parts of the sensitivity are missing and which ones are present – while most of the posts I’ve seen generally refers to it as lack of sensitivity or ED. Except for point 1, I totally recognize myself in this post, and I would like to know if others feel the same way. I’ll copy it here; the original is at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRIsex/message/17373.
[i]OK guys I’m going to use this post to compile all of my findings and reading on
PSSD (specifically for males). As a disclaimer I am an independent researcher
and non of my theories are guaranteed true for everybody.
Not too long ago I read somewhere that men with PSSD can not sense a building
arousal as erections grow nor can they be stimulated by erotic thoughts and
images.
I’m getting closer and closer to the cause of my problem and likely all the men
with PSSD problem. This post will be graphic and extremely descriptive so please
be mature. For some reason I have a hunch that actualizing the problem will help
us in recovery and I may already be noticing gains in myself using this process
although it is far too early to say. The theory is to remind the brain what is
missing and coerce it into making changes.
A few things I’ve noticed:
-
I have a tickling sensation in my prostate region with an erection that can
sometimes make me feel like I need to crap or that I might accidentally crap
myself. I feel that a lot more sensation is coming from the deep regions of my
penis rather than the head. The base of my penis and inside the prostate can
actually feel more pleasurable than the tip which is very much contrary to pre
SSRI. -
PSSD sufferers can not bait themselves by ‘flexing’ their penises. Orgasms
pre SSRI would lead to a climactic ‘tightening’ in the head of the penis which
was extremely pleasurable. PSSD reduces the sensation of pleasure that this
specific constriction once brought us. I’ve come to find that my response to
friction is not all too different to pre SSRI levels, it’s my response to
‘tightness’ that has changed. -
All side effects of PSSD seem to trickle down from one source that is genital
anaesthesia. The cause of this is poorly understood although it is widely
observed that increasing dopamine somewhat reverses genital anaesthesia. -
After orgasm with PSSD a males frenulum (area on the underside of the penis
right below the head) can become very sore and can feel bruised. PSSD alters a
mans refractory response as well, pre SSRI the slightest stimulation during the
refractory period was unpleasant. With PSSD a man won’t feel refractory unless
he really tries to stimulate himself. This comes back to reduced sensation.
I have an all inclusive theory. A healthy males penis builds upon its own
arousal. What does that mean? Basically, the harder a man is the more pleasure
he gets which in turn makes the man even harder. It’s a cycle, back and forth
back and forth. With PSSD the two systems become disconnected, pleasure does not
follow erection but for the most part erection still follows pleasure.
At first this led me to believe there was a physiological problem. I thought
maybe there was something that got altered in the penis. I am beginning to see
the problem lies in our brains interpretation of an erection. I think having an
erection causes a chemical reward in our brain due to the ‘tightening’ sensation
felt in the head of the penis. PSSD destroys this reward mechanism by making the
penis less responsive to constriction. This is all I can type now, I’ll try and
update when I have more to share. Please share any of your own observations.
[/i]