I now have PSSD/PSD from Sertraline TRIGGER WARN

I am writing to hopefully spread awareness about this condition. Post SSRI Syndrome, often called "Post SSRI Sexual Dysfunction" is a condition where those who have taken a serotoninergenic drug like SSRI, SNRI, atypical antidepressants and some forms of antipsychotics develop symptoms such as the following: 1. Anhedonia; (difficulty or inability to feel positive emotions, feelings, enjoyment. Or satisfaction). 2. Emotional Blunting/Anesthesia; Difficulty or inability to experience all emotions including sadness, anger, empathy, anxiety, depression, love. 3. Sexual Dysfunction; Genital Numbness or reduced sensation, erectile dysfunction, anorgasmia, low or absent libido. 4. Cognitive Dysfunction; Memory Issues, Learning Difficulties, General Slowing The prognosis for this condition is unknown as it is understudied, underfunded, and severely underreported with many experiening this conditionfor years, decades, or indefinitely. One Israeli study found a prevalence of 1 in 216 specifically for the symptoms of erectile dysfunction purely based on those who sought treatment for the erectile dysfunction. I do not experience this symptom but do experience every other symptom including genital numbness though, so the prevalence is likely higher depending on the symptomatology and it being underreported even among those who do experience all symptoms. I had a rich and vibrant life and initially sought help due to my severe OCD which caused severe anxiety. I was told by a therapist (not from NOCD) that progress without medication is difficult to estimate prognostically. I saw a psychiatrist and was not warned about these potential life-altering risks and was told specifically not to look into the side effects or to research said drugs before taking them. I trialed Sertraline 25mg for about 2 months and experienced severe side effects such as cognitive dysfunction, visual snow, and apathy. I decided to come off and tapered for a few weeks just to be safe and experienced an acute withdrawal period invokving migraines, worsening side-effect symptoms, visual snow, and brain zaps. Worst of all, upon discontinuing I developed this condition, I almost instantly became anhedonic, emotionally blunted, and had difficulty with learning and memory. I also lost my sexuality with genital numbness, and reduced libido. It has been almost 10 months since I discontinued and my symptoms have mostly worsened or stayed the same with the only symptom to have improved being the visual disturbances/visual snow and cognition although not 100% recovered. I am unable to feel music, connection, enjoyment, anger, sadness, or anything you would describe as being a normal human experience. I think NOCD's targeted therapy for OCD alone would have been enough to help me with my initial OCD over time, but unfortunately I only started this program after already having the onset of this condition. I no longer have obsessive, compulsive, or even anxious tendancies despite being my life-long nature, mainly due to this condition numbing that. The purpose of this post is for you to be informed, because the treatment for OCD should not come with a risk of potentially ruining your life without your knowledge. SSRI drugs are viable forms of treatment but understanding the implications is important. Had I known the risks and the full extent of this condition I would have never even trialed them, but that's just me. I hope one day a cure is found for this or recover naturally, but that is uncertain. Wishing you all luck with your OCD and struggles. If I ever do recover and develop OCD again I will likely be back here.