How Bioenergetic Somatic Practices May Help Where Antidepressants Fall Short

​Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice. We encourage you to consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medications or treatments. 

In recent years, there has been growing awareness of the potential long-term effects of antidepressant use. While millions of people rely on these medications to manage symptoms of depression and anxiety, research and anecdotal evidence suggest that extended use may come with its own challenges.

​For individuals currently on antidepressants or for those exploring alternatives to medication, bioenergetic somatic practices are emerging as a powerful way to support nervous system regulation naturally.

Here, we examine both the long-term effects of antidepressants and alternatives like somatic practices to empower those seeking more integrative approaches to mental health care.

What We Know About Long-Term Antidepressant Use:
Antidepressants, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), are some of the most commonly prescribed medications for mood disorders. While they can be life-saving for some people, long-term use is raising concerns with some health professionals and patients alike.

Potential Undesired Effects of Long Term Use

• Efficacy May Diminish Over Time:
  • Research highlights that some individuals experience a reduction in the therapeutic effects of antidepressants after several years, a phenomenon often referred to as "poop-out syndrome" (antidepressant tachyphylaxis).
    
    
  • For those with recurrent depression, maintaining remission can become increasingly challenging with prolonged use.
    
    
• Dependency and Withdrawal Difficulties:
  • Long-term use can create a physical or psychological dependency. Discontinuing antidepressants, even with medical supervision, may lead to withdrawal symptoms, formally known as Antidepressant Discontinuation Syndrome.
    
    
  • Symptoms such as dizziness, brain zaps, anxiety spikes, and mood dysregulation can last months or even years for some individuals.
    
    
• Emotional Blunting:
  • Long-term users frequently report feeling emotionally "numb," where both the highs and lows of life are dulled. While this may initially seem helpful, over time it may lead to a diminished sense of connection or vitality in life.
    
    
• Cognitive and Physical Impacts:
  • Research has identified changes in cognitive function, including brain fog, memory loss, and difficulties concentrating, associated with long-term antidepressant use.
    
    
  • Physical health risks include weight gain, metabolic disturbances, reduced bone density, and sexual dysfunction, which may persist even after discontinuing the medication (post-SSRI sexual dysfunction, or PSSD).
    
    
• Impacts on the Brain’s Neurochemistry:
  • Long term use may alter serotonin receptor density and the brain’s natural neurochemical balance. There are also mixed findings about how long-term SSRI use may affect neuroplasticity and hippocampal volume, both critical for emotional resilience.

​
The Bioenergetic and Somatic Approach to Nervous System Regulation

For individuals who experience limitations or side effects with antidepressants—or those simply exploring medication-free paths to mental wellness—bioenergetic somatic practices offer an alternative for managing the nervous system.

These practices focus on regulating the body's stress response, reducing emotional overwhelm, and fostering healing at the physical and energetic levels. They work by helping the nervous system return to a state of balance, empowering individuals to process and release stored tension or trauma.

What Are Bioenergetic Somatic Practices?
Bioenergetics is a body-centered approach to therapy that integrates movement, breathwork, and energetic awareness to release pent-up energy or unprocessed emotions stored in the body.

Somatic practices focus on reconnecting with bodily sensations in order to process emotions from the "bottom up" (from the body to the brain), rather than the "top down" (from thought to action).

Here are some examples of bioenergetic somatic practices. 

1. Somatic Experiencing (SE):
   • Developed by trauma specialist Dr. Peter Levine, SE helps individuals identify and release physical sensations, fostering nervous system regulation through incremental steps. It’s particularly helpful for those dealing with chronic stress, anxiety, or unresolved trauma.
     
     
2. Breathwork:
   • Breath-focused practices, such as diaphragmatic breathing, coherent breathing, and Wim Hof techniques, stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing stress responses and improving emotional resilience. Conscious breathing is also a powerful way to reconnect with the present moment.
     
     
3. Bioenergetic Exercises:
   • These movement-based exercises combine body postures, grounding techniques, and expressive movement to discharge stored stress or energy in the body. For example, stomping, shaking, or vocal toning can help "shake off" tension and reintegrate the body-mind connection.
     
     
4. Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong:
   • These ancient movement practices offer a holistic way to support physical and mental health by integrating body awareness, slow movement, breath control, and mindfulness.
     
     
5. Energy Healing Modalities:
   • Practices like Reiki, acupressure, or craniosacral therapy address the body's subtle energy systems and are often sought to release blockages, reduce anxiety, and support self-regulation.

Why Nervous System Regulation Matters
Both antidepressants and somatic practices ultimately aim to restore balance to the body’s nervous system. When the nervous system is dysregulated—whether due to chronic stress, trauma, or lifestyle—emotional health naturally suffers.

Somatic practices teach individuals to develop increased awareness of and control over their state of regulation.

For example:

• A calm, balanced nervous system supports a state of "rest and digest" (parasympathetic mode) rather than "fight or flight" (sympathetic activation).
  
  
• Practices like grounding techniques and breathwork help downregulate heightened nervous system responses, reducing anxiety triggers and improving resilience to stress.

Finding Balance: Antidepressants and Bioenergetic Practices
While bioenergetic somatic practices can be beneficial, it’s important to note that they are not a "replacement" for antidepressants. For those who use antidepressants, integrating somatic work alongside medication can enhance emotional regulation, improve body-mind awareness, and reduce reliance on external interventions over time.

For those aiming to avoid or transition off antidepressants, incorporating bioenergetic practices into a comprehensive treatment plan, ideally supervised by a healthcare practitioner, may provide a viable path forward.

​This approach is about integrating both the science of emotional health and the wisdom of the body.

As awareness of the undesired long-term effects of antidepressants continues to grow, it is essential to explore holistic and empowering alternatives for managing mental health.

Bioenergetic somatic practices hold tremendous promise for individuals seeking non-pharmacological ways to regulate their nervous systems, release stored stress, and foster emotional resilience.

What’s most important is finding a path that feels aligned with your individual needs. Whether that involves long-term medication use, somatic practices, lifestyle changes, or a combination of approaches, mental health care should always be about empowering people to thrive.

Remember: Consult a healthcare professional before making any changes to your medication or treatment plan. Healing journeys are not one-size-fits-all.

If this topic resonates with you, consider joining the QuEST Academy. This small step can open the door to greater well-being.

​

---

• Peer-Reviewed Studies and Reviews:
  
  • Maslej, M. M., Bolker, B. M., Russell, M. J., et al. (2017). The effects of long-term antidepressant use: A systematic review. Published in medical journals such as Frontiers in Psychology and European Neuropsychopharmacology.
  • Vrieze, E., & Claes, S. (2021). "Effects of antidepressants on emotional reactivity: Short-term vs. long-term use." Biological Psychiatry.
  • Whitaker, R. (2010). Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America.
• Large-Scale Data Reviews:
  
  • Longitudinal studies from institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO) on the effects of long-term use of SSRIs, SNRIs, and other classes of antidepressants.
  • Cochrane Reviews on antidepressant safety and withdrawal challenges.
• Books:
  
  • Hari, J. (2018). Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions.
  • Kirsch, I. (2010). The Emperor's New Drugs: Exploding the Antidepressant Myth.
• Surveys and Observational Data from Patient Communities:
  
  • Patient advocacy groups like Surviving Antidepressants (survivingantidepressants.org) or reports on anecdotal withdrawal/discontinuation experiences.
  • Online communities (e.g., Reddit threads such as r/Antidepressants or r/Depression) — while not academic, these provide insight into patient experiences and trends.
• Review Articles Addressing Controversies:
  
  • Hengartner, M. P., & Plöderl, M. (2018). "The lingering controversy over antidepressant efficacy and risk of dependency." Medical Hypotheses.
  • Fava, G. A., & Offidani, E. (2011). The mechanisms of tolerance in antidepressant action. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry.
• Media and Advocacy Articles:
  
  • Articles from reputable health-focused media, including Psychology Today and Mad in America, which frequently discuss long-term effects and patient advocacy concerning psychiatric medications.
• Emerging Research:
  
  • Studies on post-SSRI sexual dysfunction (PSSD) and emotional blunting, such as research by Bahrick, A. (2006). “Persistent Sexual Side Effects After SSRI Discontinuation.”
  • Publications on withdrawal phenomena and antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, including papers by Giovanni Fava and current psychiatry reviews.