SSRI-Human Entanglements: On Becoming with Antidepressants

Biomedical research considers antidepressants in terms of “effectiveness” and “adverse events,” but an ethnographic approach can reveal the intersections between Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants and humans through an analysis of lived experiences. I analyse lived experie...

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Main Author: Javier García-Martínez
Format: Article
Language:Italian
Published: Dipartimento Culture e Società - Università di Palermo 2025-06-01
Series:Archivio Antropologico Mediterraneo
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/aam/10602
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author Javier García-Martínez
author_facet Javier García-Martínez
author_sort Javier García-Martínez
collection DOAJ
description Biomedical research considers antidepressants in terms of “effectiveness” and “adverse events,” but an ethnographic approach can reveal the intersections between Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants and humans through an analysis of lived experiences. I analyse lived experiences and the transformative effect of SSRI treatment on daily practices through digital ethnographies on the Discord platform within online mental health support communities. I propose to consider the SSRI-human intersection as multiple ontological becomings, shaped by daily practices – from taking the pill to experiencing both adverse and desired bodily changes. These transformations range from emotional numbness, loss of libido, a conflicted sense of self, or increased productivity. These intersections also transform the ontology of antidepressants understood as “pharmakon,” altering their perception as either “good” or “bad,” medicine or poison.
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publisher Dipartimento Culture e Società - Università di Palermo
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spelling doaj-art-caace6df13b04d1986decb7dc02c3e6e2025-08-20T02:21:46ZitaDipartimento Culture e Società - Università di PalermoArchivio Antropologico Mediterraneo2038-32152025-06-01282710.4000/145oxSSRI-Human Entanglements: On Becoming with AntidepressantsJavier García-MartínezBiomedical research considers antidepressants in terms of “effectiveness” and “adverse events,” but an ethnographic approach can reveal the intersections between Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants and humans through an analysis of lived experiences. I analyse lived experiences and the transformative effect of SSRI treatment on daily practices through digital ethnographies on the Discord platform within online mental health support communities. I propose to consider the SSRI-human intersection as multiple ontological becomings, shaped by daily practices – from taking the pill to experiencing both adverse and desired bodily changes. These transformations range from emotional numbness, loss of libido, a conflicted sense of self, or increased productivity. These intersections also transform the ontology of antidepressants understood as “pharmakon,” altering their perception as either “good” or “bad,” medicine or poison.https://journals.openedition.org/aam/10602more-than-humanSSRIantidepressantSTSentanglement
spellingShingle Javier García-Martínez
SSRI-Human Entanglements: On Becoming with Antidepressants
Archivio Antropologico Mediterraneo
more-than-human
SSRI
antidepressant
STS
entanglement
title SSRI-Human Entanglements: On Becoming with Antidepressants
title_full SSRI-Human Entanglements: On Becoming with Antidepressants
title_fullStr SSRI-Human Entanglements: On Becoming with Antidepressants
title_full_unstemmed SSRI-Human Entanglements: On Becoming with Antidepressants
title_short SSRI-Human Entanglements: On Becoming with Antidepressants
title_sort ssri human entanglements on becoming with antidepressants
topic more-than-human
SSRI
antidepressant
STS
entanglement
url https://journals.openedition.org/aam/10602
work_keys_str_mv AT javiergarciamartinez ssrihumanentanglementsonbecomingwithantidepressants