Marcus King Reveals Depression Medication Leaves Him Emotionally Numb, Unable to Feel
"Even at my grandmother's funeral, like I just felt nothing. I just felt numb. And like I didn't notice it until I got into a situation where I was like, this woman raised me and I can't feel anything."
About this episode
On this episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, host Joe Rogan sat down with blues-rock guitarist and singer Marcus King for a wide-ranging three-hour conversation touching on mental health, addiction, the music industry, and the state of rock and roll. King, 30, opened up extensively about his struggles with depression and alcohol, revealing that antidepressants have left him emotionally numb to the point where he couldn't feel grief at his grandmother's funeral. He disclosed that microdosing psilocybin mushrooms was far more effective for his mental health than SSRIs, and expressed fear about eventually weaning off Cymbalta due to severe withdrawal symptoms. King shared deeply personal stories about his destructive relationship with alcohol, including a recent relapse where his wife left him stranded after he blacked out, leading to his current year-and-a-half sobriety. The conversation explored King's musical upbringing in a military family where his grandfather booked legends like Johnny Cash, and how his own journey led him through substance abuse to a healthier path focused on fitness and ketogenic diet. Rogan and King also discussed the current state of rock music, with King arguing the genre isn't dead but experiencing a southern rock resurgence. They touched on bizarre topics including a tech company's call for mandatory military conscription, the cultural history of pornography in America, and the therapeutic potential of VR zombie games. King revealed he's currently focused on getting his mental health right before starting a family with his wife, whose career is taking off alongside his own.
Key takeaways
- King revealed his prescribed antidepressants caused such severe emotional numbness he couldn't feel grief at his grandmother's funeral.
- King stated microdosing psilocybin mushrooms was the most effective treatment he found for depression and anxiety, better than SSRIs.
- King has been sober from alcohol for a year and a half after his wife left him stranded when he blacked out following six months of sobriety.
- King disclosed he still experiences intrusive suicidal thoughts even while on antidepressants, including recently noting where he could hang himself.
- Rogan and King discussed Palantir's public call for reintroducing military conscription and mandatory national service for young Americans.
- King is currently on Cymbalta but wants to get off it, fearing severe withdrawal symptoms including headaches and body tingling sensations.
- King explained his grandfather was an Air Force staff sergeant who booked legends like Johnny Cash and Charlie Pride at NCO clubs in the 1960s.