Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

What ya put it in

1 week to ceremony. I am so ready. Time to make my intention to tell the plant medicine how to help me.
I am thinking it has to relate to this DIFFERENT anxiety I am feeling in the background of my consciousness.
Anyone else notice anything else in my writings? As always, smiling at you. Bright Wings

What is this scared plant medicine which you speak of and how do you obtain it ?

Whats 'Sacred Plant Medicine ' ? IS it CBD oil

@brightwings
Thanks for sharing!
You are a BRAVE woman to go through all you have and come out the other side.
About 14 weeks ago I had 2 cervical discs replaced with artificial ones. Now that I am healed, I need surgery on two lumbar discs. I expect that will probably take place by the end of July. I am currently in PT to strengthen my core. Then I take a speciL xray to determine the type of surgery the doc will do. Then back into PT.
Last week I was at my PCP. I told him about how my feet, especially my toes turn dark blue when the hang or I sit too long. In addition, my toes are becoming numb. I am now going to a vascular surgeon. My PCP thinks I am going to need surgery on both legs. More fun!!
I am a typical retired Floridian..docs docs and more docs. And I am only 63.
So I don't think it's the right time to try getting off Effexor. I tried once and it was a disaster. I just can't focus on surgeries and withdrawals.
I'll keep you up to date.
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)

Do whats right for you. NO rush .. best of luck with your health issues dianrib

@tennessegirl @lilgem71 @dianrib
Good question You know I shared that God keeps leading me to the next step to totally erasing all the effects of my abuse. That is my motivation to do what ever it takes, no matter how hard.
I heard about plant medicine around 3 years ago. Wasn't interested, more hippy poop. I was lead to volunteer at a new restaurant in town. It ended my self isolation after moving back to the town my husband and I lived and loved together. He fell and died in 8 hours in '11. Almost destroyed me as it was 2 months after my mom fell and died.
Many of my new friends attended Ceremony. I listened for a while, hmmmph, more hippy poop. I closed my ears...until...one of my friends was over and talking to me about setting his intention for the plant medicine TO HELP HIM HEAL.
Long story short, my ears opened because he was telling me he was going to get help healing something I also wanted to heal.
I attended that first ceremony and while I have chosen to miss a couple of months, I will attend Sacred Ceremonies for the rest of my life.
So what is sacred plant medicine? The main ceremony I attend monthly is know as Be Still in the Moment. It helps you look inside and change things you can't change any other way. The Sacred plant used for this ceremony is Peyote. I am completely stunned at the things this plant medicine has changed in my life.
The second Sacred Plant Medicine I have used is Ayawaska. That plant medicine done twice over a weekend ended my depression.
I love going to the ceremonies. I am surrounded by the most vibrant young people. Ah ha, that is the word I didn't know I was looking for! The sacred plant medicine has made me vibrant like them. Oh that makes me feel so happy.
I have been thinking how to connect you folks in so many different states and think I have it figured out.
If you Google http://www.powwow.com. contact that site and ask when the powwow are going to be held in your states near you. Ask the name of the medicine men or woman involved. Then, do your homework! Picking a medicine man is like picking a good therapist. So go to facebook or Twitter, look up the names of the medicine people. Read their whole feed. Watch the videos posted by them. TRUST YOUR GUT
Ok I am happy to answer any other questions. Smiling at you, I sincerely hope you follow up on this. I am so happy I did.
My medicine man is Doug Byland. He has Intregity. That's why I chose him over others. Look him up on face book. Ask him questions. Tell him Bright Wings sent you. This is Missouri, the show me state. Its who you know down here that gets your foot in the door.
Another way to find Sacred Ceremonies is to Google native American church in your state. Then send emails or call to find the ceremonies. I hope you follow up on this, if its right for you, the urge to know more won't go away.
Bright WINGS

@grandmar
Wow, that a lot. I too had the same neck surgery after a really BAD safari in Kenya. I ruptured 3 discs in my neck and 3 in my lower back. I got the neck fixed a year later. I am choosing not to do my lower back.
Girlfriend, with all that on your plate, I agree. This is not the time to get off the drug. I think that is a WISE decision on your part. Now I understand you a whole lot better. Thanks for sharing all this. Smiling at you, as ever Bright Wings

Just updating my experience with tapering from 75 mg Effexor after taking it for over 15 years. I have taken 3 months to get down to 18.5 mg every other day. I tried reducing faster but experienced more zaps, nausea, etc., so I began tapering more slowly from 75 mg to 37.5 to 18.5 daily to now 18.5 every other day. I have found that CBD oil does help. 3 drops sublingually twice daily seems to work for me. I still get occasional sharp head pains that last a few seconds, some nausea, and even constipation (not sure how much of that is related to venlafaxine). My psychiatrist did put me on 150 mg Wellbutrin XR when I started withdrawal from Effexor, and I believe that prevented me from relapsing into depression. I am trying to be very patient as the very gradual withdrawal has helped minimize the side effects of withdrawal from Effexor. Optimistically, I hope to be Effexor free within 3 months.

@tonysdca
Good for you. It sounds like you are making it. Now yesterday I found out taking 3 drops 3 times a day is only giving me 6 or 7 mg of the CBD in my system a day. I have increased to 50 mg 3 times a day. Try it. It will probably ease that nausea. Bright Wings