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@kbmayo

One thing I know loud and clear from my own experience -- and it's not from Effexor, it's from being a sober alcoholic -- is that not eating, which will mean low blood sugar, is a major stressor and contributor to rage/anger/short temper. When I haven't eaten, there's no way my thinking can be even remotely rational. In AA we have a saying ``HALT -- don't get too hungry, angry, lonely or tired'' because we know that any one of those can make it easier to decide to drink again. In fact, I was in a meeting this past week where that was the topic. (Just watch a little kid have a meltdown when she/he is hungry or tired, and you'll see how it works.) I've always had trouble eating because I'm single so I don't have to prepare meals for others and I seldom get really hungry. My psychiatrist told me to eat small but consistently -- string cheese or other decent cheeses, good wheat crackers, sliced turkey, apples or oranges (the fructose is absorbed more slowly). I can't stand Ensure or similar drinks, but I sometimes can motivate myself to make smoothies, which help a lot. My guess -- from my own experience -- is that it's the low blood sugar which is making you question getting off the drug. Your brain is telling you to take the easy way out -- i.e., get back on the dragon.

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Replies to "One thing I know loud and clear from my own experience -- and it's not from..."

You are definitely on the mark about low blood sugar. Fortunately, I can figure out that source of stress with an uptake in fatigue that seems to come with it. It’s odd that one can notice irritability with low blood sugar but explosive anger from withdrawal of Effexor is more like a bolt of lightning on what appears to be an unremarkable day.

Lack of sleep is a major no no too. Unfortunately, Effexor and mental disorders are sensitive and complex interactions that do not like imbalance, don’t tolerate imbalance and start going haywire quickly. If a non -suffering person has brakes made of concrete to stop flash temper and other disturbances, Effexor and imbalance creates one of tinker toys.