Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Glad you had a wonderful day.
You are right, is the glass half full or half empty?
I once saw something on a show, can't remember which one, but the concept was simple and quite telling....
For one day, write down all the good things that happened.
At the end of the day, you have a physical representation of how your day was.
On the converse side, for one day you write all the bad things that happened.
At the end of the day, you take those bad things and throw them in the trash.
Through your bad things away.
I though it was interesting...........
Ronnie (GRANDMAr}

Brightwings has mentioned that she uses CBD oil primarily to successfully mitigate anxiety, MS symptoms and pain. My first Effexor withdrawal symptoms were anxiety, agitation and insomnia. I bought some hemp-derived CBD oil (legal in all 50 states) when my WD symptoms began, but I found the right mix of supplements at the same time, so didn't really use it. I don't know much about CBD oil, but Brightwing's recent postings made me look into it again. I saw some sellers had "full spectrum" and "isolates" and I wondered what they were talking about (and these particular sellers didn't say). I am not advocating use (only ever used one dropperful, so didn't try it long enough to have any personal experience that CBD oil is effective for the WD symptoms I was having) and I have no affiliation with any seller, but thought some of you might want to know more about CBD oil, the differences in available types, which ones may help different conditions and some reputable sellers--https://www.marijuanabreak.com/full-spectrum-cbd-oil.

Day 11 of Effexor discontinuation (75mg 2.5 yr), my cognitive ability, memory, smell, photosensitivity, shaking, tingling, appetite and monotonic jerks are “intermittently” improving. A perplexing mysterious rash on my chest, in which stopped and stumped doctors for years, dissipated within 24 hours of discontinuation. Day 5 discontinuation symptoms increased considerably. In an effort to combat discomfort and lack of serotonin reuptake inhibitor utilized Ultram, Vistarel, Muscle relaxers, Art therapy, CBD/THC Vapor, exercise and massage. Encouraging others to discontinue safety. For me, being a highly functioning Autistic individual, Effexor stole my intelligence. The makers of Effexor need to discontinue.....

@secretwhitepop- I can understand how sad you feel because it is sad. What can you do to make sure that she is more cared for?

At the end of my healing, I had so many drawings and watercolors about different instances of abuse...
That art work helped me heal...however, I realized at some point I was still holding on to the abuse by keeping them.
So one Ceremony, I took the really bad ones, like specifically so many eyes watching all over in this one watercolor.
I brought them to Ceremony and burned them in Sacred Fire, thus purifying those memories and sending all that abuse to God to KEEP cuz I needed and wanted to let go of it all.
Bright Wings

@brightwings- Good for you. I did almost the same thing. My mom was an artist and after she died I had a ton of her sculptures and paintings around in the house. This was during the time when my PTSD was the worst and I was having such a difficult time getting past her abuse. I guess I was still looking for her approval. I boxed up most of her things and stored them away. I sent all of her "paper" art- watercolors and sketches to my son. I have to tell you something. I'm a better painter than she was! lol!
My PTSD started to calm down a lot.
Sometimes we all have to get rid of the old before we can replace them with the good!

@merry,
Absolutely, cuz you can only have one thought in the front of your mind at a time BUT in the back round you can have so many things running around in the back of your mind, and I was so often not aware of them but they basically ruined my day....
I was just trying to remember, exactly what did I burn that day???
I remember the watching eyes and I also remembered a watercolor that had to do with someone's death. The other 18 or so are wiped from my memory banks....I think that is pretty cool.
So happy to realize that today...Bright Wings

I just want to let everyone know, today I feel very tired. The Sacred medicine is still working and will for the next few days. So if I am not making comments, please understand.
I will relay one thing that happened with a first timer....prepare to be horrified and them you will laugh your rear end off.
I take it upon myself to keep monitoring folks to see how they are doing thru the day. I could see one guy was really having difficulty. I ALREADY KNEW someone was going to have a hard time before I left, so I brought my hand size velveteen rabbit for them.
Ok, so I went to this guy and asked him if he wanted to share what was going on....giggling....
This guy was suffering...yet his hands kept moving to his belt to unbuckle it...hmmm, strange I thought...He was also paranoid that everyone there was watching him. I moved him down to the river...again, over and over his hands move to unbuckle his belt...
All of a sudden, he asked ME if I would give him a blow job......hahaha, I wanted to laugh out loud but just politely responded in the negative....
I am still giggling...I look like such a sweet old granny but I am anything but!
Long story short, this guy never did rejoin the circle with the 60 or so folks who attended. His behaviour was pegged by myself and other medicine people as he was also using another substance, some drug that was not interacting well with the peyote.
He will not be allowed to return...for 6 months...cuz there are consequences for violating our no substance rules....
But think, he asked me, the oldest LADY present for a blow job when there were so many young nubile single women there....
Hilarious!!!!
Bright Wings

So happy things are moving in the right direction

@cmedoverload
Good for you. Day 11!
Hang in there. Things are going to get worse before they get better. I looked at the list of things you are doing to combat the effects of withdrawal and I hardly approve. Good for you, you have been paying attention to what helped others, thereby making your withdrawal easier than many.
Hang in there, you are doing great!
Smiling at you, Bright Wings