Tips on minimizing withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)

Posted by richyrich @richyrich, Nov 2, 2016

I have been taking Effexor/Venlafaxine for years and tried to get off it a few times but each time I try to give up the chemical withdrawal symptoms are a horror story and I give up giving up. Anyone got any tips or tried and tested strategies? Thank you

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@brightwings

@secretwhitepop
I teach folks to take the steps when dealing with elderly parents to life their live so they have no regrets.
This is hard stuff you are doing...what are you doing after each interaction with things related to your moms care to TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF?
Like developing motto s to help you get thru your stuff after being with mom.
Also please remember, all the things you are doing, your mom already did for you....like washing rugs with pee on it and etc.
Cuz after your mom is gone, you don't want to have any regrets.
Yes, her care is important, but you are too.
Suggestion...go get a bottle of bubbles. Yes, I said bubbles..
Then blow your troubles into the bubble so you don't keep unnecessary burdens inside you.
Try it, it works.
I remember going and buying THE ENTIRE bubble supply in my tiny town. 100 bottles. I gave them away at Ceremony and it was so incredible watching 75 folks sending their cares up into the sky. Bright Wings

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Oh how wonderful that all sounds! I am going to cut and paste it and send it to my brother! The bubbles idea is amazing! Even mom could do that. Thank you so much. I feel like a weenie because, truth be told, my life is so good! I’m fed and clothed and have family! It’s just so hard and I ... well, just thank you for your great advice. I will take all of it to heart and do it!

Right now, I am staying back at mom (and dads) old house. It is where dad died last year. He was so so sad. I can feel it now. I have heard people say the second year is the worst because the denial part is gone. And we’ve been working with mom for this whole year. Sigh. Life sure does throw curveballs!

Getting some bubbles pretty much immediately!

I’m going to go by bubbles now!

-Bubbles

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@secretwhitepop

Oh how wonderful that all sounds! I am going to cut and paste it and send it to my brother! The bubbles idea is amazing! Even mom could do that. Thank you so much. I feel like a weenie because, truth be told, my life is so good! I’m fed and clothed and have family! It’s just so hard and I ... well, just thank you for your great advice. I will take all of it to heart and do it!

Right now, I am staying back at mom (and dads) old house. It is where dad died last year. He was so so sad. I can feel it now. I have heard people say the second year is the worst because the denial part is gone. And we’ve been working with mom for this whole year. Sigh. Life sure does throw curveballs!

Getting some bubbles pretty much immediately!

I’m going to go by bubbles now!

-Bubbles

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So what healing is there in a name you choose?
.
PLENTY!
When I was at my dullest point, I chose the name Sparkling Susie. Why, because that was my goal.
Later I chose Cute Susie..I made it to Sparkling Susie and Cute Susie and now I am really flying as Bright Wings.
Each time I wrote these names, it cemented the concept in my brain that this was the goal I was working towards. I made it too!
Fake it till you make it got me a very long way....
Bright Wings.
Bubbles, good for you. This stuff is hard to do. Now in regards to staying in your parents house, I suggest you go to the health food store and get a bundle of sage. Then, light one end, they will tell you what end to light. Carry an empty can and spend some minutes in each room waving it around.
What this does is clears the space. It sends any lingering presences to where they are supposed to be.
As the ash burns down, tap the bundle into the can so you don't have any ashes to clean up.
When you are finished, put the sage out in the can and save it.
Using sage is wonderful. A very healing plant. You might check on u tube for how to sage a house. I bet there is something. Sorry, I am too exhausted to do it myself. Bye all.
Bright Wings

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@brightwings

So what healing is there in a name you choose?
.
PLENTY!
When I was at my dullest point, I chose the name Sparkling Susie. Why, because that was my goal.
Later I chose Cute Susie..I made it to Sparkling Susie and Cute Susie and now I am really flying as Bright Wings.
Each time I wrote these names, it cemented the concept in my brain that this was the goal I was working towards. I made it too!
Fake it till you make it got me a very long way....
Bright Wings.
Bubbles, good for you. This stuff is hard to do. Now in regards to staying in your parents house, I suggest you go to the health food store and get a bundle of sage. Then, light one end, they will tell you what end to light. Carry an empty can and spend some minutes in each room waving it around.
What this does is clears the space. It sends any lingering presences to where they are supposed to be.
As the ash burns down, tap the bundle into the can so you don't have any ashes to clean up.
When you are finished, put the sage out in the can and save it.
Using sage is wonderful. A very healing plant. You might check on u tube for how to sage a house. I bet there is something. Sorry, I am too exhausted to do it myself. Bye all.
Bright Wings

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@secretwhitepop, Bubbles
Are you am empath? Do you know how others are feeling without them telling you?
I am asking cuz a friend of mine is an empath. Even though she knows better, she had a lot of drama going on with her family this weekend and she took on some of those challenges of others and took them into herself.
I am also an empath. I used to go to meetings with other survivors and listen to their stories and go home feeling like crap.
So...I developed a shield. It drops in a snap of the fingers. It is like a curved glass shield. Plenty of openings for air to enter but other peoples stuff is reflected back to them.
Try it next time you go to help mom. See if you feel different after.
The more clearly you can see the shield, the better it works.
Why not try drawing it or painting it so it will be a solid form in your mind.
Best of luck...sage mom's place too. You have no idea how many restless spirits there are...
Bright Wings,

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@sandij

Having great days on purpose reminds me of something. You know how people say "I feel bad, for no reason"? Well feel good for no reason!!

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@sandij- I love love love this and I will steal it when I need to say something so genuine! lol.

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@secretwhitepop

Thank you for having great days on purpose! Yesterday was a ton of crying. Today I’m going to keep busy! Visiting poor old mom since yesterday. She in no way wants to move to this very expensive assisted living place. Ha! How cliche!

Sigh. So, Last night I did her toes, hands, shower, hair, vacuum, mopped (wet swifter) and 6 tubs of laundry. Now she’s my mother!

Yeah, I don’t have to, but I can’t deal when she’s dirty and a wreck. Plus she says she feels better. She
Oughta!

But I feel better too knowing that the pee on her bathroom rug has been washed!

For everything there is a season!

Have good days on purpose everyone!

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So sorry you are going through this. Adult caretaker of parent/ grandparent is NOT an easy role to fill

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I am not feeling very good today. My spirits are good, a little sad but good.
With 1 dose of cbc left till the 3rd of next month, my MS is blowing up.
I am grounding myself this week. I did way too much last week. I am paying for it now.
The sweating/shivering is back, lower key than before but it steals my energy. I hate to say this but I believe I will even stay home tonight and not go to music...So you know how severe this is.
The anxiety from getting off the Effexor is there in the backround getting ready to built, I can feel it.
So my plan is to do a lot of sitting and play games and puzzles.
So if I am not answering posts, it's cuz my me first policy is in place.
Bright Wings

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@brightwings

I am not feeling very good today. My spirits are good, a little sad but good.
With 1 dose of cbc left till the 3rd of next month, my MS is blowing up.
I am grounding myself this week. I did way too much last week. I am paying for it now.
The sweating/shivering is back, lower key than before but it steals my energy. I hate to say this but I believe I will even stay home tonight and not go to music...So you know how severe this is.
The anxiety from getting off the Effexor is there in the backround getting ready to built, I can feel it.
So my plan is to do a lot of sitting and play games and puzzles.
So if I am not answering posts, it's cuz my me first policy is in place.
Bright Wings

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@brightwings - just calm those wings down for a couple of days! Feel better.

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@brightwings

I am not feeling very good today. My spirits are good, a little sad but good.
With 1 dose of cbc left till the 3rd of next month, my MS is blowing up.
I am grounding myself this week. I did way too much last week. I am paying for it now.
The sweating/shivering is back, lower key than before but it steals my energy. I hate to say this but I believe I will even stay home tonight and not go to music...So you know how severe this is.
The anxiety from getting off the Effexor is there in the backround getting ready to built, I can feel it.
So my plan is to do a lot of sitting and play games and puzzles.
So if I am not answering posts, it's cuz my me first policy is in place.
Bright Wings

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So sorry you aren't feeling well!
Sometimes it's hard to balance what you want to do and what you can do and if you do more, is it worth the payback???
I know that when I overdo, I pay for it in the end.
So, I have to think if what I am doing is really worth it?????
Rest and feel better!
Ronnie

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@brightwings

@secretwhitepop, Bubbles
Are you am empath? Do you know how others are feeling without them telling you?
I am asking cuz a friend of mine is an empath. Even though she knows better, she had a lot of drama going on with her family this weekend and she took on some of those challenges of others and took them into herself.
I am also an empath. I used to go to meetings with other survivors and listen to their stories and go home feeling like crap.
So...I developed a shield. It drops in a snap of the fingers. It is like a curved glass shield. Plenty of openings for air to enter but other peoples stuff is reflected back to them.
Try it next time you go to help mom. See if you feel different after.
The more clearly you can see the shield, the better it works.
Why not try drawing it or painting it so it will be a solid form in your mind.
Best of luck...sage mom's place too. You have no idea how many restless spirits there are...
Bright Wings,

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I am realizing more and more that I am an empath. Funny, when I was little, mom used to say that I would start to cry if the kid next to me got in trouble! So I guess I’ve been an empath for a long time. And I do feel physical pain of others. Right now as I sit at work, I know mom is home and alone. Ugh!

Shield time!

You offer very good advice!

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@grandmar

So sorry you aren't feeling well!
Sometimes it's hard to balance what you want to do and what you can do and if you do more, is it worth the payback???
I know that when I overdo, I pay for it in the end.
So, I have to think if what I am doing is really worth it?????
Rest and feel better!
Ronnie

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@grandmar So well stated!!! It is a challenge-truthfully it is a difficult thing and I no longer care what others think or how they think. Being a Hoosier I oft have a Vonnegut phrase come to mind when others are critical. They could learn a lot from my little 4 year old grandson who never questions and loves me just as I am. He is worth keeping up with my own self care.

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