I have had symptoms of anxiety all of my life, even as a child. I don't believe that the medications I was on beginning in my twenties (first prozac and then effexor) EVER helped to stabilize my moods. I am very glad that they help some people like you, Ronnie, and Merry. Of course, I could be wrong and perhaps the medications helped manage the symptoms enough for me to be able to function, but I don't think so. If it turns out that I cannot cope with life without a medication, I am willing to take something.
My main reason for wanting to be off of the effexor is that I am held hostage by it. It is very scary to think that a missed dose or an immediate discontinuation of a drug will cause such severe withdrawal symptoms. Another reason is because I would like to give myself the opportunity to live as myself and not influenced by a drug.
I can't speak to the brain zaps @grandmar , they are not a side effect that I have experienced. I only get the body shivering,stomach cramps, hot and cold sweats, and dizziness from moving my eyes side to side or changing position too fast. And tinnitus. I consider myself lucky not to know what a brain zap feels like because I have heard that they are certainly not fun.
Have a beautiful Monday, everyone. I am not having a great day so far, the shivering today is pretty bad, but the sun is shining and I intend to make the most of it by getting outside for a bit.