Hey, Chicago, please keep reading and stay with us. Last thing you probably want to hear right now is to exercise and meditate, but it can help, if only a little. Also know that there are other medications out there that can help with depression. I can honestly attest that I successfully weened off Effexor - however, my anxiety and depression came back. But now I’m on seroquel and zoloft. I feel almost normal. I am very functional and am able to be a mom and wife. It’s sucks so bad having to be medicated just to feel normal. I would do anything to be as happy as some people seem despite not being medicated. I often wonder if it would have been better if I never started taking meds over twenty years ago. But what’s done is done. Please talk to a doctor or another doctor or nurse practitioner or pharmacist for something to help at least while you get yourself off Effexor. Perhaps even something homeopathic? Have you looked at any posts by Brightwings? CBD works fabulously for some folks! (Not me, but everyone is different). It’s worth a shot!

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