Caityduck, thank you for this. Shopping of any kind makes me dizzy too. I have to run home and lie down. I have trried not to drive too much as I just don't trust myself not to ram into something. I don't want to hurt anyone. I know what you mean about not even making it to the bathroom. It takes such an effort to get there or anywhere at the moment. However, i think@@
things are improving. So glad you are finally beginning to feel a little bit better. Kathryn (aka catamite)

Thank you for your response. Glad you are off. Sorry symptoms still continue. Discussing makes me feel more normal and not such a failure from my guy who also smoked a lot of weed still does. This is his cure all. “He knows best you know”
I slept alot yesterday. sleeping helps until i get up that is. Brain zaps started immediately. Ugh here we go. I feel in somewhat good spirits (considering) cleaning a lot seems to help. Suposed to be Beautiful day today. Need to walk dog and work outside today. Fresh air should help.
Seeing my grandaughter always helps need to plan forthat tomorrow. One day at a time as Joe Walsh sings…

Sorry you are still not feeling well. I dont have the nasuea but have the headaches and also very depressed. Trying to fight it with physical activities. Menopause night sweats are now several during the day also. I am assuming part of the withdrawal also. Hang in there.

I would agree that is a better description if the brain feeling. Its extremely irritating. Icould tolerate so much better without that one symptom.

Cbd might help you.

I tried that and no effects…i got a hold of medical grade did from colarado and it has helped…liquid form…prolly the only reason one and to eat once or twice a day

But now im breaking the law to treat myself when doctors gave me this shit and can't help me get off it…if this aint a catch 22 idk what is…soltara in Costa Rica is my next step…plant medicine…they talk about healing not treating

But now im breaking the law to treat myself with thc and when doctors gave me this venalafaxine and can't help me get off it…if this aint a catch 22 idk what is…soltara in Costa Rica is my next step…plant medicine…they talk about healing not treating

Hey Catamite. Try thinking positive thoughts. Try and get out for a walk. Watch a real funny movie. Or just cuddle a blanket on the couch and let the day go by. You will get through this but it takes time. Funny how meds can make you feel great in one moment can make you feel so terrible in another. Eat foods that can help you feel better when you feel depressed!!!!!!

Here is the dilemma,

I would say that getting off a unproductive med is a desirable thing. However, it is important to take the big picture in mind. Depending on the diagnosis and co-morbid conditions going totally med free can be a perilous thing.

People with a diagnosis of depression as a condition that is NOT temporary (loss of spouse event etc) have to recall that it is generally s part of their neurobiology.

Individuals that go off meds because they feel fine and decide they don’t need it are making that choice during a good lucid phase. Going off the med MIGHT lead to a resurgence of the symptoms later on indicating that managing the condition via pharma very well could have been stopping the dips. Bipolar people are frequently tragic examples of this.

That’s why understanding the full diagnosis and any comorbid features is critical, because often with depressive conditions there is more than one.

I would urge some therapy like cognitive based therapy and mindfulness that helps you identify the stressors and triggers that lead to depressive thinking. That has a huge benefit to battling how you can slide into that spiral.

But, I personally don’t think abandoning meds is wise if you have true depression of any kind. It may be difficult to find the right one and I despise Effexor. But making sure you and the psychiatrist are on the same page with med-free risks and total diagnosis is wise.

It may be a long time. Lots of threads in here about short and long term and I don’t think there is a golden rule of thumb with this drug.

It’s hard to know what neurochemistry has changed or changed permanently and how any underlying condition might resurface.

I’ve been tapering for over a year and know some things have definitely changed. But I also take a mood stabilizer for bipolar and discovered cognitive based therapy that gave me tools to identify and stop negative thinking.

You’ll find that people here have common symptoms and some that vary like flash anger. That goes to show the variation of how brains are dealing with the changes.

I’ve seen some postings about taking other meds or over the counters to counteract but that’s not something I get into because it’s pharmacology we’re talking about and that is the training of the psychiatrist. I would make a list of concerns, short and long term and present that to who is guiding your withdrawal and see if that makes better sense.

Stopped Effexor 150 cold turkey 5 days ago…this is unreal…but I know I'm not alone