someone please tell me it gets better (withdrawing)
to preface this post, effexor saved my life and i will never regret going on it because i needed it when i started it. however, it’s been about 10 years taking it and i’ve been trying to wean off for the last 3-4 years. every time i try, i end up going back to taking it because the withdrawal symptoms are just too much for me to handle. i am trying again with my psychiatrist’s guidance and a therapist during the transition now, but i just don’t feel like i can do it. i can’t work or function, basically. all i can do is cry multiple times a day, i’m so nauseous and i have constant diarrhea whether i eat or not. constant hot flashes and night sweats, horrible headaches. i’m so tired and all i want to do is sleep because that’s the only time i feel peace, but then i wake up in a pool of sweat and often lie there until i fall back asleep again. i cry from the withdrawls and from how horrible i feel, then i cry because i suddenly can’t handle any bad thoughts i have anymore.
i’m so scared i’ll have to just take this for the rest of my life. i am like… afraid of what will happen trying to wean off. like i will jeopardize my job and relationships. how does anyone do it? i’m crying just typing this and thinking about how long i’ll have to endure withdrawals… it’s absolutely nuts :(