Am i fixed?

Hi all. I just quit effexor cold turkey after 4 years because
of very bad contracting, memory loss and tiredness.
Day 3 now, apart from brain zaps i seem ok.
I suffered from anxiety and nervousness.

Will i be cured or will things be the same as before.
Will i go back to be the old me that's always worrying
getting panic attacks or did effexor actually do anything
to fix my sickness.

[daffysoundz]

Anxiety and panic attack can't really be fixed. It can be manageable. Now that your off the medz you will be find with out symptoms. But u need to keep your stress level down as much as possible. Keep going to talk terapy even if it's once every two r three months. Some people live long without any symptoms and some people say the symptoms came back. Just try to live a happy lifestyle the longer you go with out stress the happier u r the better you will be. I'm happy that you have over come this obstical in life. And wish you all the best and a long life anxiety free.

[Julie359]

If u really want to be free from anxiety, p-attacks you should be getting therapy (CBT) cognitive behavourial therapy. Medication is used to relieve the symptoms but does not remove them, to truely remove them you need to learn the techniques to stop them.

Get urself into a therapy programme so u learn to be free from this and not have to rely on med's.

[boognell]

That's a very hard thing to answer. Does your physician know? Maybe something could be prescribed in the interim...and you do not want to fall into a depression spiral. I would definitely talk with my doctor about this as soon as you can. Good luck and God bless.

[lindahand]

You should NEVER stop a psyc. med cold turkey. Effexor is a really bad one for discontinuation syndrome. Feeling like you have a really bad flu, brain zats, increased liklihood of having seizures. This is more of a warning for anyone reading this and thinking it may be a good idea for them. For you what is done is done.

It is anyone's guess as to how you will do. The time on the effexor may have been enough to change your brain chemistry so that you will be okay.

If the anxiety comes back you may want to try some cognitive behavioural therapy to combat it.

Your medical team should be an alliance. If you don't feel comfortable enough with them to discuss your feelings and go off your meds responsibly you need a new team and should consider switching doctors. There are enough choices of meds out there that you should be able to find ones with tolerable side effects.

[rexbrazil]

hi just read your commeant and i get them bad feeling and i dont miss my meds i am so frightin off takein a seizures and them thinks you i get and i am on them 10 years i dont want to stop takein them but dont want to have any think bad happin to

[teflonbrain57]

never ever stop cold turkey on most drugs. i was on effexor and seroquil and doing really well, but i got a full body itch that continued and escalated so i was weened off. my stomach is better. but i am not. I am constantly alone, that in itself is bad.

but i am a naturally strong person and have been thru many horrible things. we all can have that strength to be alone and deal with stuff, especially if forced to, but it is good to have people.

panic/anxiety can be controlled without meds, clinical depression cannot, medication is required, a good doctor, a good psychologist(shrinks suck), a good counsellor when things are getting under control, but it is a very tough thing. i have overcome agoraphobia 2x. i kind of understand why i got it, that is important, and knowing what triggers you, but when your as outgoing and a going out type of person like i was, it's a very scary confusing condition. In the beginning it is good to have meds but be careful not to take more than prescribed. later you can slowly get weaned off. or keep getting the prescription and use them when you feel an attack

it is important to get with people and places so as not to fall back into that awful hole.

I couldn't go to the mail box down the hall for petes sake. my personality went somewhere. there i was, having counseling sessions on the phone, thankfully they did that. spending entire days with my head buried in the couch saying over and over....over I will get better ,  I will beat this. all day. It was exhausting and i was told to rest and sleep as much as i needed.
How did i get by it, DAM HARD, if you have no one, you've got to push yourself dam hard to go out the door. but you have to do it. even if it's for itty bitty steps. but keep doing it and going farther as much as you can as often as you can.

I have more than one mental health problem, and many medical problems, and family and "friends" have a very hard time dealing with it constantly. forgive them. they drift away.

Marijuana is good for a lot of things, like this and medical.

good luck and fight it.