Dogmotherwinelover: Foolishly though recovery was 2-6 weeks!

[Dogmotherwinelover]

Eight weeks after quitting, i had gone through the worst of it, right?  Vertigo, nausea, hypersensitivity, agitation, inability to handle any stress.  And then today happened.  I've been reading Miracle Mornings and meditating, exercising, affirming myself, reading positive books, applying essential oils and taking vitamin D and B-12 which seem to make my recovery much better than some stories I've read. I've been feeling super happy, elated, crying at commercials like a normal mother of 4, and best of all, starting to find sheer joy in my children!).  But today a stressful argument about money through me into a rage and subsequent darkness that lead me to this site in lieu of self harm. It's already helpful to see solid research cited here as well as resources for therapeutic groups.  In all my research, I read nothing about withdrawal lasting more than 2 months!!  But seeing stories of recovery gives me hope that I just need more time, not a padded cell.

[Gridley]

Hello, Dogmotherwinelover, and welcome to SA.  I'm sorry you're going through all this, but I'm glad you found your way here..

 

Thank you for posting your signature.  Could you please add the date you cold-turkeyed off Effexor?  Are there any other psychiatric drugs in your history?

 

Withdrawal symptoms are very common after a cold-turkey elimination of a psychiatric drug such as Effexor, which your brain has come to depend on.  

The symptoms can be delayed, as in your case,  and can be triggered by a stressful event. Could you please describe your symptoms? 

 

These links are informative about withdrawal:

 

How your brain responds to psychiatric drugs - aka "Brain remodeling"

Youtube video, 4 minutes: Healing from antidepressants

What is withdrawal syndrome.

Glenmullen’s withdrawal symptom list.

 

No one can say how long these symptoms will persist.  It can take some time but you will be able to heal.  Time is the key factor is healing.  

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Please research all supplements first and only add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

Many members have reported help in dealing with withdrawal with non-drug coping skills.

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms 

 

This is you introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.