Thank you and I appreciate all the comments here and have read them all.

Marty, I KNOW these people aren't doctors, but a number of people have been through what I'm dealing with right now, so I was seeking some empathy and encouragement. And I thank the rest of you for that.

I am relieved and encouraged to know these side effects of withdrawl will pass.

The best way I can describe all this to those of you who've never experienced it, is temporary intense mental illness - but being quite aware of all it but not having the wherewithal to "will" it all away...and being forced to kind of sit back and watch yourself experience it. Or another way? .......being on really bad drugs and not enjoying the high.

I am already and have been on an intensive exercise regimen for more than a year (and I believe it is because of this, that the withdrawl symptoms are not more severe nor more longer lasting than they are.)

I have a 2 year old, full bottle of Lorazepam (that I got before the Effexor) but I don't take tranqs unless I really need everything to go whooooooooooooooooooosh - and more often than not they put me to sleep, and, they have their own addictive properties. Who needs it? So I'm not using these. No need to feel dopey as well as shitty.)

Ironically I find marijuana so much better. In fact I think it should be mecdically allowed for depression, as well as for panic and anxiety attacks as well as for agoraphobia (another symptom I once had, but am cured from) and, for the withdrawl symptoms from anti-depressants.
Of course the big pharmaceutical companies would NOT like to see it legalized because it would kill the huge profits to be made off of their anti-depressants.

Anyway, thanks again, and I will stay the course, keep a stiff upper lip, take this on the chin, and will report back when I am symptom free.

I'll try not to kill anyone or myself in the meantime. [wink]