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HI to all of you who might read my story. My brain is so bad I find it hard to do this, so it has taken me a few days. Also, this is not my mother language, so I hope you forgive me for the mistakes I might make. I tapered very slowly the whole year of 2019 after using this SNRI for 1,5 years. I didn't have enough energy, had a few migraines and had a harder PMS period before my menstrual period. In general I was very fine and feeling confident. I just made mistake. I was tapering 1 mg per week from the weight of the beads, using a scale and didn't slow down when I was on 40 mg. I started to feel real bad on 25 mg of the beads, in May 2020. ( that was 11, .. mg of venlafaxine) June 12th I up-dosed to 60 beads , 15 mg of Venlafaxine and I split the dose. It helped immediately, but not enough to hold me for long. Second week I got worse and it freaked me out again. Physically I lost 15 pounds of weight. I was a wreck. After 2 weeks from my last change, I updosed to 17 mg , 66 beads. Terrified. My whole life crumbled in front of my eyes. It helped again and I got better. But I am not stabile. Now here i am. Still stuck on 66 beads. Still having waves. This week it will be October. It is going on too long... my relationship is ruined as he can't cope seeing me suffer like this. So I live with my parents who are old. I have nothing left then my cloths and taper friends. I don't know what to do anymore. I am on the fb group Effexor (Venlafaxine) should be illegal. The tell me to wait. And I am waiting. But how long do you wait? 6 months? a year? And wait for what? I need a plan.... this is insane and I don't know how to get out. I try to walk at least 30 minutes daily, but i hate winter is coming. I try to do coherent breathing, to help my access my prefrontal. I use essential oil which was recommended. I journal my day and symptoms since some time. I read and read some more to find answers, but mostly I need to hear how people got through this and how they healed. I just need to see where the end of the tunnel will be. I hope you can support my journey. I can't see it anymore

So glad to have found this forum! I'm 56 (F) and I've been on 150 mg of Effexor XR for the last 17 years. I have begun counting the beads and initially started by eliminating 25 of the 150 per day. It's been four days now without any ill effects and I'm really looking forward to this journey.