However, I am nearly crippled with depression and anxiety...I have definite \"degrees\" of depression, where it appears to lift or provide a bit of relief and then in the blink of an eye, I crash again. My confusion lies in the fact that I do not know if this horrifying sadness/desperateness is part of the withdrawal process or just \"me\" (and if it is just \"me\" then I definitely need something to take Effexor\'s place!!). Has anyone experienced depression and anxiety??? I seem to be particularly obsessed with just being at home -- I don\'t want to work, I don\'t want to deal w/ people or problems, etc. My mind has had the \"revelation\" that \"just staying home\" is the answer to everything.

This currently has me feeling so hopeless that I was tempted to call in a refill of Effexor and go back on it. I hate to throw in the towel at this point, but I am tempted to see if I would emotionally feel better taking the med again. If anyone has had a similar experience, please tell me how long it took for the depression and anxiety to lift???

Best wishes and hugs to all of you.