I felt that the Effexor did what it was supposed to while I took ...

I felt that the Effexor did what it was supposed to while I took it. It helped my anxiety and slight depression, and I felt very happy the three years I took it. I did not have weight gain or any other side effects, other than crazy, vivid dreams that actually were funny to me. However, withdrawing from this drug was the worst I have ever experienced. I spread it out over 6 months, and it was still horrible. I was nauseated, disoriented, weak, had constant vertigo, felt electrical shocks in my head. I missed a week of work thinking that I was seriously ill, and then realized it was the Effexor, but it took another month until I felt like it was completely out of my system. I am back to feeling like my anxious and slightly depressed self again, but no way am I going back on Effexor knowing what the withdrawal symptoms are. I will find a way to feel better through diet modifications and lifestyle changes instead.