I used to be on Paxil. I was prescribed this drug "to simply smo...

I used to be on Paxil. I was prescribed this drug "to simply smooth life's edges." I didn't always feel like I was in a good mood, was midly depressed and sufferred with mild anxiety attacks. Had feelings of being a little lost and confused and the littlest things would upset me to the point of tears. I was over sensitive about almost everything. Paxil was the best thing that ever happened to me during that period of time. It did exactly with the doctor said it would do. It is a mild antidepressant that will just take the "edge" off. I was taking 25mg CR and I only took them for a month and a half until I felt better. I weined myself off with less and less dosage day by day. A few months later I started having similar feelings like before and took another 1 month session. Fixed me again, just like before. Took me through a stressful time and eased my feeelings of anxiety until I was able to control things and pull through my mild depression. It's been about a year and a half and I haven't needed Paxil again. I've read all of these postings and I was concerned by all the bad side effects. I had heard in advance about the decreased sex drive thing but I was willing to deal with it. Turns out the drug increased my sex drive. I just felt better about everthing. Things that would normally bother me, didn't. Anxiety attacks with scared feelings and shortness of breath were just non-existent. Never had any trouble sleeping and my moodswings were totallly in check. Actually, even though I been off the Paxil for about 1.5 years, I feel like I learned how to control my mood swings and some anger. I am a much more rational person today than I was then. People talk about side effects such as lucid dreams, the occassional lose of touch with reality and wierd feelings of not being all there. Are these really bad things? I'm surprised that it is still legal. I thought it was great.