Effexor and chk

I have been taking effexor for about 4 years now. My depression was maybe brought on??, due to a traumatic operation I had when I was 17. I was left undiagnosed for a couple of years, just leaving my with frequent visit's to my GP, annd me leaving just feeling like a hypercontriact!!!!! I started on 37.5mg once daily for about two years and things seemed fine and I was just building up my confidence/ablility to come of them, when i had a relaspe. My GP increased me to 75mg daily but last week with a chk up visit to the GP, I was still having sleeping prob's, and crying issues! I've now gone up to 150mg daily. I'm unimpressed by this as i wanted to come down again.

Does any one else feel like their life is being run by a bloody pill???

I just want to be like a normal young 22yr old, hold down a full time job/college course, not have to be a part-timer! Have a social life and mostly have a sex life with my ever patient boyfriend. Do any of you drink achohol or smoke cannabis (casually), whilst taking this med's. It tells you not to, but how true is that?
Let me know your views :)