I wasn't going to say anything beyond don't quit cold turkey because of the side effects but some of these attitudes really irked me badly - not the word I wanted to say so here it goes...
I was perfectly happy - most outgoing person who everyone wanted to be around - actually stating facts here, not bragging. At the time, I was raising three kids, working 14 hrs a day, was homeroom mom for two of them, on Girl Scout Council, GS troop leader for another, and still did volunteer work, threw parties for the neighborhood, life was great - literally.
And then, at the Detroit airport, coming home from burying my Brother, while unloading the luggage from the rental car trunk, a drunk driver in front of my car, put his car in reverse instead of drive, floored it, and hit my car, which in turn, hit me. First the left knee (which still doesn't work today), then the right ribs (from where I bounced), then the teeth (where I hit the trunk lid) and, because no one was behind me, I took a little ride of 16 - 18 ft backwards on the car and then slammed on the ground on the back of my head. The car continued to roll but thankfully, I was coherent enough to roll over so it just ran over my hair and not my skull.
I lost large chunks of my memories - probably 60% of them. How frustrating when the kids or a good friend say "remember when we.." and nope, don't have a clue. I can't remember my kid's first words, or steps, or other special milestones and most importantly, the little things that make life special. At the same time, I got severe anxiety - I can't handle being around crowds of people. I can't even handle socially interacting one on one - say at a party or a group meeting - for more than an hour or two. Thank goodness I am "home office" and can do everything remotely or else you people would be supporting me through disability.. I have severe migraines - make me sound like George W when I just make up words - those can be amusing. I sometimes can't find the word that I need to complete a sentence even though I am a very intelligent person.
How do I manage to function?? I am on Effexor and Topimax right now - my neurologist has had to tweak and change some of them around over the past six years to handle the migraines but if I wasn't on Effexor, I would have no life. I can now hug my children (couldn't stand to be touched for a year) and be around them too (and others) with just short breaks for quiet every few hours. And yes, I still get depressed at times but at least I can function.
Exercise and diet? Never had to exercise to stay trim until the medication. Since then, even though I can't work my left knee correctly, I have walked seven half marathons (in the required time - can't run) and gotten my medals. My weight gain is not based on diet, it is because of the meds and the combination of them that causes it. The last "tweak" worked on the migraines so I only have one a week to go with the 30 lbs I gained. Yep, need to exercise some more but sometimes, the depression, even with the medication is too much when you have the family, the job, and the other responsibilities.
I don't volunteer like I used to - I can't. But I still work and function. If the end hits and I don't have my Effexor, once I live through the withdrawl, I will be the crazy hermit lady in the woods that you REALLY want to stay away from because I won't be responsible for my behavior.
Before some of you sit back in your chairs and type away with your "it's not real", come live our lives for a while and then see what you have to say.
Sorry for the rant to those that are trying to be helpful - for you judgemental ones, I have a big truck ... stay out of my path.:zombie