I have found that the SSRI's do not work as well as the "old school" Tofranil PM which I became allergic to after many years of successfully taking it. Certainly SSRI's do not work for my anxiety. I may be wrong, since I cannot know your particular situation, but it seems like it would be good for you to go the same psychiatrist that your Mom does, since your problems are so similar. I take Effexor XR at a high dosage, but that is supplemented with Klonopin for anxiety. Klonopin is not quite so addictive as Xanax, but if you do not have a problem with dependency issues, it would not matter which, I am thinking. Just a thought ~ billieJ