Hi dcdan....I was on Effexor in highshcool (just 6 short years ago) and when I came off of it it was HORRIBLE the worst feelings EVER. I had to literally wean myself off by taking like first a half of one for 2 weeks, then a quarter of one for 2 weeks, then an eight blah blah to were i was taking practically crumbs... A year later I hit an all time low and had to be put on Celexa, two years after that I tried to kill myself (the Celexa stopped working) and I am now on Wellbutrin XL....(sort of, see my post in Drugs)Point being in all of this, the withdraws of E SUCK, but they will end, it may take three months, but it will end. As far as living without meds, if you can do it, more power to you. If not, its ok. You would not deny yourself blood pressure medicine if you needed it, well, your brain may need seratonin help...and that is not a weakness. (preaching to you as well as to me!!) Hang in there, talk to your Pdoc if you need, and wean off that Effexor SLOWLY no matter what the dumb drs say, odds are they have never been on the meds!