Couch 161: The Hexagonal Pyramidal Couch

And, leggings (tights? I don’t know if there’s a difference) seem to be her undoing scratching-wise.

The things I notice about Info involve looking at her...just not her face so much.


I'm amazed by the people like LT and Elio who can remember entire sessions and dialogue in detail.

Jersey, I'm sorry you're dealing with all the side effects of Effexor withdrawal. I know this won't help, but it's known to be one of the worst psych meds to withdraw from (at least among SSRIs and SNRIs). Have you taken Prozac before? I ask because it was given to me to help me stop taking Cymbalta, which is similar to Effexor. I'm wondering if you could go on a tiny dose of that to help? It has a really long half life (stays in body a long time), so it's easy to stop taking.

Otherwise, for reducing anxiety, magnesium, vitamin D, and B vitamins can help. Benadryl and/or Dramamine (the original kind, not the non-drowsy) can help but might also make you sleepy.

Oh, and for the T-shirt with my T--it's more that MC sometimes wears an unbuttoned polo shirt, so his chest hair ends up hanging out. T was wearing a button-down shirt the other day and had one or two buttons undone, but an undershirt, not chest hair, was showing. He seems to be aware of what he's doing with fashion (clothing fits him well, correct pant/sock/shoe color combos), while MC...is not.

I can’t remember sessions in detail but I track pretty much every single thing about the space + Blondie + smells + sounds + pretty much everything about the environment.

Blondie’s gotten shocked by it a few times and called it a function of my hyper vigilance.

I can’t imagine taking my eyes off of her or closing my eyes etc — that would require a level of trust / me chilling the eff out to some serious extent.

LT — Yes, Blondie’s kinda bouncing off her chair until she realizes how immobile I am and then she fake-calms down. And, leggings (tights? I don’t know if there’s a difference) seem to be her undoing scratching-wise.

The symptoms do end? I just cried when I read that. Thank you. Right now it feels like there is no end.

I remember you saying before about how MC dresses. I think I read the conversation you were all having and managed to take away some key words- a little like this:

Info, orange, cleavage, blondie, itching, MC, Chest Hair, new T, T shirts, coordinated socks and Daisy setting up an appointment with “not Luco’s favorite”? Maybe I’ll just go back and read it all again. Haha.

Hi couch peeps. You were all quite busy yesterday. I haven’t been in therapy for over a year but I always thought EX T looked a lot like an older version of Angelina Jolie. Not sure if that qualifies her for any T beauty pageants? After all, talent also plays a part in those pageants as well, right?
Art, glad H is coming home.
Daisy, glad you’re getting another T.
ATAT-Who is this hip info T you speak of? Guess I need to go back a few couches.
LT- This new T you speak of covers up with a T shirt?

Does anyone on this couch watch that TV show Impractical Jokers on Tru TV? I think many of you would give those guys a run for their money.

Anyway couch peeps so here it goes- aside from my father in stage 4 liver disease ( which is not new news for my family) I have another issue.

I was on 375mgs of Effexor XR. I had to abruptly stop that medicine because my new insurance won’t cover it. Stopping that medicine without doing a taper- brings along some really nasty withdrawal effects which include but not limited to- brain zaps, nausea, extreme anxiety, vivid dreams, hot and cold sweats, vertigo, flu like symptoms and a array of other things I have been experiencing. I’ve been trying to take some natural stuff to help with it like a multi vitamin, GABA supplements, and using essential oils for calming effects. Does anyone have any other ideas? I tired 5 HTP but it was messing up my stomach. I have a lot less patience as well since stopping it. Doesn’t take much to get me annoyed lately. I’m 2 weeks into the withdrawal and wouldn’t wish this on anybody. I am also worried about the impression I’m giving off to my employer. I’m a nanny and I don’t want them to think I lost interest in the babies or the job itself or just don’t have patience for it anymore. Speaking with them about what my body is going through is not an option. It’s just not. We don’t have that type of relationship. But I go, I try to sound like my old self as much as possible and get through the day. It’s just so hard to do that because I haven’t felt this level of anxiety since before starting the medication. I’m a different person on that medication. More even tempered, mood overall way better and just generally a better version of myself. Can I try another med? Sure. Will I try another med? No. Because I had tried so many in the past. The Effexor was always the most effective. And if I got better insurance that did cover it I can’t even say I would go back on because of what I’m experiencing coming off. That particular medication is horrible to depend on.
I also have other things going on- but getting through this withdrawal and keeping my job are 2 of the main things I’m worried about.

It's like a therapist scavenger hunt! Or perhaps bingo. H actually came up with part of a bingo card for an MC session when I was really upset with him (MC) recently--it was pretty funny. And included chest hair, too, plus things like "Sports metaphor that doesn't really connect to what we're talking about."


You probably think you're being much more obvious than you really are. I know there have been times when I've been having a panic attack in public and think everyone is probably staring at me and thinking I'm crazy (which doesn't help calm the panic!). But my guess is, aside from H, T, ex-T, MC, maybe a couple close friends who know I have anxiety issues, and other people who suffer panic disorder, no one would really notice.

If they would ever say something, could you just say something like you've been dealing with allergy issues, migraines, something to that effect?

Effexor withdrawals are HORRIBLE! I'm still on it, but once I missed three pills in a row and I thought I was going to die. I also reduced the dose once which was also hard. I ended up taking the little balls out of the capsules and very gradually took fewer of them every day.

I have to say I'd probably borrow money to pay out of pocket so I could taper rather than just drop it cold turkey. It might help to get on an SSRI just temporarily, and then taper that. It should help with the withdrawal. Once I went to Lexapro from Effexor and I didn't have the horrible brain zaps. But Lexapro didn't work as well either.

(((Jersey))) i like co-q10. Its supposed to help with what statins eat up besides cholesterol that you need to function? Anyway i do feel a lot better when i take it. The gummies are okay, but i found a chewable with quinone 60 for $45 on amazon that i really like. Kinda expensive tho.

Eta - artie! Party!!

I went in, I sat down. It took about 5-10 minutes for the rush in my head to go down enough that I could talk or hear. I talk. I tell the woman not to talk when she tries to do. She sometimes does anyway. I ask what was the point of that. She says she does not know. I tell her not to talk again. I see time is up. I stand up, toss a single large denomination bill on her table, I walk out.

Effexor withdrawals are HORRIBLE! I'm still on it, but once I missed three pills in a row and I thought I was going to die. I also reduced the dose once which was also hard. I ended up taking the little balls out of the capsules and very gradually took fewer of them every day.
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oh shoot!! thank you. i'll go ask to have my post deleted if it hasn't been already. i haven't been thinking clearly with h in the hospital.

eta: i just asked to have it deleted.

I am SO VERY sorry everyone that I did that unthinkingly.

Specific numbers should not be used in talking about weight gain/loss, BMI, or body measurements in the Eating Disorders forum.

Thanks for your concern but that guideline only applies in the Eating Disorders forums -- so no worries, folks!