Hello

[Flip1956]

I just joined the group and feel better already.

I have had General Anxiety Disorder for nearly 50 years.

Still trying to figure out why I get anxious without any reason causing anxiety.

Flip

[Ronkoz]

This made me smile- trust me we're all trying to figure this out and I figured it out but then more life happens and got to figure that out too. Stay strong

[Flip1956 in reply to Ronkoz]

Thank you

Enjoy the day

[BonnieSue]

Hi Flip!

I have GAD and I don't always know why it's around. I do take medication for it so it's not a problem. It was nasty when it reared it's ugly head and I had to decide to take medication for it. Sometimes the reason it's bad isn't evident until hours later I realize what's got me nervous. An excellent psychiatrist once explained to me that I don't have an "off" switch to my anxiety so it builds with each time I get a little anxiety until I have way too much. And too much is a miserable place to be.

[Flip1956 in reply to BonnieSue]

Thank you Bonnie

I have lived with anxiety for 20 years before deciding to take medication. I never wanted to succumb to taking medication because I felt it was a sign of weakness and surrender. The medication works but I tend to lessen the dosage when I'm feeling better. I'm now taking 75 mg venlafaxine hcl

Flip

[BonnieSue in reply to Flip1956]

That sounds good, as it's the original starting dose according to drugs.com, one of my favorite resources. People are taking much larger doses than that. I've reduced my clonazepam from 4 mg per day (which seems to be a standard dose) to 1 mg per day in the last 11 months so we're both trying to keep our drug usage down.

I've been surprised at the difficulty SSRIs and SSNRIs have presented at withdrawal compared to benzodiazepines which are generally considered much more troublesome. Instead the SSRIs and SSNRIs are proving AS difficult to taper off of as a benzo. But as always, it's very individual and nothing is guaranteed.

[Flip1956 in reply to BonnieSue]

Thank you