Hi people I am new to this board. I just wanted to inform people about my experience with effexor. I was diagnosed with severe and chronic depression, panic attacks, and social anxiety disorder. I was on a high dosage for about seven months and I can honestly say that Effexor did nothing at all. There was no difference from the day that I walked in the doctors office and the day I got off it. During the seven months that I was on it I all of my sad and anger emotions escalated up and down dramatically. Also I had graphic and gorey nightmares every night on the high dosage. I am saying this to you because I think effexor and probably all anti depressants are nothing but toxic garbage. I have found more peace, energy, and joy from cognitive therapy rather than Effexor. Cognitive therapy has helped me so much.