Hello from Canada. Long term survivor here!

[Sweetpea]

Sorry I have no experience of this. Its good to hear you will continue using the forum. Its a great place with lovely people. S x x x.

[oceansdeep]

Hi Rumple, while I don't have any experience of effexor, someone I knew 'in real life' was taking an SNRI, I can't remember which one, a few years ago and the withdrawal effects sound similar. She did manage to come off it completely though it was hard going. Ocean

[Rumple]

   Thank you so much folks. I'm so lonely and sad and this is a good place with good people. It's so hard to express to others how it feels to be so emotionally raw. As I age I find myself becoming ever more cynical about the world and filled with grief at how much worse things have become. On a personal level, I have been trying so hard to work things out, but the things that I am good at no longer seem to have any commercial value.  In years past, I did have a small amount of success as a creative artist, but it seems like art and music have become so devalued lately that one might as well be trying to sell dirt. I watch in horror as the world is transforming into some Orwellian economic and high tech nightmare.  All the values that I hold dear such as tolerance, gentleness, and compassion are in very short supply these days. I can't talk about this with anyone that I know, they don't get it.

[Catbrian]

Rumple... You're cynical for good reason, especially if you've been feeling people do not return your trust and friendship.

I think many here will echo your thoughts, I certainly do.

[Got]

Hi, nice to meet you.

I am sorry to hear the way you are struggling. It is difficult to see that we are doing anything meaningful when everything seems so empty and pointless.

I wish you well.

Steve

[jakers]

Glad to find someone of a similar age on here. i am 60 and enjoy explorations into the technological age. i am excited by the idea of sharing online and also hope to try sharing other things like creative writing online. i too am a long term survivor but have had long periods of remission and have met some amazing people on my journey. As I have got older I am more able to see the "bigger picture" and no longer blame others for my illness. i hope that by taking responsilbilty and owning it as mine it will become more integrated into my whole being. Make any sense?
 ()( ()(

[Sweetpea]

Hello :) welcome to the forum. S x x x x