Anxiety in my chest

November 4, 2026

Hello people. I’ve read too many horror-stories recently.. Which ended badly with the S-word. Since then I developed a very stubborn anxiety in my chest. Due to my emotional numbness it’s blunted but it still annoys me a lot. I almost feel paralyzed by this anxiety.. I couldn’t sleep yesterday..

Zoloft — 6,52 — 5 years and 9 months — holding | without clinician

2 Replies

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Catina2h ago

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi @Leminaseri, I've been thinking about you. Reading too many horror stories can cause so much fear, worry, and anxiety. Many horror stories happen when people taper improperly or cold-turkey. You're here and are getting the right knowledge that will help you avoid any of those situations. There are plenty of people who recover and heal and may not share their success story because they want to forget about the bad times and are busy living life again. Read some success stories, they'll give you lots of hope.

Venlafaxine (tapering) - Current dose 16.64 mg
Trazodone - 50 mg
Synthroid - 25 mcg

“Your brain and body know how to heal. Trust the process and keep going.”

Please Note: I am not a healthcare professional. Any advice given is based on personal experience and that of others in the lay withdrawal community.

anne noni moss2h ago

LighthousePaxil · holding

Nice to see you, Lem, you poet-soul, you. Please take good care of that sensitive heart and curate what you read and watch! I'm not a YouTube person so I can't recommend videos. But maybe other people can recommend success story videos that broadcast hope...not doom. Bless you!

atypical in presentation of side effects, super sensitive to small doses and general delayed responder. never took a psych med that didn't' make me sick immediately with infections and restless legs. have never been able to tolerate being on them, but have never had support to get off so I've been bouncing back and forth. i don't like capital letters. sorry.

Paxil — 1 mg — 2 yrs — holding until Oct. 7 doc appt.
Seroquel — 50 — planning taper |
trileptal -75 planning taper
prasozin 1 mg planning taper

started my psych med saga in 2001 and wish I never had. I had some difficulties with sleep and anxiety, but NOTHING like what was in store for me after trying every med out there. My last treatment center promised to "get me totally off" in 2022 but it was a lie. They just switched drugs and added more and more in a desperate attempt to help me "stabilize," so they could call me a "success story" once insurance stopped paying. I agree with those who state that this industry needs to change. AND I'm working on not being resentful about my suffering because it doesn't help anyone.

been on an off cocktails since 2001. Most recent mixture, prescribed in 2024: 20 mg Paxil, 150 Trileptal, 50 Seroquel, 2 mg prasozin, (for PTSD/nightmares.)

immediately went to 1 mg prasozin, and after 3 months cut to 10 mg paxil. No felt effects. Then went to 5 about 3 months later, (though I didnt' keep track so I'm rusty.) No felt effects. So, I've roughly been on 5 mg for a year and a half.

Side effects always force to to start tapering RIGHT AWAY.

I didn't start keeping track of my Paxil taper until this year. I went from 3mg to 1 in 10 months, using a liquid Maudsley-ish slow taper. Again, no felt effects until now.

October 2026...sleeping less and feeling more sedated during the day. Having trouble managing my social life without getting over-stimulated. Must set boundaries according to my body and not my heart.

Holding 1 mg paxil until blood work done and evaluated, and to see if build a social life that doesn't make me lose sleep. Sounds silly as I type it, but actually, nothing is "silly" on this ride! Everything is WILD!!!! LOL

Keeping all other meds the same. Sorry so long.

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