I’m Jools.

February 27, 2026

I’m originally a nurse specialising in trauma management. Went on to work with complex psychosocial then drug and alcohol nursing. Trained as an AOD counsellor then Dip in holistic counselling. Now helping people to hyperbolically taper and manage the effects of withdrawal at the same time as manage the inevitable emotions that arise as the receptors empty and the brain re establishes itself. The physical effects are often unpleasant but if there’s no awareness of psychological and emotional effects then the physical effects can become unbearable. I’m in Melbourne Australia. I’ve also had my own journey with antidepressants years ago.

Effexor 150mg 2009 tapered
Lamactil 1998 tapered
Tegretol 1998 tapered
Prozac 40mg tapered

7 Replies

BettobenFeb 27

Trusted VoiceZoloft

Your presence is greatly appreciated! 🤗 And I think you're absolutely right! 👍 The combination of emotional, psychological, and physical effects is devastating! In my case, I have managed to reduce the intensity of the emotional and mental effects, but the nervous system dysregulation is what keeps throwing me off; it creates this loop where physical symptoms fuel self-doubt, and that doubt makes the physical symptoms feel unbearable again. A practice I've been experimenting with lately is deliberately avoiding any build-up of mental, nervous, or physical intensity, because once it starts escalating, it tends to keep going without brakes, and bringing it back down becomes extremely difficult (lack of serotonin brake?). So I've started doing everything in slow motion: movements, thoughts, even emotions. It doesn't make sense to accelerate when the brakes aren't working...

Sertraline/Zoloft:
▸1/2021>100mg, ▸11/22>50mg ▸6/23>25mg (Psychiatrist told me to take half the pills until I finished the box)
✘ Clean 3 Month till massive fall
▸9/23>100mg, ▸1/24>50mg, (I started tapering on my own, because the intention was to have me on 100mg for 5 years) ▸9/24>25mg, ▸7/25>12mg,(starting parabolic with tablet dissolution in water) ▸10/25>11,5mg, ▸11/25>10,3mg, ▸12/25>8,7mg, ▸1/26>8mg, ▸2/26>6,9mg ▸3/26>5,967mg ▸4/26>4,8mg ▸5/26>3,73mg ▸6/26>3,53mg
7/26 back to 50mg

⭐

CatinaFeb 27

Community AnchorEffexor

"Now helping people to hyperbolically taper and manage the effects of withdrawal at the same time as manage the inevitable emotions that arise as the receptors empty and the brain re establishes itself." — @Jools

That's fantastic! So happy to have you here. You'll be a great help to everyone! ❤️

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.

⭐

BasedStaffFeb 27

Community AnchorEffexor

Hi Jools! Welcome to the community, your experience is greatly appreciated. Looking forward to learning from your wisdom through your comments and posts!

Creator of Taper Community, here to help you.

JoolsMar 16

Welcomer

Hi all, thanks for the welcome. I will certainly do my best to assist! For those who are tapering, what are you finding the most beneficial body based techniques ?

Effexor 150mg 2009 tapered
Lamactil 1998 tapered
Tegretol 1998 tapered
Prozac 40mg tapered

⭐

CatinaMar 16

Community AnchorEffexor

"For those who are tapering, what are you finding the most beneficial body based techniques ?" — @Jools

I personally love EFT Tapping. It has helped me with anxiety and insomnia. I also have a specific Vagus Nerve Reset exercise that helps me. And although I haven't done it yet myself, I've heard a lot of amazing things about TRE (Trauma Release Exercises). Someone on Surviving Antidepressants said it was key to their recovery from withdrawal.

JoolsApr 3

Welcomer

Yes I like tapping as well. I like the fact that we are not trying to push the bodily symptoms away, that we can be with them. I'm finding anything that can bring attention away from the distress whilst acknowledging its presence and onot being overwhelmed by it.

Effexor 150mg 2009 tapered
Lamactil 1998 tapered
Tegretol 1998 tapered
Prozac 40mg tapered

⭐

CatinaApr 3

Community AnchorEffexor

"Yes I like tapping as well. I like the fact that we are not trying to push the bodily symptoms away, that we can be with them.

I'm finding anything that can bring attention away from the distress whilst acknowledging its presence and onot being overwhelmed by it."

— @Jools

I agree, and really like how you worded everything. We have to find a way to make peace with the symptoms. The more we fight them, the worse we feel.

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