Its funny reading these forum posts because I have been trying to describe, or explain what I have felt since I started Effexor back in 2003.  At first it seemed great, helped with balancing out my "moods" and I felt overall "more there."  I have to say though that I have come to regret ever starting this AD.  I can even say that I FEAR this drug (or lack of it).  A few years ago there was a mix up with my psychiatrist renewing my script so that I could get my refills sent to me.  Basically he thought he had renewed it when I went to see him but I soon realized (and he did too when I was on the other end of the phone "freaking out") that the refill was never sent in and that I was completely out (had been for 2 days by then because my last dose ended on a Friday). Obviously it had remaind just a THOUGHT. Up until these "fateful days" I had had minor "weird feelings" that felt like little electric currents in my brain and body, zigging and zagging, if I missed a dose, what I am finding from other forums to be termed "brain shivers".  I'd feel hotter than usual and sometimes dealt with minor night sweats.     But SHIT! What I felt during those 3 days, I never would wish upon anyone.  I sure hope this is not what dying feels like!!  My ex said that I acted like the inmates he had to deal with at the county jail when they were in the psych wing and going through withdrawls, eyes blazing with fear of what was happening.  From that "episode" I remember not knowing the difference between a reality or dreaming state because both were so hectic at this point and I couldn't figure out which one I had more control of.  At my worst I remember sitting on the couch trying not to move, even the slightest bit because it would trigger all sorts of "weird feelings", only to twitch and wake myself up to "reality", inducing those weird feelings.  But on the parallel, I remember cognitively asking myself if I was now asleep, in a lucid dream, and that the "twitch" was actually my head falling forward as my muscles relaxed! Those weird feelings, as I termed them, were along the lines of feeling "like i'm being shocked in my brain everytime I moved my body" as one mentioned or feeling like I was "flashing" in and out (like zooming in/out on a camera but lightning fast).  The crying fits were accompanied with balling up and screaming into the carpet to tense my whole body as that was the only bodily control I felt I had. The world was loud, any sound was SO LOUD and moving in "slow-motion" yet "fast-forward" at the same time (took me years to put that sensation into words that someone, even myself, could understand). To try and explain all that I felt does not seem practical nor do try to put it all together in words.  I spent a year in Iraq before all of this, on missions 5-6 days a week, dealing with hell-ish situations but as I told my doc, I would rather spend 5 more years in Iraq wondering if i would make it through the day than ever re-live anything close to those 3 days.     Since then, if I am late taking my dose, even within the 1st hour, it is like my body takes the straight shot for withdrawl symptoms.  Maybe a post-traumatic response my brain gives me to remind me that's its ready to take action if I don't do something soon.  Night sweats are more like sweat baths and I know the "hot flashes" are from nothing other than the AD because I am only 27!  So yes, like an addict who hates their dependance to a substance, I wish I could go back in time and decide against starting this AD.      Now that I am done writing this excessively long post, I realize that this has been the first time I have ever written down my experience.  SCARY!  Everyones posts just gave me the excuse to share my experience and feel more in touch with others and the reality of this AD. (or maybe it just gave me the "excuse" to break away from studying for my anatomy exam!)  :)  And as I hate that others may have had experiences like ours, it feels good to know that we can support each other out there and strength builds in numbers.  Maybe one day I can be free from this.