Well! It would seem you're in very good company here. I, too, have some of the same issues. I was on Effexor XR for three years. Compared to how I felt when I first started medication (early spring of 2002, started Celexa - 14 months on that) I'm not having the same issues and symptoms. I *have* learned when I need to destress and decompress. My anxiety and depression was brought on by severe prolonged stress that caused a brain chemical imbalance. I was told that the amount of time I would be on the meds was equal to the amount of time it took me to get to the point of needing medication. And so far that's been right.

I've always had issues with SAD. Before I crashed and burned in 2001/2002 I was able to control that with St. John's Wort. After the crash and burn I tried St. John's Wort again and it had no affect on my anxiety and depression. When I had to force myself to go outside and dig in the dirt (gardening and plants is a passion and a therapy for me and has been for many many years) that's when I knew I was in trouble.

With the PN I'm having issues now of how this is affecting and will affect everything I do. I've gotten to the point on this road of knowing there are things that I'll never do. Because of the PN. I've looked into the future wondering just how bad this is going to get. And without a concrete diagnosis there's really no way of knowing for sure.

Now, I try not to look too far ahead. Sufficient unto this day.... My goal is to make it through today. I'll worry about tomorrow when it gets here.