Hola, Alex!
Wow! Congratulations on your performing career!
You just took a couple of very big steps just by thinking that your medication might be your problem, and by joining a discussion forum. Now, it would probably be a good idea to give yourself some time to study all the information we have here, and at the other links on our home page, ask us questions, and develop your own ideas about what is right for you.
To help us advise you, let me clarify – Clonazepam – when was your last dose? Do you still take it occasionally? Alcohol – are you still using it? How much? Any other medications?
As Cosette said, we do not share your doctor’s belief that you have incurable depression nor that you must take a medication for the rest of your life.
Anxiety and depression are common human experiences. Everybody has some anxiety or depression at some point. Some people have a lot, and really need help with it. But there is no new “formula” about how they always “come together.” Your doctor is over-simplifying things.
Also, as Cosette said, the medications can sometimes give some relief temporarily, but, over time, the benefits tend to wear off, and the side effects tend to increase. This leaves you dependent on medications which are no longer helping you, and which are, in fact, causing you problems. You sensed this yourself.
It is definitely possible to taper off these medications. For some people, this is easy; for some, it is difficult. And there are many ways to effectively help yourself with the original reasons you took the Effexor.
Ah – one more thought – the Clonazepam may have contributed to destabilizing you, just as the Effexor is causing you problems now. This is how people end up on the medication path for life – one medication causes problems, and so another is prescribed to address those problems, etc.
But, again, people *do* get off these drugs successfully and find real health and happiness!
