My anxiety is getting worse again and I decided it might be time to try medication again. 

My doctor prescribed 20mg if Viibryd, but after reading up on it I'm pretty terrified to take it. Brain fog, decreased short term memory, brain zaps, loss of libido, nausea, sleep paralysis. I already have extremely vivid and sometimes lucid dreams so I assume there is a strong chance I may get sleep paralysis from it. I can deal with those in the short term while I adjust, *but* I'm specifically nervous about PSSD and any other long-term effects (especially because PSSD can happen even if you stop taking it after only a few doses. In fact it blows my mind that no doctor has ever mentioned that to me...)

I tried Zoloft earlier this year and reacted horribly to it. I had intense brain fog, fatigue, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, the whole nine yards. I couldn't even tell if it made my anxiety any better or worse because I was so frustrated with how shitty I felt during the day. 

I'm strongly leaning away from trying Viibryd because of the side effects. If I do take it, I would cut the 20mg pill in half and try only 10mg. But even so...I don't think I want to risk tampering with my brain. I'm a teacher/researcher and I really depend on my cognitive abilities for my income and livelihood. I also have ADHD, which I've just finally gotten somewhat under control with medication (Concerta 18mg).  

I'm 27 and I've had extreme anxiety since childhood. Clonazepam helps when I need it...but I'm not willing to take a Benzo every day, I don't think my doc would even give me a prescription for that frequency even if I wanted it. It's just frustrating because ***I feel like I'm probably doomed to live at a baseline of "somewhat panicked" for the rest of my life.*** SSRI's have so many cons and I'm sensitive to medication. Mindfulness and exercise all those things help but ya know (I'm probably preaching to the choir here) it can only help so much...

Does anyone have advice or experience with Viibryd? I'm at a loss here.

**(TLDR: Zoloft didn't work for me. Side effects of Viibryd seem terrifying. Doomed to be anxious forever?)**