My ex girlfriend used to take it. It didn't do much for her. She was on it for months and the doctor kept saying. "well it'll take awhile to kick in." he just upped her dose upped her dose. Finally he decided it wasn't the right one so she had to ween off.
Infact it increased the severity of her mood swings.
Now she's not on any medication and I don't think she's as bad.
Both her and I have anxiety. But in the past i've always found other ways to deal with my anxiety. Working out, getting high, going for a drive and blaring third eye blind, cigarettes lots depending on the severity of the anxiety and if I can't get high, chocolate cake, the daily show with jon stewart. Even cnn some times because it shows me how worse things could be.
That was my experience with effexor xr.
Anyway if you need to talk to someone don't hesitate to message me.
Oh taking up religion has also helped me. I don't know about going to heaven or if anyone walked on water.. But just going to church and singing with every one on sunday... I dunno it makes me feel part of some thing much greater.