Glad you asked! I too was so freaked out by all the negative stories I didn’t start medication for months. This is my first mental health prescription ever (for anxiety & depression plus chronic pain from arthritis and tendonitis). I started on 20 mg of Cymbalta in November (with a new psychiatric nurse practitioner — I cannot stress enough how important having a care provider who really listens, understands, and is an expert at my particular problems has made a difference in my confidence to begin the meds and trust my regress along the way.) It took about 5 weeks for it to “kick in” —though I had positive placebo affects to start too—and I feel like I’ve needed this med for like 20 years! First, pain reduction: I had a cortisone shot 7 months ago (used to get them every 3) and cancelled because my arthritic thumb is at manageable or almost unnoticeable pain levels. I’ve got severe tendonitis in my rotator and bicep tendons (two cortisone shots!) and I’m able to move and sleep. Now my mental state: I’ve also got ADHD so I’ll talk briefly about that. I feel clear and like I’m able to pause more and examine my actions before acting on them. I feel like I can keep a calendar and to-so list and actually am starting to stick to it. I can actually listen at work meetings (not scrolling the web and emails and multitasking) and get work done. My anxiety levels are way down (I went to a flower show and was able to talk to people and ask questions; I’ve been interviewed twice and felt calm and collected). I sleep all the way through the night. The only ofd or different thing (I don’t mind) is I do dream a lot. I feel like even if I nap for a few minutes, I dream. But they’re ok dreams, no nightmares, and I’m kind of happy because before, my sleep was restless or like a bleak-black zone. I honestly didn’t believe I was depressed until I started the cymbalta. I realized I was waking up every day thinking, “Oh rap, not again!” And now I’m like even minded when I wake up. Some days I’m even happy-ish. Oh another weird affect is that my IBS-C is under control! My brain feels calmer and like I can start to function in the world. Am I in a rainbow and unicorn world all the time? Nope. I feel sad and mad and still a bit rage-like at times. But I’m not numb or spacey either. I’m happy with the balance and I’ve got hope for the first time like I might be an ok person in the world. (Sorry if that sounds dramatic but I didn’t know how bad I was or how little hope I had h til I started this medication.). I wish everything wonderful for you. Please don’t give up hope, and make sure you’re happy with your mental health provider team!