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May 12, 2022 – Exciting News! The first paper from the Benzodiazepine Survey of 2018-2019 was the subject of an article today in Psychology Today. Author Christopher Lane, Ph.D. reviewed and summarized many of the significant findings in the research, in addition to blending in some of the early findings from Hollister and Lader. The first paper on the survey was published on April 25, 2022, titled: “Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet survey.” Our team has been working on this research for three years now, and finally, we have the first paper published in the journal “Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology.” And this is just the first, many more are slated to follow. This article helps to raise awareness of this issue, and it is another step forward in the progress we are making. Thanks to everyone who work everyday to help raise awareness and educate others on benzos and BIND. D E Foster Psychology Today Article: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/side-effects/202205/benzodiazepine-withdrawal-tied-serious-long-term-harms Research Article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20451253221082386

June 8, 2022 — I have been privileged to be involved with two separate teams publishing research on benzodiazepines in 2022. The first of these was published in April of this year and was the first of a series of papers on the benzodiazepine survey of 2018-2019. That paper was titled: “Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet survey.” The second team was based in Ireland and was focused on developing guidance for the reduction of benzodiazepines after long-term use. The title of this paper is “Supporting safe and gradual reduction of long-term benzodiazepine receptor agonist use: Development of the SAFEGUARDING-BZRAs toolkit using a codesign approach,” and was published yesterday in Health Expectations: An International Journal of Public Participation in Health Care and Health Policy. The team for this new study consisted of benzo experts from a variety of disciplines and countries including lead author, Tom Lynch (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland), Colin Bradley (University College Cork, Ireland), D. Foster (Benzodiazepine Action Work Group, USA), Christy Huff (Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, USA), Sharon Hutchinson (Dublin, Ireland), Nicole Lamberson (Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, USA), Lily Lynch (Belgrade, Serbia), and Cathal Cadogan (Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland). The methods involved in the development of this “SAFEGUARDING-BZRAs” toolkit involved “a previous systematic review of brief interventions targeting long-term BZRA [benzodiazepine receptor agonists] use in primary care and qualitative interviews based on the Theoretical Domains Framework that explored barriers and facilitators to discontinuing long-term BZRA use.” The toolkit comprises 24 behavior change techniques (BCTs) targeted at primary care providers to help support individuals with benzodiazepine (BZRA) discontinuation. 60 BCTs were originally considered and 36 were removed from the list either due to irrelevancy, inflexibility, or other considerations making them inappropriate for benzodiazepine discontinuation. This toolkit addresses “identified limitations of previous research (e.g., lack of detailed intervention description, lack of appropriate theoretical underpinning) and adds to the body of literature relating to behaviour change interventions targeting discontinuation of long-term BZRA use.” You can read the entire article via the links below. Talk soon, D 🙂 View Online Article Here: http://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13547

The Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention will hold its annual meeting virtually on October 27th and 28th, 2022. One of the break-out sessions on Thursday (10/27) morning will be hosted by the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group (BAWG), a sub-group of the Consortium. In this session, BAWG Co-Chairs Dr. Alexis Ritvo and D E Foster will define BIND and its symptomatology in addition to the research behind it. They will also present recent successes from the work group, including provider education lunch and learn sessions presented in May 2022 and the ongoing development of the first benzodiazepine-specific peer support training program for coaches. REGISTER ONLINE If you wish to attend this presentation, please register online. This presentation is free and open to all. REGISTRATION: https://ucdenver.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEuf-2hrDooHNXxgaL8mkQhN0r0KNS2yjrp\ For more information, visit https://corxconsortium.org/2022-annaul-meeting.

I was recently invited to be a guest on the Powers Benzo Coaching Podcast with David Powers, and it was a wonderful experience. We recorded a lively, 2-hour conversation covering a wide variety of topics including benzo dependence and withdrawal, BIND, symptoms and symptom management, the science behind benzos, anxiety, the limbic system, psychology, music, film, and so much more. We even talked about his “rebuttal” video, which is how this all came to be (see below). He just posted the 2-part interview on his YouTube Channel and I hope you will check it out. Interview - Part I Interview - Part II BACKGROUND STORY (The Rebuttal Video) There is a bit of a story about how this interview came to be, and I thought I might share it with you here. A couple of days ago, a listener of my podcast informed me that a benzo coach just posted a “rebuttal” video on YouTube regarding my latest episode of the Benzo Free Podcast. This person advised that I check it out (see link below). So, I did just that. Powers Rebuttal Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7LrauKpIt0 Benzo Free Episode in Question: https://easinganxiety.com/blog/our-mailbag-insomnia-alcohol-tinnitus-and-bind-bfp112/ I first read some of the video’s comments where there were a few individuals coming to my defense. I was touched by this and I am very grateful to my listeners for their amazing support. I will admit that I had heard of David and even reached out to him late last year to possibly bring him on as a guest on my podcast. Unfortunately, I hadn’t had the opportunity to follow-up with him due to my health complications and schedule. I also want to mention that David did reach out to me after his podcast was posted to make sure that there were no problems, and I appreciated that. So, I felt the next step was to listen to this episode. I have to admit, I found nothing in the video that was insulting or offensive to me. In fact, I believe that his style, approach, and general philosophy of benzo recovery was not dissimilar to mine. While I may not have agreed with all of his conclusions, his reasoning was solid and I welcomed his viewpoint. I added a comment to the video thread and followed up with an email exchange with David. Then, before you knew it, we were online recording a two-hour interview for his podcast. I have to say that it was one of the most enjoyable conversations that I have participated in and that I truly enjoyed our interchange. If felt like I was talking with an old friend. I want to thank David for inviting me onto his podcast and for the professional manner in which he approached this entire situation. I never once felt slighted and I am grateful to have his voice as part of the benzo community. I hope to have David on my podcast in the next month or two as I originally was trying to set up back in December. Thanks David, D

March 1, 2023 – After two years of work and many delays, I am proud to announce the launch of the new Easing Anxiety Website. There are many advancements and workflow improvements with this new site. I've listed some of the advancements and benefits below. Here are some benefits of the new site: More Frequent, Timely Content — The biggest gain from the new site is that it will simplify my life. By doing this, I can focus more on content. Improved Processing Speed — The new site loads 4-5 times faster than the old site. Not only does this increase its usability, but it also leads to better SEO. Top-Notch Search Functionality — Looking for a topic? Any topic? Use the search box in our menu bar. This new search is a vast improvement on what we had before. Blog-Based Content — The new site has been built almost entirely on posts. All podcast episodes, videos, articles, stories, resources, and even informational pages are now posts. This makes the site easier to organize and more searchable. Better Commenting — Wix provides a simplified, built-in commenting system on all posts. It's easy to use and encourages interactivity amongst our friends. Podcast Categories — Looking for a specific podcast episode? Well, the new website is designed to help you. Not only can you use the search function in the menu bar, but you can also view our podcast episodes based on nine specific categories: Benzo Basics, Interviews, Symptoms, Mailbag, Benzo Life, Road Trips, Tips and Trivia, Live Events, and Grab Bag. New Anxiety Section — While our primary focus has, and will continue to be, based on benzodiazepines, we have also released several videos on general anxiety along the way. This will continue and we have added a new section to the website specifically for anxiety. Membership Infrastructure — One of the key gains with this new site is the ability to launch an online community, including a membership portal. This will be coming later in 2023. This new site is a significant departure from the previous two sites. The other websites had been hosted on WordPress. While WordPress it was a very robust platform, the maintenance and upkeep of those sites took its toll. This new site is built on the Wix platform; and while it does have some limitations, those are far outweighed by its ease of use and built-in functionality. The primary goal for this change is to allow me to focus more on our content, and less on the extra work it takes to get that content out to you. This is only the beginning. Most of the advantages of this new platform have not even been explored yet and will be added to the site in the coming months. The old Easing Anxiety site has already been retired, and I'm in the process of forwarding all links from the old Benzo Free site too. Once this is complete, there will be only one website for me to update, instead of three. And that makes D very happy. :) Check out the new site if you get a chance. Thanks, D :)

Benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND) can come with a barrage of expected, unexpected, and even sometimes bizarre physical and psychological symptoms. Neuroadaptation and neurotoxicity has caused the central nervous system to become hypersensitive and over-reactive to everyday stimuli, leaving these symptoms in its wake. The following is a list of possible side effects reported by individuals who have experienced difficulties during benzodiazepine withdrawal. We have categorized these symptoms into 14 categories. Seven are psychological symptoms including anxiety symptoms, behavioral symptoms, cognitive symptoms, excitability symptoms, perception symptoms, sleeping symptoms, and social symptoms. And the other seven are physical symptoms including abdominal/gastrointestinal symptoms, symptoms of the eyes, ears, nose & mouth, symptoms of the head & neck, symptoms of the heart & lungs, muscular symptoms, nerve sensations, and immune & endocrine symptoms. We did a 14-part series on the Benzo Withdrawal focused on the various categories of withdrawal symptoms. Here is the introduction below. The remainder of the episodes can be found in their respective symptom categories following. Benzo Free Podcast: Episode 8 An Introduction to Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms CAUTION This list is a general resource. Just like the list of possible side effects on a medication label, nobody will get all, or even most, of the symptoms listed. In fact, many discontinue benzodiazepines with little or no difficulty at all. For those who do have symptoms, it can be helpful to know that they might be caused by benzos, and that they will fade over time. If you are easily triggered by this type of content, you might want to refrain from reading. Psychological Symptoms Physical Symptoms References Ashton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/. “Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms.” BenzoBuddies. Accessed April 23, 2017. http://www.benzobuddies.org/benzodiazepine-information/withdrawal-symptoms. Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, Colorado: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. https://easinganxiety.com/book. Wikipedia (varied). For Information Purposes Only – Not Medical Advice All information presented on Easing Anxiety is for informational purposes only, and should never be considered medical or health advice. Withdrawal, tapering, or any change in dosage of benzodiazepines or any other prescription drugs should only be done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. Please read our site disclaimer for more information.

What are the basics about anti-anxiety drugs? What are they for? Where did they come from? How do they work? How many people take them? What are the side effects during use? Definition of Benzos The term “benzos” is short for benzodiazepines, a class of anti-anxiety medication also known as minor tranquilizers, sedatives, BZDs, BZRAs, and others. These drugs are typically prescribed for anxiety disorders, panic attacks, insomnia, muscle spasms, and seizures. Nonbenzodiazepines (Z-drugs) is another class of sedatives which can have similar effects to benzodiazepines and can also be referred to as “benzos.” Common Types of Benzos To view a complete list of benzos, visit our “Types of Benzos” page. Treatment Uses Benzos have a variety of therapeutic actions but can be broken down into five primary categories that Prof. Ashton described in her manual. These include: anxiolytic (relief from anxiety) hypnotic (improving sleep) myorelaxant (muscle relaxation) anticonvulsant (relief from convulsions) amnesiac (loss of memory, single-use for medical procedures) The immediate effects of most benzodiazepines can make a person feel relaxed and sometimes sleepy. Even a mild sense of euphoria. Many studies show that occasional, short-term use of benzodiazepines is effective for specific purposes including surgical procedures, alcohol withdrawal, and seizures. Are They Dangerous? While somewhat effective treating the above conditions, benzos can cause physical dependence when taken long-term. In October 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Black Box Warning to address “serious risks of abuse, addiction, physical dependence, and withdrawal reactions.” Withdrawal can include a laundry list of moderate to severe symptoms, which not only can be painful and debilitating, but can also last for months, even years. Benzos are also a leading cause of overdose death when combined with opioids and other narcotics. Brief History Benzodiazepines were originally developed by Leo Sternbach at Hoffman-La Roche in New Jersey. On February 24, 1960, the FDA approved the first benzo medication named chlordiazepoxide with the brand name of Librium. It was soon followed by diazepam, which many people know as Valium. Valium was the top-selling drug in the U.S. for 13 years, between 1969 and 1982. As benzos became increasingly popular, a backlash also gained momentum in the ’80s. Long-term benzo users were suffering from severe withdrawal symptoms, and the media picked up their stories. In 1987, a new class of anti-depressants called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) entered the market, and the Prozac era took hold pushing benzos to the sidelines. In 1981, pharmaceutical manufacturer Upjohn (now part of Pfizer) released alprazolam, and they marketed it under the catchy name of Xanax. While still a benzodiazepine, Xanax represented this new group of benzos that are even more potent than the ones in the 70s. Xanax is 20 times more potent than Valium. By 1986, Xanax had overtaken Librium, Valium, and Prozac to become the best-selling drug in history. And by 2013, prescriptions for benzos in the U.S. climbed to 5.6% of the population. The market demand for general anxiety medications was valued at $3.2 billion in 2014 and is expected to rise to $3.7 billion by the end of 2020. Benzos were back and with a vengeance. How Do Benzos Work? Long story short, we don’t really know. Research has provided some answers, but even after 50+ years there are still unanswered questions. The neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA appear to be the primary mechanisms of action. So let’s take a look at those here. Think of glutamate as the gas pedal: it excites things into action. GABA, on the other hand, puts on the brakes. — Jennifer Leigh, Addictionblog.org Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the entire nervous system. It stimulates the neurons making them fire and helps brain development including learning and memory. GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid, is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. GABA produces a general calming effect on your central nervous system by settling down nerve cells that get over-excited. When your neurons get over-excited, you get anxious. The more GABA, the calmer you feel. GABA receptors are the part of the neuron that can receive GABA neurotransmitters. So, only neurons with GABA receptors can be influenced by the calming effect of GABA, and if those receptors ever become damaged, then the nerve cells may not receive the calming message. Benzos enhance the actions of GABA. Meaning, benzos increase the inhibitory effect of GABA on the neurons, therefore calming the brain and central nervous system. For this reason, benzodiazepines have been found useful in treating anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms, epilepsy, alcohol detoxification, and is helpful in certain medical procedures. Unfortunately, this process also has a tendency to down-regulate the GABA receptors over time which is one of the primary factors causing dependence. We will discuss more on this in Basics of BIND.. GABA does seem to get all the press when it comes to benzos, but it’s not the complete picture. …benzodiazepine actions are by no means confined to a particular neurotransmitter or brain pathway. — Prof. Ashton Prof. Aston’s paper titled “Protracted Withdrawal Syndromes from Benzodiazepines,” published in 1991, is a great resource here. In that paper, she notes that GABA inhibits both the nervous activity in the brain and the release of excitatory neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine, noradrenaline, dopamine, and serotonin. The clinical effects of benzos are most likely a result of a combination of these reactions. Benzo Usage According to IMS Health, 36 million people in the U.S. were taking anti-anxiety drugs in 2013. For benzodiazepines alone, according to the American Journal of Public Health, 13.5 million adults filled prescriptions in 2013. Here are how the numbers break down (IMS Health)… Total number of people in the U.S… Taking psychiatric drugs: 79 million Taking antidepressants: 41 million Taking anti-anxiety drugs: 36 million Taking ADHD drugs: 10 million Taking antipsychotics: 7 million Total number of people in the U.S. taking anti-anxiety medication who are… 5 years old or younger: 727,304 6–12 years of age: 790,149 13–17 years of age: 650,273 18–24 years of age: 1,660,953 25–44 years of age: 8,944,200 45–64 years of age: 14,439,465 65+ years of age: 9,691,791 It is estimated that at least five million people in the U.S. and U.K. alone are on benzos long-term and have the potential for withdrawal complications. References Ashton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/. Ashton, C. Heather. “The Bridge Project, Bradford: Speech by Professor C Heather Ashton, DM FRCP: Annual Meeting, December 2011.” Benzo.org.uk. Accessed January 27, 2017. https://www.benzo.org.uk/chabradford.htm. Ashton, C. Heather. “Protracted Withdrawal Syndromes from Benzodiazepines.” Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 8 (1991): 19-28. https://www.benzo.org.uk/ashpws.htm. Bachhuber, Marcus A., Sean Hennessy, Chinazo O. Cunningham and Joanna L. Starrels. “Increasing Benzodiazepine Prescriptions and Overdose Mortality in the United States, 1996-2013.” American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) (April 2016). Accessed April 7, 2018. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303061. Byrne, A. “Benzodiazepines: The End of a Dream.” Australian Family Physician 23(8)(Aug 1994):1584-5. Accessed April 17, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7980158. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Prescribing Guidelines for Pennsylvania: Safe Prescribing Benzodiazepines for Acute Treatment of Anxiety & Insomnia. Updated May 15, 2017. Accessed April 7, 2018. http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Diseases%20and%20Conditions/M-P/opioids/Documents/PA%20Guidelines%20on%20Benzo%20Prescribing.pdf. Edwards, Elaine, “Bad Side-Effects of Drugs Such as Valium A ‘Medical Disaster’,” Irish Times, October 10, 2016, Accessed October 10, 2016, https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/bad-side-effects-of-drugs-such-as-valium-a-medical-disaster-1.2824495. Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, Colorado: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. https://easinganxiety.com/book. “Global General Anxiety Disorder Market Worth USD 3,775 Million and CAGR 2.4% by 2021,” Zion Market Research, November 18, 2016, Accessed November 19, 2016, http://www.medgadget.com/2016/11/global-general-anxiety-disorder-market-worth-usd-3775-million-and-cagr-2-4-by-2021.html. IMS Health. Vector One: National (VONA) and Total Patient Tracker (TPT) Database (2013). Extracted April 2014. Quoted in CCHR International. “Total Number of People Taking Psychiatric Drugs in the United States.” Accessed April 3, 2018. https://www.cchrint.org/psychiatric-drugs/people-taking-psychiatric-drugs/. Wikipedia, “Leo Sternbach.” For Information Purposes Only – Not Medical Advice All information presented on Easing Anxiety is for informational purposes only, and should never be considered medical or health advice. Withdrawal, tapering, or any change in dosage of benzodiazepines or any other prescription drugs should only be done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. Please read our site disclaimer for more information.

Summary A story of eventual success tapering off of Xanax with the support of a general physician, a loving spouse, and dog which kept her walking each day. Details Key Topics: Anxiety, Benzos, Dependence, Withdrawal, Xanax (alprazolam), headaches, tinnitus, head band, neurologist, insurance, success Listen on the Podcast: https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/coping-skills-from-a-to-z-part-1-of-2 Content Warning Stories presented on Easing Anxiety may contain triggering content. If this is a concern for you, please refrain from reading any further. These stories are provided for informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Opinions stated are those of the author only. See our disclaimer at the bottom of this post for more information. Anne’s Story NOTE: Anne’s story is a composite of her correspondence from two emails. First Email I just listened to your last podcast and wanted to say Happy 5th year anniversary! I’m looking forward to achieving that goal as well. I will be four months Xanax-free on August 30, and what a journey this has been. I will be four months Xanax-free on August 30, and what a journey this has been. When I first open my eyes every morning, I wonder how the day will be or what symptom I will experience. But with the support of my loving husband and dedicated sister, I have made it through each day, and count my blessings (as you mentioned to do) each night. I just started listening to your podcast, and I have to say you have helped me get through each day on the right foot. I have a dog and I promised myself that no matter what I felt like each day, I would take him for his morning walk. These daily walks give me an opportunity to get my mind in the right place. And now I listen to your podcast on our walks and it makes the day so much better. I have a dog and I promised myself that no matter what I felt like each day, I would take him for his morning walk. Thank you for all you do for all of us, as there are so many people who just don’t understand. I purposefully wrote this message in a positive tone because we all know what the negatives are. Anne Second Email Thank you so much for responding to my comment! I just listened to your latest podcast, and I have to say that you touched me in a way no one has in a long time. To hear what you said about how you were feeling, in the early am, reminded me of myself and how I wished I could wake up my husband, (at 4 in the morning when I was wide awake), and just cry. And although my sister has MS and her own issues, she would allow me to text her at all hours of the night, to listen and comfort me. I also did a lot of research at 4 am while in bed about withdrawal symptoms… I also did a lot of research at 4 am while in bed about withdrawal symptoms, and why I was feeling the way I did. My symptoms are pretty mild now for the most part, (unless I’m in a wave), but I still have a lot of head issues, as I took alprazolam for 3 years for chronic headaches. So what I’m left with now is head pressure and banding around my head, full ears, and lots of noises. My husband thought it would be a good idea to purchase a white noise system to listen to at night, but I’m not sure how great this is as when I tried it the first night, I fell asleep but woke up with heart palpitations (another of my symptoms)! My biggest issue is dealing with stress or when to stop doing a task. I overdo it sometimes (be it gardening, cleaning, or exercising), so I still have problems trying to say “enough is enough.” I was finally able to retire from property management, which was huge for me as this was our family business. I overdo it sometimes…so I still have problems trying to say “enough is enough.” To give you a background of myself, I’m 57 years old (going to be 58 next month), and took Alprazolam XR .5 three times a day. My neurologist prescribed these to me for chronic headaches, (without telling me what would happen if I wanted to stop), and every time I would ask him about the drug, he would say I would have to take it for the rest of my life. I never doubted him, so I never thought to ask him what he meant by that. Then, last December, my insurance wouldn’t cover more than 1 pill per day, so the only way I could continue with my regular dose would be out of pocket. Then my father passed (I took care of him), and it was downhill for me with nervous issues that I never had before, trembling, etc. I finally decided to go to my regular doctor and he understood what to do, and we came up with a tapering schedule to stop taking this horrible pill. Anyway, sorry to rattle on, but, again, great podcast and thank you for everything. And one more thing…I don’t mind at all when you talk about yourself! Anne Share Your Story We are always looking for new stories to share. Please visit our feedback form if you’d like to share your story with our community. Thank you. Disclaimer All stories shared on Easing Anxiety are done so with the author’s permission. These stories are provided for informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. The views and opinions expressed within are those of the author only, and do not necessarily reflect those of Easing Anxiety or its founder. Stories presented on Easing Anxiety may contain triggering content for certain segments of the population. While provided as an informational resource to our community, some stories may not be beneficial to those who are sensitive to their content. Regarding benzodiazepine withdrawal or BIND, most people can withdraw safely, successfully, and without serious complications if they are informed and have a solid support system. Many of the stories shared on Easing Anxiety are extreme and should not be used to create any expectations of one’s individual experience. Please read the Ashton Manual formore information and work with your doctor. Withdrawal, tapering, or any other change in dosage of benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepines (Z-drugs), or any other prescription medication should only be done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. View our complete disclaimer for more info.

Summary A desperate story of mental health difficulties with multiple medications including Xanax, Effexor, and others. Details Key Topics: Anxiety, Benzos, Dependence, Withdrawal, Xanax (alprazolam), Effexor (venlafaxine), Lamactil (lamotrigine), detox, convulsions, brain scan, qEEG, diet, exercise Listen on the Podcast: https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/coping-skills-from-a-to-z-part-2-of-2 Content Warning Stories presented on Easing Anxiety may contain triggering content. If this is a concern for you, please refrain from reading any further. These stories are provided for informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Opinions stated are those of the author only. See our disclaimer at the bottom of this post for more information. Lindsay’s Story I was diagnosed with panic disorder and GAD at 15 years of age, and was put on an anti-depressants, which in turn triggered my genetic predisposition for bipolar; my mom has this too. All through my life I’ve been on over 60 meds, because I’m treatment resistant. Anyways, I was on Effexor for about 18 years and it became a nightmare. I am now 38, so I weaned off of that and was given Xanax 1 mg. I had no idea what that would do to me, and thought I could up the dose whenever my body needed it. My doctor upped it a few times, and I ended up on 6 mg. I never abused the drug and hated taking it. …I went to a one-month residential treatment facility where they gave me more drugs…I was practically convulsing. Shortly after I went into tolerance and was so desperate to get off, I went to a one-month residential treatment facility where they gave me more drugs while decreasing my Xanax, to the point where I was practically convulsing. I was shaking so bad my jaw went back and forth violently, urinary incontinence at times, BP so high I had to go to the ER at one point. Anyway, they pretty much gave up and prescribed me 12 mg of Ativan! I had no idea and wasn’t educated. Then they sent me off on my way. I had all of the symptoms of withdrawal, tolerance, acute symptoms. I became agoraphobic, panic attacks, intense fear that left me unable to even take the garbage out, and still to this day. My BP can be normal and shoot up so high in seconds. High enough where it’s dangerous. Not able to go to family get togethers for years now. I was on them for a little over 4 years, and my cognition is so bad, acid trip perceptions. I have to wear sunglasses everywhere, even indoors which is embarrassing, and that’s been the case for over four years too. I feel dumb and broken. I have to wear sunglasses everywhere, even indoors… It’s been almost 5 months off with a very slow taper, and small things are better, but not enough to make me hopeful. The acid trip perception is the worse, and the fear all day, every day. I also got to the point where I couldn’t fall asleep until 9 am or later, although I can fall asleep around 3:30 now. I feel I will not heal anytime soon, and I’ve never heard of anyone else feeling like they have been on acid for this long. That’s the only thing I think I can relate it too. I haven’t worked in 3 years now and feel like I never will. It’s not for lack of strength either. I’ve felt like I’m in acute for years. I don’t know what other word to use. My story is long and complicated, with a history of mental illness so maybe that’s why I’m not healing. I’m also on Lamictal which effects GABA and glutamate, so I’m scared. I tried weaning off, but that has proven impossible, and I thought getting off of Ativan was the priority. Who knows! I had a qEEG done…I tested possible for PCP and was shocked. Anyway, that is part of my story. It’s interesting because I had a qEEG done when I was on 6 mg and the neuroscientist knew right away what was happening. I have a print out of pictures of my brain and it’s a mess. Lit up like a Christmas tree. It tells you what part of your brain is effected and why. I tested possible for PCP and was shocked. He explained to me that the Lamictal and Ativan were creating that chemical state, some weird interaction. That makes sense because of some of the symptoms. Then I went for psychological/cognitive testing that lasted a few days and it correlated exactly with the qEEG, and completely different doctors, so I knew then what was causing it. Also worth mentioning is that I do P90X every single day. Yoga, kempo, weight training, etc. I was about 100 lbs at one point, and made myself work out, and have now gained most of my muscle back and am at a healthy weight. I eat pretty plain but always chicken, fresh veggies, and fruit. Never any food in boxes. I can’t have carbs, sugar, beef, caffeine and I know that’s common. I’m eternally optimistic, at least that’s what a few people say, but it’s slowly fading the longer this goes on. I’m eternally optimistic…but it’s slowly fading the longer this goes on. Thank you for all that you do. It means so much to me the validation I get from listening to you and others. It has made me cry it means that much. Your effort and support I will be forever grateful for. Please excuse if I repeat things. I have very significant cognitive deficits. Lindsay Share Your Story We are always looking for new stories to share. Please visit our feedback form if you’d like to share your story with our community. Thank you. Disclaimer All stories shared on Easing Anxiety are done so with the author’s permission. These stories are provided for informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. The views and opinions expressed within are those of the author only, and do not necessarily reflect those of Easing Anxiety or its founder. Stories presented on Easing Anxiety may contain triggering content for certain segments of the population. While provided as an informational resource to our community, some stories may not be beneficial to those who are sensitive to their content. Regarding benzodiazepine withdrawal or BIND, most people can withdraw safely, successfully, and without serious complications if they are informed and have a solid support system. Many of the stories shared on Easing Anxiety are extreme and should not be used to create any expectations of one’s individual experience. Please read the Ashton Manual formore information and work with your doctor. Withdrawal, tapering, or any other change in dosage of benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepines (Z-drugs), or any other prescription medication should only be done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. View our complete disclaimer for more info.

Summary Robert’s story begins with Klonopin dependence, alcohol addiction, and a suicide attempt, but ends with confidence of recovery and healing. Details Key Topics: Anxiety, Benzos, Dependence, Withdrawal, Klonopin (clonazepam), alcohol, alcoholism, AA, suicide, suicidal ideation, addiction, recovery Listen on the Podcast: https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/conversation-with-filmmaker-holly-hardman-part-2-of-2 Content Warning Stories presented on Easing Anxiety may contain triggering content. If this is a concern for you, please refrain from reading any further. These stories are provided for informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Opinions stated are those of the author only. See our disclaimer at the bottom of this post for more information. Suicide and Addiction Content. This story includes narrative elements about suicide, suicidal ideation, and alcohol addiction and recovery. If these topics are of specific concern to you, please refrain from reading any further. Robert’s Story Hello D. I’ve been listening to your podcast and wanted to reach out. My story is similar in many ways. I am 13 months into a protracted withdrawal, and I’m better — but haven’t recovered yet. It’s been horrible. The reason I’m writing is that my story differs in a couple of ways that may be helpful to share. I’m an alcoholic. When Klonopin was prescribed, I had been completely sober for 17 years. I’m an alcoholic. When Klonopin was prescribed, I had been completely sober for 17 years. The M.D. that prescribed the drug was aware of my substance abuse issue but my anxiety was so severe we did it anyway. Many medical professionals call benzos a drink in a pill, as it affects the same receptor sites in the brain, so my body thought I was drinking three or four shots a day. The doctor’s opinion in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous states that any alcohol in the body of an alcoholic initiates a predictable result. It triggers the obsession of the mind, unique in an addict, as well as the allergy of the body. The result was predictable. I relapsed, which brings me to the second part of why my story. It’s a little different. The relapse involved a suicide attempt, where I combined the alcohol with 90 mg of Klonopin. The relapse involved a suicide attempt, where I combined the alcohol with 90 mg of Klonopin. I survived, but the last seven years has been a storm of psych meds, ECT, TMS, IOP, therapy, etc. It may be helpful to share this story in one of your podcasts. I understand there is a reluctance in the benzo community to be labeled an addict, but some of us are. And secondly, suicide is something that I think needs to be discussed more openly. It’s not understood and the ignorance is costing people their lives. Certainly, suicidal ideation has been and continues to be a part of my recovery, and I find that stress triggers the damaged nerves in my brain. The symptoms of withdrawal emerge in such an intense way that it triggers the need to drink. I understand there is a reluctance in the benzo community to be labeled an addict, but some of us are. I’m fighting. I’m not drinking every day at all, but I’m not sober either. The people in AA don’t understand. I don’t fit there at this point and so support from a community is lacking. I’m going to get through this. It’s going to take some more time, but I expect it to continue to be hard on both me and my wife. Perhaps my story will help someone who’s dealing with the same issue. Thanks for the work you’re doing. Robert Share Your Story We are always looking for new stories to share. Please visit our feedback form if you’d like to share your story with our community. Thank you. Disclaimer All stories shared on Easing Anxiety are done so with the author’s permission. These stories are provided for informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. The views and opinions expressed within are those of the author only, and do not necessarily reflect those of Easing Anxiety or its founder. Stories presented on Easing Anxiety may contain triggering content for certain segments of the population. While provided as an informational resource to our community, some stories may not be beneficial to those who are sensitive to their content. Regarding benzodiazepine withdrawal or BIND, most people can withdraw safely, successfully, and without serious complications if they are informed and have a solid support system. Many of the stories shared on Easing Anxiety are extreme and should not be used to create any expectations of one’s individual experience. Please read the Ashton Manual formore information and work with your doctor. Withdrawal, tapering, or any other change in dosage of benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepines (Z-drugs), or any other prescription medication should only be done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. View our complete disclaimer for more info.

Summary Roy’s story is that of a dedicated caregiver. A man caring for a women tapering from long-term benzo use, and the lessons he has learned from this experience. Details Key Topics: Anxiety, Benzos, Dependence, Withdrawal, Relationships, Partner, Caregiver, Caregiver Story, Patience, Understanding, Support, Support Team, PTSD, Alcohol, Alcoholism Listen on the Podcast: https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/how-to-taper-from-benzos-part-1-of-2 Content Warning Stories presented on Easing Anxiety may contain triggering content. If this is a concern for you, please refrain from reading any further. These stories are provided for informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Opinions stated are those of the author only. See our disclaimer at the bottom of this post for more information. Roy’s Story I have an amazing woman in my life who has been on a benzo for over 27 years. She has slowly been tapering off of them for about a year now. I think she’s doing amazing and cannot be more proud of her strong will. Let me start by telling you a little about me. I have an amazing woman in my life who has been on a benzo for over 27 years. I’m an Army Veteran who suffers mildly from PTSD. I have suffered from depression since childhood. Let’s say not the best childhood. I have been in and out of treatment for the past 15 years for alcoholism and PTSD. A few months before my girlfriend and I got started dating, my father committed suicide. Having my father die in front of me was something I’ll never forget. Shortly after she and I started dating, I lost my sister to cancer. So, coming into a relationship like this was definitely a challenge for us both. I started the relationship with being irritable at times, which is a HUGE trigger for her or anyone for that matter. The more she and I dated, I started to learn from her. I knew that if I wanted this relationship to work, I needed to change. So, I slowly started to pause, listen, and observe. I have since grown to be more understanding and far less irritable. I am very blessed to have such a strong-willed person in my life. We have been dating for almost three years now, and it was early on when she told me about her [dependence] and her willingness to get off the drug. Naturally, I was supportive. Being new to a relationship like this, it naturally had its ups and downs. She would withdraw, get quiet or even go to the extreme sometimes, and want to break up. Needless to say, we would always work it out and stay together. There were times when I was not sure if I angered her or did something wrong. If I asked what was wrong or anything like that, it would only make it worse. I know that when she is distant or withdrawn, to just let it ride its course. I’ve learned that if I try to cheer her up, or rub her leg or anything like that, she at that moment does not need nor desire to be touched. I know it has nothing to do with me, It’s just a symptom she’s having at the time. I try to do as much as possible so she doesn’t have to. I try to do as much as possible so she doesn’t have to. I want her to be able to have a very relaxed day and have some good quality her time. I try to encourage her as much as possible. I’ll pick her up when she’s down, and even carry her if I have to. My girlfriend and I have the same interest and desires… to travel and climb every mountain in the U.S. and see all the sites we can soak up. We are hiking as much as possible, or doing anything outdoors. If she’s having a bad day, put her on the trail and she slowly pops out of it. Guess the advise I ask is, are there any other things I can do to help her through this transition she’s going though? Any things I maybe should not do? I only want to help her through all of this, as she’s has endured so much in life. She has been a very patient and understanding partner, and I am forever indebted to her. She has taught me patience, tolerance, and understanding. I am better man thanks to her. Roy. Share Your Story We are always looking for new stories to share. Please visit our feedback form if you’d like to share your story with our community. Thank you. Disclaimer All stories shared on Easing Anxiety are done so with the author’s permission. These stories are provided for informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. The views and opinions expressed within are those of the author only, and do not necessarily reflect those of Easing Anxiety or its founder. Stories presented on Easing Anxiety may contain triggering content for certain segments of the population. While provided as an informational resource to our community, some stories may not be beneficial to those who are sensitive to their content. Regarding benzodiazepine withdrawal or BIND, most people can withdraw safely, successfully, and without serious complications if they are informed and have a solid support system. Many of the stories shared on Easing Anxiety are extreme and should not be used to create any expectations of one’s individual experience. Please read the Ashton Manual formore information and work with your doctor. Withdrawal, tapering, or any other change in dosage of benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepines (Z-drugs), or any other prescription medication should only be done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. View our complete disclaimer for more info.

Summary A story of a woman on Klonopin for 17 years, struggling to find support for a slow taper. Details Key Topics: Anxiety, Benzos, Dependence, Withdrawal, Klonopin (clonazepam), Ambien (zolpidem), Doctors, Parent, Parental stress, Ashton Manual, Substitution, Tapering, Dosage Listen on the Podcast: https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/how-to-taper-from-benzos-part-2-of-2 Content Warning Stories presented on Easing Anxiety may contain triggering content. If this is a concern for you, please refrain from reading any further. These stories are provided for informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Opinions stated are those of the author only. See our disclaimer at the bottom of this post for more information. Sarah’s Story Hi D, I am so grateful to have someone knowledgeable to talk to about this. THANK YOU. Sorry I wasn’t very clear in my first email. I wrote that one via my cell phone. Anyway, now that I’m at my laptop I can elaborate. First of all, I want you to know that I am aware you are not a doctor and can’t give medical advice. However, having listened to you, I believe you are quite informed (more so than most doctors) and I see that you provide references for everything you can, when it’s available. Having said that, let me elaborate on my story…. I was first prescribed Klonopin about 17 years ago when my son was diagnosed with special needs… I was first prescribed Klonopin about 17 years ago when my son was diagnosed with special needs and I was so anxious I could not sleep, or eat. Anyway, the next five years after that I took it rarely, maybe 4-5 times per year. Then about 12 years ago, a doctor told me it was good as a mood stabilizer (I used to have a lot of mood swings), but I still took it as needed. Maybe 2-3 x per week. At times I took very little, sometimes .25mg, sometimes 1/2 of .25 (yep, I figured out how to break those little half pills). I used to be very sensitive to it and doctors were happy that in all these years…I had never exhibited tolerance. Through the years, I had many jobs and often left them abruptly due to my anxiety. Sometimes, I had taken Klonopin a couple days before I left so I was never quite sure about the role Klonopin played on those stress leaves. This past year, I have been on it quite consistently. I have also been the most consistent in holding a stressful job. I have probably taken it daily the last 12 months, maybe skipping 1-2 days max, here and there. And yes, at days 2-3 I have a hard time sleeping and I feel even more anxious. I have probably not taken it 1-2 days per month this past year, and the PRN dose that I’ve needed did increase this year. Often, I would take .5mg, 2x/day, sometimes .75, one time per day. Anyway, it’s all so confusing. I have a prescription for Ambien PRN as well… Then, if I couldn’t sleep, I would add Ambien to the mix. I have a prescription for Ambien PRN as well, and take that sometimes 2x per month, sometimes 2x per week. I found a doctor that knows about the Ashton Manual. However, because I was engaged when I met him, about 4 months ago, he suggested I wait until after my wedding to taper. Anyway, this brings us to the more recent present. I got married at the end of September. I got married at the end of September. I wanted to start getting ready to taper, but then I was stumped. I can’t find any information on what dose to take, if the dose I was on before varied all the time. I first guessed and started taking .5 mg daily, but that was way too little. I could tell because I got really depressed, anxious, and was afraid to lose my job. I really can’t lose my job. I called the doc. He told me to increase it, so I’m at .625. I am very anxious, hard to sleep, etc., but I’ve been at .625 for about 10 days and it’s tolerable. I don’t yet have any of the intense other symptoms I’ve heard about. Hopefully, I won’t get them, but my symptoms are increasing. I called the doctor, he would tell me to increase my dosage again until I don’t feel symptoms… If I called the doctor, he would tell me to increase my dosage again until I don’t feel symptoms, and believe me, it’s tempting, but I’m hoping I don’t have to increase the dosage at this point. So anyway, to answer your question, yes I do believe I have physical dependence. Maybe it’s not too bad, but I have no idea. This is the first time I take a significant dose consistently. So, I will be meeting with the doctor soon. On the phone he told me that taking Klonopin PRN is a very bad idea. I am not quite sure what to believe. It seems the doctors are guessing too. So, anyway, now I’m taking it regularly. Just FYI, I hate taking it regularly. I used to not take it for social occasions, or to do yoga, or to do my song-writing, and now I feel a little out of it all the time, creativity gone. I guess this is the way to taper and to eventually quit taking it once and for all. But, I just wanted to find out if you had heard otherwise, or had heard of a similar situation. My guess is there are tons of people taking it PRN, and maybe Ashton mentioned a method for them to taper? I believe my doctor wants me to be on a stable dose, switch me to Valium, and then start the taper. I feel like I’m being a guinea pig with no real protocol to follow. The main thing is that I have to keep my job. The main thing is that I have to keep my job. If it comes down to either losing my job, or going back on Klonopin as needed, I will probably go back to the Klonopin. Scary. Anyway, thanks for reading this…. Sarah. Share Your Story We are always looking for new stories to share. Please visit our feedback form if you’d like to share your story with our community. Thank you. Disclaimer All stories shared on Easing Anxiety are done so with the author’s permission. These stories are provided for informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. The views and opinions expressed within are those of the author only, and do not necessarily reflect those of Easing Anxiety or its founder. Stories presented on Easing Anxiety may contain triggering content for certain segments of the population. While provided as an informational resource to our community, some stories may not be beneficial to those who are sensitive to their content. Regarding benzodiazepine withdrawal or BIND, most people can withdraw safely, successfully, and without serious complications if they are informed and have a solid support system. Many of the stories shared on Easing Anxiety are extreme and should not be used to create any expectations of one’s individual experience. Please read the Ashton Manual formore information and work with your doctor. Withdrawal, tapering, or any other change in dosage of benzodiazepines, nonbenzodiazepines (Z-drugs), or any other prescription medication should only be done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. View our complete disclaimer for more info.