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Road Trip update. Orlando, Florida. Solo again. The loneliness epidemic in the world today. How do we stop judging, blaming, and isolating, and start connecting? Also, a bit homesick, pondering the long drive back with some challenging weather. Listen here on Podbean or YouTube... You can also subscribe to our channel here: Apple  (other channels will be added soon) Chapters 0:00:00 trip recap 0:02:03 solo again 0:02:49 travel weather concerns 0:03:58 homesick 0:06:05 missing someone 0:07:29 challenging one's beliefs 0:08:11 quick to blame 0:09:30 our core similarities 0:10:36 leaving a legacy 0:11:26 connecting with the outsiders 0:12:06 need for approval / belonging 0:14:23 accepting ourselves 0:16:18 I don't have the answers Recording Info — RECORDED: Wednesday, January 10, 2024 — LOCATION: Walt Disney World The Podcast PODCAST SITELINKS — PODCAST WEBSITE: https://www.unevenpodcast.com — EASING ANXIETY: https://www.easinganxiety.com — YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx — X (TWITTER): https://twitter.com/@easinganx PODCAST SUMMARY Welcome to “uneven,” a podcast about life, anxiety, and being human. In such a chaotic world, how do we better our lives and the lives of those around us? Maybe, just maybe, we might find a few solutions together. Join veteran podcaster D E Foster as he explores the intimate struggles so many of us experience — often in silence. I hope you’ll join us. PODCAST DISCLAIMER The uneven podcast is for general information purposes only and should never be considered medical, psychological, or any other form of health advice. Health-related information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems or to prescribe any medical devices, psychological treatments, or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. SUICIDE PREVENTION If you, or anyone you know, is having suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. Resources can be found on our website at: https://www.easinganxiety.com/resources#suicide. PODCAST MUSIC All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com) uneven theme music — TITLE: From the Earth — ARTIST: Humans Win — PUBLISHER: Lance Conrad (BMI) PODCAST PRODUCTION The Uneven Podcast is part of the Easing Anxiety network (https://easinganxiety.com) and is a production of Denim Mountain Press (https://denimmountainpress.com).

Cloudland Canyon State Park, Georgia. Sitting near a waterfall on a wooded trail. A brief recap of our time in Nashville. And a look at our comfort zones, and why testing those limitations can be so beneficial. Listen here on Podbean or YouTube... You can also subscribe to our channel here: Apple  (other channels will be added soon) Chapters 0:00:00 sitting near a waterfall 0:00:24 nashville recap 0:01:25 pushing outside our comfort zones 0:04:32 when to push, and when not to push 0:05:39 my friend returns References Cloudland Canyon State Park, Georgia — https://gastateparks.org/CloudlandCanyon Opryland Resort, Nashville, Tennessee — https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-and-convention-center/overview/ Recording Info — RECORDED: Wednesday, January 3, 2024 — LOCATION: Cloudland Canyon State Park, Georgia The Podcast PODCAST SITELINKS — PODCAST WEBSITE: https://www.unevenpodcast.com — EASING ANXIETY: https://www.easinganxiety.com — YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx — X (TWITTER): https://twitter.com/@easinganx PODCAST SUMMARY Welcome to “uneven,” a podcast about life, anxiety, and being human. In such a chaotic world, how do we better our lives and the lives of those around us? Maybe, just maybe, we might find a few solutions together. Join veteran podcaster D E Foster as he explores the intimate struggles so many of us experience — often in silence. I hope you’ll join us. PODCAST DISCLAIMER The uneven podcast is for general information purposes only and should never be considered medical, psychological, or any other form of health advice. Health-related information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems or to prescribe any medical devices, psychological treatments, or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. SUICIDE PREVENTION If you, or anyone you know, is having suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. Resources can be found on our website at: https://www.easinganxiety.com/resources#suicide. PODCAST MUSIC All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com) uneven theme music — TITLE: From the Earth — ARTIST: Humans Win — PUBLISHER: Lance Conrad (BMI) PODCAST PRODUCTION The Uneven Podcast is part of the Easing Anxiety network (https://easinganxiety.com) and is a production of Denim Mountain Press (https://denimmountainpress.com).

This is the one where I share a bit about me. Every podcast needs one of these episodes, and this is the one. The road trip takes us to a park in Lenexa, Kansas where we also explore life’s interruptions, values, beliefs, and my hopes for the new year. Listen here on Podbean or YouTube... You can also subscribe to our channel here: Apple  (other channels will be added soon) Chapters 0:00:00 just getting started 0:02:39 about people struggling 0:03:34 about life & anxiety 0:04:46 where I am today 0:05:20 my home town 0:05:56 man on a ledge 0:06:28 raw and real, unedited 0:07:23 my folks' memorial bench 0:09:12 a little about me 0:10:18 new year's eve 2023 0:11:15 my name is d e foster 0:11:58 my childhood 0:12:53 adult years in colorado 0:13:45 sometimes life finds you 0:16:11 family friend passes away 0:17:11 why now? 0:18:01 back to my story 0:19:22 college, music, and career 0:20:43 my benzo story 0:22:54 my new career with benzos 0:24:49 m family and home 0:26:13 my politics and views 0:27:39 in my spare time 0:29:11 my values and beliefs 0:30:40 review of the day 0:31:36 life, far from perfect 0:34:12 a bit of faith 0:35:45 the passions of life 0:36:58 my hope for the new year 0:37:59 seek first to understand 0:39:07 in closing References "Benzo Free" Book by D E Foster — easinganxiety.com/bookhttp://easinganxiety.com/book Recording Info — RECORDED: Sunday, December 31, 2023 — LOCATION: Lenexa, Kansas The Podcast PODCAST SITELINKS — PODCAST WEBSITE: https://www.unevenpodcast.com — EASING ANXIETY: https://www.easinganxiety.com — YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx — X (TWITTER): https://twitter.com/@easinganx PODCAST SUMMARY Welcome to “uneven,” a podcast about life, anxiety, and being human. In such a chaotic world, how do we better our lives and the lives of those around us? Maybe, just maybe, we might find a few solutions together. Join veteran podcaster D E Foster as he explores the intimate struggles so many of us experience — often in silence. I hope you’ll join us. PODCAST DISCLAIMER The uneven podcast is for general information purposes only and should never be considered medical, psychological, or any other form of health advice. Health-related information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems or to prescribe any medical devices, psychological treatments, or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. SUICIDE PREVENTION If you, or anyone you know, is having suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. Resources can be found on our website at: https://www.easinganxiety.com/resources#suicide. PODCAST MUSIC All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com) uneven theme music — TITLE: From the Earth — ARTIST: Humans Win — PUBLISHER: Lance Conrad (BMI) PODCAST PRODUCTION The Uneven Podcast is part of the Easing Anxiety network (https://easinganxiety.com) and is a production of Denim Mountain Press (https://denimmountainpress.com).

Welcome to “uneven,” a podcast about life, anxiety, and finding our way in this chaotic world. This is the first episode, part of our “prequel.” It’s raw, on the road, and from the gut. We’ll figure out the rest as we go. Thanks for stopping by. Listen here on Podbean or YouTube... You can also subscribe to our channel here: Apple (other channels will be added soon) Chapters 0:00:00 live from hays, kansas 0:00:37 the not-so-perfect first episode 0:01:33 a bit about me 0:03:20 a bit about the road trip 0:04:01 a bit about the podcast 0:06:29 just start 0:07:12 just one listener 0:08:15 cornerstones of the podcast 0:09:14 a bit of language 0:09:58 the podcast for the other half 0:10:13 take it one day at a time 0:12:28 living with limitations 0:13:04 where we go from here 0:14:34 in closing Recording Info — RECORDED: Saturday, December 30, 2023 — LOCATION: Hays, Kansas The Podcast PODCAST SITELINKS — PODCAST WEBSITE: https://www.unevenpodcast.com — EASING ANXIETY: https://www.easinganxiety.com — YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx — X (TWITTER): https://twitter.com/@easinganx PODCAST SUMMARY Welcome to “uneven,” a podcast about life, anxiety, and being human. In such a chaotic world, how do we better our lives and the lives of those around us? Maybe, just maybe, we might find a few solutions together. Join veteran podcaster D E Foster as he explores the intimate struggles so many of us experience — often in silence. I hope you’ll join us. PODCAST DISCLAIMER The uneven podcast is for general information purposes only and should never be considered medical, psychological, or any other form of health advice. Health-related information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems or to prescribe any medical devices, psychological treatments, or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. SUICIDE PREVENTION If you, or anyone you know, is having suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. Resources can be found on our website at: https://www.easinganxiety.com/resources#suicide. PODCAST MUSIC All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com) uneven theme music — TITLE: From the Earth — ARTIST: Humans Win — PUBLISHER: Lance Conrad (BMI) PODCAST PRODUCTION The Uneven Podcast is part of the Easing Anxiety network (https://easinganxiety.com) and is a production of Denim Mountain Press (https://denimmountainpress.com).

Dr. Christy Huff was a friend, a colleague, and a giant in the benzo community. What effect does this loss have on our community? On our colleagues? On ourselves? How do we process this event and continue to move forward? In today’s episode, we first pay tribute to Dr. Christy Huff and discuss what her passing means to each of us. We then catch up the past few months, share some personal insights, discuss community news, and even introduce a brand-new podcast — “uneven.” Video ID: BFP130 Listen on YouTube... The Benzo Free Podcast is also available on... Apple Podcasts / Audible / iHeart / PodBean / Spotify / Stitcher Chapters 0:00:00 INTRODUCTION 0:05:29 Learning About Christy 0:08:46 Processing the Loss 0:10:23 Tribute Web Page 0:11:28 Christy’s Obit 0:13:23 A Bit More About Christy 0:15:19 Hard News to Accept 0:17:49 Hope & Healing 0:25:19 Celebrating Christy 0:28:44 Being Respectful 0:29:43 Checking In / Seek Support 0:33:02 FEATURE 0:34:01 Our 5th Anniversary 0:35:17 Time Off to Heal 0:36:18 Re-evaluating Priorities 0:38:04 Florida Trip 0:39:28 Research Update 0:41:13 BAWG Co-Chair Resignation 0:42:05 Peer Specialist Training Program 0:44:00 Love of Podcasting 0:45:22 Benzo Free Podcast is Back 0:46:52 New Streamlined Process 0:47:35 INTRODUCING “uneven” 0:48:29 About the New Podcast 0:49:53 How It’s Different 0:51:35 Celebrating Our Failures and Flaws 0:52:26 Real and Raw and Honest 0:53:35 A Calming, Human Voice 0:54:56 Road Trips and Prequel 0:56:55 Launching This Week 0:59:39 Wrapping This Up 0:59:39 Focus on Podcasts 1:03:02 Thank You 1:03:56 “uneven” Release Date 1:04:50 CLOSING References Introduction (Christy Huff) —     Christy Huff Tribute Page — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/tribute-to-dr-christy-huff —     Memorial Fund for Christy Huff — https://www.benzoinfo.com/2024/03/07/the-future-of-bic/ —     Benzo Free Podcast Interview with Dr. Christy Huff — Part I: https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/a-conversation-with-dr-christy-huff-part-1-of-2-bfp044 —Part II: https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/a-conversation-with-dr-christy-huff-part-2-of-2-bfp045 Feature —     TRAINING: Benzodiazepine Peer Training – https://benzopeertraining.org —     WORK GROUP: Benzodiazepine Action Work Group (BAWG) – https://benzoaction.org —     PODCAST: “uneven” – https://easinganxiety.com/uneven —     RESEARCH:  Development and validation of a theory-based questionnaire examining barriers and facilitators to discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine receptor agonist use — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37919219/ The Podcast The Benzo Free Podcast provides information, support, and community to those who struggle with the long-term effects of anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium) and Z-drugs (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata). WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com MAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMER All content provided by Easing Anxiety is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Any health-related information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems, or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://www.easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. CREDITS Music provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION Easing Anxiety is produced by… Denim Mountain Press https://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2024 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

I've started this blog a dozen times, but none seem to work. It's not that there's nothing to say — in fact, quite the opposite. It's been over three months since my last post and so much has happened that I don't even know where to start. Regardless, here it goes... In the past three months I've taken a much needed break — but that being said, I've not been idle. I've focused on my mental and physical health for a while, started a new project I had been planning for almost three years (more on that later), closed out a few other projects and responsibilities that took a lot of my time, driven from Colorado to Florida to Texas to Colorado to Arizona and back to Colorado (over 6,000 miles), hiked the backcountry of Tennessee and Georgia, visited a few theme parks in Orlando, dealt with symptoms and emotions and limitations galore, mourned the loss of my parents, cousins, and now a good friend, and learned a lot about about myself along the way. One of my key focuses during this time was re-discovering myself, and my passion. Over the past couple of years, I stretched myself thin with projects, trainings, research teams, correspondence, proposals, conference submissions, membership sites, etc. We accomplished a lot, but somewhere in all the meetings and strategy sessions and document edits, I lost my way. I lost what brought me here. I lost my passion. And I was burned out. So, I decided to go back to what I love. Podcasting. I love podcasting. I love talking with you. Sharing my struggles with you. Hearing about your struggles in your comments and emails. And maybe even finding some possible solutions along the way. This is my passion, and it's where I need to be. So, as a result of all that, I'm back; and it's going to be a busy week. After a four-month break, the Benzo Free Podcast has returned. Expect a new episode mid-week where I'll talk about what's been happening in my life, in the benzo community, with research, with the work groups, with Easing Anxiety, and whatever else comes to mind. I'm recording it today so it should be out soon. But, there's also something new in the mist. While I was away, I started recording a brand new podcast — one I've been planning for over three years. It's raw, unpolished, and full of mistakes and missteps — and I love it that way. Its about anxiety and being human, and it's just as imperfect as we are. I have dozens of episodes already recorded and ready for release starting this week. Listen to the upcoming episode of the Benzo Free Podcast for more info on this podcast. Or, click here to see the podcast page on our website where the episodes will be posted once they are released. Well, I could ramble on and on as I so often do, but I will save that for the upcoming podcasts. I want to let you all know how much I appreciate your emails, comments, and especially your patience. Thank you. We had our break, and now it's back to work. See you very soon, D :)

As I mentioned in my last blog post, we lost a dear friend in the benzo community last week. Dr. Christy Huff was a tireless advocate for benzodiazepine education and awareness, and her memory will live on in almost everything that we do. Most of us are still adjusting to this tragic news and we appreciate your patience and respect for her family's privacy during this time. Memorial Fund / Memories I wanted to let you all know that Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC) has set up a memorial fund for Dr. Huff. "All donations made in memory of Christy will be directed toward the projects she was most passionate about, including research, media outreach, and public awareness campaigns regarding the risks associated with benzodiazepines," BIC stated on their blog. Instructions for donations are detailed in their announcement (The Future of BIC & Memorializing Christy Huff) BIC would also like to hear from anyone whose life was touched by the work Christy did, "whether directly or indirectly." Email bic@benzoinfo.com or leave a comment on the announcement post listed above. As the founder of Easing Anxiety, I encourage those who would like to contribute, either monetarily or with your memories, to do so through these links at BIC. We support the work BIC does and appreciate their leadership at this time. A Quick, Personal Word on Easing Anxiety For those who have wondered what has happened to our podcast and blogs these past three months — my sincerest apologies. I needed some time away, and it took longer than expected. That being said, I am still here, and I have not been idle. I will catch you all up very soon. Thank you for your patience. Take care of yourself, and those around you, D

Easing Anxiety joins the entire benzo community in mourning the passing of Dr. Christy Huff. We are all processing this enormous loss. Christy was a giant in the benzo community. In addition to her role as Medical Director for Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC), she was also a published researcher, presenter, organizer, and tireless advocate. Few individuals in the benzo community have done more than Christy to raise awareness, educate, and provide support. Her impact is immeasurable. You can learn more about Christy on BIC's website and read their announcement of her passing. On a personal note, Christy was a dear friend. We worked on dozens of projects together and she became my one of my closest allies. This loss is devastating. I join BIC in asking for privacy for Christy's family and friends during this difficult time. Please take care of yourselves and seek appropriate support if you need it. D

A benzo peer support training class can be quite educational — especially for the instructor. In early November, I had the pleasure of teaching a sold-out course to individuals with a wide mix of backgrounds. It was quite illuminating. In today’s episode, I share some insights from teaching peer support training. I also discuss my response to some constructive criticism, look at our focus here at Easing Anxiety, and wish everyone a very happy holiday season. Video ID: BFP129 Listen on YouTube... The Benzo Free Podcast is also available on... Apple Podcasts / Audible / iHeart / PodBean / Spotify / Stitcher Chapters 00:00 INTRODUCTION 00:16 Thanksgiving & Family 03:11 Feedback Form Fixed 04:18 Constructive Criticism 06:33 Our Direction / Indecision 07:22 Anxiety Management & BIND 10:43 Our Focus on Mental Health 13:52 Connecting with You 15:55 Not Medical Advice 16:33 How Ya Doin’? 19:48 FEATURE 21:28 About the Course 24:52 Benzos & Recovery (SUD) 30:06 Learning from Recovery (SUD) 31:20 Interaction & Discussion 33:08 Teaching BIND 36:10 Boundaries 37:16 Patient Boundaries 39:43 Caregiver Boundaries 41:31 Categories of Symptoms 48:37 Benzos and Alcohol 52:21 Active Benzo Community 54:25 You Got This! 56:02 CLOSING References Feedback — What Do You Want to See at Easing Anxiety? — https://easinganxiety.com/feedback Resources — Benzo Peer Training — https://benzopeertraining.org — BIND Symptoms (14 Categories) — https://easinganxiety.com/symptoms The Podcast The Benzo Free Podcast provides information, support, and community to those who struggle with the long-term effects of anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium) and Z-drugs (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata). WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com MAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMER All content provided by Easing Anxiety is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Any health-related information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems, or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://www.easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. CREDITS Music provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION Easing Anxiety is produced by… Denim Mountain Press https://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2023 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

There are times in life when our bodies and minds tell us that we need to take a break. For me, this is one of those times. A Tough Year A year ago, I had my third bout of COVID. That lead to long COVID and a year-long wave of symptoms. While I've had some very hard times in the nine years I've been benzo-free, things had always improved year after year. This year was different. Long COVID seemed to make everything worse. Brand new symptoms I'd never had before found their way onto my playlist, along with the return of some old symptoms with new found severity. When I first mentioned this on the podcast, I received several responses of similar experiences from my listeners, and I soon realized I wasn't alone. I spent the first half of the year trying to find answers — as we so often do — including several medical tests and procedures. I found a few factors, but couldn't identify the a recognized cause. My best guess is a combination of psychological stress, long COVID, and of course, BIND. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, I hit my limit. Our house was full of my wife's family — nine people, three dogs, and too much food. The hours of chaos was more than I could handle, and I had a mini melt down. I isolated myself for much of the remaining weekend trying to recover. Something had to change. Time for Self Care I'm taking a hiatus. I wish I could say this is the first time I've done this, but it's not. If you've been a listener to my podcast for any length of time, you may remember that I've taken a break from it a few times before. I guess you could call it a pattern. Like so many of us, I have a tendency to push myself until I start to break. That was the case again on Thanksgiving day. So, here's the thing: I'm taking a break for the next six weeks. I'll still attend essential meetings for my research teams and the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group (BAWG) —but everything else, especially the work we've done building up the infrastructure here at Easing Anxiety, is on hold for a while. For the month of December, I'm going to focus on my health and spending time with my family. This will be followed by a two week road trip (part work / part vacation) in January that was already on my calendar. The truth is, I'm not good for anyone else, if I don't take care of myself first. Many of you have told me that recently, and I thank you for the constant reminders. And one of the reasons I'm sharing this with you now is just in case someone else needs that gentle nudge to step back a bit, and give yourself the gift of self-care for the holidays. Remember — It's My Story, Not Yours I realize that this message may be triggering for some of you. Whenever I share a difficulty with my journey through BIND, I receive some critical feedback. As I've mentioned many times before, it is a tenuous path we take deciding when to share and when not to share, especially when things are tough. But, I always fall back on honesty and transparency. If I don't share the truth about the bad times in this experience, why should you trust me about the good times. There are so many factors that feed into the severity and duration of a person's experience with BIND. The fact that I'm still struggling at nine years out already puts my in a very small minority of individuals going through benzo withdrawal. I'm an extreme case. I also updosed during withdrawal, took a fluoroquinolone, had three bouts of COVID, have moderate to severe ADHD, have dealt with chronic gastric distress since childhood, recently discovered I have low vitamin D and low testosterone, and several other factors that add to my story. Remember, it's never just about the benzos. The odds are in your favor. Your journey will most likely be easier than mine. Closing So, take care for the next six weeks. If I feel up to it I may still put out a blog post, but I can't make any promises. Doryn may also post during the holidays, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Thank you all so very much for your kind patience. We all go through difficult times, even setbacks in our lives — it's just my turn. I'll be back soon. Take care and Happy Holidays, D :) For Informational Purposes Only 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. This article was written by a living, breathing human. Please read our site disclaimer for more information.

When we are tapering off of benzodiazepines, we never really think of “what then?” What do we expect life to be like when the last of these medications are out of our system and we are living our new reality? I can’t tell you how many times I have read on benzodiazepine support groups or heard in conversations, “I just want to get back to normal.” My questions to all of us are: “What is normal?” “Why did we go onto benzodiazepines in the first place?” “What do we expect will have changed now that we are off of benzodiazepines?” In the process of tapering and dealing with withdrawal and, for many, the effects of benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND), we fantasize about anything being better than this reality. I, for one, can forget that I was prescribed clonazepam (Klonopin) because I was suffering from the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. Many others were prescribed a benzodiazepine for anxiety or insomnia. Frankly, my normal was nothing I want to relive, and we often don’t think about what our new reality will be. The Next Phase of Healing Of course, for some, the anti-anxiety medications may have served a purpose in getting the person to a better place during a situation-specific experience. For others, therapy or other support has come during the benzodiazepine tapering and withdrawal process. The person is really better and relieved, on the other side of that process. But I maintain that for many of us, we just want the challenges of tapering, withdrawal, and BIND to resolve, and don’t feel prepared to address the next phase of healing. In a previous blog post, Owning Anxiety, I wrote about the unexpected irritability and sensitivity that remains after two years off of Klonopin. I was just so grateful to have survived the getting off of and through, that I never thought about, "now what?" I now recognize that I have work to do and I am doing that work now. How to Stop Feeling Anxiety about Anxiety Working with Easing Anxiety is another way that I am dealing with my new normal. I am exploring the meaning of anxiety and pain, learning strategies that work for others, and trying out the tools and skills to help me day-to-day. It is a work in progress, and not a walk in the park. I have also come away with a greater appreciation for the meaning and importance of anxiety. My challenge is working on — not being anxious about — being anxious. You don't get rid of [anxiety] by trying to get rid of it. — Tim Box, How to stop feeling anxiety about anxiety In his YouTube video, How to stop feeling anxiety about anxiety, Tim Box reminds us that anxiety tells us when something needs our attention. It is the internal voice of concern. I had to laugh when he said that there are two kinds of people who don’t feel anxiety: dead people and psychopaths. I was happy not to be a member of either of those two groups! I feel great relief when I hear from him and others that anxiety is an emotion with a purpose. It is a natural and vital part of our human experience. But, it leaves me with one essential question: How do I understand it for the important part of me that it is, and reduce its negative effects? Tim Box was able to reduce his experience of anxiety using three strategies: Refuse to believe that you are ill. That is, decide not to feel anxious about being anxious (of course, easier said than done!). Work on understanding what anxiety is trying to tell you. Always be kind to your anxiety and anxious feelings, “If you beat yourself up, you just end up beaten.” Again, while it is easier said than done, he suggests that we treat anxiety as a trusted friend. This is an important reframing of our experience, one that we continue to have even when the medications are well out of our system. Easing Anxiety Meaning making, reframing, and new strategies – this is what Easing Anxiety is all about. What D and I are working on with the Easing Anxiety community, is to answer the question, “After benzos, then what?” Lots of questions have been posed in this blog post, please let us know if you have answers for yourselves, or other questions you'd like us to answer. References Box, Tim. How to stop feeling anxiety about anxiety. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZidGozDhOjg. Chervin, Doryn. Owning Anxiety. Easing Anxiety. October 12, 2023. For Informational Purposes Only 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. This article was written by a living, breathing human. Please read our site disclaimer for more information.

Meet Dr. Doryn Chervin. Hear her benzo story. Her background in public health. Her take on benzos, BIND, setbacks, research, doctors, healing, the benzo community, and what has been going on behind the scenes at Easing Anxiety. Doryn Chervin holds a doctorate in public health and spent 40 years as a public health program strategist and evaluator. She is also on the board at the Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices. Doryn took clonazepam for over 25 years, is now benzo-free, and works tirelessly helping those still struggling with dependence and BIND. Video ID: BFP128 Listen on YouTube... The Benzo Free Podcast is also available on... Apple Podcasts / Audible / iHeart / PodBean / Spotify / Stitcher Chapters 00:00 INTRODUCTION 02:10 Welcome Doryn 02:38 Doryn’s Background 04:38 Suicide Prevention Leadership 06:15 Doryn’s Benzo Story 09:13 It’s Really Possible to Heal 09:42 How Are You Feeling Now? 11:01 BIND Setbacks 12:38 Journey to Learn / FDA 13:33 Doryn and the Alliance 14:57 FDA / Kaiser Research Study 17:43 Working Together at EA 19:38 Partnering with the Community 21:42 Anxiety and Instability 22:59 There’s No One Way 25:32 Murphy Says Hi 26:28 Upcoming Podcast on EA Plan 27:10 Financial Sustainability 30:53 Getting to Know Doryn 31:55 Content & Services 34:56 An Information Resource 35:55 A Strong Research Background 39:26 The Human Connection 43:03 We Want to Hear from You 46:57 Sub Group Peer Support 49:21 Live / In-Person Events 51:00 Falling Asleep to the Podcast 52:04 Burnout in Benzo Community 54:02 EA Updates / Next Podcast 55:25 Doryn’s Struggle with Anxiety 57:04 CLOSING References Feedback What Do You Want to See at Easing Anxiety? — https://easinganxiety.com/feedback Resources Doryn’s Introductory Blog Post — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/introducing-dr-doryn-chervin The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices — https://benzoreform.org The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention — https://theactionalliance.org FDA 2020 Boxed Warning on Benzodiazepines https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/new-fda-warning-on-benzodiazepines-what-does-it-really-mean The Ashton Manual — https://easinganxiety.com/ashton BOOK: Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal — https://easinganxiety.com/book Benzodiazepine Action Work Group — https://benzoaction.org A Peacock Consulting (Angela Peacock) — https://apeacockconsulting.com The Podcast The Benzo Free Podcast provides information, support, and community to those who struggle with the long-term effects of anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium) and Z-drugs (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata). WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com MAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMER All content provided by Easing Anxiety is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Any health-related information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems, or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://www.easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. CREDITS Music provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION Easing Anxiety is produced by… Denim Mountain Press https://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2023 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved