The realities of Benzo use

You may have heard of the medication class known as benzodiazepines before and understand that they can help with a variety of mental health issues, such as anxiety and insomnia. However, what many are unaware of is that benzodiazepines are essentially a temporary solution and long-term use is not recommended. That’s why, in this blog, we aim to highlight the pros and cons of benzos and what to do if you feel as though they’re becoming an issue in your life.

What are benzodiazepines, and how do they work?

Benzodiazepines are medications that target the brain to produce a calming effect. They enhance the action of GABA, a neurotransmitter that acts as the brain’s natural “brake,” slowing down nerve signals. By binding to GABA receptors in the brain, benzos increase the efficiency of this braking action, leading to reduced brain activity. This process helps to dampen anxiety, ease muscle tension and promote sleep by making the brain’s responses more subdued. Essentially, benzodiazepines amplify the body’s own mechanism for maintaining neural calm, providing relief by dialling down the intensity of brain signals.

What are benzodiazepines used for?

Benzodiazepines serve a variety of medical purposes, offering relief and treatment for several conditions. Here are some of the most common ailments they’re used for:

• Anxiety relief: They’re often the go-to for alleviating anxiety. Whether it’s a generalised anxiety disorder or panic attacks, benzodiazepines help calm the nerves, providing a sense of relaxation and peace.
• Sleep aid: For those struggling with insomnia or difficulty falling asleep, these medications can be a blessing. They promote drowsiness and help ensure a good night’s sleep, making them useful for people with sleep disturbances.
• Muscle relaxation: Benzodiazepines can relax tense and spastic muscles. This makes them beneficial for conditions associated with muscle stiffness or spasms, providing relief and improving mobility.
• Seizure control: Benzodiazepines are utilised to manage seizures, especially in conditions like epilepsy. By calming excessive electrical nerve activity, benzodiazepines can prevent or stop seizures.
• Sedation: Before medical procedures or surgery, these drugs can be administered to induce sedation, helping patients relax or sleep through the procedure without anxiety or discomfort.
• Alcohol withdrawal: They also play a role in managing alcohol withdrawal symptoms, helping to ease the process by reducing withdrawal-related anxiety, tremors and risk of seizures.

Are benzodiazepines addictive?

Benzodiazepines carry a risk of addiction, especially when used for extended periods. The risk comes from the body becoming physically dependent on the drug, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effects. This can lead some to use the medication more frequently or in larger amounts than recommended without consulting a doctor.

For short-term use

Using benzodiazepines for a short period is typically safe and effective for dealing with issues that it has been prescribed for. The chance of becoming dependent or experiencing benzo withdrawal symptoms is lower when these drugs are used briefly, usually from a couple of days up to a few weeks. Short-term treatment should always be closely monitored by a doctor, using the smallest possible effective dose to reduce the chances of addiction and side effects.

For long-term use

The long-term use of benzodiazepines is not recommended due to the significant risks associated with their prolonged consumption. These risks include an increased likelihood of developing dependence and addiction, as well as cognitive impairments, reduced alertness and an elevated chance of accidents. Not only this but there’s also a higher chance of Benzo overdose the longer someone stays addicted to the drug.

People also need to realise that discontinuing benzodiazepines abruptly after long-term use can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety, sleeplessness, seizures and potentially life-threatening conditions. Research indicates 44% of long term users will experience these types of withdrawal symptoms ranging from moderate to severe.

In some cases, it can be the very fear of the withdrawal of benzodiazepine that can stop people from wanting to come off the drug. This can lead to

Therefore, it is crucial for those who have been using benzos over an extended period to seek the guidance of a medical professional to safely and effectively halt usage.

Can’t I take benzodiazepines, and my mental health issues will be cured?

Benzodiazepines can offer quick relief for anxiety symptoms in the short term, but they’re really just the first step in managing the problem. To truly tackle the issues at their root, a deeper approach is necessary. That’s where psychological support and therapy come in, playing a key role in uncovering and addressing the underlying causes of anxiety or other issues that led to the use of benzodiazepines in the first place. The goal is to develop a well-rounded treatment plan that goes beyond just the temporary fix medication provides.

This approach is a reminder that relying solely on medication for mental health isn’t the answer to healing. In some areas of medicine, it may work; for example, a round of antibiotics for an ear infection will clear up the infection without the need for further medical help. This isn’t the same for mental health issues.

Mental health issues require a comprehensive strategy that includes therapy to get to the bottom of what’s really going on.

In the following section, we explore the journey of actress Lena Dunham as she navigated through the challenges of benzodiazepine addiction. Initially intended as a temporary solution, the situation escalated when her dosage was increased, leading to a more complex struggle with addiction.

Case study- Lena Dunham

In April 2023, ‘As Girls’ actress Lena Dunham shared with her Instagram followers how she was 5 years clean of Benzodiazepine addiction.

Lena faced a severe battle with anxiety, which severely hampered her ability to manage daily activities. She was prescribed Klonopin, a type of benzo, and shared that this medication transformed her life, making her feel like “the person I was supposed to be.”

She described the experience as liberating a part of herself that had been suppressed, saying, “It was like suddenly I felt like the part of me that I knew was there, was freed up to do her thing.”

However, Lena’s journey took a challenging turn when she began to experience heightened anxiety symptoms, including panic attacks. As a result, her medication dosage was increased, yet she did not receive any psychological therapy alongside this.

This led to Lena misusing benzodiazepines, eventually leading to addiction. It reached a point where Lena realised she needed professional help. She shared on her Instagram about the moment she decided to seek help, entering a benzodiazepine rehabilitation centre “trembling like a little kid.”

In her own words, Lena highlighted the critical role of support and resources in overcoming addiction, stating;

“I was able to get and stay sober because I had the support and resources to ask for and get incredible help- medical, spiritual. For so many people, the difference between sober and using isn’t their willingness or their strength- it’s their resources. We don’t have a system that makes this easy for those who are already struggling to make their lives work.”

Lena’s insights shed light on the stark reality that countless people worldwide lack access to the necessary support for battling addiction. That’s where UKAT steps in. We are deeply committed to providing accessible rehab services to anyone in need.

Dispelling the myth that rehab is a luxury only accessible to the wealthy and famous, we at UKAT strive to offer affordable, professional rehab for benzo addiction for those struggling with the effects of the drug.

What is Benzodiazepine rehab like?

At UKAT, our recovery clinics work on an inpatient basis. This means that during your time with us, you’ll have access to the following treatments:

Detox

At UKAT rehab centres, we begin benzodiazepine addiction treatment with a careful detox process. This involves a “tapering off” method, where we gradually reduce the drug dosage to ease benzo withdrawal symptoms, making the detox phase safer and more bearable. You’ll also receive 24/7 medical support from our team of professionals all throughout this stage.

Therapy

After detox, we move on to the heart of our treatment: therapy. If we think back to Lena’s case, when her symptoms of anxiety worsened, her dosage was upped. Instead of this method, we believe that while benzodiazepines do work, there’s more work to do than simply increasing dosages.

Through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), our approach aims to understand the underlying causes of addiction or mental health issues that you may be experiencing.

The key to recovery is to undertake a journey of self-discovery, where you learn valuable coping strategies for both addiction and mental health challenges. We also embrace holistic therapies like art therapy and yoga to support this journey, promoting overall well-being.

Aftercare

But our support doesn’t end when you walk out of our clinic doors. Our aftercare programmes are designed to keep you on track; offering continued support and resources to help you maintain the strides you’ve made in recovery. We provide you with ongoing therapy, as well as access to our alumni network, meaning you can keep in contact with anyone whom you shared your Benzo addiction recovery journey with during your stay with us.

What are the next steps?

If you or a loved one is struggling with benzodiazepine addiction, we strongly encourage you to seek treatment. Our team, comprising medical professionals and therapists, is prepared to support you through the recovery process with our comprehensive treatment plans and state-of-the-art facilities. Contact us today to start your journey towards recovery.