Benzo addiction gets a lot of attention in the media. The use of these drugs is almost socially acceptable in some circles, yet benzo abuse can cause serious side effects. But what are benzos, and why are they so dangerous? In this article, we explore benzodiazepines and talk about the side effects of benzo misuse as well as how to cope with benzodiazepine withdrawal.

What Are Benzos?

Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are a class of psychoactive drugs used to treat depression, anxiety, seizures, panic disorders, agitation and insomnia. Well-known examples of benzo medications include Valium and Xanax. Benzodiazepines are viewed as safe if prescribed for short-term use, with treatment lasting 2-4 weeks to prevent addiction. However, misuse of benzos is quite commonplace, with people sharing the drug with friends, taking it for longer than intended or mixing it with alcohol.

Common Signs of Benzo Addiction

When taken per a doctor’s instructions, benzodiazepines can be beneficial, but misusing them can lead to addiction. It can be difficult to spot the signs of benzo addiction in the short term, but some things to look out for include:

• Anxiety
• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Strong cravings/desire for the next dose
• Withdrawing from social activities
• Secretive behavior
• Increased risk-taking
• Drug-seeking behavior

Benzodiazepines are seen as socially acceptable drugs, but it’s possible to overdose on them, and the negative effects of benzos can be significantly amplified if the drug is mixed with other substances.

Why Addiction to Benzodiazepines Requires Treatment

Benzodiazepines are tranquilizers containing soothing components that slow the central nervous system. This helps reduce tension and results in muscle relaxation. People struggling with benzo addiction tend to chase this calming feeling, often craving another hit after getting off the high. Benzodiazepine abusers exhibit symptoms similar to those of heavy alcohol consumption.

When taken in large doses, benzos can cause:

• Amnesia
• Slurred speech or seeming drunk
• Blurred vision
• Extreme fatigue and drowsiness
• Lack of coordination and physical weakness
• Mood swings
• Confusion and anxiety
• Difficulty breathing
• Hallucinations
• Death

Benzo addiction can have severe implications. The aftermath can be fatal when coupled with opioids or alcohol since all these substances are depressants. When taken together, they cause excessive sedation, potentially resulting in a slowed heart rate that could lead to coma or death. In fact, around 14% of deaths caused by opioid overdose also involved the use of benzodiazepines.

While treating benzo addiction can be difficult, it’s not impossible. However, attempting to quit without proper medical supervision can prove deadly. Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms, including tremors, psychosis, seizures and hallucinations, are potentially severe and challenging to manage without medical assistance. Abruptly ceasing the use of benzos could trigger these symptoms. For this reason, medically supervised withdrawal is strongly advised.

How Is Benzo Addiction Treated?

Simply getting benzos out of your system isn’t enough to beat addiction. It’s common for people who’ve been taking high doses of benzodiazepines to relapse, even after a detox. Long-term treatment, including therapy, counseling and peer support, helps decrease the risk of a relapse. A good rehab center offers a range of options, including:

Detox and Withdrawal Management

While some people attempt to get off benzos by themselves, this isn’t advisable. Doing so could lead to severe symptoms, such as panic attacks and seizures. These symptoms are unpleasant and can be unsafe. To achieve the best detox results, 24-hour medical supervision is recommended. In addition, doctors may prescribe medications that ease the symptoms and help the patient cope with the side effects, increasing the likelihood of them seeing their detox through to the end.

Residential Care

Residential care, or inpatient treatment, makes the detox process and medical supervision more manageable. In addition, it provides patients with a drug-free environment where they can focus on recovery. Access to programs such as behavioral therapy and support groups allows professionals to address more than the physical effects of benzo addiction. These advantages work toward making the recovery process more wholesome for the patient.

Outpatient Care

Depending on the severity of the addiction, some patients may find an outpatient arrangement more beneficial. However, in most cases this treatment is recommended after inpatient care. Outpatient programs give patients struggling with benzo addiction access to counseling and therapy.

How Long Is Benzo Treatment?

Since benzodiazepine treatment varies for different people, the length of treatment isn’t set in stone. Relevant factors include the dosage taken, the period of addiction, general health and how an individual reacts to the medication. The treatment period could also be longer if the patient took benzos alongside opioids or alcohol. Trained medical professionals assess each situation, determining which treatment would work best.

Therapies Useful During Benzo Treatment

Therapy can be a useful way of helping people in the later stages of recovery, especially when combined with other benzodiazepine treatments. Therapy helps patients cope with stressful situations and manage their emotions without relapsing. Therapy can also help patients identify triggers and find healthy coping mechanisms.

Therapies used for benzo addiction treatment include:

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is restorative care that supports the body’s affected areas. The practitioner targets specific parts of the body, manipulating tendons, muscles and tissues. Massage therapy has several benefits, from encouraging healing and wellness to relieving stress and improving sleeping quality. It can also reduce physical pain and grant patients mental clarity, helping them deal with depression and anxiety.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Negative thoughts cause anxiety, self-doubt and low self-esteem, affecting, in turn, the person’s motivation, focus and efforts. Cognitive behavioral therapy combines talk therapy with behavioral therapy to reframe negative thought patterns as positive ones. Rather than an outlined step-by-step treatment, it combines a set of therapies that trigger the same kind of therapeutic change.

Cognitive behavioral therapy follows a simple pattern. The first step involves identifying the situations making life uncomfortable and acting as triggers. This is followed by understanding the thoughts and emotions surrounding these triggers, along with the patient’s reaction to the problem.

Finally, the treatment aims to help the patient take the emotions brought on by their triggers and healthily “rebrand” them. In doing so, the patient can create a way to manage their responses, reacting to potential triggers in healthier ways.

Like any other treatment, CBT results don’t happen overnight. They’re highly influenced by an individual’s willingness to recover. Fortunately, certain recovery techniques, including journaling, exercises and mindfulness meditation, can help.

Family and Couples Therapy

People don’t have to go through recovery alone. Bringing a person’s support network in to help with recovery can be beneficial. Family and couples therapy isn’t always used, but therapists and addiction specialists consider each individual and may suggest it on a case-by-case basis if they believe it gives the patient the best chance of staying drug-free when they return home.

Lifelong Recovery From Benzodiazepine Abuse

Benzodiazepine addiction affects people from all walks of life. Because these drugs are physically addictive, recovery can be challenging, but it’s possible. It’s important to seek professional medical advice before trying to stop taking benzos. Medically supervised withdrawal helps reduce the risk of potentially serious side effects. At Sunlight Recovery, we offer supervised detox services and ongoing therapy to help reduce the risk of a relapse.

Contact Us

If your loved one is dealing with benzo addiction, the friendly, caring team at Sunlight Recovery can develop a tailor-made treatment plan to get them started on a path to wholesome wellness. Contact us today to get started on the road to recovery.