How to Stop Using Benzodiazepines and Stay Sober

Benzodiazepines are some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs.

Over five million adults misused benzodiazepines in the United States in 2016.

Benzo misuse can lead to a range of short-term and long-term side effects and health problems, including addiction.

Short-term effects and risks include:

• Impaired judgment and coordination
• Confusion
• Weakness
• Difficulty breathing
• Impaired memory
• Overdose
• Coma
• Nausea

Long-term effects include:

• Cognitive impairment
• Difficulty thinking clearly
• Loss of sexual interest
• Loss of interest in hobbies and other social activities
• Increased anxiety
• Difficulty sleeping
• Severe depression
• Suicidal ideation
• Anxiety disorders
• Insomnia
• Addiction

Benzodiazepine detox is usually the first step in recovering from benzodiazepine use disorder.

Detox involves removing all traces of a substance and its toxins from your body.

Physical Dependence

If you repeatedly use benzos over some time, you may develop a physical dependence on the substance.

Benzos increase the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA is a naturally occurring chemical that slows the brain down, making you feel drowsy and calm.

If you repeatedly use benzos, your brain registers the increased GABA activity and adjusts the level and signaling of neurotransmitters to rebalance the brain so it can function normally. Eventually, you need higher and higher doses of the substance to achieve the same effects.

After some time, you become dependent on the drug just to feel normal. With benzos, this can happen after just three to four weeks. While many countries recommend that benzos should only be prescribed for two to four weeks, this advice is largely ignored by doctors and patients. Estimates of long-term use among benzo users range from 25-75%.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptoms

If you suddenly stop taking benzos, you may experience a range of withdrawal symptoms. Between 15–44% of chronic benzo users experience moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms, including feelings of anxiety and depression. Sudden withdrawal from benzos can have serious or even life-threatening side effects.

Withdrawal symptoms include:

• Muscle aches and muscle spasms
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Restlessness
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Seizures
• Panic attacks
• Anxiety
• Poor memory and concentration
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Paranoia
• Delusions

In severe cases, withdrawal from benzos can result in post-acute withdrawal symptoms (PAWS). PAWS are symptoms that you still experience more than two weeks after withdrawing from a substance. PAWS symptoms include depression, anxiety, and insomnia and can last for many months.

Medically Assisted Detox

Withdrawing from benzos without professional medical supervision can be very uncomfortable and even dangerous. Medically assisted detox uses various strategies to ease

withdrawal symptoms and ensure detox is safe. These include:

• Protracted withdrawal treatment programs where you gradually taper off benzo use by using smaller and smaller doses each day
• Switching to an equivalent dose of long-acting benzo and then tapering off usage
• Prescribing medication before, during, and after detox

Detox at Cirque Lodge

At Cirque Lodge, medical detox takes place in luxury treatment facilities under the 24-hour supervision of medical professionals.

We begin your rehabilitation experience with an in-depth assessment of your use of benzodiazepines and design a detox plan for you. Detox takes place in specialized deluxe facilities to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.

Our team of licensed medics is available 24/7 to cater to your needs and ensure you are safe at all times. They may prescribe you medication as part of the withdrawal process if you require it.

Detox alone is rarely sufficient for long-term recovery from benzodiazepine use disorder.

Effective treatment requires identifying and overcoming the causes of your benzo use so you can stay sober in the years ahead.

Research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse suggests that effective treatment should offer a combination of different treatment options adapted to suit your individual needs. Treatment should be long-term and aim to heal the entire person, treating underlying mental health issues alongside addiction.

At Cirque Lodge, we offer an individualized treatment program that combines a variety of evidence-based treatment approaches. We provide a holistic healing experience that nurtures personal growth and spiritual development. We help you rediscover your passions, reconnect with your inner self, and lay the foundations for a joyful life of sobriety.

Our treatment approaches include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Experiential therapy
• Dual diagnosis
• Group therapy
• Psychoeducational lectures
• Family and marital therapy
• 12-step program
• Continuing care

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral Therapy (CBT) involves identifying the thought, emotional, and behavioral patterns that cause you to use a substance and developing skills to overcome them. Research shows that CBT is an effective method for stopping benzodiazepine use.

During CBT sessions, you work with a therapist to identify triggers, stresses, and situations that cause you to use benzos. You then develop effective strategies to deal with these stresses in healthy ways. National Institute of Drug Abuse research has found that skills learned in CBT remain with you long after your residential treatment has ended.

Experiential Therapy

Experiential therapy offers the chance to develop and reinforce skills you have learned in therapy sessions through exciting outdoor activities and other enriching experiences.

Through experiential therapy, you can rediscover passions and build your self-confidence as you overcome challenges. You can develop honest communication and other social skills and learn how to overcome addiction in a hands-on way.

At Cirque Lodge treatment center we offer an incredible range of unique and memorable experiences, including:

• Horse riding in an indoor and outdoor arena
• Mountain hikes
• River rafting
• An incredible indoor high ropes adventure course

Helicopter rides at 10,000 feet to the highest parts of the Rocky Mountains

An art therapy room with some of the most advanced equipment in the industry

Dual Diagnosis

SAMHSA research estimates that almost half of people with a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring disorder or other mental health condition. Co-occurring disorders such as anxiety and depression can be the driving force behind benzodiazepine use. If ignored, they can cause a return to drug use even after long periods of sobriety.

At Cirque Lodge, our dual diagnosis program treats co-occurring disorders alongside your addiction. We aim to heal your entire person so you can learn to love life without benzodiazepines and maintain abstinence in the years ahead.