AWARENESS • RESEARCH • VALIDATION • HOPE
Blindsided by Benzos.
I was completely blindsided by Benzos.
Mad in America Published Article
READ MY FULL STORY →
My Story: Personal Experience
Had I known.
More than twenty years ago, I was prescribed Ativan (lorazepam) for intermittent sleep issues. My use varied over the years.
I was assured I was taking a safe prescription approved for long-term use because that’s EXACTLY what my doctor told me.
Meanwhile, my health slowly deteriorated...
I experienced crushing fatigue, dizziness, worsening sleep, nightmares, gastrointestinal problems, muscle injuries, joint pain, frozen shoulder, neck and back pain, swallowing problems, restless legs at night, creeping high blood pressure, and ongoing cognitive decline. I underwent a myriad of medical tests to find answers. The connection to benzodiazepines never became obvious to me.
When withdrawal hit, I wasn't simply sick. I became completely disabled.
It was only after I began researching benzodiazepine withdrawal and reading the experiences of other people, and finally believing my own twin sister, that the pieces began to fit together.
I was beyond shocked that a prescription I had taken for many years could be connected to such profound physical and neurological symptoms.
I felt disbelief. Shock. Anger. Fear. And eventually, Determination to Raise Awareness.
I wrote about that experience in my Mad in America article, “Blindsided by Benzos: Had I Known.”
Watch my video sharing my discovery, which led to hundreds of hours of scouring the web for research and answers. I hope to save you time and help spread awareness — and validate what you or a loved one is going through.
Recognize the Benzodiazepine Medication Names
People often know the name on their prescription but may not recognize the brand vs. generic medication name — or even the class of benzodiazepine medication.
Brand Name
Generic Name
Related Search Topic
Xanax
alprazolam
Xanax withdrawal / alprazolam withdrawal
Klonopin
clonazepam
Klonopin withdrawal / clonazepam withdrawal
Ativan
lorazepam
Valium
diazepam
Ativan withdrawal / lorazepam withdrawal
Valium withdrawal / diazepam withdrawal
I didn't understand how all of these "random" symptoms could be connected.
MUSCLES & BODY
Muscle rigidity; Muscle spasms; Muscle weakness; Joint pain; Crushing fatigue; Body aches.
DIGESTIVE & NERVOUS SYSTEM
Nausea; Diarrhea; Constipation; Low Blood Sugar; Panic and fear; Inner trembling.
NEUROLOGICAL & SENSORY
Dizziness and vertigo; Electrical sensations; Tinnitus; Sound sensitivity; Blurred vision.
SLEEP & COGNITION
Severe insomnia; Nightmares; Memory problems; Brain fog; Difficulty finding words; Difficulty concentrating.
Raise Awareness
Validate Experiences
Prevent
Help people recognize what they are experiencing with published research and resources.
Help people to know they are not alone or imagining their symptoms. Show others evidence so they believe them.
Help prevent people from ever having to experience benzo symptoms and withdrawal.
So Many People don't even know.
Many patients are suffering from terrifying symptoms and don't realize their medication may be contributing.
Benzo damage is being called a worldwide silent pandemic. Not infectious, obviously, but negligent long-term prescribing is happening not just in the US but in other countries as well.
Too many people are consistently taking benzodiazepines WHILE simultaneously searching for explanations for unexplained health issues without realizing that their prescription medication may actually be causing the exact symptoms they are experiencing.
Just think about this Possibilty for a Moment: What if benzodiazepines are contributing, even causing, all those bizarre symptoms you've been Googling... making endless doctor's appointments for... and scheduling/undergoing tons of invasive and expensive medical testing? That question is at the heart of Blindsided By Benzos.
This situation is all too often the reality of so many unsuspecting patients - Blindsided.
Read this eye-opening article about how Benzos......
INSERT Article
People deserve to know the truth about benzos. And the truth should be common knowledge, not buried like some dirty little secret.
Awareness can change what happens next.
I can't change what happened to me. I can't get that lost time back. But I can share my story. I can document the symptoms. I can point people toward research. I can help another person recognize a pattern sooner than I did. I can help prevent someone else from falling for this trap. And I can help make an experience that often feels unbelievable a little less isolating. I can also share what helped me with both the physical pain and rigidity.
The Hook and Trap.
Benzodiazepines temporarily take away our anxiety and/or intermittent insomnia, or some other condition....
They induce sweet, relaxing serenity...
Doctors tell patients they can take these medications “as needed” long term. Lies.
These meds change your brain chemistry. Documented in Medical journals - See the Resources.
Take away that benzo-induced serenity, and we are left in a state of constant terror, sheer panic, cognitive impairments, and painful muscle rigidity. That is, until you give your brain and body enough time to heal. It could take months or years to fully recover. Truth.
When you first read that these seemingly harmless pills can cause so much damage, you probably won’t believe it. Me neither.
Don’t fall into this money-driven benzo trap.
It locks unknowing patients into lifetime subscriptions of these prescriptions – which are only approved by the FDA for 2-4 weeks for consistent use. Unlawful.
One in five people reading this has a benzo prescription. Fact.
Doctor’s medical oath: Do no harm. Bullshit.
Become armed with Resources. Make informed decisions.
I will be sounding this benzo alarm for the rest of my life. Please share to help spread the word because Doctors certainly aren’t telling us. Thank you.
Recovery
One of the hardest parts of benzodiazepine withdrawal is believing that the way you feel today is how you will feel forever. That's not true. You will HEAL. Hold Fast. Time and Patience. Recovery can be slow and non-linear. Timelines vary greatly from person to person. You are not required to heal on anyone else's timeline.
Your Free Resource Guide - compiled from hundreds of hours of research.
I've collected more than 200 benzodiazepine resources — peer-reviewed research, tapering information, withdrawal resources, BIND research, patient stories, podcasts, videos, books, organizations, and other resources that took me hundreds of hours to find. I've put them together so you don't have to start from scratch. Get the free 200+ resource guide + a 15% discount on CBD patches. The resource guide will be delivered to your inbox along with the 15% CBD patch discount to help manage pain and rigidity.