You Know Suffering from a Benzodiazepine Addiction?

Published on: 31 October 2018 Last Updated on: 12 July 2023
Benzodiazepine Addiction

We hear a lot about drug abuse in the news, especially when it comes to opioids and painkillers. But, benzodiazepine abuse and addiction have also increased in recent years. In 2015, there were more than 8,000 benzodiazepine-related deaths.

Death and serious complications rarely result from benzodiazepine use alone. In most addiction and overdose cases, other drugs are also involved — usually opiates. Whether alone or with other drugs, benzodiazepine abuse exists, and it is dangerous.

Are you wondering whether someone you know is suffering from benzodiazepine addiction? We can guide you through recognizing the addiction and offering support. Read on for answers to your questions benzodiazepines and addiction.

What is a Benzodiazepine?

A benzodiazepine is a sedative drug. Doctors prescribe benzodiazepines – also known as benzos – to help relieve symptoms of anxiety. The drugs can also help with seizures, muscle spasms, and even alcohol withdrawal.

Benzodiazepines were actually introduced to replace dangerous barbiturates. When people began abusing barbituates, benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan came along. Unfortunately, people started to abuse these drugs as well.

What are Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction?

Benzos work by depressing the central nervous system. This makes users feel sedated and relaxed. Over time, people may become tolerant and need higher doses, and then develop a dependence.

Chronic use of benzodiazepines can have long-term effects on physical and mental health. Dependent users may have gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal issues. They may show symptoms of depression or suicidal behavior.

Someone addicted to benzodiazepines may feel drowsy and dizzy. They may seem confused, have poor concentration, and slurred speech. If they overdose, they can become unresponsive to the point of a coma.

What are the Behavioral Warning Signs of Abuse?

Like other drug and alcohol abuse, benzo abuse may result in behavioral symptoms. People close to the addict will notice these changes. Substance abuse often shifts personal traits.

An addict may withdraw from friends and family. They may skirt responsibilities. Addicts are often secretive about their schedules.

To keep a high volume of their drug on hand, addicts often “doctor shop.” They will get prescriptions from different doctors and fill them at different pharmacies. They may also borrow or steal money to pay for their drugs.

How Can Benzodiazepine Addicts Recover?

Often times the hardest step to recovery is to admit the problem. Once an addict recognizes they have a drug issue, they may be willing to get help from friends and family. They’ll need outpatient care from a doctor or at a treatment center like Inspire Malibu.

To prevent withdrawal and seizers, the reduction of benzodiazepines will be gradual. This method offers more promising results than quitting cold turkey. It’s also advised to see a psychiatrist throughout recovery and even after.

How Can Former Addicts Stay Clean and Healthy?

Doctors encourage recovering addicts, including those suffering from a benzodiazepine addiction, to adopt healthy lifestyles to help prevent relapses. This includes healthy eating, exercise, and other positive habits. You can learn more about healthy lifestyle habits on our blog.

Read about things to help reduce stress, unhealthy foods to avoid, and more.

Or, browse for more information on addiction and recovery. We have tips on staging interventions, information about outpatient treatment, and other topics.

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Benefits of a Daily At-Home Yoga Practice

7 Benefits of a Daily At-Home Yoga Practice

An ancient art that is over 5000 years old is once again gaining worldwide popularity. Yoga, the art of science and wellness that was given to the world by India has gained a massive following in advanced western countries. It is an art and science that pushes human beings to go back to their roots and look within to find solutions to problems. Yoga is an all-inclusive model of development for both, mental as well as physical well-being. If you are someone that is familiar with Yoga or has been struggling with mental health issues, you would have heard about the term- Cortisol. This is a hormone that leads to negative thoughts, insecurities, and stress. This is the ‘Stress Hormone’. Science has shown that practicing Yoga for as little as fifteen minutes a day can help reduce the amount of Cortisol that is secreted by your brain. In this article, we look at the seven benefits of a daily at-home yoga practice. We speak to leading experts at a black owned yoga studio and requested them to help us come up with the list of benefits. Yoga: A Proven Ancient Science or something simply concocted out of thin air? First things first. Before we get to the list of benefits, let us try and address an issue that critics of Yoga have been vehemently espousing for many years. The first mention of Yoga as a form of health and wellness can be found in ancient texts that are over five thousand years old. The evidence of Yoga has been documented by academicians and historians in the Harappan and Indus Valley civilizations. It has for the last few decades helped millions over the world deal with the following issues- Combat stresses, anxiety, and depression. Build better health of internal organs. Create a Positive Outlook towards life. Improve Focus, Attention, and Concentration. Strengthen the Core and Muscles and Joints. In short, Yoga has nothing but positive effects on the human body. It is a breathing exercise, meditation, and physical regimen all built into one. List of 7 Benefits of a Daily At-Home Yoga Practice: 1. The Greatest Asset to Fight Mental Health Issues- Most medical experts point out that the breathing exercises that are a major part of Yoga help relieve tensions, stresses, and anxieties. This helps ward off negative energies, creates positive thoughts, and diminishes the hormone Cortisol production. Practicing Yoga for 15 minutes a day can be the best bet to fight and prevent mental health issues from emerging. 2. Builds Core Strength and Improves Flexibility- A lot of Yoga is improving the core strength of your body. This is not some muscle like a bicep or triceps. The closest you can start to compare this with the Shaolin Monks and their level of mental toughness. The flexible nature of the exercises when doing Yoga can help in muscle strengthening, conditioning, and improving joints and other connective tissues’ health. 3. Helps in Improving Digestion and Food Absorption- Stress is a major factor that affects digestion. IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is something that a majority of professionals face. Doing Yoga regularly can help improve the digestion system of the body. It can help in the positive absorption of food, minerals, and vitamins into the body. Just fifteen minutes of regular Yoga can help achieve a lot in this regard. 4. Lead to Weight Reduction in Obese Individuals- Obesity is one of the most dangerous illnesses currently affecting western developed countries. While going for strict diet regimens and sweating it out at the gym are options, Yoga should be tried as a great alternative strategy. Studies and trials have shown that Yoga through controlling the brain and the body can help in weight reduction in a major way. 5. Helps in Boosting Energy Levels within the Body- I am sure most of us have felt out of breath and energy even after waking up from an entire night of sleep. 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