You Know Suffering from a Benzodiazepine Addiction?

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

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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The Real Benefits of Therapy and Counseling You Should Know

Everyone goes through rough patches now and again – that's just the way life is, and most of the time, it's a matter of being in a situation which is beyond your control. But there are certain times when difficulties can have a really adverse effect on one's outlook and behavior, and this is where therapy and counseling may become a necessity. Different people go through different psychological challenges and issues, including depression, anxiety, and grief, and counseling can be beneficial when you are dealing with these issues. But counseling and therapy are more than just seeking professional help – it's also about being able to talk to someone about what you feel and what you are going through. This is only one of the many benefits of therapy and counseling. Here are some other real benefits of anti-depression therapy and counseling you should know. Get a different perspective on your thoughts and views: When you speak to someone about your emotions, thoughts, and feelings, this allows you to see those same thoughts and feelings from a different perspective other than your own. Just the simple act of talking about what you are feeling enables you to listen to yourself, thus allowing you to gain a new understanding of what you are going through. Seeing a counselor or therapist is similar to writing in a diary or journal – when you see your own problems in written form, you can examine them from a different angle. Sometimes, you may find that your worries and issues may not be founded on a concrete cause, or what you may have considered a dire situation or problem turns out not to be as terrible as you had thought. A purging experience: Many keep things inside, and this isn't beneficial to them – or anyone else, for that matter. But when you speak to a counselor or therapist, you can essentially ‘vent’ and purge yourself of what you have probably been keeping inside for a long time. Bottling up one's feelings isn't ideal for anyone – but you can have the perfect chance to release those feelings when you receive counseling and support. The ideal time to process what you are going through: Our lives are always busy – most of us hardly have the time to sit down to have a meal, let alone talk about our feelings and emotions. But when you speak with a therapist or counselor, you are setting aside time in order to process your feelings – be it remorse, anger, grief, sadness, or any other complex emotion. When you spend time in counseling, you are also prioritizing your needs and have the opportunity to confront whatever issue you have face to face. A couple can take advantage of a neutral observer: If you are a couple and you are interested in seeking counseling or therapy to better your relationship or improve it, you can take advantage of a neutral observer. Many couples may have a hard time confronting their issues or even talking about them without getting into an argument, simply because they are so emotionally involved. But with a counselor or therapist, you can take the time to sort through your issues and air your views as a couple without fear of judgment or arguments. Having a therapist or counselor with you as you air your views and feelings means that the therapist or counselor can be the mediator you need; they can enable you to see each other’s feelings and arguments from the other person’s perspective as well. Read Also: What Is Somatic Psychology And How Does It Work? Testosterone Replacement Therapy What To Expect Tips On Writing A Winning Reflection Paper In College Stoke Your Spirit: 4 Soulful Ways To Reach Spiritual Wellness And Lead A Calmer Life

Marijuana Addiction Treatment: 5 Steps to Avoid Relapse

As told by science and modern research, marijuana addiction is a chronic illness, and like any other chronic disease – hypertension, diabetes, asthma – long-term treatment is needed. However, marijuana addiction always has a possibility of relapse. The relapse rates of substance use disorders are between 40% and 60%, which are highly comparable to other chronic medical conditions. However, don’t be under the impression that relapse can’t be prevented just because it's common. An alcohol or drug relapse can quickly waste a lot of rehab work and can also be fatal. But don’t worry. If you’re struggling or if you know someone who’s struggling to avoid a relapse, then continue reading this article to learn about the steps you can do to prevent it from happening. Marijuana Addiction Treatment: 5 Steps to Avoid Relapse: Stages of Relapse: You should know that relapse does not happen overnight; it’s a process. For you to understand how to avoid relapse, you’ll have to know its three stages. Relapse begins a few weeks or months earlier before it reaches its final stage. Here are the three stages of relapse: Emotional relapse – In this stage, your mind does not consider using marijuana again. However, your behavior and emotions are setting you up for a possible marijuana relapse. Here are some signs of an emotional relapse: Poor sleep and eating habits Isolation Anxiety Defensiveness Intolerance Mood swings Anger Mental relapse – It this stage, your mind will be torn about the dos and don'ts. There will be a part of you that wants to use marijuana, but there’s also a part of you that doesn’t. In the early stage of mental relapse, you’d idly think about using it again, and this gets worse as the mental relapse continues. The signs of mental relapse are: Lying Fantasizing Thinking about relapse Glorifying past use Hanging out with friends that use Physical relapse – In this final stage, you’d be physically using marijuana again. Some people only use once after realizing that they’ve made a mistake and try to focus again on recovery and moving forward. Unfortunately, there are others that will continue to use. In such a case, getting help is the best option. Avoiding Relapse: Here are 5 steps to avoid marijuana relapse: 1. Know and identify how to manage relapse triggers: Relapse triggers can be anything. They can come from a similarly scented substance or simply just being with people that use. The triggers can also be a specific place, person, or emotion. These things can make you crave, think about, and use alcohol or drugs. You can easily identify these triggers with the help of therapy sessions. A relapse therapist can teach you effective ways to cope up with triggers, keeping you away from drugs or alcohol when your cravings are fortuitously triggered. There are treatment centers in Los Angeles that provide recovery services, such as Nexus Recovery; these services can help you identify and manage relapse triggers and monitor your progress. Here are some tips to manage or avoid triggers: Change your daily route and avoid passing through places that cause a trigger. Keep a list of people you can call when you’re feeling triggered. Practice relaxation techniques. Avoid triggering situations such as becoming stressed, lonely, tired, or hungry. 2. Follow a healthy lifestyle: Avoiding relapse needs long-term commitment, and this commitment includes building a new and healthier lifestyle. This can be a long and difficult process, but making significant lifestyle changes has been seen to decrease the risk of relapse. These lifestyle changes include learning and utilizing healthy coping methods for mental pressure and negative emotions, recognizing and managing mental illnesses if any, and promoting positive activities such as meditation, exercise, and art. Here are some healthy lifestyle ideas: Avoid having too much caffeine or sugar. Plan and prepare healthy snacks and meals in advance to avoid becoming hungry. Write a journal and keep track of your mood and daily thoughts. Be active. Engage in sports or work out. Drink plenty of water. Practice gratitude. Find a new hobby. 3. Use appropriate medications: With the ever-evolving addiction research, the development of medications that help patients to avoid relapse and manage their cravings was made possible. These medications, such as buprenorphine and methadone, when adequately used under supervision, can significantly decrease cravings and relapse urges. For some, taking these medications is the key to their relapse prevention and recovery. Talk to your doctor about taking such medications. 4. Undergo long-term treatment: Just like any other chronic disease, your recovery will not be quick and easy, especially when recovering from substance abuse. Doing two months of therapy or medication will not guarantee that you’ll not start using it again. For better long-term results, getting involved in an intensive treatment within a suitable period of time will surely help you. Participation and engagement in long-term addiction treatments have been known to help decrease the risk of relapse. A study involving more than a thousand patients found out that relapse rates decreased for patients who had continuous treatments, aftercare, and support group engagement. 5. Get a support group: It’s essential to know that going through the process alone may not provide desirable outcomes in recovery. Keep your supportive friends, loved ones, and family close. Do your best to surround yourself with people who really care for you and people who don’t use drugs or alcohol. A crucial factor in your road to recovery is social support; it can significantly help you to recover fast and resist relapsing. Here are some tips on how to create a good support network: Engage in recovery groups – You can search the Internet for marijuana recovery groups near your area, such as Marijuana Anonymous. Find a sponsor – A sponsorship is one recovering person sharing and talking to another recovering person. You will attend recovery group meetings regularly, discuss issues on the recovery, and work on recovering together. See a mental health or addiction counselor. Closing Thoughts: If you're under treatment or recovering from substance abuse, you should be realistic and understand that a relapse can occur anytime. However, you should also do your best to avoid it by following these steps. In addition to these, always make sure to work with your counselor or therapist in developing an effective relapse plan. By following this plan in case of a relapse, you will be able to minimize its negative consequences. Read Also: How Does Smoking Weed Affect The Society How Does Recreational Marijuana Affect Your Sex Life

7 Ways to Kick Off Your Fitness Routine

If you keep setting fitness resolutions but never succeed, maybe your approach is not the best. Any person who has been successful with this can tell you it is not as easy as many people think. According to an experienced expert from valkyrie-online.net, taking the appropriate fitness enhancement supplements is one way to boost your established fitness activities. They also advise on various approaches to making sure that you succeed in kicking off the fitness routine and making it to the end this time. Here are the top tips Get Started Now There is no wrong time to start the fitness routine. This is the right time to wake up from the comfort zone and start being proactive. Do not wait for January as other priorities may come up. Now is the best time when you feel there is a need to shed off some extra weight. Avoid rushing to it as all the starting energy can end up being short-lived. Design the Fitness Routine Before putting on exercise shoes on the first day, a plan of what is to be done on a daily basis is ideal. Whether you plan to walk, then jog and eventually run, putting it in a plan is better than a freestyle approach. If it is your first time, then you can involve an expert for the best guidance. This will be your guide through all of the routine cycles. Evaluation of the Routine and Your Health These two evaluation processes are crucial. You may set reasonable goals, but the body reacts otherwise. Taking some time to do a trial on what can work for your body is a paramount idea. If there is a need to make changes, it will be made clear. The use of various fitness tools can make this whole process easy and accurate. Start Slowly and Improve with Time Most people fail in their fitness routines because of taking on too much at first. Even though one has more energy at the beginning, fitness becomes more productive when one starts slowly and adds more exercises to a workout as time goes by. The body muscles and processes adapt as time goes on, and they can now accommodate more exercises. Go for Interesting Activities Hitting the gym every day will soon get boring. Your plan should be filled with interesting activities to avoid monotony. The most important factor to consider is making sure that your exercises will deliver the same results as your plans. The weekends are better left for outdoor activities like cycling and hiking, for instance. Keep Tabs on the Progress If something means a lot to you, you must monitor how it is fairing. Just like the evaluation stage, you need to know if the set goals are being achieved or not. Sometimes, drastic changes must be made in the middle of the routine cycle to avoid a futile program. Tracking is better done using various fitness apps and software. The old way of keeping a hard copy of the data can also work well. Remain Positive There is nothing better in fitness than staying positive at all times. It will help you to see the end results at all times and remain motivated every day. If need be, get a mentor or role model who has succeeded in the same route you are taking. With such efforts, this will be your first fitness routine to succeed. Read More: If You’ve Reached A Weight Loss Plateau, Fix Your Sleep Cycling – Learning To Safe Cycling Crucial Tips To Getting A Flat Stomach Why Jumping On Trampolines Is More Beneficial Than Running Or Jogging? Get Up And Workout! Things To Consider 5 Common Weightlifting Mistakes Women Should Avoid The Miraculous Benefits Of Aqua Yoga

You Know Suffering from a Benzodiazepine Addiction?

What is a Benzodiazepine?

What are Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction?

What are the Behavioral Warning Signs of Abuse?

How Can Benzodiazepine Addicts Recover?

How Can Former Addicts Stay Clean and Healthy?

Cannabis can Help in the Fight Against Drug Addiction

Releasing Stress Even if You Don’t Leave Home

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

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Related

The Real Benefits of Therapy and Counseling You Should Know

Marijuana Addiction Treatment: 5 Steps to Avoid Relapse

7 Ways to Kick Off Your Fitness Routine

You Know Suffering from a Benzodiazepine Addiction?

What is a Benzodiazepine?

What are Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction?

What are the Behavioral Warning Signs of Abuse?

How Can Benzodiazepine Addicts Recover?

How Can Former Addicts Stay Clean and Healthy?

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Cannabis can Help in the Fight Against Drug Addiction

Releasing Stress Even if You Don’t Leave Home

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

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