Maybe it started with a doctor’s prescription, or perhaps a friend gave you a few pills. Though benzodiazepine (or “benzo” for short) is a helpful legal drug that’s widely prescribed, it can also be addictive when abused. If you think you’re struggling with benzodiazepine addiction, what should you do to achieve sobriety? Quitting a benzo addiction isn’t simply about stopping your use (which can actually be dangerous when done on your own). Long-term recovery requires comprehensive, trauma-informed benzodiazepine addiction treatment at a professional rehab center.
Understanding Benzo Addiction
Benzodiazepine is a medication prescribed by doctors to treat anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms, or seizures. More recognizable names of this drug include Valium, Klonopin, Xanax, and Ativan. Benzodiazepine is one most commonly prescribed drugs in the US, shares WebMD.com. As a form of depressants, it enhances the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA, which slows brain activity to create a relaxed, even sleepy state, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Unfortunately, taking benzodiazepine can sometimes lead to dependence, even when you’re following the prescription. Consequently, some people may misuse benzos or illegally obtain clandestine, highly addictive versions of the drug on the street to get high. Drug abusers may even combine benzo pills with other drugs like heroin, cocaine, and prescription opioids.
When you abuse benzodiazepine, your brain can become chemically reliant on benzo’s influence. In time, however, you can build a tolerance to benzo’s effects as you continue to abuse, and the high you achieve loses its effectiveness. That means you need more benzo pills to recreate the initial experience, which leads to addiction—and the need for benzodiazepine addiction treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction
Having a prescription for benzodiazepine doesn’t mean you automatically have a dependency on the drug. If you are concerned however, there are common signs and symptoms associated with benzo addiction to look out for, including:
Physical Signs of Benzo Addiction
- Changes in weight
- Loss of appetite
- Blurry vision
- Recurring headaches
- Drowsiness
- Weakness
- Insomnia or changes in sleep patterns
- Slurred speech
- Poor coordination
- Seizures
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms after stopping use
Behavioral and Psychological Signs of Benzo Addiction
- Memory challenges
- Increased anxiety
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Using several doctors to obtain benzo subscriptions (called doctor shopping)
- Stealing other people’s prescriptions
- Purchasing benzos illegally off the street
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Continued use despite negative consequences
- Neglecting personal or work responsibilities
- Poor judgment
- Declining to participate in hobbies or enjoyable activities
Why is Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment Even Needed?
If you recognize the above symptoms in your life, it’s fair to want to make changes with your benzodiazepine usage. You may be ready to quit your benzo addiction right away. However, it’s not that simple. Overcoming an addiction isn’t about willpower or self-discipline alone. There’s often something deeper underneath the surface that’s driving the addiction—unresolved past trauma.
If you have unresolved past trauma (including ACES trauma from childhood), then you are likely still feeling its effects today in the form of negative emotions, overwhelming feelings, and mental health issues. This can drive you to take benzodiazepines as a way to self-medicate for these underlying struggles. Even if you were to theoretically heal the surface-level symptoms of benzodiazepine addiction, the effects of your past trauma would persist and a transfer addiction to another substance could likely ensue.
Benzo Addiction Withdrawal
There’s also the reality of the physical toll that a benzodiazepine addiction has taken on your body. Because your brain and body have developed a chemical dependency on benzos, you physically need the drug to function and feel normal right now. Biologically, your body and brain think benzos are necessary to survive.
That means stopping or simply reducing your benzo usage can generate unpleasant and even dangerous withdrawal symptoms, ranging from discomfort to life-threatening seizures. And benzo addiction withdrawal symptoms can also drive you to take more benzos to find relief, increasing your chances of relapse and overdosing.
Common withdrawal symptoms include:
- Heightened anxiety and restlessness
- Muscle tension or spasms
- Insomnia
- Nausea and headaches
- Tremors
- Seizures in severe cases
If you’re trying to quit benzos with an addiction, you should never plan to initially stop taking the drug alone for the reasons above. Instead, you need to pursue medically supervised detoxification at a professional addiction treatment center. It’s considered your safest and most effective first step in benzodiazepine addiction treatment.
Benzo Rehab: A Better Solution Than Trying to Quit on Your Own
Considering the underlying causes of addiction, your body’s chemical dependency on benzos, and the ensuing withdrawal symptoms that come with stopping use, you absolutely need professional benzodiazepine addiction treatment to overcome your substance use disorder. Trying to quit your addiction on your own only leaves you vulnerable to making things worse in the long run.
A benzo rehab center—like ours at Sana at Stowe in Stowe, Vermont—can help you safely navigate your withdrawal symptoms and address the root causes of your benzo addiction. Professional help puts you in the best position to actually quit benzos for good and achieve long-term sobriety.
Real Recovery at Sana at Stowe: What to Expect in Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment
In benzodiazepine addiction treatment, the goal is to help you reclaim your life and become your authentic self, not just alleviate substance abuse symptoms. This starts with addressing the underlying “why” behind your substance use through trauma-informed care.
At Sana at Stowe, our trauma-informed treatment approach acknowledges that many clients have been through adverse, traumatic life experiences that have since shaped their behaviors and coping strategies. Consequently, we believe that healing from trauma occurs when you can reclaim your inherent worth and recover your awareness.
Our benzo rehab process focuses on restoring your safety, connection, and dignity. By doing so, you can then overcome the root causes of your addiction and establish new, adaptive behaviors that equip you to stay healthy long-term and ultimately fulfill your potential. Personalizing our care to your unique needs, this treatment journey involves:
Medically Supervised Detox
After an initial assessment, our benzo addiction treatment begins with substance abuse detox under the care of our experienced medical team. The detox process is designed to minimize discomfort and ensure safety during the benzo addiction withdrawal period.
Individual and Group Therapy
During residential treatment, you’ll participate in both individual therapy sessions and group therapy discussions to explore the core issues of your benzo addiction. This process often includes learning new coping skills for addiction triggers, developing emotional regulation skills, and working through traumatic memories in a safe, compassionate environment.
Holistic Wellness
As a holistic treatment center, one of our key benefits of residential treatment includes the opportunity to experience wellness and holistic services designed to promote the comprehensive healing of your mind, body, and spirit, such as:
- Mindfulness and meditation
- Yoga and movement therapy
- Nutrition planning and education
- Expressive art therapy
- Outdoor excursions and nature-based healing
Family Involvement and Support
We understand the role that your loved ones play in long-term recovery. Family involved treatment at Sana at Stowe includes education, boundary setting, and communication strategies to help rebuild trust and promote healthy ongoing support. In benzodiazepine addiction treatment, you and your family will work together to address dynamics that may have been affected by addiction.
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
Benzo addiction rarely occurs in isolation. Because it’s a byproduct of coping with deeper underlying issues, it’s possible that you may have co-occurring disorders like depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Knowing this, we specialize in dual diagnosis treatment that addresses both addiction and any mental health disorder simultaneously. By doing so, we can prevent the common cycle of treating one issue while neglecting the other.
Preparing for Life After Benzo Addiction Treatment
Recovery does not end when you complete residential treatment. We believe in setting each person up for long-term sobriety through a thoughtful aftercare plan. This includes:
- Ongoing therapy and support groups
- Connection to local or virtual peer communities
- Coordination with outpatient treatment providers
- Lifestyle planning, including strategies for stress, work, and relationships
Addiction Treatment in New England
If you’re ready to overcome benzo addiction and achieve lasting recovery, we invite you to come to Vermont’s green mountains and join our benzodiazepine addiction treatment program. Our admissions team is here to guide you through your options and help you take the next step. Call us today to start your sobriety journey.
