What is a benzo? Benzodiazepines, also known as “benzos,” are among the most commonly prescribed drugs in America. The benzodiazepine family of anti-anxiety medication helps millions of men and women suffering. This can include everything from anxiety to seizures to insomnia. The family includes familiar brand names like Ativan, Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin. But as the number of benzodiazepine prescriptions continues to grow at a staggering rate, so too do the cases of benzo abuse, addiction, and overdose deaths. If you or someone you care about is stuck in the endless cycle of benzo addiction, turn to our benzodiazepine taper program in San Diego.
At True Life Center, we provide a supportive environment staffed by caring addiction specialists and therapists to help people struggling with benzo abuse. Our benzo taper program gradually eases your use of benzo drugs while you are closely monitored to ensure your safety throughout the entire process. One of the best tools you have to overcome this type of addiction is knowledge about benzodiazepine abuse and addiction.
3 Things to Know About Benzodiazepine Abuse and Addiction
1. Dependency Is Often Inadvertent
Well-meaning but time-strapped physicians may inappropriately prescribe benzodiazepines to patients without first considering individual risk factors or warning of long-term consequences. Then these patients, who trust their doctor’s advice and are desperate to feel better, often take the medication faithfully and responsibly for years without questioning their use. Meanwhile, for an estimated 15 to 44 percent of benzodiazepine users, the body adapts to the drug so that physical dependence is developed. It may take missing a dose and experiencing the benzo withdrawal symptoms or verbalized concern from an attentive medical professional before the problem is even discovered.
2. Withdrawal Can Be Dangerous
Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Restlessness
- Agitation
- Insomnia
- Aches and pains
- Blurred vision
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Psychosis
The severity of symptoms depends largely on a patient’s medical history, physical condition, duration of use, and benzodiazepines dosage. In no instance, however, is quitting “cold turkey” a recommendation. The safest way to deal with a benzodiazepine addiction is to seek help from an addiction psychiatrist or medical professional. The most effective form of benzodiazepine addiction treatment is often a slow taper. A professional supervises the gradual reduction of benzodiazepine dosage to minimize symptoms.
3. There Are Alternative Treatment Options
While it is true that benzodiazepine abuse and addiction are a possibility, this drug can also provide a great deal of relief for the estimated 40 million American adults suffering from clinical anxiety. The drugs’ accessibility, relatively low price, and rapid results prevent many patients from considering alternative treatments. But while benzo use may effectively mask anxiety symptoms, research suggests it does nothing to cure anxiety and may actually worsen the condition. Anxiety is a complex mental health condition that affects every aspect of life, including the mind, body, and spirit. The most effective treatments for anxiety address those same aspects with a holistic approach that addresses the root cause of the illness.
If you are taking benzos because of clinical anxiety, our True Life Center team also offers anxiety disorder treatment as an alternative to medication. We provide options for this type of treatment, including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder treatment
- OCD treatment
- Panic disorder treatment
- Social anxiety disorder treatment
The goal of these treatment programs is to help you build skills to deal with anxiety instead of using benzos. This type of holistic approach to treatment is why our programs are so effective.
Benzodiazepine Abuse Treatment at True Life Center
At True Life Center, we want to understand each patient’s unique story. This allows us to provide customized and comprehensive outpatient benzo addiction treatment. Our team of collaborative experts includes two full-time psychiatrists, as well as a full-time psychiatric nurse practitioner. This allows us to safely oversee benzodiazepine detox.
Some of our mental health treatment options at True Life Center include:
- Intensive outpatient treatment (IOP)
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
- Neurobiological integration approach
- Anxiety disorder treatment
- Trauma therapy
- Mood disorder treatment
If you’re unsure which of our mental health treatment options is right for you, don’t worry. Our True Life Center team will work with you to determine which of our programs is best for your health and well-being.
Overcome Benzo Abuse and Addiction at True Life Center
True Life Center is a proud provider of addiction treatment programs in California, and we are ready to support you with our San Diego benzo treatment program. Although it may not seem like it right now, recovery from this type of addiction is possible. You may need the comprehensive and compassionate care we provide in all of our San Diego treatment programs.
For more information about addiction or mental health treatment, please contact us. We are available to provide information, resources, and support. You can also call 858.202.1822 to speak with someone directly to retake control of your life from benzo abuse by contacting True Life Center.
