summary
For the past dozen years, D E Foster has been an author, podcaster, community organizer, and medical researcher supporting indivduals who struggle with life, anxiety, and in particular, the complications of anxiety medication (benzodiazepines, Z-drugs).
This all started when D was prescribed clonazepam (Klonopin) in 2002, which he took without warning for 12 years. His withdrawal experience was extreme, and it became the foundation for his 2018 book, Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. The following year he launched the Benzo Free Podcast which he hosted for six years. In 2024, he added the Uneven Podcast which focused more on life skills and anxiety management.
As co-founder and former co-chair of the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group, D was involved in series of projects supporting the benzo community including his role as development lead and pilot instructor for the Recovering from Benzodiazepines for Peer Support training course.
D is also a member of multiple research teams where he co-authored several peer-reviewed studies including the 2023 paper that identified Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND). In 2023, D was invited to be a panelist with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) for the development of their Joint Clinical Practice Guidelines on Benzodiazepine Tapering, which was published in March 2025.
In October 2024, D founded the community organization, Uneven Life, which provided group support and coaching services to individuals struggling with anxiety, anxiety medication withdrawal, and BIND.
D has been benzo-free since 2014, but he still deals with the lingering effects of BIND to this day. He now lives in northern Colorado with his wife, Shana, and dog, Murphy.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
D E Foster is NOT a medical nor mental health professional of any kind.
The content provided on this site is for informational purposes only, and should never be considered medical advice.
D encourages you to seek care directly from a licensed physician and/or certified therapist as needed for your situation.
organizations / support
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Uneven Life, Founder
(October 2024 - Present)
Uneven Life (unevenlife.com) is a vibrant online platform supporting individuals with anxiety and benzodiazepine dependence, withdrawal, and BIND. It is comprised of an information laden website with over 450 podcast episodes, videos, articles, research papers, and personal stories. It is also home to the Benzo Free and Uneven podcasts.
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Easing Anxiety, Founder
(October 2020 - October 2024)
​Easing Anxiety was a global platform dedicated to supporting individuals grappling with anxiety and the complications of anxiety medication (benzodiazepines/Z-drugs). It hosted a library of over 200 posts and became a community-trusted hub for evidence-based information and support.
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Benzo Free, Founder
(August 2018 - October 2020)
Benzo Free was a dedicated information and support website for individuals struggling with benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal, and home of "The Benzo Free Podcast." The platform addressed critical gaps in support, earning recognition for its impact on raising awareness and reducing stigma around benzodiazepine withdrawal.
research / medical
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BZD Research Team, Medical Researcher / Co-Author
(March 2019 - Present)
The BZD Research Team focused on the harms caused by the long-term prescribed use of benzodiazepines, and comprised of distinguished experts from Vanderbilt University, the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, the Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices, the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, and the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group.
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Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, Medical Researcher / Co-Author
(November 2021 - February 2024)
The team from the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland (RCSI) was a multidisciplinary task force focused on addressing long-term benzodiazepine receptor agonist (BZRA) use. It comprised of experts from the Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, and the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group.