I was recently invited to be a guest on the Powers Benzo Coaching Podcast with David Powers, and it was a wonderful experience. We recorded a lively, 2-hour conversation covering a wide variety of topics including benzo dependence and withdrawal, BIND, symptoms and symptom management, the science behind benzos, anxiety, the limbic system, psychology, music, film, and so much more. We even talked about his “rebuttal” video, which is how this all came to be (see below). He just

Enough about me — it’s time to hear from you. Welcome to our very first “Benzo Chat.” An in-person, casual conversation with you, the champions living day in and day out with benzo dependence, withdrawal, and BIND. In our inaugural episode, we sit down with Rob in the great state of Oklahoma. We talk online forums, exercise, insomnia, diet, detox, cognitive dysfunction, and so much more. His story is a difficult one at times, but at its core, it’s about hope — and we all coul

Do we truly recover from protracted benzo withdrawal (BIND)? What does that look like? What about from other psych medications? Can we realistically get back to “normal” after all of this? And if so, how? Join D and Dr. Jenn for this intimate conversation. In today’s episode, we welcome therapist and benzo coach Jennifer Leigh back to the podcast. Dr. Jenn has helped many individuals recover from withdrawal and BIND and we’ll get her take on several pressing questions. We’l

Dr. Alexis Ritvo is a board-certified addiction psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is also Medical Director for the Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices and Co-Chair for the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group. In Part II of our conversation with Dr. Ritvo, we dive into the world of the benzo experience that so many of us face as patients. We discuss how to find a doctor, the return of emotions, finding

Dr. Alexis Ritvo is a board-certified addiction psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She is also Medical Director for the Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices and Co-Chair for the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group. In Part I of our conversation with Dr. Ritvo, we dive into the world of benzo advocacy and outreach. We discuss ongoing work in the benzo community including guidance documentation, prescriber ed

Looking to make the best of benzo withdrawal? Want others to understand the severity some of us face? Trying to find calm within it all? Facing emotions and intimacy for the first time in years? This one has a little bit of everything. We recorded today’s episode live! No script. No editing. No plan, really. Just D talking about benzos, withdrawal, and the struggles so many of us face. We also share a few comments from our YouTube channel and catch up with recent benzo and we

Dr. Colin Bradley is a physician, professor, and a 2017 Fulbright Scholar. He has studied the opioid and benzodiazepine crises in both the U.S. and Ireland; and was appointed as an advisor to the Irish government on benzodiazepines. In Part II of our conversation, Dr. Bradley shares insights on tapering protocols and timing, discusses the ‘pill for every ill’ culture, and explores methods of easing the burden of withdrawal through counseling and tool development. His messages

Dr. Colin Bradley is a physician, professor, and a 2017 Fulbright Scholar. He has studied the opioid and benzodiazepine crises in both the U.S. and Ireland; and was appointed as an advisor to the Irish government on benzodiazepines. In Part I of our conversation, we compare the benzo situation in Ireland and the U.S., explore the effects of limitations and litigation on prescribing, investigate street use in urban populations, and share our concern for prescribed use among th

What’s been going on in the benzo community lately? Any progress on awareness, education, legislation, support? Any upcoming events? Any benzo stories to share? Anything new with the podcast? Tune in to find out. In today’s episode, we share benzo stories from Oregon and Nigeria, we learn about some exciting upcoming events, and we look behind the scenes of the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group and share a story of success. We also announce the podcast’s return to a weekly sch