Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 1) / Denver to Salina, Kansas / Series introduction, why I like road trips, a friendly voice. Video ID: BFP116 Listen on YouTube... The Benzo Free Podcast is also available on... Apple Podcasts / Audible / iHeart / PodBean / Spotify / Stitcher Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Day 1 00:47 About the Road Trip 02:45 Why I Like Road Trips 03:33 Our New Social Feeds 04:31 Human Connection 07:33 A Friendly Voice 09:11 I Hope You’ll Join Me Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Easing Anxiety of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. Rx and Illicit Drug Summit Rx Summit: https://rx-summit.com Rx Summit Agenda (Benzo Presentation Tuesday 8:00am): https://www.eventscribe.net/2023/RxSummit/agenda.asp?startdate=4/11/2023&enddate=4/11/2023&BCFO=&pfp=FullSchedule&mode=&fa=&fb=&fc=&fd= The Podcast The Benzo Free Podcast provides information, support, and community to those who struggle with the long-term effects of anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium) and Z-drugs (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata). WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com MAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMER All content provided by Easing Anxiety is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Any health-related information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems, or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://www.easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. PRODUCTION Easing Anxiety is produced by… Denim Mountain Press https://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2023 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

I'm hitting the road again...and this time, it's to a national drug conference. Over six months ago, a few of us at the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group applied to present a seminar at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Atlanta, Georgia on April 10-13, 2023. To our pleasant surprise, we were accepted. The title of our presentation is "Benzodiazepine Safety: A Patient-Centered Approach" and it includes information on benzodiazepine prescribing, deprescribing, the patient experience, and BIND (benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction). I will be co-presenting this seminar with Dr. Christy Huff (Medical Director, Benzodiazepine Information Coalition) and I am happy, as always, to be working with her again. Dr. Alexis Ritvo (Medical Director, The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices) co-created this presentation with us, but she is unable to attend the conference. In addition to our presentation, I will be recording my journey to the conference, and my experiences at the conference, for the Benzo Free Podcast. Perhaps we might even get a few guests to join us. Recording my varied road trips has become a staple of the podcast and I'm looking forward to hitting the road again with you. To learn more and to be notified when these episodes are released, please subscribe to our mailing list. I'll see you on the road, Take care, D :)

OPINION Monday, April 3rd, 2023 — The above article crossed my desk about a month ago — and it concerned me. I did a bit of research over the past few weeks which lead me to write this post. Let me give you a bit of background first, and then we can discuss my concerns. On Friday, March 3rd, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 23-1071 into law, which allows psychologists to prescribe mental health medication. According to the Denver Post, this bill "creates a process for psychologists who want to prescribe." These individuals would have to "complete a master's degree in clinical psychopharmacology, pass an exam and work under a physician's supervision for at least a year." Other states have passed similar bills in the past including Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, and New Mexico. Colorado psychiatrists and pediatricians apposed the bill, "arguing that psychologists wouldn't have sufficient knowledge of prescribing and that allowing them to do so could fragment patients' care." Those in support of the bill claimed that it would increase patients' access to treatment allowing them to visit one professional for their counseling and medication needs. One of our core focuses here at Easing Anxiety is the overprescribing of psychiatric medication — in particular benzodiazepines and Z-drugs. Thousands of individuals suffer every day from the severe complications of these medications including physical dependence, withdrawal, and BIND (benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction). Most of these prescriptions come from general practitioners who don't have the advanced training that psychiatrists are required to have. We are concerned that adding psychologists to that list may add fuel to the fire, increasing the potential for suffering from the overprescribing of psychiatric medication. Psychologists currently have access to some of the most proven treatment protocols for anxiety, depression, and many other mental health disorders. This includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which is the leading treatment for anxiety and depression. In a Psychology Today article titled "Why CBT Beats Medication in the Treatment of Depression," the author refers to a 50-year retrospective study on cognitive therapy (Hollon 2020). Referring to the findings, he summarized that people who " talk through their depression with a mental health professional are more likely to (1) reduce the duration of depressive episodes and (2) to address the root cause of the depression, making relapse less common." He added that these patients were half as likely to relapse following treatment as patients treated with antidepressant medications. By their estimates, [depression] patients treated to remission with talk therapy are half as likely to relapse following treatment as patients treated with antidepressant medications. — Mark Travers, "Why CBT Beats Medication in the Treatment of Depression," Psychology Today Psychologists are the primary practitioners of CBT and other beneficial therapies. Adding medication prescribing may increase access to psychiatric medication for some, but we need to ask ourselves — is that necessarily a good thing? Although I do understand the need for psychiatric medications in certain situations, I also believe that prescribing these medications should be limited to those with more advanced education and understanding of medicine. It will be some time until the first Colorado psychologists finish the required education to be able to prescribe medication. I hope I am wrong, and that this law does not lead to increased dependency and suffering. Unfortunately, I can't see how that will happen. We welcome your comments below. REFERENCES "About Prescribing Psychologists." American Psychological Association. Last updated January 2022. Accessed April 3, 2023. https://www.apaservices.org/practice/advocacy/authority/prescribing-psychologists. Colorado House of Representatives. "House Bill 23-1071." https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2023A/bills/2023a_1071_enr.pdf. Hollon, S.D., DeRubeis, R.J., Andrews, P.W. et al. Cognitive Therapy in the Treatment and Prevention of Depression: A Fifty-Year Retrospective with an Evolutionary Coda. Cogn Ther Res45, 402–417 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-020-10132-1. Travers, Mark. "Why CBT Beats Medication in the Treatment of Depression." Psychology Today. February 26, 2021. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202102/why-cbt-beats-medication-in-the-treatment-depression. Wingerter, Meg. "Colorado psychologists gain authority to prescribe mental health medication." Denver Post. March 3, 2023. https://archive.ph/RDM6D.

Professor C. Heather Ashton passed away on September 15, 2019. This page is dedicated to her memory. Funeral Notice for Prof. Ashton Prof Heather Ashton died peacefully in her sleep at home in South Gosforth shortly before midnight on Sunday 15th September. She lived a long, full, and active life: as a loving wife, mother and homemaker to her much missed husband John and their children John, Caroline, Jim and Andrew (plus family dog Rex, also much missed); as a selfless doctor, teacher, and scientist who never turned away anyone who sought her help; and as a loyal and life-enhancing friend to all to who came close. A light has gone out, but her memory will endure. Donations would be welcome to Dementia UK, a registered charity providing specialist dementia support through the Admiral Nurse service. See instructions at https://www.dementiauk.org/get-involved/donate/ Add your tribute… If you would like to share your own tribute on this page, please submit it on our feedback form (https://easinganxiety.com/feedback). Learn more about Prof. Ashton… Episode #7 of the Benzo Free Podcast was dedicated to Prof. Ashton and her work. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/the-ashton-manual-who-wrote-it-and-why-you-should-read-it-bfp007 Tributes for Professor Ashton Tributes are displayed in the order they were received, with the most recent at the top. Thank you so much Dear Prof. Ashton. You are one of the few who give people hope. So much important when you experience protracted withdrawal symptoms like I do and I guess many others as well. Through your manual, you explain so well what some others simply are not aware of. But most of all, you give us the strength to be patient, positive, and self-confident about our recovery. I have never met you but you belong to the people. I will always remember. Thank you Professor. — R Belgium Professor Ashton’s manual literally saved my life. I was three weeks into a cold turkey not knowing what was going on. I am forever in her debt. She truly still is my hero. — Jan Billings, Montana Prof. Ashton, thank you for LISTENING. When other professionals were not bothering to look at the anecdotal data to prove what we were going through in withdrawal was REAL, you took the time to hear us and offer a solution to help. You saved many lives with your work. Gratitude. Thank you — Jenny New Hampshire Thank you so much for your dedication and of course your manual , I have read it and still refer back to it often, I am still in the process of recovering from benzo’s and without your work I would still be clueless as to what is happening to me. You have touched the hearts of so many and your legacy will go on forever. Thank you — Nancy United Kingdom Adding my heartfelt thanks to a pioneer who saw early on the devastation that this drug can do, and fought hard to stop it. Her light will forever shine. A true angel. — Geraldine South Africa Almost all the information and advice that helped me to accept and understand what I was going through can be traced back to this woman and her manual that objectively collected together the experiences of so many others that had gone before me. Only by knowing what to expect was I able to have the courage to free myself from the chemical bondage of these sinister drugs. I will remember her. — Trevor Canada A great person leaves us, will live in all those who have to thank her so much, thank you for everything you have done in your life to help others, rest in peace. — Alfredo Torrelavega, Cantabria, España Dr. Ashton’s Manual rescued me, and untold others, from the agony of perpetual physical dependence. She was a consummate scientist, humanitarian, and unsung heroine. I only wish I could have met her and thanked her personally. — Jeff Winfield, Illinois Thank you professor Ashton, may you rest in peace. — David Japan I am sending my condolences to the family of Professor Ashton. Of course I never knew her, but I did spend many long nights reviewing and studying her Manual regarding Benzo drugs and their withdrawal symptoms. Thank you Professor Ashton for helping me through a very long journey through my withdrawal process. — Ann California I would not be here today if it weren’t for Professor Ashton. It was because of her Ashton Manual that I was able to endure the indescribable torture that I endured for several years. Without that manual I would not have known that it was the drugs themselves that were rendering me incapacitated. Her manual allowed me to make sense of what would have otherwise been total confusion and a belief that I was dying. I may have even taken my own life had I not know what was driving those intrusive thoughts. Professor Ashton has literally saved countless lives and as a recipient of that gift I will continue to spread awareness about the dangers of these toxins and to keep her memory and legacy alive. — L. P. Bonjour je suis très triste d’appendre cette nouvelle, cette Dame nous a sauvés Sur le Forum ou je suis modératrice, nous nous servons de son manuel tout le temps Paix à son âme condoléances à sa famille — Anonymous When I heard the news this morning, I started crying although I never met you in person. It surprised myself as I did not know you were my beacon of hope in the struggle for change in the medical field and benzodiazepine prescriptions. I know you were retired for a long time, but still, the fact of you being there was comforting. We were not alone. We had someone who believed us and who fought with us. All I can say to you now is: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a benzo warrior with us and for us. You are an extraordinary woman and you will not be forgotten! — Elisabeth The Netherlands Donde quiera que estes. Siempre Seras mi Ángel. Oracioes por ti. Y gracias infinitas. — Alejandro Medelin Antioquia, Columbia Her light definitely shone brightly over me. — Graham So sad to hear the news about Dr. Ashton’s passing. What a great woman she was, helping so many people. Her “bible” for tapering off benzos is treasured by all of us now and will be for generations to come. — Suzanne Silverton, Oregon On a day when my convulsions have resurfaced, further slowing my tapering, and also the same day I make my first donation to a benzo awareness website, I get this sad news of the great Professor’s passing. Where would we be without her research and her believing the stories of all of us who have suffered and struggled to find help. Thank you, dear lady, for your compassion and hard work. My sincere condolences to her family and the Benzo Community. —Liz Portland, Oregon I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Ashton for unselfishly giving her time and expertise to a relatively unknown group of benzo withdrawal sufferers. When my husband was in his darkest days of benzo withdrawal, her free manual consistently provided him with the information and hope he needed to carry on. She has been a great source of reassurance for so many people across the globe. My heartfelt sympathies go out to her friends and family — may they find comfort in knowing that Prof. Ashton made a difference in this world. — Shana Broomfield, Colorado

David Powers is an artist, filmmaker, PhD candidate in psychology, and founder of Powers Benzo Recovery Coaching. After a severe car accident, David became dependent on diazepam. Now benzo-free, he helps others through his films, videos, and coaching. In Part II of our conversation, we learn about support, coaching, and membership sites. We also discuss psychology, overprescribing, gratitude, burnout, healing, society, culture, and much more. Please join us for this relaxed and informative conversation. Video ID: BFP115 Listen on YouTube... The Benzo Free Podcast is also available on... Apple Podcasts / Audible / iHeart / PodBean / Spotify / Stitcher Listen to Part 1: https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/conversation-with-benzo-coach-david-powers-part-1-of-2-bfp114 Chapters 00:00 INTRODUCTION 02:04 Benzo Recovery School 07:13 Benzo Collaboration 13:09 Shooting Short Films 14:25 Feature Benzo Film 20:11 Support, Burnout, and Fees 28:38 Benzo Clinic / Commune 30:53 Structured Healing 33:34 Opportunity for Positive Change 37:07 Gratitude in Withdrawal 37:37 Jungian Approach 40:38 Not the Ideal Situation 41:09 Benzo Overprescribing 44:21 Benzo Revolution 44:58 America, Society, and Unity 47:43 Bruce Lee, a Chinese Hero 48:22 Humanity and Positivity 51:34 Age, Wisdom, and Reality 56:43 Wrapping Up 58:47 CLOSING Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Easing Anxiety of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. Powers Benzo Coaching Website — https://www.powersbenzocoaching.com/ YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18DrdP18DuSxoi2dxuSYUg Benzo Recovery School — https://www.powersbenzocoaching.com/benzoschool The Podcast The Benzo Free Podcast provides information, support, and community to those who struggle with the long-term effects of anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium) and Z-drugs (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata). WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com MAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMER All content provided by Easing Anxiety is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Any health-related information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems, or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://www.easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. CREDITS Music provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION Easing Anxiety is produced by… Denim Mountain Press https://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2023 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

David Powers is an artist, filmmaker, PhD candidate in psychology, and founder of Powers Benzo Recovery Coaching. After a severe car accident, David became dependent on diazepam. Now benzo-free, he helps others through his films, videos, and coaching. In Part I of our conversation, we hear about David’s personal struggle with benzodiazepines. We also discuss research and funding, the limbic system, GABA, fear, hope, symptoms, and even chat a bit about film. Please join us for this relaxed and informative conversation. Video ID: BFP114 Listen on YouTube... The Benzo Free Podcast is also available on... Apple Podcasts / Audible / iHeart / PodBean / Spotify / Stitcher Listen to Part 2: https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/conversation-with-benzo-coach-david-powers-part-2-of-2-bfp115 Chapters 0:00:00 INTRODUCTION 0:02:35 Rx Summit 0:03:46 Upcoming Vacation 0:06:02 INTERVIEW: Intro 0:07:28 Filmmakers Chat 0:11:38 Welcome to the Podcast 0:12:34 David’s Benzo Story 0:25:38 Benzo Advocacy 0:27:29 Are You Fully Healed? 0:28:39 Giving Hope 0:30:36 Audience-Led Podcasts 0:33:14 Publishing His Book 0:34:47 Moving into Coaching 0:38:22 Benzo Recovery School 0:44:56 Wrapping Up PhD 0:46:26 Research and Funding 0:50:35 Forums and Fear 0:53:35 GABA and the Limbic System 0:56:08 Responding to Fear 0:58:15 Nerves, Symptoms, and Focus 1:02:24 CLOSING Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Easing Anxiety of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. Powers Benzo Coaching Website — https://www.powersbenzocoaching.com/ YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18DrdP18DuSxoi2dxuSYUg Benzo Recovery School — https://www.powersbenzocoaching.com/benzoschool The Podcast The Benzo Free Podcast provides information, support, and community to those who struggle with the long-term effects of anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium) and Z-drugs (Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata). WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com MAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMER All content provided by Easing Anxiety is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical advice. Any health-related information provided is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems, or to prescribe any medical devices or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it. Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://www.easinganxiety.com/disclaimer. CREDITS Music provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION Easing Anxiety is produced by… Denim Mountain Press https://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2023 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

Few individuals deserve higher praise than the benzo caregiver. These are the angels who take care of us through thick and thin. My wife was my angel, and she was amazing! I would not be here doing this without her undying love and support. For that, and so much more, I am truly grateful. But, others are not so lucky. Some individuals dealing with BIND (benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction) — also known as protracted withdrawal — don't have the support I had. Many of them are suffering, isolated and alone. My heart goes out to these individuals and I wish I could help them more in their plight. Caregivers can make a huge difference in one's recovery, and for that alone, we should be grateful. Benzo withdrawal can turn peoples' lives up-side-down, which can have a direct impact on those around them — including you. By believing them, creating a calm environment, simplifying, focusing on the positive, and taking time for yourself, you and your loved one can weather the storms more comfortably. — Shana Foster, my caregiver (from Benzo Free) One of the key focuses of Easing Anxiety since its inception, has been the plight of the benzo caregiver. I have often mentioned on the podcast that taking care of someone going through benzo withdrawal is a "huge ask." Many individuals who struggle with BIND can face severe, even disabling symptoms. Self-care, let alone caring for one's family, is often beyond their abilities. But, when the patient, caregiver, family and friends work as a team, educate themselves on the process, and look out for each other, weathering the storm becomes much easier. A key point that I like to make on the podcast, is to be grateful for whatever support we have. I realize that BIND is overwhelming for many of us, and that thinking of others is difficult during this time, to say the least. But, when we can, when we have that window, when we notice something someone has done for us — show some gratitude. Even a little bit goes a long way. Just saying "thank you" can let that person know that you appreciate all that they do. Thankfully, many of the benzo support organizations know the struggles caregivers go through and help them with tools, tips, and info. Still, finding this information in the sea of online overload can be daunting. And, that's where today's blog post comes in. Below, I have listed some of the key support tools available on the web. Some are for general caregivers, but many are specific to benzodiazepines. If you know of additional resources, please add them in the comments. For those caregivers out there, I hope this helps ease burdens, just a bit. And thank you, for all you do. God bless. CAREGIVER RESOURCES INFORMATION PAGES For the Benzo Caregiver (10 Tips for the Caregiver) — Easing Anxiety — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/for-the-benzo-caregiver Resource List (incl. Suicide Prevention) — Easing Anxiety — https://www.easinganxiety.com/resources ARTICLES 9 Caregiver Support Groups that Help Caregivers in Need — Caring Bridge — https://www.caringbridge.org/resources/caregiver-support-groups/ 14 Life-Changing Tips to Relieve Caregiver Stress — Caring Bridge — https://www.caringbridge.org/resources/techniques-to-relieve-caregiver-stress/ Caring for the Caregiver: 25 Ways to Care for Yourself — Caring Bridge — https://www.caringbridge.org/resources/care-for-the-caregiver/ How to Find a Caregiver Support Group That's Right for You — AARP — https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/life-balance/info-2021/support-groups.html?KNC-DSO-CAREGIVING-Caregiving-LovedOnes-NonBrand-Phrase-35899-GOOG-CaregivingSupportGroup-Phrase-NonBrand&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4-hBhCtARIsAC9gR3b80jIFbMIdMCH9jQMBi9JcC_qX3rOF0i3O-Omxce7c3z4DR0UKAMEaAjDzEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds How to support a loved one with benzo withdrawal syndrome — Jennifer Leigh — https://benzowithdrawalhelp.com/for-bwd-bind-sufferers/curing-fear/how-to-support-a-loved-with-benzo-withdrawal-syndrome/ Seniors and Benzodiazepines: What All Caregivers Need to Know — mmLearn.org — https://training.mmlearn.org/blog/seniors-and-benzodiazepines-what-all-caregivers-need-to-know Supporting an Adult Child in Benzo Withdrawal — BIC (Nicole Lamberson, PA) — https://www.benzoinfo.com/2022/12/05/supporting-an-adult-child-in-benzo-withdrawal/ What We Wish Family and Friends Knew About Benzo Withdrawal — Jennifer Leigh — https://benzowithdrawalhelp.com/for-bwd-bind-sufferers/recovery/what-we-wish-family-and-friends-knew-about-benzo-withdrawal/ PODCAST Conversation with a Caregiver — The Benzo Free Podcast — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/conversation-with-a-caregiver-bfp012 The Dinner Party: Caregivers, Relationships, and Living with BIND — The Benzo Free Podcast — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/the-dinner-party-caregivers-relationships-and-living-with-bind-bfp104 VIDEOS How to Talk to Loved Ones about Benzos (with D E Foster) — BIC — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/bic-video-how-to-talk-to-loved-ones-about-benzos Tips for Loved Ones: From a Benzo Survivor — Jocelyn Pedersen — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80UaSfj58fg What family and friends need to know about benzo withdrawal — Jennifer Leigh — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmiYLWnhvC0 MAGAZINES Today's Caregiver — Magazine for family & professional caregivers— https://caregiver.com/

In a recent article published by Psychology Today, Brian A. Kinnaird, Ph.D., a former police officer, shared his battle with mental health diagnoses and benzodiazepine withdrawal. The March 24 article is titled "A Former Cop's Battle With Benzodiazepines" and it's a powerful story. In this personal perspective, Kinnaird shares how he was "thrust into the medical model (or 'disease-based' approach) of mental health," and that his treatment "consisted of multiple diagnoses along with a cascade of prescription drugs that led to a decade of psychotropic polypharmacy." As many of us in the benzo community know, his storyline is far too common. Like so many patients, Kinnaird was prescribed a "cocktail of antipsychotics, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, sedatives, and stimulants," and many of them were prescribed concurrently. He was not told that any of this was designed to be a temporary solution, but instead that he would "most likely need to be on it for life." Considering the body of literature cautioning about long-term prescribing of benzos and other similar drugs, including the FDA 2020 warning on benzodiazepines, it is disheartening to see how common this approach continues to be in the medical community. In 2019, Kinnaird was forced off clonazepam (2 mg daily) with only a two-week taper. This is alarming since rapid or abrupt cessation from benzodiazepines can lead to severe consequences including hallucinations and seizures. Clonazepam is one of the most potent benzodiazepines on the market; two mg is roughly equal to 30-40 mg of diazepam according to equivalence tables. Tapering from this high of a benzodiazepine dose in only two weeks can be very dangerous. The FDA recommends "a gradual taper to reduce the dosage," and that "no standard benzodiazepine tapering schedule is suitable for all patients." On a personal note, I was also on two mg of clonazepam when I learned of my dependence to the drug. Unfortunately, even with an 18-month taper, I still deal with the lingering effects of a protracted withdrawal condition we now identify as BIND (benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction). While some individuals can withdraw from benzodiazepines with little or no complications, others of us face life-altering symptoms that can last months, even years. According to the "Benzodiazepine Deprescribing Guidance" from the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group, general consensus recommends "a gradual, symptom-based taper." Kinnaird also references a couple of posts from his colleague at Psychology Today, Christopher Lane. Lane's 2022 post titled "Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Tied to Serious Long-Term Harms" was written about our published research paper on the Benzodiazepine Survey of 2018-2019 titled, "Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet survey." This was the first of two papers we published on the survey. The third and final paper is currently in peer review and it will discuss the foundation behind BIND. Like so many of us, Kinnaird's support finally came in the form of expert counseling and the Ashton Manual. He also voiced his concern about benzodiazepine use in the law enforcement community and encourages more research on this community. We second that sentiment, and support research into helping high risk and high pressure occupations that often have increased frequency of benzodiazepine use and its consequences. Thanks to Brian A. Kinnaird for this wonderful article, and for having the courage to share his journey with the rest of us. NOTE: Special thanks to Christy Huff, MD and the staff at Benzodiazepine Information Coalition for bringing this article to our attention. REFERENCES Ashton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. http://www.benzo.org.uk/manual/. Benzodiazepine Deprescribing Guidance. Benzodiazepine Action Work Group at the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention. January 2022. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://corxconsortium.org/wp-content/uploads/Benzo-Deprescribing.pdf. Lane, Christopher. "Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Tied to Serious Long-Term Harms." Psychology Today." May 12, 2022. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/side-effects/202205/benzodiazepine-withdrawal-tied-serious-long-term-harms. Finlayson, AJ Reid, Macoubrie J, Huff C, Foster D, and Martin PR. (2022). Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet survey. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology 12, 204512532210823. https://doi.org/10.1177/20451253221082386. Kinnaird, Brian A. "A Former Cop's Battle With Benzodiazepines." Psychology Today. March 24, 2023. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-hero-in-you/202303/a-former-cops-battle-with-benzodiazepines. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "FDA requiring Boxed Warning updated to improve safe use of benzodiazepine drug class." FDA Drug Safety Communication. September 23, 2020. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-requiring-boxed-warning-updated-improve-safe-use-benzodiazepine-drug-class.

I have great news!!! Well, great news from my point of view. I hope others will feel the same way once they’ve read it, but that is still to be determined. Anyway, the great, or good news depending on your point-of-view, is that my book, Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal, is now available for purchase on Amazon.com in both Kindle and paperback versions. Yeah! Okay, perhaps a bit anti-climatic. But still pretty damn cool. After four years of research, the book is finally out there. Whew! Huge sigh of relief from my end. The book is 340 pages and has over 350 citations and 160 or so bibliographical references. It’s a labor of love and exhaustion, and I’m so glad to have it done. Check out this link for more info on the book or just search “Benzo Free” on Amazon to find it. Here’s a short excerpt from the preface where I briefly explain my experience with benzo withdrawal. *** Excerpt from Benzo Free *** It’s been a long five years. I’ve endured debilitating muscle spasms, torn muscles, restless legs, brain zaps, tinnitus, severe heart palpitations, burning skin, flushing, face spiders, memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, throat swelling, chronic insomnia, acute gastritis, abdominal distension, pelvic floor dysfunction, vertigo, uncharacteristic aggression and irritability, panic attacks, personality changes, and the most severe anxiety and depression in my life. I’ve scheduled over a hundred medical appointments with a parade of doctors, specialists, therapists, and counselors. I’ve been unable to work and put a burdensome strain on my family. I’ve faced a wall of disbelief and scorn from friends and doctors alike. I’ve had days when getting out of bed was a near impossible feat. And I’ve begged God, and anyone else who would listen, that it would all just end. Even if this description sounds foreign and implausible to you, it’s familiar to thousands of people around the world. People attempting to withdraw from a class of prescription drugs known as benzodiazepines (benzos) and their cousins, nonbenzodiazepines (z-drugs) and thienodiazepines. You may know them better as Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, Ambien, Lunesta, Restoril, Librium, and Sonata among others. Or perhaps by their street names like xannies, z bars, k-pin, qual, candy, zanbars, totem poles, K, sleepers, r2, BZDs, bennies, stupefy, tranx, zombie pills, roofies, goofballs, and downers. Perhaps you picked up this book because you have personal experience with these drugs. Or maybe you have no experience with benzos, and my opening sounded like some hysterical hypochondriac’s rant. Although benzo dependence may not be discussed commonly in most social circles, it exists, and it destroys lives. Now, don’t get too depressed. I promise that Benzo Free is not all doom and gloom. I try and balance the stark realities of benzo withdrawal with the hopeful optimism which Prof. Ashton has shared many times. That is that anyone can withdraw if you properly plan and learn how to manage your symptoms and mindset. Here’s just a little more from the preface which I hope will help you feel a bit more hopeful. Yes, some people do have harrowing experiences and struggle with symptoms for years. But they’re in the minority. More than half of long-term users don’t experience any severe withdrawal symptoms. Thousands of us have been through this and not only survived but thrived once it was over. We know many of the ups and downs, the dos and don’ts, and we’re here to support those who follow. There are so many resources available to help, and this book is only one of them. I don’t believe anybody should be forced to withdraw from benzos if they don’t want to. It’s a personal decision between the patient and his or her doctor. I am glad I tapered off benzodiazepines, and I would do it again. It’s great to be benzo-free. Today is August 20th, 2018. I chose today to release my book on purpose. Today, I am officially four years benzo-free. Now that’s worth celebrating. I still have symptoms and I still struggle, but I’m much better than I was and getting better every day. I hope my book provides a bit of information, comfort, and solace to those who follow and helps educate anyone curious about these drugs and the problems they leave in their wake. Remember, if you are dependent on benzos you are not alone. There are thousands of us who have been through it before you — and many of us are here to help. Keep calm and taper slowly, D E Foster REFERENCES Foster, D E Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, Colorado: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. – https://easinganxiety.com/book.

About the Book Ever heard of benzodiazepines? How about z-drugs? Perhaps you know their brand names, like Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium or Xanax. Millions of people around the world take these drugs every day and very few know much about them, let alone what it’s like to withdraw. My hope is to help change that. For those who experience benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome (BWS), incessant questions run rampant, but answers are few. I searched high and low to find information during my withdrawal, and in the midst, Benzo Free was born. By the time I finished writing the first draft, I’d spent four years reading and cataloging over a thousand separate articles, books, and scientific studies. In this book, I aim to present an honest and objective look at the world of anti-anxiety drugs and provide some encouragement, solace, and even a few answers for those who struggle each day from their effects. About the Author D E Foster is the founder of Easing Anxiety, host of The Benzo Free Podcast, and author of the book Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. He is also Co-Chair and a founding member of the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group (BAWG) at the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and a global advocate supporting those struggling with benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal. To learn more about D, you can read his complete bio here. What Others Say… Here are some reviews from Amazon Brilliant !! Amazing book !! I love the authenticity & the integrity the brilliant author beautifully shares with his readers !! Hala Great read Great asset to anyone in recovery or anyone supporting anyone in recovery taylor A must read for anyone wanting to get off benzos or help others do that. Excellent information for clinicians, doctors, or anyone wanting to know more about benzos. This author does an amazing job at thoroughly researching the information and presents in a way that is easy to follow. Very personable author and his warm personality shines through the pages. Sandra Excellent if you suffer from withdrawal This book has helped me better understand the issues a significant person in my life has suffered from. I found it informative and an inspiring read. I would recommend it to others who want to better understand the unintended consequences from using any type of benzos. I’m also a former pharmaceutical executive and this author’s perspective on the issues is spot on. S. Dunshee A must read…dealing with Benzos This book is amazing… The book was written in a way that anyone can understand, even though this author went through the withdrawal & is healing…he has a sense of humor too. I enjoyed the way he stated questions & answered. Thank you D E Foster, for helping me to understand what you & others are going through. Brandy Renee A must read What a gift this book is too the world. A must read for anyone experiencing life on or after Benzo drugs. D has a beautiful and hilarious way to inform and share on such a tragic topic. Very informative with tons of concrete data to back it up. A true labor of love for those of us who just want to know we will get through this and our experience is real and validated. Drew Great book full of great information This is a very well written book; it has almost a question and answers feel to it. It also has lots of facts and studies, a real gem of a book if your stuck on a benzo and want more info in to how to get off or explanations as to why you feel awful coming off. The author also does a weekly podcast which is extremely interesting. All in all a really good well written book. Wish Dr’s and GP’s would read it ! The good news is that we all recover and this book shows that . Wansheet Highly recommend I found this book to be very reader friendly, chock full of well researched information that is documented and notated. It’s written in a format that holds one’s attention, adding a touch of humor which adds just a bit of lightness to an otherwise extremely serious subject. All in all, brilliant, excellent book I’d highly recommend. Great for the interested be it professionally or personally. Kate True account of benzo withdrawal. This audio book helped me understand what was going on when I became dependent on a prescribed benzo (after 2 mos. of use) and had to taper off of it. Terri A. Very educational! This book was incredibly educational, and it was written in a way that was very easy to digest. Thanks to the author for sharing his research and personal experience. Erin E. Ward

Fear is the primary enemy in withdrawal, and how we manage that fear can make the difference between success or failure. There’s no overnight fix. As much as we all want one, it just doesn’t exist. But there are a lot of things we can do to manage this fear and develop a more positive and stable mindset. Like many of us, you may have physical symptoms. But rarely can you do anything to directly affect them. They will come, and they will go. And often, those physical symptoms are triggered or aggravated by your mental state. Fear, stress, and anxiety play a significant role in determining the severity of withdrawal. Therefore, it just makes sense for us to spend more time and effort on managing our fear and anxiety and less on trying to figure out how to physically mitigate each symptom. Many ‘withdrawal symptoms’ are simply due to fear of withdrawal (or even fear of that fear). People who have had bad experiences have usually been withdrawn too quickly (often by doctors!) and without any explanation of the symptoms. — Prof. Ashton, The Ashton Manual (benzo.org.uk/manual) 5 Tips for Managing Fear During Withdrawal 1) Take Responsibility For many of us who have developed benzodiazepine dependence, this condition is an iatrogenic illness — an illness caused by a medical procedure or treatment. That was true in my case and in so many others. My doctor prescribed benzos for my ongoing stomach distress, and I took the drug for the following twelve and a half years. The first eleven of those years, I switched doctors a few times, but they each continued my prescription without voicing any concern. Was I mad about that? Of course, I was. I was furious. But when it came time to withdraw, I needed to step up and take charge. I am responsible for my health. No one else. It’s my brain, my body, and I’m in charge. I now approach my relationships with medical professionals as that of a partnership. Sure, my doctor knows a lot more about medicine than I ever will. But she doesn’t know everything. And neither does the Internet. While it can be an excellent resource for some medical information, it’s also full of inaccuracies, hype, and biased personal accounts. Common sense is critical. Taking responsibility means taking the lead in your recovery. You’re in charge, and that’s a good thing. 2) Find a Positive Mindset A positive mindset is not about suppressing your feelings or glossing over them and putting on a good face. That plan of attack can lead to disaster. You still feel sad, angry, mad, and everything else at different times. But when something happens in your life, perhaps you lean a bit more on the positive side than the negative side. Focus on what is good in your life. That’s all it is. The glass is half-full. Take a look at yourself. Identify your own filters through which you see the world. Recognize your negative thought patterns. Try and identify them as they happen and work on changing that pattern. And as your doing that, remember to enjoy life. Don’t wait until you are symptom-free to live again. It may be a long time until that happens. I’m now four years benzo-free, and if I kept waiting to enjoy life until I’m symptoms free, well, I’m not sure when that would be. Noticing these patterns in yourself and working to change them is a significant first step towards reducing the worry and anxiety. Once you’ve identified them, you can start to change them. 3) Active Mind / Active Body More and more studies show that keeping your mind active is key to keeping it healthy. This goes double for people with anxiety and triple for people going through benzo withdrawal. If you’re currently working, keep working. Don’t quit unless you need to. If you aren’t working, find something to keep you busy. Learn something. Take an online class. Read books. Volunteer. Learn a language. Prove the theory of cold fusion and solve world hunger. Write a book. You get the point. And being physically active is equally as important. A 2000 research study evaluated three groups of patients who treated their major depression with medication (sertraline), exercise, or a combination of the two. Although all three groups showed similar improvement early on, when tested six months later, the results were startling. The medication-only group had a 38% relapse rate, the combination group had a 31% relapse rate, and the exercise only group had just a 9% relapse rate. [Babyak et al., “Exercise Treatment for Major Depression.”] 4) Kindness It all starts at home. Be kind to yourself. I learned not to judge myself so harshly. If I messed up during withdrawal, that’s okay. I’ll make mistakes, and I’ll be okay. I learned to let it go and move on. I needed to take care of myself first, especially during this time. I set boundaries and let those who love me know what they were. I found quiet time whenever I could to allow my body and mind to heal. I treated myself to small pleasures to help raise my spirits and my self-esteem. If I ever needed to be kind to myself, this was the time. I also had to remember to be kind to those around me. Most people don’t really understand what we’re going through. How can they? So, help them. Realize that this is hard for them too. It’s frustrating when people don’t understand the scope of your illness. But how can anyone genuinely understand this who hasn’t experienced it? So, help those around you understand what it’s like for you. Realize that they will never fully understand this experience you’re going through, but accept what love and support they can provide without judgment. They may doubt your symptoms, they may question that you’re even sick, and that’s okay. Help them help you. 5) Acceptance One of the best things that happened to me during withdrawal was when I found acceptance. I stopped struggling and fighting my symptoms and instead accepted my current condition. Acceptance can be a difficult pill to swallow for many people (no pun intended). It sounds easy, but it’s a difficult transition and it usually only comes with time. Most people experiencing benzo withdrawal see their recovery as a struggle. A fight. A battle of epic proportions. And it can be. They want to do everything they can to make it disappear. And if they can’t make it go away, then make it as easy as possible. Find a way to have fewer symptoms. Or make it be over sooner. They want to find a shortcut. They want to find some substance or elixir that will make things all better. I had this same attitude for most of my withdrawal. I fought it. Every time I had a new symptom, I wanted to know why. What caused this one? What can I do to make it go away? How long will it last? Why is my body doing this? Why is this happening to me? What can I do to stop it? The precious few answers seemed to vary from day to day. And while I received a lot of support, there were never any real solutions. Over time, this pattern got old. I started to see the futility of it. My symptoms continued regardless of what I did. And eventually, my attitude towards them slowly changed. I began to find acceptance. I learned to back off and let my body do what it’s been trying to do all along. by D E Foster *** Based on excerpts from the book Benzo Free. REFERENCES Foster, D E Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, Colorado: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. – https://easinganxiety.com/book. Babyak, Michael, James A. Blumenthal, Steve Herman, Parinda Khatri, Murali Doraiswamy, Kathleen Moore, Edward Craighead, Teri T. Baldewicz and K. Ranga Krishnan. “Exercise Treatment for Major Depression: Maintenance of Therapeutic Benefit at 10 Months.” Psychosomatic Medicine 62(5)(October 2000):633-38. Accessed April 12, 2018. http://www.hibody.co.uk/Exercise%20treatment%20for%20major%20depression.pdf.

The Benzo Free Website officially launches today, September 1st, 2018! About the Website The Benzo Free Website is dedicated to anti-anxiety drugs and those who suffer their effects. Benzos and benzo-like drugs have had their fair share of media attention over their 50+ years of existence. Unfortunately, much of that attention has been positive and has elevated benzos to reach a sort of “miracle pill” status. Those of us who have experienced benzo withdrawal first-hand know that these pills are far from a miracle, and that the neurological damage left in their wake can be painful, debilitating, and even life-threatening. This site is dedicated to sharing the facts about benzo dependence, encouraging constructive change in how they are managed, and supporting those in withdrawal. About the Founder Benzo Free was founded by D E Foster, the author of Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. D was on clonazepam (Klonopin) for 12 years, tapered for 18 months, and was finally benzo-free on August 20th, 2014. He still has protracted symptoms, is unable to work in his previous profession, and struggles with my recovery every day. But he is healing and he is now dedicated to helping those who follow through his book, website, and upcoming podcast. Please visit us and let us know what you think…