Benzodiazepines, also known as ‘Benzos’, are a category of psychoactive drugs typically used for a variety of medical issues associated with the chemical balance of one’s mental state. These medical uses range from alcohol withdrawal, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and seizures. It is used to better reorient the brain into a state of relative normalization, but because of these uses it is typically overprescribed and can lead to a long-lasting and difficult addiction.
Some common types of benzos include:
When a person becomes addicted to benzodiazepines, the medicine they initially took to help manage their mental health can lead them down a path of dependency and difficult withdrawal symptoms, heightened tolerances, and severe health consequences.
When first introduced, benzos can cause a shocking imbalance to one's brain chemistry and this can result in fatigue, confusion, nausea, weight gain, suicidal thoughts, respiratory distress, slow heart rate, severe blood pressure, and increased heart rate. It is important to recognize the severity of the symptoms; if the symptoms are severe it is important to see a doctor immediately.
Some signs that indicate you are addicted to benzos include:
Like all drugs, when one decides the drug is doing more harm than good stopping becomes a challenge because of the effects associated with benzo withdrawals. When detoxing from a benzo addiction, it is highly recommended that you seek out an in-client program as it can be extremely difficult to detox on one’s own due to the severity of withdrawal symptoms – some of which can lead to death.
Withdrawal symptoms include:
While these effects only last about 2 to 3 days, they can be extremely difficult to manage. For more information or to schedule a consultation about benzo addiction, contact us today.
The root of benzo addiction results from the dependency on feeling ‘normal’ and this normality becomes an often fading feeling because of the tolerance that builds up over time, like with any other drug. In addition, benzos if taken with alcohol or other drugs can easily cause blood toxicity and result in coma or death.
If you or someone you know is dependent on benzos, give us a call today at (973) 380-0905. Our New Jersey benzo detox professionals can help you get on the road to long-term sobriety.
