Episodes

We’re back on the road with a 4,400-mile round trip from Colorado to Florida. During this trip, your host shares his personal experiences traveling with protracted withdrawal symptoms along with some valuable lessons learned. In part 2 of the adventure, D narrates highlights from his time in Florida, Tennessee, and Kentucky while sharing his thoughts on lingering abdominal issues, our anxious need for control, and other unique perspectives only a road trip can reveal. https://www.easinganxiety...

We’re back on the road with a 4,400-mile round trip from Colorado to Florida. During this trip, your host shares his personal experiences traveling with protracted withdrawal symptoms along with some valuable lessons learned. Welcome to part 1. In today’s episode, D shares a more positive take on benzo mornings, discusses setting boundaries with family, looks at a few benefits of slowing down, struggles with benzo brain, and shares a few other topics which arise. https://www.easinganxiety.com/...

Questions lead us to answers. Comments provide us insight. And stories connect from all corners of the globe. Your input is the heart of the Benzo Free Podcast, and it’s about time we dedicated an entire episode to that wonderful resource. In today’s episode, we explore the effects of benzos on our sense of taste, we learn about the benefits of yoga nidra for sleep, and we evaluate the use of sauna therapy for withdrawal. We also hear three wonderful stories from New York, New Zealand, and Japa...

Christy Huff, M.D., is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, on the board of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC), and is herself, a benzo survivor. A tireless advocate in the benzo community, Dr. Huff has a wealth of information to share. In Part II of our conversation, Dr. Huff discusses her advocacy work with BIC, talks about the importance of finding a doctor, and provides some helpful tips for the struggling patient. We also share a benzo story from Minnesota and explore th...

Christy Huff, M.D., is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, on the board of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC), and is herself, a benzo survivor. A tireless advocate in the benzo community, Dr. Huff has a wealth of information to share. In Part I of our conversation, Dr. Huff shares her personal battle with Xanax, the difference between dependence and addiction, and how being a physician influenced her experience in withdrawal. We also share some comments about self-talk and ...

Do we get sick more often during benzo withdrawal? Do we get more infections? Do we suffer more hormonal imbalances? Does benzo use and withdrawal affect our immune and endocrine systems, and if so, what can we do about it? In today’s episode, we discuss benzos’ effects on these two essential systems. We also hear a story from New England, answer a question on adjuvant medication, and talk a bit about connections. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/immune-and-endocrine-symptoms-of-benzo-withdr...

Have you taken an anti-anxiety drug long-term? Do you think you might be dependent? Do you want to know what to do next? We collected some of the most respected information on benzo tapering and provided it here in this two-part series. In today’s episode, we look at possible complications, symptoms, when to take your last dose, and what it’s like when you’re finally benzo-free. We also answer a few questions on tapering and hear a story from San Diego, California. https://www.easinganxiety.co...

Benzo withdrawal can seem like an insurmountable hurdle. But the expected struggles can be eased significantly with a little education and support. Grab a plate and visit our buffet of coping skills: you just might find exactly what you need. In today’s episode, we mourn the passing of Prof. C. Heather Ashton. We announce our tribute page to her and share a message from the Ashton family. We also look at the second half of coping skills from A to Z and share a benzo story from Chicago. https:/...

“As Prescribed” is a highly anticipated, upcoming film about the benzo crises which documents personal accounts, legislative efforts, and a mountain of evidence. Listen as filmmaker Holly Hardman shares her experiences making this film. In today’s episode, we have part two of the insightful interview with Holly Hardman where she talks in-depth about her experiences with the film and the challenges she incurred along the way. We also share a benzo story from San Diego, California, and talk about...

“As Prescribed” is a highly anticipated, upcoming film about the benzo crises which documents personal accounts, legislative efforts, and a mountain of evidence. Listen as filmmaker Holly Hardman shares her experiences making this film. In today’s episode, we have part one of the insightful interview with Holly Hardman where she tells her personal benzo story and shares a few of her experiences as a filmmaker. We also have a comment about using an Ace bandage to relieve anxiety, a question abou...

Benzo withdrawal can seem like an insurmountable hurdle. But the expected struggles can be eased significantly with a little education and support. Grab a plate and visit our buffet of coping skills: you just might find exactly what you need. In today’s episode, we mourn the passing of Prof. C. Heather Ashton. We announce our tribute page to her and share a message from the Ashton family. We also look at the second half of coping skills from A to Z and share a benzo story from Chicago. https:/...

Benzo withdrawal can seem like an insurmountable hurdle. But the expected struggles can be eased significantly with a little education and support. Grab a plate and visit our buffet of coping skills: you just might find exactly what you need. In today’s episode, we look at the first half of coping skills from A to Z. We also catch up on a couple of events from last week, discuss light-headedness and P.O.T.S., answer an inquiry from a listener with mild withdrawal, and share a benzo story from C...

Agoraphobia, androphobia, social phobia, glossophobia, philophobia…and on and on. Social anxiety disorders are numerous, and in benzo withdrawal, these burdens can escalate and become isolating. Learning tools to manage them can be essential. In today’s episode, we examine the social symptoms of benzo withdrawal. We also explore muscle spasms, investigate the emotional disconnect many experience around loved ones, hear some inspirational words about moving on, and share an updated benzo story f...

We’re taking our podcast on the road. In a short road trip to Kansas City, your host shares his personal experiences traveling with protracted withdrawal symptoms and a few tips about managing symptoms while outside of our comfort zone. Today’s episode is our very first Benzo Free Road Trip. Although it was cut short mid-trip, we still have plenty of content to share on topics such as isolation, gratitude, connections, loneliness, and a whole section on managing the darkness of benzo mornings. ...

Have a quick question about benzo withdrawal? About the symptoms? About the duration of recovery? About anxiety, insomnia, or anything else which is keeping you awake at night? Listen in on our conversation and you just might learn something. In today’s episode, we provide a rapid-fire style format where we explore some common questions about benzos, withdrawal, and other related issues. We also have a story from the United Kingdom, explore our barriers to emotion, and touch on one of the more ...

Hypersensitivity. In benzo withdrawal, we feel everything…more. Learn about the parade of nerve sensation symptoms such as itching, tingling, burning, paresthesia, numbness, and extreme sensitivities to light and sound among others. In today’s episode, we explore the nerve sensations of benzo withdrawal. We also learn a bit about upcoming episodes for Benzo Free and hear a comedy of errors story about one listener’s summer adventures. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/sights-sounds-and-sensit...

Few things in life are more beneficial than a good night’s sleep. But for millions of people, especially those in benzo withdrawal, this is easier said than done. Learn some tips and tricks which may help you get the rest you so desperately need. In today’s episode, we’ll tackle the withdrawal symptoms of insomnia and nightmares. We’ll also answer a question on taper symptoms, discuss how long psychological symptoms may continue, and join D for a personal anniversary celebration. https://www.e...

The information available for benzo withdrawal can be frightening, confusing, and overwhelming. To help simplify this, Benzo Free presents a two-part series on the 20 important things to remember during this difficult time. In today’s episode, we look at the remaining eleven. We also hear a benzo story from New Orleans, respond to a question about when to start tapering, and share a comment about the length of our episodes. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/top-20-things-to-remember-in-benzo-...

The information available for benzo withdrawal can be frightening, confusing, and overwhelming. To help simplify this, Benzo Free presents a two-part series on the 20 important things to remember during this difficult time. In today’s episode, we look at the first nine. We also hear an audio story from Seattle, answer a question about substances to avoid, share a comment about gratitude, and discuss the consequences withdrawal takes on our sense of self. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/top-...

Without our muscles, we’re nothing. We can’t sit, stand, walk, eat, see, hear, or even breathe. Unfortunately, these same muscles can take a beating during benzo withdrawal. Learn what to expect and how to manage this parade of muscular mayhem. In today’s episode, we explore the muscular symptoms possible with benzo withdrawal including tightness, spasms, cramps, twitches, tics, pulls, sprains, tears, convulsions, and seizures. We also answer a question on green tea, learn about low blood press...

Our central nervous system not only provides sensations of pleasure and pain, but it also interprets our perception of reality. In benzo withdrawal, that sense of reality can be altered creating an inescapable fog of detachment and illusion. In today’s episode, we explore perceptual symptoms of benzo withdrawal including derealization, depersonalization, hallucinations, and perceptual distortions. We also answer a question on cognitive dysfunction and returning to the workplace, hear a story fr...

Geraldine Burns has been a pioneer in the benzo community for over 20 years. She is the founder of the first support group of its kind on the Internet, is host of a benzo podcast, and was a key player in the publication of the Ashton Manual. In Part II of this interview, Geraldine discusses the legislative efforts in Massachusetts, takes a look at the story behind BenzoBookReview.com, explores the continuing crisis of over-prescribing, and provides some wonderful tips for surviving withdrawal. ...

Geraldine Burns has been a pioneer in the benzo community for over 20 years. She is the founder of the first support group of its kind on the Internet, is host of a benzo podcast, and was a key player in the publication of the Ashton Manual. In Part I of this interview, Geraldine shares her personal experiences with benzos and her lessons learned about diet and healing; she looks back at her introduction to benzo activism and the beginnings of the Ashton Manual; and she discusses her adventures...

The Benzo Free Podcast has reached 25 episodes. Join us in a look back at the science, statistics, interviews, questions, comments, featured topics, news, spotlight organizations, and meditations which got us here. Thanks to everyone who has contributed, and we look forward to the next 25. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/a-look-back-the-first-25-episodes-bfp025 Video ID: BFP025 Chapters 00:00 Episode Introduction 07:40 A Look Back: Introductions 14:15 A Look Back: Mailbag 18:39 A Look Ba...