Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment Sun City

What is Benzos Addiction Treatment in Sun City?

If you or your loved one have problems with benzodiazepine medications, you may need benzodiazepine addiction treatment in Sun City.

Supervised treatment is essential to overcome a benzos addiction in a safe, effective manner.

In addition, the help you receive makes it much easier to steer clear of similar problems in the future.

What are Benzos?

What are benzos?

This is the name for a group of medications commonly prescribed to treat anxiety disorders.

Doctors also use these medications to treat other conditions, such as seizure disorders and insomnia.

Examples of widely used benzos include:

• Lorazepam (Brand Name: Ativan)
• Alprazolam (Brand Name: Xanax)
• Diazepam (Brand Name: Valium)
• Clonazepam (Brand Name: Klonopin)

Understanding Benzodiazepine Addiction

All benzodiazepines alter your central nervous system to work slower than normal.

This slowdown has a calming effect on your mind and body.

It can also make you feel tired or sleepy.

For these reasons, benzos are classified with a group of substances called sedatives or anxiolytics.

However, there is a serious potential drawback to using any of these medications.

When taken long enough in significant amounts, they can trigger both physiological and psychological dependence.

Physiological Dependence

Physiological dependence means that you have a physical need to take a substance in order to feel “normal.”

Psychological dependence means that you have an emotional need for a substance.

Together, these two forms of dependence contribute to addiction development.

There is no set timeline for developing a benzodiazepine addiction.

Why?

Not all of these medications are the same.

Some benzos are stronger than others.

In addition, some remain in your body longer than others.

Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction

How can you tell if you are addicted to benzos?

Doctors look for symptoms of a substance use disorder (SUD).

The specific SUD associated with benzodiazepines is called a sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder.

The 11 possible symptoms of this condition include:

• Not being able to control how often you take benzos or how much you take
• Rising tolerance of the effects of benzos
• Devoting much of your day to obtaining benzos, using them, or recovering from their effects
• Failing at least twice to stop using benzos, even when you know you want to
• Strong cravings to use benzos when doing other things
• Developing obvious mental or physical problems related to your benzo use
• Developing obvious personal or social problems related to your benzo use
• Neglecting important responsibilities as a result of your benzo use
• Using benzos more than once while driving or while engaging in other risky behaviors
• Giving up other preferred activities in favor of benzo use
• The development of withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking benzos or make quick reductions in the amount you use

If you have at least two of these symptoms, you meet the criteria for a benzo-related SUD.

However, only a doctor can make an official diagnosis.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

Benzodiazepine withdrawal can produce a wide range of symptoms.

These symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Diarrhea
• Heart palpitations
• Altered vision
• A disoriented or confused mental state
• Bouts of severe anxiety
• A paranoid mental state
• Ringing in the ears
• Loss of normal concentration
• A depressed state of mind
• Loss of contact with reality
• Mild to severe seizures

Benzodiazepine Addiction and Mental Illness

Substance problems and mental illness often occur together.

Half of all people with a SUD also suffer from mental illness.

At the same time, half of all people with a mental illness suffer from a SUD.

Doctors refer to the combination of these health concerns as dual diagnosis.

Can a dual diagnosis occur in people who take benzos? Yes.

Evidence shows that many benzo users have both substance and mental health problems.

Not all of those affected by mental health disorders are addicted to benzodiazepines. However, the presence of dual diagnosis increases your chances of abusing benzos.

Emerald Isle’s Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment in Sun City

Detox

The first step in addressing benzo addiction is detoxification or detox.

The main goal of detox is to get your benzo use under control and make it through the withdrawal process safely and as comfortably as possible.

However, you should not stop taking benzodiazepines right away. If you tried to do this, you could develop severe or even life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

Instead, during detox, you will likely start taking a controlled dose of a safer form of benzodiazepine medication.

Doctors often use Diazepam/Valium for this purpose.

As you make progress in detox, you will receive smaller and smaller doses of this medication.

This technique is known as tapering. Tapering helps you move toward benzo abstinence while avoiding the worst of withdrawal.

During detox for benzodiazepines in Sun City, you also receive supportive care.

This type of care includes aspects such as:

• Regular checks of your vital signs
• Use of IV fluids if you have any symptoms of dehydration
• Use of supplements if you have vitamin or electrolyte deficiencies

In addition, you may receive medication. For example, if you experience seizures, your doctor may prescribe an anticonvulsant.

Behavioral Therapy

Your benzo addiction recovery plan will also include behavioral therapy.

One common treatment option is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT helps you:

• Understand your motivations for substance use
• Learn how to recognize the things that trigger substance use
• Develop coping skills that help you stay sober in everyday life

Evidence shows that the benefits of behavioral therapies can help you get sober and maintain your sobriety long-term.