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by Jennifer Swantkowski (Author)
Are you going through benzodiazepine withdrawal? Have you had an adverse reaction to a prescribed medication or struggled to come of of a medication?
Both of these issues tend to be misunderstood and often leave individuals to suffer in silence with little to no support from the larger medical establishment. Benzodiazepines, whose most common brand names include Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium, and Librium, are widely prescribed medications that have a high potential for physical dependence and, for many, result in dire consequences when they attempt to come off.
In 2020, the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics estimated that 66 million doctor visits per year in the United States results in a prescription for a benzodiazepine for reasons ranging from anxiety, grief, and insomnia to perimenopause, headaches, and pain. Benzodiazepines are also often prescribed to help manage adverse reactions brought on by other prescription medications, such as anti-depressants, steroids, and antibiotics. While they offer short-term solutions, they can often lead to long-term pain and suffering, as well as life-limiting and, at times, fatal outcomes.
In The Waiting Room, Jennifer shares her own personal journey of an adverse reaction to a medication, which led to the prescription of a benzodiazepine and her on-going struggle with a complicated benzodiazepine withdrawal process. Pulling from her 26 years of working as a clinician in the mental health field, Jennifer offers practical advice utilizing various biopsychosocial/spiritual skills, concepts, and ideas that have proven to be helpful on her journey towards recovery.
