Podcasts about klonopin

In this episode, I address two deeply personal listener questions that highlight the complex nature of anxiety and emotional healing in relationships. The first question comes from a listener who has struggled with anxiety for most of their life, recently facing severe limitations due to Generalized Anxiety Disorder and medication changes. We talk about the genetic components of anxiety, the risks of benzodiazepines in older adults, and the importance of advocating for the right care—even if that means seeking new providers or considering higher levels of treatment. The second question dives into the emotional fallout after infidelity. A listener is working to rebuild their marriage after their wife's emotional and physical affairs but finds themselves overwhelmed by anger and trauma in the aftermath. I explore the importance of time, trauma-informed coping strategies, and how rebuilding trust is possible with consistent effort and support. Whether you're dealing with anxiety yourself or navigating complex relationship dynamics, this episode offers validation, practical advice, and hope. Key Discussion Points Question 1: Genetic Anxiety and Benzodiazepines Anxiety can be partially genetic—up to 50% of risk may be inherited. Environmental factors, early life experiences, and chronic stress also play key roles. Long-term anxiety can even change brain structures like the amygdala. Benzodiazepines such as Xanax and Klonopin can be risky for older adults, but abrupt changes in medication are harmful and inappropriate. Importance of finding the right provider—psychiatric care may be more appropriate than primary care in severe cases. Options like partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, or even voluntary hospitalization if suicidal thoughts worsen. Consideration of alternative treatments like TMS, ketamine therapy, EMDR, or comprehensive medical workups. Encouragement and validation that meaningful change is possible—even later in life. Question 2: Healing from Infidelity Emotional and physical infidelity can lead to feelings of inadequacy and intense emotional reactivity. The resurfacing of past wounds during present-day arguments is a trauma response. Healing takes time; both partners must commit to rebuilding trust. Grounding, breathing, and self-regulation tools are essential in emotional moments. Individual therapy and journaling can help process complex feelings and trauma. Couples therapy with a specialist in infidelity recovery can provide structure and support. It's possible to rebuild a stronger relationship—but it takes honest effort from both sides. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:12 – Listener question: Is anxiety genetic? 03:22 – Genetics vs. environment in anxiety development 05:10 – Medication history and benzodiazepine concerns for older adults 08:45 – Advocating for appropriate psychiatric care 12:30 – Suicidal thoughts and higher levels of support 14:50 – Exploring alternative and emerging treatment options 17:15 – Words of encouragement and validation 19:45 – Listener question: Coping with infidelity and feeling inadequate 21:20 – Emotional fallout and trauma from betrayal 24:10 – Regulating emotional responses during arguments 26:00 – The role of time, patience, and couples therapy 28:20 – Journaling and individual processing for long-term healing 31:10 – Rebuilding a stronger relationship after infidelity 33:00 – Closing thoughts and takeaways Resources & Links Website: http://duffthepsych.com Email: duffthepsych@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@duffthepsych Instagram: https://instagram.com/duffthepsych If today's episode resonated with you, consider leaving a review or sharing it with someone who could use the support. Your stories and questions continue to make this podcast what it is—thank you for being here. Until next time, take care and keep pushing forward. You've got this.

Ask David: Getting Off Benzos How Does Music Stir Our Emotions? Combatting Negative Thoughts about the World Treating Schizophrenia with TEAM The Four Feared Fantasy Techniques and more! Questions for today: Mamunur asks: What's the best way to withdraw from benzodiazepines? Gray asks: How does music evoke such powerful emotional reactions? Josh thanks David for techniques that have helped in his personal and professional life. Harold asks: How do you respond to negative thoughts about the world, as opposed to self-criticisms? For example, “The world is filled with so little joy and so much suffering.” Moritz asks: How do you help people with bipolar, schizophrenia, etc.? John expresses gratitude for our answer to his question on Positive Reframing, which triggered an “ah ha moment.” Rhonda asks: What are the four Feared Fantasy Techniques? The answers below were written prior to the podcast. Listen to the podcast for the dialogue among Rhonda, Matt, and David, as much more emerges from the discussions! Mamunur asks: What's the best way to withdraw from benzodiazepines? Ask David, Bangladesh question Dear Sir, I am writing to you from Bangladesh. Your book Feeling Good is a phenomenal work, and it has greatly helped in promoting the development of a healthy mind through logic and reason. Sir, I have a question regarding benzodiazepine withdrawal, which is often prescribed for mental health disorders. Is there a specific CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) approach that can help in withdrawing from benzodiazepines? Your guidance on this would be invaluable, as many people have been taking it for years, either knowingly or unknowingly, without being fully aware of its severe withdrawal effects. Thank you, sir, for your kind contributions to humanity. Sincerely, Mamunur Rahman Senior Lecturer David's reply Dear Mamunur, Thank you for your important question! I am so glad you like my book, Feeling Good, and appreciate your kind comments! As a general rule, slow taper off of benzodiazepines is recommended. This might involve slowly decreasing the dose over a period of several weeks. When I was younger I used to take 0.25 mg of Xanax for sleep, because it was initially promoted as being non-addictive, which was wrong. It is highly addictive. The dose I used was the smallest dose. When I realized that I was “hooked,” I tapered off of it over about a week, and simply put up with the side effects of withdrawal, primarily an increase of anxiety and difficulty sleeping. These disappeared after several weeks. Abrupt withdrawal from high doses of any benzodiazepine can trigger seizures, as I'm sure you know. That is the biggest danger, perhaps. I do recall a published study from years ago conducted at Harvard, I believe at McClean Hospital. The divided two groups of people hooked on Xanax into two groups. Both groups were switched to Klonopin which has a longer “half-life” in the blood and is supposedly a bit easier to withdraw from than Xanax, which goes out of the blood rapidly, causing more sudden and intense withdrawal effects. After this initial phase, both groups continued with slowly tapering off the Klonopin under the guidance of medical experts. However, one of the groups also attended weekly cognitive therapy groups, learning about how to combat the distorted thoughts that trigger negative feelings like anxiety and depression. My memory of the study is that the group receiving cognitive therapy plus drug management did much better. As I recall, 80% of them were able to withdraw successfully. However, the group receiving drug management alone did poorly, with only about 20% achieving withdrawal. My memory of the details may be somewhat faulty, but the main conclusion was clear that the support of the group cognitive therapy greatly enhanced the success of withdrawal from benzodiazepines. I decided early in my career not to prescribe benzodiazepines like Ativan, Valium, Librium, Xanax, and Klonopin for depression or anxiety, because the drug-free methods I and others have developed are very powerful, and the use of benzos can actually make the outcomes worse. Years back, a research colleague from Canada, Henny Westra, PhD, reviewed the world literature on treatment of anxiety with CBT plus benzos and concluded that the benzos did not enhance outcomes. Here is the link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12214810/. I hope this information is useful and I will include this in a future Feeling Good Podcast.   Gray asks: How does music evoke such powerful emotional reactions? Subject: Re: Podcast question: love songs Hi David, That's a really tough question. Music has a unique way of cutting straight to emotions for me, and it makes it especially hard to identify the thoughts behind them. My best way of explaining is with these two thoughts, which have to be viewed as a pair to get that emotional reaction: My life would be perfect if I had that I'm so far away from that These thoughts don't resonate quite right for me, but it's something like that, going from imagining bliss to crashing to hopelessness within the space of a moment. Thank you so much for your response. Gray David's reply You're right. Music can be so beautiful, especially of course, the songs we love, that it is magical and emotional to listen to! It seems more like a sensory experience, than something mediated by thoughts, but we certainly have perceptions of beauty, etc. Similar with some incredibly delicious food. Creates incredible delight and satisfaction, and no words are necessary other than “delicious!” Sorry I can't give you a better answer to your outstanding question! Best, david   Josh thanks David for techniques that have helped in his personal and professional life. Dear Dr. Burns, I am sure you are swamped with substantive emails and fan mail, but I just wanted to express appreciation to you for all I have gained from your publicly available content. I have learned so much that I have applied in my personal life. I have also benefited tremendously in my work with clients. So much of what you say about anxiety, and especially the hidden emotion technique, has allowed clients to have in almost every session an aha moment. I have not yet been able to see a complete removal of symptoms in one session yet, but as a therapist, I too have many skills yet to improve and much work to do. So, in short, thank you so much for making your experience and wisdom available for free, and thank you for doing it in such an engaging manner. Sincerely, Josh Farkas   David's Reply Thanks, Josh. You are welcome to join our weekly virtual free training group I offer as part of my volunteer work for Stanford, if interested. For more complete change within sessions, a double session (two hours) in my experience is vastly more effective. Is it okay to read your kind note on a podcast? Warmly, david   Harold asks: How do you respond to negative thoughts about the world, as opposed to self-criticisms? For example, “The world is filled with so little joy and so much suffering.” Dear Dr. Burns, First of all, I would like to thank you for all your work and your outreach. Your books have profoundly influenced my thinking and value system. I really admire how you exemplify both scientific rigor and human warmth. Finally, I want to thank you for promoting the idea of “Rejection Practice! I haven't had a breakthrough yet, but some unexpected, very encouraging experiences. I first came across Feeling Good 12 years ago when I developed moderate depression in the context of living with my ex-partner, who probably had borderline personality disorder. I tried the techniques in Feeling Good and also psychotherapy, but unfortunately without much success. I only started feeling a lot better when I began to rebuild my social life and leisure time activities (ballroom dancing, getting involved with a church, ...). Several months later, I also broke up with my ex-girlfriend. Since then, I've had ongoing mild depression. I recently tried the techniques in Feeling Great but wanted to ask you for your opinion on a couple of negative thoughts I'm particularly stuck with. My issue is that I'm normally not attacking myself, but life in general. I keep on telling myself things like "Life is just one crisis after the other," "Life is for the lucky ones," "Really good things just don't want to happen," "Life is so much suffering and so little joy," and the depression itself makes these statements all the more convincing. (Triggering events can be rainy holidays, romantic rejections, grant interview rejections, etc.) I think it could be helpful if in a podcast you could give more examples on resolving negative thoughts attacking life / the world rather than oneself. I also have many more questions for podcasts if you are interested. Thank you for reading this, and thank you so much again for all your work! With very best wishes, Harold   David's Reply Happy to address this on an Ask David, and it would help if you could let me know what negative feelings you have, and how strong they are. I will be answer in a general way, and not engaging you in therapy, which cannot be done in this context. Is that okay? I'm attaching a Daily Mood Log to help organize your thoughts and feelings. Send it back if you can with the Event, Negative Feelings and % Now columns filled out (0-100), and Negative thoughts and belief in each (0-100). You can also fill in the distortion column using abbreviations, like AON for All-or-Nothing, SH for Should Statement or Hidden Should, MF for Mental filtering, DP for Discounting the Positives, and so forth. Thanks! If you were in a session with me, or if we were just friends talking, I would reply to your complaints with the Disarming Technique, Thought and Feeling Empathy, “I Feel” Statements, Stroking, and Inquiry, like this: Harold: “Life is so much suffering and so little joy." David: “I'm sad to hear you say that, but you're right. There's an enormous amount of suffering in the world, like the horrible wars in Ukraine and in the Mid-East. (I feel; Disarming Technique) It makes sense that you'd be upset, and have all kinds of feelings, even anger since there's so much cruelty, too. (Feeling Empathy) And even people who appear positive and joyful often have inner sadness and loneliness that they are hiding. (Disarming Technique) Your comment tells me a great deal about your core values on honesty and compassion for others. (Stroking) Can you tell me more about the suffering that you've seen that has saddened you the most, and how you feel inside? (Inquiry) But I'm mainly interested in you right now. Can you tell me more about YOUR suffering, and especially if there's some problem you might want some help with? (Inquiry; Changing the Focus) I would continue this strategy until you gave me an A on Empathy, and then I would go on to the A of TEAM (Assessing Resistance), and ask what kind of help, if any, you'd be look for in today's session. I might also use a paradox, like the Acid Test. If you wanted to reduce some of your negative feelings, I might try a variety of techniques, such as “How Many Minutes?” I'd also think about the Hidden Emotion Technique. Is there some problem in your life right now that you're not dealing with, so you instead obsess about the problems in the world to distract yourself? I would continue this strategy until you gave me an A on Empathy, and then I would go on to the A of TEAM (Assessing Resistance), and ask what kind of help, if any, you'd be look for in today's session. I might also use a paradox, like the Acid Test. If you wanted to reduce some of your negative feelings, I might try a variety of techniques, such as “How Many Minutes?” I'd also think about the Hidden Emotion Technique. Is there some problem in your life right now that you're not dealing with, so you instead obsess about the problems in the world to distract yourself? I ask this because your negative thoughts are very general, but I always focus only on specifics, specific problems and moments. What's has been going on with your parents or in the past or present that you are distressed about? I've found that when I (or my patients) solve one specific problem that's bugging me, everything seems to suddenly brighten up. For example, you wrote : “I asked someone out I like; she surprisingly said yes. After 10 days of not hearing from her, I messaged her, . . . “ I wrote a book about dating, Intimate Connections, because I was a nurd and had a lot to learn about dating. One idea is that waiting 10 days might not be a good idea to arrange the specifics of the date, as that might make her feel uneasy. There's a lot to learn about dating, for example. A tool like the Pleasure Predicting Sheet can sometimes help, too. And finally, a good therapist can also often speed things up. Sometimes two heads are better than one. You seem extremely smart and willing to work hard, so there's all kinds of room for growth, learning, and greater joy. The Feeling Great App is NOT therapy, but the tools there might also be helpful, especially since you are willing to work hard a do a lot. That's super important. Can I use this email in my reply in the show notes if we discuss your excellent questions? And should I change your name to Harold? Warmly, david Best, david     Moritz asks: How do you help people with bipolar, schizophrenia, etc.? Hi David, You have mentioned a few times that there are only a handful of "real" psychological disorders with known causes, as opposed to just a collection of symptoms. Could you please tell a bit about how you would go about helping somebody with one of the "real" disorders (like Schizophrenia or Bipolar) using TEAM therapy? Most of the episodes with personal work seem to fall into the other category (anxiety, depression, compulsive behavior), so I'd be really curious about some examples. Best regards, Moritz Lenz   David's Reply Hi Moritz, Thanks! Good question, and happy to address this on an Ask David. Here's the answer in a nutshell. When working with someone with schizophrenia, the goal is to help them develop greater happiness and interpersonal functioning, exactly the same as with anyone else, using TEAM. The goal is not to cure schizophrenia, because we still do not know the cause and there is no cure. But we can help individuals with schizophrenia with problems that they are having. Bipolar: in the manic phase, usually strong meds are indicated, and often at least one hospitalization. For the rest of their lives, including depression, TEAM works great. Can add more in the podcast. Best, david   John expresses gratitude for answer his question on Positive Reframing, which triggered an “ah ha moment.” Hi David and Rhonda! I have listened to Episode 415 and your response to my positive reframing question! I had a bit of a aha moment! I think I had been approaching it in the cheerleading sense and trying to encourage myself with these positive qualities rather than attaching the positives to the negative thoughts and feelings themselves! This has created a much stronger emotional response during the positive reframing section! The building up of the negative thoughts and feelings is a gamechanger! Thanks so much for the time and attention given to it during the podcast. Thanks so much again, I appreciate you folks way more than you could know! John David's Reply Thanks, Rhonda and John. Yes, you've pointed out a huge error many people make when trying to grasp positive reframing. If it is okay, we can include your comment in a future podcast. Warmly, david   Rhonda asks about the four Feared Fantasy Techniques: David's Reply Here are the four Feared Fantasy Techniques Approval Addiction / Perceived Perfectionism: “I judge you.” Achievement Addiction: “High School Reunion.” Love Addiction: Rejection Feared Fantasy Submissiveness: No Practice There are quite a number of additional role plays, too, as you know. Maybe a question about all the role plays, bc we all have: Self-Critical Thoughts: Paradoxical and Straightforward Double Standard Externalization of Voices Uncovering Techniques Man from Mars Tempting Thoughts Devil's Advocate Technique Tic-Tok Technique Resistance Externalization of Resistance How Many Minutes? Five Secrets / Relationship Conflict Intimacy Exercise One Minute-Drill I'll bet you can think of more, too! This is one of the unique features of TEAM, but for whatever reason it seems like few therapists use them. As you know, on average they tend to be way more potent and emotional, and of course fast impact. Warmly, david

I am thrilled to have Dr. Olivera Bogunovic and Holly Hardman with me on the show today. Dr. Bogunovic is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the medical director of the alcohol, drug, and addiction outpatient program at the McLean Hospital, and Holly directed the documentary As Prescribed. In today's discussion, we dive into the ongoing benzodiazepine crisis in the United States, with over 92 million prescriptions written each year for medications like Ativan, Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin. We discuss the origin of those drugs in the 1970s as treatments for anxiety and how they lead to tremendous physical dependency. Holly shares her experience with the neurological effects she suffered after long-term use of Klonopin, and we examine challenges in psychiatric care, the need for informed consent, and the impact of social media. We also cover the role of lifestyle, the need for psychotherapy and psychosocial support, and the significance of hope. This conversation is truly invaluable! Given how frequently benzodiazepines get prescribed, everyone must understand their associated risks and considerations. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How prescribing practices have evolved over the last two decades The significant consequences older adults face when they suddenly stop using benzodiazepines  Holly shares how doctors misinformed her when she began taking Klonopin.  Holly describes the benzodiazepine-induced symptoms and cognitive issues she experienced Why people must get informed about the long-term effects of benzodiazepines when consenting to take them How benzodiazepines work in the body and impact the brain Why benzodiazepines are ineffective when used long-term for insomnia The challenges certain people face when accessing psychiatric care What is BIND, and what are its symptoms? The significance of diet and holistic approaches for managing mental health and why community support is essential in the recovery process Why As Prescribed is an educational documentary for everyone Connect with Cynthia Thurlow   Follow on Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Check out Cynthia's website Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com Connect with Dr. Olivera Bogunovic The McLean Hospital (in Boston) The documentary, As Prescribed, is available in the United States and Canada on Prime Video, Apple, Kanopy, Tubi, and Google.

SWWE #85: "Kombucha and Klonopin, Gieskes and Guitars" https://soundcloud.com/eptc/sets/spoken-word-with-electronics-episode-85 Kombucha and Klonopin. It's how I got sober. Kombucha and Klonopin. You're bringing me down. From episode 85 of Spoken Word with Electronics. See all episodes at: https://soundcloud.com/you/albums Support the show with a book purchase at: https://www.ep.tc/books

From a young age, James T. Morrison used drugs to help him feel better. He started with pills that were prescribed to him–medications like Xanax and Klonopin–but he soon moved on to basically whatever he could get his hands on. In this episode, James discusses his experience with substance use disorder, housing instability, and the criminal justice system. At a time when public officials and policy experts are debating ways to address the overdose crisis in the U.S., James discusses what humane drug policies could look like and how we as a society need to completely change the way we talk about drug use. We first learned about James' story from an essay he wrote in Slate titled One More Day. If you'd like to check out some of our previous episodes about substance use and recover, here's a short list:  I Can't Fix It: A First Responder on Heroin I Felt Like the Story Had To Change: Life After Heroin How Jeff Daniels Got Sober, Again Falling In Love...With Heroin Margo Price After Cheating and Drinking NOTE: We want to mention that this episode mentions suicide and self harm. If you or someone you love is struggling, please call 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Podcast production by Cameron Drews Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus. And if you're new to the show, welcome. We're so glad you're here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna's newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a young age, James T. Morrison used drugs to help him feel better. He started with pills that were prescribed to him–medications like Xanax and Klonopin–but he soon moved on to basically whatever he could get his hands on. In this episode, James discusses his experience with substance use disorder, housing instability, and the criminal justice system. At a time when public officials and policy experts are debating ways to address the overdose crisis in the U.S., James discusses what humane drug policies could look like and how we as a society need to completely change the way we talk about drug use. We first learned about James' story from an essay he wrote in Slate titled One More Day. If you'd like to check out some of our previous episodes about substance use and recover, here's a short list:  I Can't Fix It: A First Responder on Heroin I Felt Like the Story Had To Change: Life After Heroin How Jeff Daniels Got Sober, Again Falling In Love...With Heroin Margo Price After Cheating and Drinking NOTE: We want to mention that this episode mentions suicide and self harm. If you or someone you love is struggling, please call 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Podcast production by Cameron Drews Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus. And if you're new to the show, welcome. We're so glad you're here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna's newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a young age, James T. Morrison used drugs to help him feel better. He started with pills that were prescribed to him–medications like Xanax and Klonopin–but he soon moved on to basically whatever he could get his hands on. In this episode, James discusses his experience with substance use disorder, housing instability, and the criminal justice system. At a time when public officials and policy experts are debating ways to address the overdose crisis in the U.S., James discusses what humane drug policies could look like and how we as a society need to completely change the way we talk about drug use. We first learned about James' story from an essay he wrote in Slate titled One More Day. If you'd like to check out some of our previous episodes about substance use and recover, here's a short list:  I Can't Fix It: A First Responder on Heroin I Felt Like the Story Had To Change: Life After Heroin How Jeff Daniels Got Sober, Again Falling In Love...With Heroin Margo Price After Cheating and Drinking NOTE: We want to mention that this episode mentions suicide and self harm. If you or someone you love is struggling, please call 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Podcast production by Cameron Drews Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus. And if you're new to the show, welcome. We're so glad you're here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna's newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a young age, James T. Morrison used drugs to help him feel better. He started with pills that were prescribed to him–medications like Xanax and Klonopin–but he soon moved on to basically whatever he could get his hands on. In this episode, James discusses his experience with substance use disorder, housing instability, and the criminal justice system. At a time when public officials and policy experts are debating ways to address the overdose crisis in the U.S., James discusses what humane drug policies could look like and how we as a society need to completely change the way we talk about drug use. We first learned about James' story from an essay he wrote in Slate titled One More Day. If you'd like to check out some of our previous episodes about substance use and recover, here's a short list:  I Can't Fix It: A First Responder on Heroin I Felt Like the Story Had To Change: Life After Heroin How Jeff Daniels Got Sober, Again Falling In Love...With Heroin Margo Price After Cheating and Drinking NOTE: We want to mention that this episode mentions suicide and self harm. If you or someone you love is struggling, please call 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Podcast production by Cameron Drews Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus. And if you're new to the show, welcome. We're so glad you're here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna's newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is deathsexmoney@slate.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in the day there was a commercial for a pain reliever called Anacin, which was so psychotically hilarious that its catch phrase instantly became a “viral” meme, way before that term was invented. Even as 10 year olds, we would go around screaming: “Mother, PLEASE, I'd rather do it myself!!” Imitating the emotionally wrecked housewife in the ad. Nowadays, such an outburst would probably result in a Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, or Ativan prescription.Jo Ann Campbell and the folks at Cameo Parkway records wasted no daylight in capitalizing on this phenomenon when they created this winking homage. The singer growls at her mother when the poor parent is only trying to keep her little virgin from getting pregnant. But, the teen has other ideas: She's out to learn about sex the old fashioned way (just like mom did) - and, when you see videos of Ms. Campbell, “The Blonde Bombshell” you'll understand why there was to be no containing that character's animal energy. 

Michelle Keller is an assistant professor of gerontology and the Leonard and Sophie Davis Early Career Chair in Minority Aging at the USC Leonard Davis School. She spoke to us about her research focused on improving patient-clinician communication, medication management, and the identification of dementia in minority older adults. Here are highlights from our conversation. On polypharmacy “When it comes to older adults and medications, it's important to understand that while medications can be incredibly beneficial for treating various conditions, they can also present really unique risks in this population. Older adults often take multiple medications at the same time. This is what we call polypharmacy.” “Older adults can be more sensitive to certain medications, they might experience side effects more intensely or even at lower doses than younger individuals. … This is particularly true for medications that affect our central nervous system, our brain, right? So, thinking about medications that are sedating or that have some sort of psychoactive effect. These medications, especially when they're combined together, can lead to things like confusion, dizziness and an increased risk of falls.” On her study of interventions to address polypharmacy “What we found in this study was that interventions to address polypharmacy can do a great job of reducing medications which are potentially harmful, identifying which medications people should be taking, improving the appropriateness of the medications people are taking, and reducing the total number of medications. So thinking about outcomes related to medications, what we have found is that it is really hard to change more downstream clinical outcomes, things like mortality, falls, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits. We did find that interventions that had multiple components; in other words, where a clinician is meeting face to face with a patient, reviewing their medications, reviewing all the chronic diseases that they have, along with their full patient history of what has happened to them in the past, those interventions tend to have a greater effect on mortality. So in other words, those types of interventions are reducing the risk of that someone actually dies.” “We also found that falls decrease when patients fully stop potentially harmful medications. These may be medications where somebody is feeling very dizzy or that make people feel very dizzy or drowsy, medications that may control somebody's blood sugar a little bit too much… So, their blood pressure's a little too low and they may actually fall as a result of these medications. But what we found was that stopping medications such as benzodiazepines, which are often taken for sleep or anxiety, can take months. These types of medications can have withdrawal effects. And so it's really, really important for somebody to work very closely with a healthcare provider to slowly taper these medications down to try to reduce those withdrawal effects.” “What we have found in working with other researchers and clinicians is that when patients team up with a healthcare provider, such as their primary care physician or clinical pharmacist who's embedded in the healthcare system, they really are able to stop taking some of these medications, and they feel a lot better. They feel much more energy, they're able to do the things that they really enjoy. They have a greater quality of life. But it's something that just takes time.” On the Empower Intervention for benzodiazepines “The typical recommendation for benzodiazepines is that they really should be taken short-term. These are medications that physicians typically recommend somebody take for a maximum of four weeks. What we have found in some of our research is that people are actually taking these for years, if not decades. And so stopping these medications can be quite challenging, and sometimes patients aren't fully convinced about why they should be stopping these medications. So, we took an intervention that started in Canada. It was developed by researchers in Quebec, and this is called the Empower Intervention. And what we did is we tailored it to a health system here in the US. The Empower Intervention is a really great brochure that contains some pretty striking facts about benzodiazepines.” “To give you some examples of benzodiazepine, these are like your Xanax, your Ativan, your Klonopin; these are the medications that we're talking about here. These brochures highlighted some really interesting facts, such as the fact that they can be harmful or linked to hip fractures and car accidents, and they can make people feel very tired and weak. What we did for this intervention is we sent these brochures to about 300 people along with a letter from their primary care physician, emphasizing that these medications can be harmful if taken for too long and especially among older adults. So what we did for this study is we compared patients who had received these brochures to patients who did not receive them. So they're going on usual care. Their physicians may have mentioned something to them, this was our control group, right? We didn't send anything to this particular group.” “We reviewed the medical records for both groups, and we looked at what kinds of medications they had been prescribed. And what we found is that patients who received the brochures were really activated. You know, when they received this messaging they would send messages in the patient portal to their physicians saying, ‘I didn't know that there were these risks of these medications. I would really like to come in and talk to you about them.' They made appointments to start tapering down these medications. What we found was for every 10 brochures that we sent, one person completely stopped taking these medications, which is a really good return on investment. This is a simple intervention. It has now been done in some other health systems in the US, particularly the Veterans Affairs health system.” On challenges in de-prescribing “I think some of the challenges that physicians face in de-prescribing is that de-prescribing takes a lot of time. As we all know, our primary care visits are very short; physicians, particularly in the primary care setting, are really rushed through their visits. And so I think having some of these conversations can just be something that's challenging. I also think they're quite complex conversations to have. They may not have received the training, for example, on how to taper a medication in a safe way so that a patient does not feel withdrawal effects. And I do think that there is something about getting physician buy-in … they are concerned [that] if they bring it up, the patient may be angry with them; they may be upset. And so I think really showing physicians ways in which this can be brought up that are really framed around ‘how do we center the patient's health and quality of life' – I think those are still questions that we as researchers are working on.” On the role of caregivers “It's really important for caregivers to be aware of the medications their loved ones are taking for many reasons. I think they can be amazing advocates in helping bring up potential side effects during doctor's visits. So, for example, if a caregiver is noticing that someone is feeling drowsy or doesn't have that much energy or is feeling dizzy, any sort of cognitive impairments such as those that may be seen in dementia, [they] may actually be a result of medication side effects. So, I think really becoming an advocate for somebody when seeing the doctor is one really important thing that caregivers can do.”  “Another area where caregivers can play a really important role is among people with dementia. People with dementia can have really some challenges in managing their medications. They may miss doses, they may take several medications twice, so they may have an overdose, or they may take the wrong medication altogether. So, caregivers can play really pivotal roles in helping somebody manage medication changes. There have been some early interventions looking at how to engage caregivers and persons with dementia. And some of the challenges that those researchers have seen is that there [is] often more than one person actually caring for somebody with dementia. And so, engaging that whole group of people who may be working with that person has been a real challenge.” On challenges facing patients with language barriers  “There is research showing that patients with language barriers have a greater risk of being hospitalized or re-hospitalized because of some of the communication challenges that come with medication management. So, you can imagine that, for example, older adults and their caregivers with language barriers may have a difficult time understanding medication instructions, which can lead to improper use. So when and how to take medications, recognizing potential side effects, understanding the purpose of each medication. And on top of that, you can layer on things, like if somebody doesn't have a great understanding of the condition. We call that disease literacy, or they may have health literacy issues.” “Right now, a mentee and I are working on this review of interventions that have been done specifically for patients with language barriers focused on improving medication management. And what we found was that interventions that really engaged people from communities with language barriers have been some of the most effective ways to really help people learn about which medications are working really well for them, how to improve medication adherence and other important outcomes. So, for example, an intervention that we found was researchers engaged folks in the community, co-created videos about medications in the community and why it was important to take them. And then when they actually distributed these interventions, they made sure that both in terms of the videos and some of the other educational materials that were handed out to folks that these really were very tailored both language-wise, literacy-wise, and culturally tailored to the communities that they were serving.” On new dementia medications and disparities in the diagnosis of dementia  “We are learning that older Black and Latino adults tend to get diagnosed with dementia once the disease has progressed more. And what that means is that they may not have received some of the kind of services that may help them or their families. So, for example, they may not have received enough support to be able to plan for the rest of their lives, or their families may not necessarily have received caregiving support early on in disease progress.” “I think in regard to these particular dementia medications, for example, if older adults are diagnosed with dementia at a place where they're no longer eligible to receive these medications, I think that'll be a really pretty serious health equity issue. So, I am really interested in how we make sure that people are getting diagnosed in time to make them eligible for really potentially beneficial treatments that may help them down the road.” On effective strategies for de-prescribing  “The most effective strategies that we see de-prescribing these medications is offering something else. So, for example, some of the most evidence for insomnia really exists around the use of using cognitive behavioral therapy. There's also been well-done systematic reviews that have found evidence that music or acupuncture may help people with insomnia. … I think one thing that's very important to think about when we de-prescribe medications is what else can we offer people? We're not just leaving people in the lurch and saying, ‘We're taking this away and we're leaving you with nothing.' We're actually able to offer them some non-pharmacological options as well.” Transcript Speaker 1 (00:02): One thing that's very important to think about when we de-prescribe medications is: what else can we offer people? We're not just leaving people in the lurch and saying, we're taking this away and we're leaving you with nothing. We're actually able to offer them some non-pharmacological options as well Speaker 2 (00:17): From the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, this is Lessons in Lifespan Health, a podcast about the science and scientists improving how we live and age. I'm Orli Belman, Chief Communications Officer. On today's episode: how Professor Michelle Keller is working with older adults, caregivers and clinicians to manage the use and potential overuse of high risk medications. Michelle Keller is an Assistant Professor of Gerontology and the Leonard and Sophie Davis Early Career Chair in Minority Aging at the USC Leonard Davis School. Her research is focused on improving patient-clinician communication, medication management, and the identification of dementia in minority older adults. Hi, Michelle. Welcome and thank you for joining us today. Speaker 1 (01:06): Thank you so much for having me. Speaker 2 (01:08): I wanna start by asking you to talk about older adults and medications. We can all understand why medications are beneficial, but when it comes to older adults, what are some of the ways they can be problematic? Speaker 1 (01:19): Absolutely. So when it comes to older adults and medications, it's important to understand that while medications can be incredibly beneficial for treating various conditions, they can also present really unique risks in this population. So older adults often take multiple medications at the same time. This is what we call polypharmacy. Polypharmacy can increase the risk of drug interactions, right? So I like to think of the example of a suitcase, right? So imagine that you are packing up, getting ready to go to a trip. You start putting one thing into the suitcase, gets a little heavy, but you can manage it, right? You're suddenly adding more and more things and the suitcase is getting heavier and heavier to the point where you actually throw out your back at the airport, right? This is really what I think of when our bodies are kind of processing multiple medications at once with the additional challenge that some of these drugs may actually interact with one another. Speaker 1 (02:15): This is why it's so important for patients to talk to their doctors about the medications they're taking and the potential risks of each medication as people get older. I think one thing that people don't often think about is that when clinical trials are being done, often many clinical trials have excluded older adults. So we don't always have a great sense of how these medications work in older adult populations. And on top of that, they may exclude people with chronic conditions who are already taking a variety of other medications. And so as a result, what is happening now is that we have many people who are taking these medications, and it hasn't been well tested in these populations. It hasn't really been, you know, we don't have a clear sense of what is happening when all of these medications are being taken together. So polypharmacy can really increase the risk of drug interactions. Speaker 1 (03:09): As I was saying, when one medication affects another, and this can lead to a variety of adverse effects. So for example, if someone is taking multiple medications that make you feel drowsy or sleepy when you stack them on top of each other–thinking again about that suitcase, that can lead someone to have an increased risk of falls, potentially a fracture resulting from those falls, car accidents if they're feeling very drowsy or dizzy and other medications can increase our risk of internal bleeding. Another thing that's really important to think about for older adults is that as we get older, our bodies undergo various changes that can alter how our medications are absorbed, distributed, and actually excreted from the body. So for example, kidney and liver function can really decline with age. And so that can actually affect how well we process the drugs through our body. Speaker 1 (04:05): What that means is that drugs may stay in our bodies for longer periods of time leading to more side effects or adverse effects. The last thing I really wanted to bring up is this idea of how things change as we get older. So we maybe have been taking a medication for many years, but as we get older because of the changes that are happening within our body, some medications, which were fine for us when we were younger, are now gonna lead to more serious adverse effects now that we're older. So older adults can be more sensitive to certain medications, so they might experience side effects more intensely or even at lower doses than younger individuals. They might feel the effects. So this is particularly true for medications that affect our central nervous system, our brain, right? So thinking about medications that are sedating or that have some sort of psychoactive effect. Speaker 1 (05:04): These medications, especially when they're combined together, can lead to things like confusion, dizziness, and an increased risk of falls. One medication which people often take to help them sleep is Benadryl or Tylenol PM. This medication is actually a drug that's really recommended to avoid in older adults because it can be very sedating, making people feel very drowsy throughout the day. And it actually also has the effects on the brain and has been associated with a higher increased risk of dementia. So these are medications that again, we don't think of as generally harmful, but again, in an older person might really be an issue. Speaker 2 (05:46): That's a really helpful example 'cause that's just an over the counter medication that anyone can get, even without a doctor. You recently published two papers looking at interventions for addressing polypharmacy. The first one was a review of several studies. What did you learn in that review about the effectiveness or not of programs that are designed to reduce harmful polypharmacy? Speaker 1 (06:08): So we reviewed several systematic reviews. These are collections, as you mentioned, of numerous studies to understand how well interventions to address polypharmacy are working. Many of these interventions include a process called de-prescribing, which is the process of systematically reducing or stopping medications that may no longer be beneficial or might be causing harm, particularly in older adults. The goal of deprescribing is to optimize an individual's medication regimen to improve their overall health and quality of life. What we found in this study was that interventions to address polypharmacy can do a great job of reducing medications which are potentially harmful, identifying which medications people should be taking, improving the appropriateness of the medications people are taking, and reducing the total number of medications. So thinking about outcomes related to medications, what we have found is that it is really hard to change more downstream clinical outcomes. Speaker 1 (07:11): Things like mortality falls, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits. We did find that interventions that had multiple components, in other words where a clinician is meeting face-to-face with a patient, reviewing their medications, reviewing all the chronic diseases that they have along with their full patient history of what has happened to them in the past, those interventions tend to have a greater effect on mortality. So in other words, those types of interventions are reducing the risk that someone actually dies. We also found that falls decrease when patients fully stop potentially harmful medications. So these may be medications that make people feel very dizzy or drowsy medications that may control somebody's blood sugar a little bit too much and so they're actually feeling very low blood sugar or medications where their blood pressure is overly controlled. So their blood pressure's a little too low, and they may actually fall as a result of these medications. Speaker 1 (08:12): But what we found was that stopping medications such as benzodiazepines, which are often taken for sleep or anxiety, can take months. These types of medications can have withdrawal effects. And so it's really, really important for somebody to work very closely with a healthcare provider to slowly taper these medications down, to try to reduce those withdrawal effects. And because it takes so long to fully stop these medications, it's hard for studies to really find an effect unless they're following that person for a long period of time, which studies often don't. And so that's one of the challenges that we've seen in the research is that studies haven't followed people for enough time. Or at the time that they're measuring some of these clinical outcomes, not enough time has gone by to really see the full effects. So what we have found in working with other researchers and clinicians is that when patients team up with a healthcare provider such as their primary care physician or clinical pharmacist who's embedded in the healthcare system, they really are able to stop taking some of these medications and they feel a lot better. They feel much more energy, they're able to do the things that they really enjoy. They have a greater quality of life, but it's something that just takes time. Speaker 2 (09:28): And I imagine it's something you have to balance when someone really might need a medication to treat something and then managing the side effects. That's really interesting. I know the second study looked at a particular intervention and this was the use of educational materials for benzodiazepines. What led you to explore this area and what did you find? Speaker 1 (09:49): Great question. So benzodiazepines are, as I mentioned earlier, medications that are often used for sleep or anxiety. The typical recommendation for benzodiazepines is that they really should be taken short term. These are medications that, you know, physicians typically recommend somebody take for a maximum of four weeks. What we have found in some of our research is that people are actually taking these for years, if not decades. And so stopping these medications can be quite challenging and sometimes patients aren't fully convinced about why they should be stopping these medications. So we took an intervention that started in Canada. It was developed by researchers in Canada, in Quebec, and this is called the Empower Intervention. And what we did is we tailored it to a health system here in the US. The Empower Intervention is a really great brochure that contains some pretty striking facts about benzodiazepines. Speaker 1 (10:45): To give you some examples of benzodiazepine, these are like your Xanax, your Ativan, your Klonopin. These are the medications that we're talking about here. These brochures highlighted some really interesting facts such as the fact that they can be harmful or linked to hip fractures and car accidents and they can make people feel very tired and weak. What we did for this intervention is we sent these brochures to about 300 people along with a letter from their primary care physician, emphasizing that these medications can be harmful if taken for too long and especially among older adults. So what we did for this study is we compared patients who had received these brochures to patients who did not receive them. So kind of they're going on their usual care, their physicians may have mentioned something to them. This was our control group, right? We didn't send anything to this particular group. Speaker 1 (11:40): We reviewed the medical records for both groups and we looked at what kinds of medications they had been prescribed. And what we found is that patients who received the brochures were really activated. You know, when they received this messaging, they would send messages in the patient portal to their physicians saying, I didn't know that there were these risks of these medications. I would really like to come in and talk to you about them. They made appointments to start tapering down these medications. What we found was for every 10 brochures that we sent, one person completely stopped taking these medications, which is a really good return on investment. This is a simple intervention. It has now been done in some other health systems in the US, particularly the Veterans Affairs health system. And you know, groups have found similar effects. We also found that the probability that someone in the intervention group completely stopped their medications was about 10% greater compared to the group that did not get the brochure. Speaker 1 (12:41): So again, you know, for a cheap simple intervention, we were pretty excited about these results. What's been really interesting is I just came back from two conferences, the US De-Prescribing Research Network and the Society for General Internal Medicine Annual Meeting. And we find that other researchers are also finding that engaging patients in reducing these potentially harmful medications is actually one of the most effective forms of deprescribing. There have been plenty of studies where researchers have actually engaged physicians and those have not been as successful. So what I'm really excited about in terms of thinking about future interventions is, how do we really engage patients in learning about what are the best options for them to manage their health? Speaker 2 (13:28): So you just said that physicians, it's been a little harder to see change in their prescribing behaviors. What do we know about ways they can introduce the idea of reducing or stopping a medication? Speaker 1 (13:39): Yeah, I think it's a great question. I think communicating when, how and why a medication should be reduced or stopped can be really challenging. What researchers have found is that when physicians focus on improving a patient's quality of life, that is what is most effective. So for example, thinking about stopping or reducing certain medications can give somebody more energy, help them move around better, they're not feeling as unsteady on their feet or dizzy. They can think more clearly because they're no longer feeling feelings of brain fog or sleepiness or drowsiness. I think these can be some really effective messages. I think some of the challenges that physicians face in de-prescribing is that de-prescribing takes a lot of time. As we all know, our primary care visits are very short. Physicians, particularly in the primary care setting, are really rushed through their visits. And so I think having some of these conversations can just be something that's challenging. Speaker 1 (14:41): I also think they're quite complex conversations to have. They may not have received the training, for example, on how to taper a medication in a safe way so that a patient does not feel withdrawal effects. And I do think that there is something about getting physician buy-in, in terms of, they are concerned about, you know, if they bring it up, the patient may be angry with them, they may be upset. And so I think really showing physicians ways in which this can be brought up that's really framed around, how do we center the patient's health and quality of life? I think those are are still questions that we as researchers are working on. Speaker 2 (15:17): We've talked about physicians and obviously patients themselves. How about caregivers? What role can they play in helping address some of these issues? And are there interventions that especially aim to include them? Speaker 1 (15:28): Yeah, great question. I think it's really important for caregivers to be aware of the medications their loved ones are taking. For many reasons. I think they can be amazing advocates in helping bring up potential side effects during doctor's visits. So for example, if a caregiver is noticing that someone is feeling drowsy or doesn't have that much energy or is feeling dizzy, any sort of cognitive impairments, right? So, such as those that may be seen in dementia, may actually be a result of medication side effects. So I think really becoming an advocate for somebody when seeing the doctor is one really important thing that caregivers can do. Another area where caregivers can play a really important role is among people with dementia. People with dementia can have some challenges in managing their medications. They may miss doses, they may take several medications twice, so they may have an overdose or they may take the wrong medication altogether. So caregivers can play really pivotal roles in helping somebody manage medication changes. There have been some early interventions looking at how to engage caregivers and persons with dementia. And some of the challenges that those researchers have seen is that there are often more than one person actually caring for somebody with dementia. And so engaging that whole group of people who may be working with that person has been a real challenge. Speaker 2 (16:54): Are there particular challenges faciing under-resourced communities or populations with language barriers? I imagine some of this communication is even harder in these cases. What do you think needs to be done in these areas? Speaker 1 (17:09): Absolutely. There is research showing that patients with language barriers have a greater risk of being hospitalized or rehospitalized because of some of the communication challenges that come with medication management. So you can imagine that for example, you know, older adults and their caregivers with language barriers may have a difficult time understanding medication instructions, which can lead to improper use. So when and how to take medications, recognizing potential side effects, understanding the purpose of each medication. And on top of that, you can layer on things like, you know, if somebody doesn't have a great understanding of the condition, right? So we call that disease literacy. Or they may have health literacy issues, or on top of that, we may even have literacy concerns where the person does not know how to read or has a limited ability to read. So layering on all these challenges can really make it difficult to both manage your medications and communicate with physicians about their concerns or side effects regarding medications. Speaker 1 (18:14): Right now, mentee and I are working on this review of interventions that have been done specifically for patients with language barriers focused on improving medication management. And what we found was that interventions that really engaged people from communities with language barriers have been some of the most effective ways to really help people learn about which medications are working really well for them, how to improve medication adherence and other important outcomes. So for example, an intervention that we found was researchers engaged folks in the community. They co-created videos about medications in the community and why it was important to take them. And then when they actually distributed these interventions, they made sure that both in terms of the videos and some of the other educational materials that were handed out to folks, that these really were very tailored both language wise, literacy wise, and culturally tailored to the communities that they were serving. Speaker 2 (19:16): Another area I wanna touch on is your work improving doctor patient communication. And I'm curious if your background as a newspaper reporter has informed your research in this area, and what are some of the ways that patients lose out when communication is not clear? Speaker 1 (19:32): So I think a lot about how we can help clinicians communicate complex information about medications and other treatments in simple, accessible ways. Which is really something that I aimed to do as a reporter, right? When I worked as a reporter, oftentimes I would take studies from medical journals and I would break them down in a way that was really easy and accessible for the public to read. And so that is really something that I'm very interested in. How do we help clinicians do the same thing? Or if we're designing interventions for patients, how do we do something similar? How do we make the risks and benefits of medications very clear to people so that they're able to make the best decisions about those for their health? So one area that I'm really interested in is these new medications for dementia that have come out, which are the anti amyloid medications. These medications have some pretty potentially serious side effects such as brain bleeding and swelling. And I'm working on a research proposal thinking about, how do we best present these medications to patients in a way that they feel like they're able to make the best decisions for themselves and their loved ones? I think it'd be really critical, particularly in terms of health equity for people to have a very good sense of how these medications can potentially help but also understand the serious risks associated with the new dementia medications. Speaker 2 (21:02): And speaking of dementia, I think you've also looked at the diagnosis of dementia and whether or not there's differences in minority populations. Is that something you can tell us a little bit about? Speaker 1 (21:14): Absolutely. So that is an area of research that I'm actually just starting to get into because what we are learning is that older black and Latino adults tend to get diagnosed with dementia once the disease has progressed more. And what that means is that they may not have received some of the services that may help them or their families. So for example, they may not have received enough support to be able to plan for the rest of their lives, or their families may not necessarily have received caregiving support early on in disease progress. I think in regards to these particular dementia medications, for example, if older adults are diagnosed with dementia at a place where they're no longer eligible to receive these medications, I think that'll be a really pretty serious health equity issue. So I am really interested in, how do we make sure that people are getting diagnosed in time to make them eligible for really potentially beneficial treatments that may help them down the road? So I'm thinking about how do we train physicians who are working in under-resourced settings, which may serve large proportions of black and Latino older adults, how to diagnose dementia in a primary care setting, and working with some colleagues in the Los Angeles Department of Health Services on how we can think about making physicians feel more confident, their diagnosis of dementia among older adults. Speaker 2 (22:40): And I wanna go back to sleep and anxiety because I know that's something that affects so many people at all ages. If these interventions are successful and people are able to stop taking some of these medications, are there strategies or interventions that we know might work for helping them with the initial conditions they were struggling with to begin with? Speaker 1 (23:01): Yeah, absolutely. I think that's a really good question because sleep and anxiety are things that can really affect somebody's quality of life and functioning, right? The most effective strategies that we see de-prescribing these medications is offering something else. So for example, some of the most evidence for insomnia really exists around using cognitive behavioral therapy. There's also been really well done systematic reviews that have found evidence that music or acupuncture may help people with insomnia. So I think one thing that's very important to think about when we de-prescribe medications is what else can we offer people? We're not just leaving people in the lurch and saying, we're taking this away and we're leaving you with nothing. We're actually able to offer them some non-pharmacological options as well. Speaker 2 (23:48): That's a really helpful note to end on. Thank you for joining us, and I know that people are really gonna benefit from learning about all you've been working on and all your work that's gonna continue in the future. Speaker 1 (23:59): Thank you so much for having me today. It's been a real pleasure. Speaker 2 (24:02): That wraps up this lesson in Lifespan Health. Thanks to Professor Michelle Keller for her time and expertise and to all of you for choosing to listen. Join us next time for another Lesson in Lifespan Health, and please subscribe to our podcast@lifespanhealth.usc.edu. Lessons in Lifespan Health is supported by the Ney Center for Healthspan Science.

Benzo Dope is a scary, new street drug that is slowly taking over. With Tranq being a huge problem, this one isn't far behind. It is found a lot through drug testing and samples from overdose cases. It is an illicitly manufactured benzodiazepine and opioid combination. The artificial drug contains fentanyl, Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, and sometimes other illegal drugs.

Mental health comes in all shapes, sizes, and both genders. About the actual diagnosis, that's another variable. The diagnosis can come at any point in life and how a person deals with it moving forward, navigates the nuances and medications as well as any therapy plays a pivotal role in the life they're able to create.  “The way I was before I started taking the medication, I don't ever want to be that person again.” (Danny), 10:34 My guest today is a person who understands the challenges of mental health and how learning to maneuver is an ongoing occurrence. She's Kelsey Darragh, a multi-talented, creative force unlike any I've ever met. Kelsey made time to stop by and discuss her mental challenges, the various forms of treatment she's used and currently uses, dating and mental health, and much, much more! “I was getting tired of everyone saying it's going to be alright. I was like I know it's going to be alright, but when is it going to be alright?” – (Danny), 13:54 Mental health is challenging, but it's even more challenging when it gets swept under the rug or ignored. Recognizing and receiving the help that's available is life-changing and sets sufferers on a clear path to creating a life worth living. If you've been on the fence, wondering if you should move forward and get the help you need and deserve, this show is the one that will help move you into living your best life! “What do you do or where do you find yourself when everybody you're supposed to go to help you can't?” – (Kelsey), 15:30 In this episode: (3:12) – Danny's experience with Lexapro. (4:54) – Kelsey goes into her late-life panic disorder diagnosis.  (5:40) – Danny opens up and shares his first panic attack.  (6:55) – Lexapro has been the medicine of choice for Kelsey since she was 17. (8:02) – Danny discusses his challenges with impulsiveness.  (9:40) – Kelsey and Danny share their Klonopin experiences. (11:05) – Danny warns about leaning on medication too much.  (12:35) – Danny and Kelsey share their views on various medications.  (13:32) – Danny reveals that his father had to shower him in his 20's. (14:00) – Telling people it will be alright is useless.  (15:00) – Kelsey discusses how Lexapro impacts her sex drive.  (15:04) – Kelsey and ‘It's All in Your Head'.  (16:09) – Orgasms become her drug of healing. (17:02) – Her journey through her sex profile and life.  (18:30) – Danny discusses being hypersexual as a teen. (20:55) – Mental health, dating, and marriage. (21:52) – Danny reveals that the past sex lives of partners can be challenging talk.  (23:47) – Kelsey discusses the importance of sex and mental health.  (24:44) – Heart palpitations and masturbation.  (25:48) – Age and polyamorous.  (26:52) – Kelsey and the funny sex story (32:20) – Kelsey and the prospects of being a mother and how a partner could make it challenging.  (33:50) – Danny gets honest about where he stands with children and his life.  (35:20) – The largest epiphany Danny has ever had.  (35:44) – You can't keep up with the Joneses.  (35:55) – Instead of investing in things, Danny now invests in practicality.  (36:28) – Views on generational wealth. (38:20) – Danny discusses his current familial relationships. (40:00) – Kelsey takes a gratitude inventory and says she's satisfied.  (41:01) – Creativity comes from boredom.  (41:35) – The conversation turns to porn. (44:25) – Kelsey talks about her short film and sex.  (45:10) – Kelsey discusses her book and why she thinks it did so well.  (46:24) – How TikTok helped drive book sales. Our Guest  Kelsey Darragh, a multifaceted creator, filmmaker, and author, transitioned from online content to impactful films as a documentary director and Executive Producer. Beyond her development work, she curates viral content on social media and hosts two top-ranking podcasts, focusing on "taboo" topics like social justice, sex, women's issues, and mental health. Resources & Links Off The Cuff with Danny LoPriore https://www.offthecuff.fm/  https://www.youtube.com/c/OffTheCuffwithDannyLoPriore  https://www.instagram.com/1and1otc/  https://www.instagram.com/dannylopriore/  https://www.tiktok.com/@1and1otc Kelsey Darragh https://www.kelseydarragh.com/ https://instagram.com/kelseydarragh https://www.youtube.com/user/kelseydarragh http://www.twitter.com/kelseydarragh

What are the benzodiazepines used for anti anxiety? What's the difference between them? Are benzodiazepines ever safe? Ativan, Xanax and Klonopin are some of the most prescribed medications in America for anti anxiety.. What's the difference between them? Tune in to this week's episode of All Things Substance.

Time to dry swallow a Klonopin, it's a new Episode of the Awful Service Podcast. This week we have one of the producers of "Don't Tell Comedy" Minneapolis and hilarious comedian in her own right; Ali Hormann. We Take Black Hills Gold, North Dakota Blizzards, Highway Booze, Ladders, Balls, and Tsunamis! It's a wild ride, join us in Conference room 2!   Awful Service is a customer service based comedy podcast. Hosted by Minnesota based comics and Co-hosts Matt Dooyema and Joe Cocozzello . Featuring Rebecca Wilson. "Awful Theme Song" by Jeff Kantos and "Karen Theme Remix","Show Us Your Resume", "Gee Why Did It Fail", "Awful Conversation Intro", and "Awful Outro"  by Mr Rogers and The Make Believe Friends Message us your stories ; Awfulservicepod@gmail.com. Follow us on Twitter @podservice. Facebook @AwfulServicepod. Instagram @awfulservicepod.

A benzo peer support training class can be quite educational — especially for the instructor. In early November, I had the pleasure of teaching a sold-out course to individuals with a wide mix of backgrounds. It was quite illuminating. In today's episode, I share some insights from teaching peer support training. I also discuss my response to some constructive criticism, look at our focus here at Easing Anxiety, and wish everyone a very happy holiday season. Video ID: BFP129 CHAPTERS00:00 INTRODUCTION00:16 Thanksgiving & Family03:11 Feedback Form Fixed04:18 Constructive Criticism06:33 Our Direction / Indecision07:22 Anxiety Management & BIND10:43 Our Focus on Mental Health13:52 Connecting with You15:55 Not Medical Advice16:33 How Ya Doin'?19:48 FEATURE 21:28 About the Course24:52 Benzos & Recovery (SUD)30:06 Learning from Recovery (SUD)31:20 Interaction & Discussion33:08 Teaching BIND36:10 Boundaries37:16 Patient Boundaries39:43 Caregiver Boundaries41:31 Categories of Symptoms48:37 Benzos and Alcohol52:21 Active Benzo Community54:25 You Got This!56:02 CLOSING  REFERENCESFeedback—    What Do You Want to See at Easing Anxiety? — https://easinganxiety.com/feedbackResources—    Benzo Peer Training — https://benzopeertraining.org —    BIND Symptoms (14 Categoreies) — https://easinganxiety.com/symptoms  SITE LINKSVISIT US ONLINE — Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com — YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx — Twitter: https://twitter.com/@easinganx — Facebook: https://facebook.com/easinganxfb — Instagram: https://instagram.com/easinganx SUBSCRIBE / SUPPORT US — Join Our Mailing List: https://easinganxiety.com/subscribe — Make a Donation: https://easinganxiety.com/donate  PODCAST SUMMARYThis podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. DISCLAIMERAll content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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.  MUSIC CREDITS— All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com)  Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park" — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION CREDITSEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Press https://www.denimmountainpress.com

Meet Dr. Doryn Chervin. Hear her benzo story. Her background in public health. Her take on benzos, BIND, setbacks, research, doctors, healing, the benzo community, and what has been going on behind the scenes at Easing Anxiety. Doryn Chervin holds a doctorate in public health and spent 40 years as a public health program strategist and evaluator. She is also on the board at the Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices. Doryn took clonazepam for over 25 years, is now benzo-free, and works tirelessly helping those still struggling with dependence and BIND.Video ID: BFP128 CHAPTERS00:00 INTRODUCTION02:10 Welcome Doryn02:38 Doryn's Background04:38 Suicide Prevention Leadership06:15 Doryn's Benzo Story09:13 It's Really Possible to Heal 09:42 How Are You Feeling Now? 11:01 BIND Setbacks12:38 Journey to Learn / FDA 13:33 Doryn and the Alliance 14:57 FDA / Kaiser Research Study17:43 Working Together at EA 19:38  Partnering with the Community 21:42 Anxiety and Instability 22:59 There's No One Way25:32 Murphy Says Hi26:28 Upcoming Podcast on EA Plan27:10 Financial Sustainability 30:53 Getting to Know Doryn 31:55 Content & Services 34:56 An Information Resource35:55 A Strong Research Background39:26 The Human Connection43:03 We Want to Hear from You46:57 Sub Group Peer Support49:21 Live / In-Person Events51:00 Falling Asleep to the Podcast52:04 Burnout in Benzo Community54:02 EA Updates / Next Podcast55:25 Doryn's Struggle with Anxiety57:04 CLOSING    REFERENCESFeedback—    What Do You Want to See at Easing Anxiety? — https://easinganxiety.com/feedbackResources—    Doryn's Introductory Blog Post — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/introducing-dr-doryn-chervin —    The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices — https://benzoreform.org  —    The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention — https://theactionalliance.org —    FDA 2020 Boxed Warning on Benzodiazepines https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/new-fda-warning-on-benzodiazepines-what-does-it-really-mean —    The Ashton Manual — https://easinganxiety.com/ashton —    BOOK: Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal — https://easinganxiety.com/book  —    Benzodiazepine Action Work Group — https://benzoaction.org—    A Peacock Consulting (Angela Peacock) — https://apeacockconsulting.com  SITE LINKSVISIT US ONLINE — Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com — YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx — Twitter: https://twitter.com/@easinganx — Facebook: https://facebook.com/easinganxfb — Instagram: https://instagram.com/easinganx SUBSCRIBE / SUPPORT US — Join Our Mailing List: https://easinganxiety.com/subscribe — Make a Donation: https://easinganxiety.com/donate  PODCAST SUMMARYThis podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. DISCLAIMERAll content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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.  MUSIC CREDITS— All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com)  Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park" — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION CREDITSEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Press https://www.denimmountainpress.com

It's 3:00am. Sleep is elusive. Collective thoughts converge on the manic mind. So, why not record a podcast? Join D as he ponders benzos and BIND, fatigue and fear, motivation, meditation, gratitude, and grace. All from the comfort of his own bed. Video ID: BFP127 CHAPTERS0:00:00 It's 3:14 am0:02:21 Struggling Lately0:05:30 Podcast Delays 0:07:08 Benzo Peer Training0:07:51 Overwhelm & Fatigue0:09:02 New Content Coming… 0:10:35 Coping with Insomnia0:13:38 Missed Y'all 0:14:34 Ruminations in a Dark Room0:16:23 Finding Life Balance0:19:10 Motivation to Change 0:24:00 Discipline As We Heal0:26:00 Moving Forward0:28:38 It Does Get Better0:29:52 Advice for the Younger You?0:32:54 Being OK with Yourself 0:38:35 Trying to Belong0:40:14 A Calming Voice0:42:26 BIND Frustration / Emotion0:47:40 Talking in the Bathroom0:48:56 Podcasts & Authenticity0:51:24 Meditation & Perfectionism 0:53:53 Five Minute Meditation0:54:38 Yin Yoga & BIND0:56:19 Changing for the Better0:58:56 Benefits of Gratitude1:04:27 Three Gratitudes1:06:08 Being Grateful for Others1:13:27 CLOSING SITE LINKSVISIT US ONLINE — Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com — YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx — Twitter: https://twitter.com/@easinganx — Facebook: https://facebook.com/easinganxfb — Instagram: https://instagram.com/easinganx SUBSCRIBE / SUPPORT US — Join Our Mailing List: https://easinganxiety.com/subscribe — Make a Donation: https://easinganxiety.com/donate  PODCAST SUMMARYThis podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. DISCLAIMERAll content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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.  MUSIC CREDITS— All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com)  Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park" — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION CREDITSEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Press https://www.denimmountainpress.com

The Frontier Psychiatrist's newsletter? It is what you are reading. It's a health-themed publication written by Owen Scott Muir, M.D. This is a brief detour from my recent series on medications, many of which have a critical slant. Those include Risperidone, Depakote, Geodon, Ambien, Prozac, Xanax, Klonopin, Lurasidone, Olanzapine, Zulranolone, Benzos, Caffeine, Semeglutide, Lamotrigine, Cocaine, Xylazine, Lithium, dextromethorphan/bupropion and Adderall, etc. I write this all by myself every day. Consider subscribing. (the paywall starts 5 weeks back, and there are 360something articles back there). It makes a horrible or awesome gift, depending on your friend circle. I also get paid more money by Amazon if my readers buy stuff now, like, for example, my favorite book about mental illness—or this tea I drink daily. I also encourage you to send me this coffee maker— or, more realistically, to anyone else.Today, I address what happens when schizophrenia is not treated, even if it is. It has high morbidity and mortality, a problem that medications address. Effectively. Not without costs, but the best data suggests treatment is better than no treatment for most people.I'm going to cut to the chase briefly, and if you or a family member want to read a great book on treatment with antipsychotic medicine, I'd recommend this one. Jeff Leiberman, M.D., has been …controversial… of late. However, there is no denying his role in understanding schizophrenia and its treatment, and his book on the topic is worth a read or listen, called a Malady of the Mind.Psychotic. We use the word commonly in chit-chat to denote something is bad. Unreasonable. Wrong. Deranged. Nothing is beguiling about the word. It is a thing to deny in oneself— “I am not psychotic!”Understanding PsychosisSome people don't get that luxury. Some people are honest-to-goodness psychotic. Most of us do not know what that means. Some of us do, and some smaller portions are blessed with the ability to spend time on both sides of that psychotic equation. I will define the term:Psychosis refers to a collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality. During an episode of psychosis, a person's thoughts and perceptions are disrupted and they may have difficulty recognizing what is real and what is not. The most common illness we associate with psychosis is schizophrenia. Psychosis can occur with depression, bipolar disorder, and other maladies. Depression and mania are mood states; we refer to these mixed with psychotic symptoms as affective disorders in psychiatry. A brief grammar note, brought to you by Grammarly, a tool I use and—sadly—am not paid to promote:Is affective just another word for effective? Are the two words similar and entangled in the way the verbs affect and effect are? No, affective is not just another word for effective. And affective and effective are not derived from the verbs affect and effect. They come from the nouns affect and effect.There is a difference in the literature—and in the lives of patients—when it comes to illnesses that have affective psychosis and non-affective psychosis. Much of the anti-psychiatry crowd focuses on affective disorders and argues about the side effects of those treatments. Less attention is paid to non-affective psychosis because It's not as compelling an argument. These are challenging illnesses either way and are associated with significant morbidity—impairments in life—and mortality—early death.“Uncured of Worse”: 1937.As far back as 1937, authors noted the grim prospects in the long-term course of schizophrenia (in this context, I'm referring to largely “non-affective psychosis” —where the delusions or hallucinations are not tied to mood episodes):Of the 100 cases, 66% were uncured or worse after the lapse of 6-10 years, with persisting process symptoms or in a defective state after the course had run; 13% were improved, 4% were cured with defects, and 17% were completely cured. “The Prognosis is Poor”: 2010By 2010, with decades of more data, the conclusion was much the same—schizophrenia sucks, even compared to other admittedly bad illnesses:Our 26-year longitudinal study and other longitudinal studies confirm older views that outcome for schizophrenia, while showing some variation for different schizophrenia patients, is still significantly poorer than that for other psychiatric disorders.A large NIMH follow-up study with 2 to 10 years of time following patients from a first episode that required hospitalization demonstrated:The sample showed substantial functional impairment and levels of symptoms, with only about 20% of the sample demonstrating a good outcome…The “not-good” outcomes looked like this:78% of the sample suffered a relapse, 38% attempted suicide and 24% had episodes of major affective illness.Beyond Psychiatric Problems?We tend to focus on the role of bad psychiatric outcomes as psychiatrists. Still, the medical outcomes are similarly troubling, including high smoking rates, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, HIV, Hepatitis C, and other medical illnesses. Overall, this leads to an extremely disheartening finding: having schizophrenia is an illness that takes a tremendous toll on the individual and their family and leads to early death and disability at unacceptably high rates:Persons with schizophrenia have an exceptionally short life expectancy. High mortality is found in all age groups, resulting in a life expectancy of approximately 20 years below that of the general population. Evidence suggests that persons with schizophrenia may not have seen the same improvement in life expectancy as the general population during the past decades. Thus, the mortality gap not only persists but may actually have increased.Comparisons are useful, and if we look at HIV after the introduction of HAART (Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy), we find:HIV-related mortality decreased from 6.5 to 1.3 per 100,000 population (80% decrease, p = 0.0115). New HIV diagnoses declined from 702 to 238 cases (66% decrease; p = 0.0004) with a consequent estimated decline in HIV incident cases from 632 to 368 cases per year (42% decrease; p = 0.0003).And if we compare that to schizophrenia, in the largest meta-analysis I could find, we find:The mortality risk for patients with schizophrenia was 1249 per 100 000 … (95% CI, 1029-1469)Psychosis is Bad Compared to Other Bad ThingsThe mortality from schizophrenia is 19,215% higher than from pre-HAART HIV infection and 96,076% higher than from HIV with HAART treatment. If you had to choose between HIV and schizophrenia, HIV is safer—with or without treatment.To make the point even more clearly, even having a car crash only has a 0.77% fatality rate, or 770/100,000.If you had to choose between a car crash and schizophrenia, the car crash is safer.Those outcomes are not good enough. Schizophrenia is impairing and dangerous to your life, especially if untreated. Other psychiatric illnesses are also. Psychiatric medications can modify this risk to your life in the right direction, even with those risks. Tapering them, as we saw in the RADAR trial (lead-authored by a critical psychiatrist, published in the Lancet just this week), doesn't make it better:At 2-year follow-up, a gradual, supported process of antipsychotic dose reduction had no effect on social functioning.And, further, made it worse:here were 93 serious adverse events in the reduction group affecting 49 individuals, mainly comprising admission for a mental health relapse, and 64 in the maintenance group, relating to 29 individuals.It includes twice as many deaths. In a research study, this is a huge deal. The way to look at this is the probability of relapsing is bad, and it's statistically more likely and with more than double likelihood if you were randomized to a taper protocol.Antipsychotic Medication Saves Lives. It has Burdens. These Choices are Difficult. We need to do better, but the haters are incorrect. We have done better than nothing, even with imperfect tools, even when examined by those who have an axe to grind with those very tools. Treatment of schizophrenia saves lives.Stay Humble,Faced with Suffering, and Carry On—Owen Scott Muir, M.D. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefrontierpsychiatrists.substack.com/subscribe

My favorite opening line of an academic article (this week) follows:Mental illnesses are prevalent, cause great suffering, and are burdensome to society.Welcome to the Frontier Psychiatrists. It's a newsletter that I write all by myself. I'm doing a series on medications, largely (but not entirely) in psychiatry. I'm a child and adult psychiatrist, and I still see patients. I've also been a patient since I was 16 years old. Please consider subscribing and sharing widely.The first antipsychotic introduced after clozapine would be a big deal—especially if it didn't cause life-threatening side effects. Risperidone was first developed by the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen-Cilag between 1988 and 1992 and was first approved by the FDA in 1994. It's one of the very few drugs with data for bipolar disorder that I, personally, have never been prescribed.Risperidone—Risperdal as a trade name—was ready to be a huge hit.It was presented as very atypical—this was the post-clozapine branding of choice. The “second generation” label was added years later. I have a confession to make. After residency, when the attending doctors told me, as a trainee, what to prescribe, I never prescribed risperidone ever again. I think this compound—and paliperidone, the metabolite— still has an important role in managing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. There are more formulations of long-acting injectable risperidone and related compounds than I can remember. I think those are going to be useful drugs for a long time. Oral risperidone? Nope.Clozapine was an exciting drug. No horrible motor side effects? (Plausibly) More effective? It was better than every drug that came before. It had this pesky adverse effect that could lead to death called agranulocytosis, which I addressed in my first research paper in 2011. We needed more drugs that were this atypical!We—the field of psychiatry, at least— needed things that were not gonna kill you abruptly, in a terrifying manner, like clozapine had the rare potential to do. But we didn't want more of the same old antipsychotics. After Psychiatry got a taste of not having to explain permanent tardive dyskinesia as a likely side effect of antipsychotic medication, we wanted to keep doing that. Editors note: It is still a side effect of all non-clozapine antipsychotics, and we should never have let our guard down.Risperidone was the first antipsychotic that came to market after clozapine rocked the world of psychiatry by being better. Risperidone is similar, and they even use the accidental branding of clozapine— “atypical”—for this medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved indications for oral risperidone (tablets, oral solution, and M-TABs) include the treatment of:* schizophrenia (in adults and children aged 13 and up), * bipolar I acute manic or mixed episodes as monotherapy (in adults and children aged 10 and up), * bipolar I acute manic or mixed episodes adjunctive with lithium or valproate (in adults)* autism-associated irritability (in children aged 5 and up). Also, the long-acting risperidone injection has been approved for the use of schizophrenia and maintenance of bipolar disorder (as monotherapy or adjunctive to valproate or lithium) in adults.The “mechanism of action” of all of the drugs that have efficacy in psychosis was presumed to be dopamine D2 receptor blockade, a mechanism shared with all of the prior medication from Thorazine (chlorpromazine) through Haldol (haloperidol). The assumption—which clozapine disproved—was motor side effects were required for the drug's efficacy in psychosis. This primacy of the D2 blockade as a mechanism of action has since been disproven. This is the mechanism that leads to gynecomastia, leading to a bevy of lawsuits from men who developed breasts. It also causes related side effects like galactorrhea—breast milk from breasts that can be on men or women who are not nursing— and erectile dysfunction. Dopamine—it does a lot of work in the brain, not just pleasure.This motor side effect profile was not true with clozapine. It had various additional receptors, particularly in the serotonergic family (5HT-2a, for example), and alpha-adrenergic, histaminic, and other receptor sites throughout the brain. This broad profile of different receptors explains the wide range of side effects. But more importantly, these are complex, “messy,” and hard-to-predict outcomes given the complexity of the brain. The complex pharmacology allowed psychiatrists like me to think—hard!—about which particular witches brew of receptors we would choose to tickle (agonize) or antagonize. It's very satisfying. I also suspect this is a story we tell ourselves that is not as closely moored to truth as we'd like. We enjoy thinking about science-ish stuff. Receptor binding profiles are seductive— because they are knowable. Our patient's heart, hope, dreams, and heartbreak? Less so.The most important feature of risperidone today—and its 1st order metabolite, paliperidone—is that is deliverable as pills, rapid-acting dissolvable tablets, and long-acting injectable formulations, lasting between 2 weeks and 6 months between doses. A psychiatric treatment that isn't an oral once-daily pill? One you have to take twice a year? Medicine that is intended for people who often—like many—feel conflicted about taking a daily pill? That is a big enough deal. That is a real innovation— it considers human frailty, ambivalence, and common failures of mind. Not because it's a magic drug. Rather, long-acting medicine that doesn't make crippling relapse easy —thanks to good design— is exactly the kind of medicine that works. My second research effort was on the acceptability of such medicines in youth. It's responsible for my presence at the academic conference where I met my now wife.Oral medicines were popular because they were easy to sell. Novel medicines and technologies will be easy to take. The story of my fascination with the risks and benefits of these medicines doesn't end there, though.I still research these medicines and their adverse effects— funded by NIMH— for identifying Tardive Dyskinesia with Machine Learning and closed-loop Internet of Things physical medication compliance tech with my team at iRxReminder and colleagues at Videra. We are enrolling in a study at Fermata in New York and other sites. Thanks for reading.This article is another in my series about one drug or another. Prior installments include Depakote, Geodon, Ambien, Prozac, Xanax, Klonopin, Lurasidone, Olanzapine, Zulranolone, Benzos, Caffeine, Semeglutide, Lamotrigine, Cocaine, Xylazine, Lithium, dextromethorphan/bupropion and Adderall, etc.Sponsored Content!One way of supporting this publication is buying stuff from Amazon, like a nifty box from Apogee that I used to record the voice-over: the BOOM. In fairness, it's just the A/D. I am also using the API 512c mic pre, plugged into an AnaMod 660 500 series compressor, nestled in a reliable RND R6 Lunchbox, and all of that plugs into the Boom into my Mac. It's a Microtech Geffel mic. Most of the audio post-processing is done with Izotope RX 10. I get money if you purchase any of these things— not a trivial amount since they upped my affiliate rewards.In case anyone was wondering if I was an audio nerd… This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefrontierpsychiatrists.substack.com/subscribe

Tinnitus is ringing in the ears, and it can drive a person crazy. Today I want to cover some tips to get rid of tinnitus naturally. Tinnitus is a little bit mysterious and hasn't been fully figured out. Typical treatments for tinnitus are medications called Gabapentin and Klonopin. These two medications both have a mechanism to increase GABA in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter and slows down the central nervous system. An interesting study shows that people with tinnitus may have lowered GABA and upregulated glutamate. Glutamate stimulates the brain. The problem with GABA supplements is that they don't cross the blood-brain barrier. This means they will have a difficult time penetrating into the brain to create any effect. However, an amino acid called taurine turns into GABA and can pass the blood-brain barrier. Just be sure to take taurine on an empty stomach. In addition to increasing GABA, it's essential to inhibit glutamate. MSG and aspartame are high in glutamate, so it's important to avoid foods containing these ingredients. Other sources of glutamate to avoid: • Hydrolyzed protein • Calcium caseinate • Yeast extract • Textured protein • Whey protein • Soy protein isolates • Soy sauce DATA: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti... https://www.tinnitusformula.com/libra... https://www.truthinlabeling.org/names... https://www.lifeextension.com/magazin...

The Frontier Psychiatrists is a newsletter by noted medical content creator Owen Scott Muir, M.D. This series is on individual medicines. Data is presented and referenced, but it's a farewell to prescribing. I learned psychopharmacology, but it's not the focus of my career anymore. Other installments in this series include Klonopin, Lurasidone, Olanzapine, Zulranolone, Benzos, Caffeine, Semeglutide, Lamotrigine, Cocaine, Xylazine, Lithium, dextromethorphan/bupropion and Adderall, etc.I also take requests from subscribers—this whole series is by request from the inimitable Kari Groff. Thanks for reading, and please— support the work!By the 1960s, treatment had been medicalized. The first psychotropic drugs were discovered by serendipity and introduced into psychiatry. The symptom relief they brought was so startling and persuasive that there was a major shift from psychologic to pharmacological treatment.—Leon Eisenberg, M.D., the Stepfather of Laurence B. Guttmacher, M.D.Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine medication that has the brand name Xanax. It has an FDA label for “Panic Disorder, with or without agoraphobia.” In my Klonopin piece, and my prior general benzo review before that, I talked about lipophilicity—how fast a drug can get into the brain, based on how soluble it is in fat. A lipid bilayer protects our brain from drugs inviting themselves in, Willy Nilly.It gets into the brain fast. It has a short half-life—the liver breaks it down rapidly. Xanax is fast in and fast out. Was the drug concocted to be abused? With Xanax, You won't even remember you asked.The world would be better if nobody ever knew it existed. Those doctors who promoted it lied to themselves. One of the Xanax evangelicals told me so himself. Laurence Guttmacher, M.D., is his name. He was an older man when we met. He is very tall. My mother immediately remembered meeting him over a decade ago when I read this article to her on a first pass: “He thanked me for allowing us to train Owen as a psychiatrist,” she noted. He is an advisory dean at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. In the first week of medical school, the first lecture he gave me was about not allowing drug reps into the hospital. Only 15 years later, writing this, do I apprehend how haunted he was by the pharmacology he mid-wifed. He has written a medication guide and an older historical ECT manual, too. He spends time teaching now.Dr. Guttmacher is in the family business. He is a third-generation psychiatrist. His grandfather was the president of the American Eugenics Society—he took over from Margaret Sanger, the champion of the birth control pill. It kept undesirable people from having more children. Laurence Guttmacher is an American Jew. Eugenics was re-purposed from utopian, enlightened, Jewish, and intellectual ideals by Nazis. It was promptly used against the same Jews and other “feebleminded undesirables.” The subsequent rejection of medicalization of psychiatric distress is understandable, among largely Jewish analysts, given Nazis (again, from Drs. Guttmacher and Eisenberg):Psychoanalysis helped psychiatry preserve an abiding interest in the individuality of patients while other medical specialists were losing sight of the patient in their preoccupation with the biology of the disease. It connected the symptoms of mental illness to the psychopathology of everyday life. Psychiatrists learned to help patients by paying attention to their mental symptoms in an era when psychiatry had no procedures. …When [psychoanalysis] was banned from the Congress of Psychology at Munich as ‘a Jewish science' in October 1933, psychoanalysts in Berlin and Vienna began to migrate to the UK and the US. …some 100–200 European analysts and some 30–50 analytically orientated psychologists emigrated to America in the 1930s… the membership of the American Psychoanalytic Association was only 135 in 1936 and almost doubled to 249 by 1944 …[This] influx was as significant intellectually as it was numerically; many refugees … became leaders in the movement.This was Laurence Guttmacher's inheritance—idealism about mind or brain—gone, catastrophically, south. His father and mother were quixotic psychiatrists as well. Psychoanalysis was potent because it explains something. People love explanations— but don't often demand that they be correct. Before the age of oral medicines, psychoanalysis offered these:No other psychologic theory provided what was purported to be so comprehensive an account of the origins of psychopathology. The brain sciences were largely irrelevant to clinical practice. In the mid-century, descriptive psychiatrists were held in little esteem because the diagnosis was unreliable and made little difference in treatment. The psychiatric pharmacopeia was limited to hypnotics and sedatives. This changed with Thorazine. The push towards “biological” explanations continued with the advertising efforts of fellow psychiatrist Dr. Arthur Sackler. His advertising firms, which he purchased and disguised his control of, were behind campaigns for drugs like Valium, Thorazine, Serax, Miltown, and the rest. This was well before his feckless son, Dr. Richard Sackler, took his portion of a family business and murdered undesirables with Oxycodone.Physicians love to be scientific-ish. We love the sense of science. We love an explanation. Laurence Guttmacher loved explanations. Xanax worked—plus, safer than Miltown. As he would later write, doing some heavy editing for his late stepfather:The influence of the authority of one's teachers, the experience of seeing patients improve during psychotherapy (most non-psychotic patients did), the logic and malleability of psychodynamic explanations, and the readiness with which patients desperate for a way out of their dilemmas accepted those explanations combined to make believers of all but the most skeptical of trainees. Those who were non-believers were easily dismissed with ad hominem attacks on their unanalyzed resistance.In that week one lecture in medical school, Dr. Guttmacher was my authoritative teacher. The lesson? Be accountable, even for violations of good sense one has yet to commit.That class featured slides on the percentage of doctors who felt drug representatives had influenced them— according to themselves. A scant one percent admitted to any possibility of influence by industry. The same physicians' opinions about colleagues—99% of them above any influence, remember— were presented on the next slide.In my first week of medical school, Laurence Guttmacher highlighted our credulousness, 40% of the same physicians understood their colleagues would fall under the thrall of attractive drug reps. Physicians were justly suspicious of Pharma's influence on everyone—except ourselves. This, of course, was exactly the pitch Arthur Sackler was making—as far as I can tell, he was an astute psychiatrist.Physicians love to be helpful. What is the most addictive substance for physicians? Samples! We can give them to our patients. We loved it when our office staff were gifted treats. We are “jonesing” to be gracious. We get hooked when people listen to us! Industry paid for all this. Arthur Sackler's disciples were not high on their own supply, unlike individual physicians—intoxicated by how beyond reproach they were. They paid for us to talk to each other, and they paid more if the person being listened to said the right things about Xanax. Administrative staff? Lunch. The same devious machinations of Italian grandmothers—Mangia!— were deployed to influence physicians. There were attractive people to listen to us about how much we cared and our desire to be gracious—the Sacklers ensured it. Arthur was a psychiatrist, after all— someone to hear you out feels good.We had so much to teach. Dr. Laurence Guttmacher researched panic disorder at the National Institute of Mental Health earlier in his career. He was a compelling speaker for Xanax, given his panic disorder pedigree from NIMH.One morning, he awoke to a horrible realization: Xanax wears off after 3-4 hours. Everyone waking up (after 8 hours of sleep) was in Xanax withdrawal. That feels like a panic attack. The obvious cure, next to the bed, was the first of four Xanax tablets as prescribed and recommended—by Dr. Guttmacher in well-appointed dinners—throughout the day. The next day, this cycle of panic would begin again, but this time, worse. And the next day, a little worse still. This was a cycle of self-reinforcing madness. But it moved product.In one of the more demonic decisions ever made, Xanax was formed into a convenient “bar” with four subdivisions. This allowed someone to break 2 mg apart and take 0.5 mg four times a day.No one would ever think to take it all at once. Unless they were anyone, in which case, this is the most immediately obvious strategy.Xanax is a nightmare. It makes opiate—and other— overdoses endlessly more lethal. It's illegal in the UK and should be pulled from the market everywhere. This drug of abuse doesn't need to be an answer to an exam question on medical boards, ever again, unless it is under the “obviously unethical compounds” section.High lipophilicity, short half-life, high potency and poor cross-tolerance, frustrating attempts to switch to less harmful compounds. It is the most toxic in overdose of all the benzodiazepines. Xanax is present in 1 of 20 deaths by overdose.Once the genie is out of the bottle—Xanax will help you forget your woes—it does not stop. Fake bars are fueling death. Xanax is so addictive that counterfeit drug makers use its branding. Why is a prescription drug a better “abuse brand” than street drugs?In total, there were more than 54,000 overdose deaths, including 2,437 with evidence of counterfeit pill use. (CDC, 2019-2021)Xanax is a pox upon the house of medicine, and Laurence Guttmacher, M.D. was eager to blowtorch his very well-reimbursed speaking career when he understood the truth.Laurence Guttmacher, M.D., is an excellent teacher. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thefrontierpsychiatrists.substack.com/subscribe

Benzos and grief, diet, and distension. Benzos and pets, laughter, and levity. Benzos and indecision and lack of memory. Benzos and research, internet, and advocacy. So many topics, so much to discuss. In today's episode, we dive into our mailbag again to hear from you. D shares some comments, answers some questions, and even reads some critical feedback. Join us for a few insights and friendly discussion.  Video ID: BFP126 CHAPTERS00:00 INTRODUCTION02:25 The Gift of Caregiving04:13 Our New Puppy05:48 The Social Benefit of Dogs07:50 Recent Blog Posts at EA09:41 1,000 YouTube Subscribers11:53 Graham, Jimmy, & Robin 17:07  Lightening the Load 21:45 A.I. and Being Genuine24:20 MAILBAG24:33 Indecision and  Control28:11 Five Stages of Grief29:25 No One Path31:11 Connection So Important32:45 Benzo Belly35:58 What Is a Healthy Diet?38:00 Way Too Much About Me39:04 Angie at Burning Man42:00  Internet for Awareness43:38 Research Is Important45:19 Internet Limitations46:09 Content Vying for Coverage47:27 Has My Memory Improved?50:51 Thanks for the Comments52:12 MOMENT OF PEACE REFERENCES INTRODUCTION — Easing Anxiety Blog Posts: https://www.easinganxiety.com/posts/categories/blog — Our New Puppy Blog Post: https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/meet-murphy-our-new-mascot MAILBAG — Indecision — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/anxiety-and-indecision-6-tips-to-help-you-decide — 5 Stages of Grief — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/benzos-bind-and-the-5-stages-of-grief — Who Am I Now? — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/who-am-i-now-confidence-and-self-esteem-in-benzo-withdrawal-bind-bfp122 — Benzo Belly (Take 2) — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/benzo-belly-our-gut-in-withdrawal-take-2-bfp060 — Lazy Morning on the Patio — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/lazy-morning-on-the-patio-updates-community-compassion-and-coaching  — Angela Peacock — https://apeacockconsulting.com — BIND Roundtable — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/the-bind-roundtable-benzodiazepine-survey-research-team — Benzo Brain — https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/benzo-brain-cognitive-symptoms-in-withdrawal-bfp073 SITE LINKSVISIT US ONLINE — Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com — YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx — Twitter: https://twitter.com/@easinganx — Facebook: https://facebook.com/easinganxfb SUBSCRIBE / SUPPORT US — Join Our Mailing List: https://easinganxiety.com/subscribe — Make a Donation: https://easinganxiety.com/donate  PODCAST SUMMARYThis podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. DISCLAIMERAll content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. MUSIC CREDITS— All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com) Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park" — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION CREDITSEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Press https://www.denimmountainpress.com

What's new at Easing Anxiety? What's new in the benzo community? What's new in the world of BIND? And what should someone new to benzos do if they're just getting started? Join D for an off-script conversation this lazy Sunday morning.In today's episode, D records the podcast live on his back patio enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. He discusses the EA Community, a new team member, lingering symptoms, coaching, training, surviving, and a few tips for those just getting started.Video ID: BFP125 CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction02:41 Sunday on the Porch05:05 Replying to Your Emails08:41 EA Community Update09:56 Welcome Doryn Chervin11:41 How to Be Notified12:37 Podcast Update13:59 My Health Status15:39 9 Years Benzo Free16:21 Managing the Crazy17:26 Starting Out Afraid18:48 Why I Still Have Symptoms21:40 More Benzo Support Today24:19 Advice for Beginners25:37 Amazing Benzo Support Orgs30:55 You Got This31:38 Love Doing the Podcast33:23 Blog, Subscribe, and Log In35:08 Coaching and Training40:46 We Heal41:30 BIND and BIND Coverage43:54 Our Approach at EA46:20 Compassionate Responsibility51:03 D Unscripted52:04 Wish You Were Here55:58 Thank You57:03 ClosingBIND RESOURCES— Easing Anxiety — https://easinganxiety.com— Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC) — https://benzoinfo.com— The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices — https://benzoreform.org— Benzo Action Work Group — https://benzoaction.org— Benzo Peer Training — https://benzopeertraining.org— Baylissa Frederick — https://mccare.org— Jennifer Leigh — https://benzowithdrawalhelp.com— Benzo Warrior — https://benzowarrior.com— Geraldine Burns — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/benzodiazepine-awareness-with-geraldine-burns/id1358022441— Angela Peacock — https://apeacockconsulting.comSITE LINKSVISIT US ONLINE— Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx— Twitter: https://twitter.com/@easinganx— Facebook: https://facebook.com/easinganxfbSUBSCRIBE / SUPPORT US— Join Our Mailing List: https://easinganxiety.com/subscribe— Make a Donation: https://easinganxiety.com/donate PODCAST SUMMARYThis podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. DISCLAIMERAll content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. MUSIC CREDITS— All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com)Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park"— Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION CREDITSEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com

Featuring Dr. Matthew May In today's podcast, Matt, Rhonda and David discuss four challenging questions from podcast fans like you: 1. what do you do with patients who use marijuana excessively but have no interest in changing or reducing their use? 2. How do you help clients control their anger? 3. How can you use TEAM if you are only allowed to see clients for 15 to 20 minutes? 4. If David never went into the medical / mental health field, what career path do you think you would have chosen? The answers on the show are live and will differ considerably from the information below, which is primarily to document the full questions that the fans submitted.   1. When a client expresses concerns in multiple areas of their life, such as mood, relationships, and habits, is there a particular hierarchy that you follow? In particular, what do you do with patients who use marijuana excessively but have no interest in changing or reducing their use? I'm particularly interested in your perspective on the hesitancy within the therapeutic community to treat individuals with co-occurring depression and anxiety, alongside marijuana habits or addictions that they do not wish to address. How do you approach and navigate this complex situation, and what are your thoughts on effectively addressing the client's mental health concerns while considering the impact of their substance use on the therapeutic process? With the increasing acceptance and use of medical and recreational marijuana, do you believe it is still morally or ethically justifiable to turn away clients who use marijuana and express no desire to quit? It appears to be a prevalent practice, and I would appreciate your insights on this matter. Casey Zeigler Matt: Great Question, Casey! For me it depends on the pattern of usage and reasons for using Marijuana. For example, if someone gets anxious and then uses marijuana to reduce their anxiety, then I'd be unable to help them treat their anxiety if they weren't willing to set marijuana aside, for a while, to practice some new methods. I might ask, 'imagine you could feel calm and relaxed, but didn't need marijuana to accomplish this. What would it be worth to you, to have that ability? For example, would you be willing to go through an uncomfortable period of deprivation and awkwardly failing at methods to reduce your anxiety, in order to get there?" David: in a Harvard study years ago, individuals with benzo addictions were randomly assigned to two withdrawal groups: Klonopin-only slow withdrawal, and Klonopin slow withdrawal plus group (I think) CBT. The success in terms of numbers of patients who successfully withdrew was far greater in the CBT group. Or, if they used Marijuana to avoid feeling depressed, I'd wonder if they would be willing to set that aside temporarily, in order to prove that they could feel great without Marijuana. My approach is to identify what the patient wants and to be realistic about the approach to achieve those results. There's also long-term data showing that daily use of marijuana is associated with worse mental health, in the long-term. David: I think these decisions have to be individualized, and consultation with a colleague when in doubt can be very helpful.2. I have a question about anger. How do you help clients control their anger? 2. How do you help clients control their anger? I was going to mention it to you as a good topic to cover anyway in a podcast, because it is the one emotion that has not particularly been dealt with in the podcast. This is ironic, since anger is apparently the one emotion we don't acknowledge!). I did a search and there were only two that touched on it and neither covered how someone can learn to control their anger. I have had several clients who talk of how they snap at their children or partners and want to learn to deal with it. Does it work to use a daily mood log in these cases, as the emotions are more like explosive reactions, and maybe less easy to defeat with distortion-free positive thoughts? Thanks Andy Perrson Matt: Thanks, Andy! I can help people overcome anger, but they probably don't want the type of help I can offer! David: individuals beta testing the Feeling Good app have shown dramatic and rapid anger reductions. In a group or individual therapy context, I would use TEAM systematically. I do not typically “throw methods” at feelings, problems, diagnoses, etc. I treat humans, finding out what's going on in their lives, conceptualizing the problem, melting away resistance, and choosing methods based on all of that. All that being said, the CBA or Paradoxical CBA are almost always the first techniques with anyone who is angry: vignette about the angry doctor and the angry banker. 3. Do you have any tips to use TEAM skills for very short time session(about 15 to 20 minutes). I am not yet running my private practice. I am employed in other person's private clinic as a psychiatrist and usually prescribe pills and the time per patient is at most 20 minutes. Luci Eunkyoung Yang Matt and Rhonda; This would require a focus on 'homework' outside of session. Happy to discuss. David: Can empathize and refer to groups, app, books for those who want more help. 4. If David never went into the medical / mental health field, what career path do you think you would have chosen? A few guesses, a magician (I believe he referenced in a podcast an affinity for magicians), theatre (Brigadoon story - fear of heights), politician (David sometimes has an opinion on a variety of topics), lawyer (David knows all about black/white thinking, as well as being able to see things in shades of grey), scientist (creator of TEAM-CBT), writer (best selling author) or entrepreneur (what couldn't he create/sell?) Whatever the path, he would have been a leader in that field too for sure and I'm so grateful that he chose ours. Best, Todd

Mikey Goldman is part of the over-prescribed generation directly impacted by the ease at which serious drugs were “handed” out to kids and teens before natural alternatives were even discussed. He grew up with a racing mind, always struggling in school to focus and sit still. Formally diagnosed with severe ADHD and math dyslexia (dyscalculia) in highschool, he was later prescribed Vyvanse in college which led to severe side effects that resulted in a snowballing of prescription drug use including daily prescriptions from his doctor of Vyvanse, Adderall, Klonopin, Ambien, and Xanax.Through a brutal withdrawal period, Mikey eventually got off all prescriptions, and sought to find a natural solution for his ADHD + racing mind. After experimenting with dozens (if not hundreds) of wellness products, experiences, and drug alternatives, Mikey was mesmerized by the benefits of Deep Touch Pressure and weighted technology, but like many people with ADHD, he found weighted blankets uncomfortable. Quiet Mind solves for those areas of discomfort with an alternative in the form of the first-ever Original Weighted Pillow, a convenient and reliable solution for people like me - and it's only the beginning. Prior to launching Quiet Mind, Mikey worked in marketing and social media in the tech industry for companies like GreenPark Sports, Insightly, and Zuora. Quiet mind is his ticket to a joy-filled and purpose-driven career to help people never feel that way.In This Conversation We Discuss: [00:00] Intro[00:59] What are Quiet Mind's products?[01:40] Where the idea of weighted pillows come from[03:26] The weighted blankets trend during the pandemic[03:53] Weighted blankets are cumbersome[04:27] Weighted pillows might be the solution[05:31] The next step after getting the idea[06:30] How Mikey performed “prototyping”[06:52] Finally telling others about the idea[07:11] Figuring the target demographic[07:26] What pushed Mikey to dive in[07:45] What's next after deciding to pursue the market[08:32] Phase 1 for Quiet Mind: Prototyping[09:06] The importance of starting with the right people[10:05] Put your own money in to condition yourself[10:47] Mikey's tiered approach to outside investors[11:45] Sponsor: Electric Eye electriceye.io/connect[12:42] Sponsor: JSON-LD For SEO jsonld.app[13:59] Sponsor: Retention.com retention.com/honest[14:51] Using an adjacent product to get feedback[17:11] Getting the word out there while still under wraps[17:58] Meeting the Gravity Blankets founder[18:34] You need to be careful if you have a novel idea[19:14] The secret to founders' peace of mind[19:56] The product, the founder, and the story[20:50] Why PR is the number one choice for Mikey[21:36] Quiet Mind's SEO strategy[21:52] The timing for SEO and PR[22:39] The biggest challenge for a new product[22:50] Educating audiences with your new product[24:35] Why should get the product to market ASAP[26:12] Lessons with overseas manufacturing during Covid[27:52] Where to find Quiet Mind productsResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeConnect with Mikey linkedin.com/in/mikeygoldmanA wellness brand offering clever solutions to help people suffering from common disorders like ADHD, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and loneliness onequietmind.comFollow Quiet Mind on Instagram @quietmindSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectGet your free structured data audit for your store jsonld.appBook your demo today and get 20% off the annual commitment fee retention.com/honestIf you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Jen talks about how her podiatrist thought Jen was upset because she is “old”, making new friends as an adult, coping with a fear of building heights and elevators with Klonopin and oversharing, watching The Notebook for the first time last week and more random ADHD rambling! Go to Patreon to hear this episode in it's entirety (60-90 minutes) and without ads: patreon.com/jenkirkmanTo shop Jen's merchandise store go here: http://jenkirkman.merchcentral.comTo stream or buy Jen's last comedy album (2022) “OK, GEN-X” go here: https://800PGR.lnk.to/OKGenXINTo join Jen's free newsletter go here: http://www.jenkirkman.com/newsletterTo buy Jen a coffee go here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/JenkirkmanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Naftal Benisty is the creator and host of the podcast, “Benzo Tired.” A social worker by trade, Naftal's personal experience with kindling, seizures, and multiple prescriptions for benzodiazepines steered him into the world of benzo advocacy.In our conversation, Naftal shares his benzo story and the reasons he decided to start a podcast. We also talk about seizures, the indefinite hold, BIND, deprescribing guidelines, medical education, remaining positive, and so much more.Video ID: BFP123CHAPTERS0:00:00 INTRODUCTION0:01:06 Feeling Good / Taking a Break0:02:54 Peer Support Training0:04:34 Checking in with You0:08:54 FEATURE: Naftal Benisty0:13:51 Welcome0:14:36 A Bit About Naftal0:16:15 Naftal's Benzo Story0:26:32 Benzos and Seizures0:29:20 Tapering & the Indefinite Hold0:35:18 How Are You Now?0:36:18 Starting His Podcast0:38:29 Making the Podcast Is a Gift0:41:04 Benefits of Lived Experience0:43:44 BIND Discovery0:44:59 Consortium's Deprescribing Guidelines0:46:28 U.S. vs. International Benzo Support0:50:31 Educating Medical Professionals0:52:08 Are There Good Benzo Uses?0:53:48 Haeley & Tom Episode0:56:22 Our Caregivers0:59:16 Future for Naftal / Podcast1:00:47 Long COVID and Benzos1:01:16 How Podcasts Help1:03:48 Balancing Honesty and Positivity1:06:09 Doing Great Work1:06:58 One Piece of Advice1:07:17 Deprescribing Guidelines1:08:57 Shane Kenny's Movie1:09:20 Final Words1:10:50 CLOSING RESOURCES— Benzo Tired on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7HHdbrsbTpMMmlrL9TCWfi— Benzo Tired: Haely & Tom Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1VTFkXLVDrMVrHdHiaoMaV?si=P5_pecyKSyap3iSweKPwsg— BAWG Documentation (scroll down to see “projects”): https://benzoaction.org— Deprescribing Guidelines from BAWG: https://corxconsortium.org/wp-content/uploads/Benzo-Deprescribing.pdf— BIND Description: https://easinganxiety.com/BIND SITE LINKSVISIT US ONLINE— Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx— Twitter: https://twitter.com/@easinganx— Facebook: https://facebook.com/easinganxfb— Instagram: https://instagram.com/easinganxSUBSCRIBE / SUPPORT US— Join Our Mailing List: https://easinganxiety.com/subscribe— Make a Donation: https://easinganxiety.com/donate PODCAST SUMMARYThis podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. DISCLAIMERAll content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. MUSIC CREDITS— All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com) Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park"— Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTION CREDITSEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com

In today's addition of "Two Intellectual Idiots Fostering Political and Cultural Literacy" Dan, Corey, and Bel "The Bodysnatcher " take YOU, the disenfranchised or politically homeless sane person into:1) The Trump-CNN town hall controversy to help you understand why all of the punditry, social media outrage, and hand wringing is way off base. 2) Ron DeSantis' NEW "Let Them Die Bill". A bill that the some left leaning blowhards say could KILL members of the LGBTQ community. That is possible... but very unlikely once you pop your Klonopin, have your overpriced coffee, and realize what the bill actually is. We're here to help... 3) The Durham Report. We'll do our best to walk through the political weaponry that our Alphabet organizations have become. And how the establishment elites continue to shoot themselves in the foot by trying to over - propagandize.AND A TON MORE!! If you are a supporter of political pluralism, the free market of ideas, liberty, nuanced debate, and enjoying conversation with those you may disagree with... Then LIBSERVATIVE should be in your regular show rotation! Make it happen and tell a friend. IF YOU LIKE:The Free Press Dan Carlin Breaking Points With Krystal & Saagar The Fifth Column Reason Magazine The Reason Round Table The Grayzone Dave Smith's "Part of the Problem" Blocked and Reported NPR Based Politics The Daily Wire The Jordan Harbinger Show The Jimmy Dore Show The Joe Rogan Experience Useful Idiots "Pushback" With Aaron Matè "Honestly" With Bari Weiss Matt Taibbi Glen Greenwald Aaron Matè Max Blumenthal 

Personality changes. Loss of ability. Loss of confidence. Loss of self. These are common in benzo withdrawal and BIND, and yet we rarely talk about them. What does this look like? What are its causes? And most of all, what can we do about it?In today's episode, we explore the loss of self during benzo withdrawal. We also respond to a question on tinnitus, share a comment on the benefits of nature, and hear a benzo story from New Zealand.https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/who-am-i-now-confidence-and-self-esteem-in-benzo-withdrawal-bind-bfp122Video ID: BFP122Chapters00:00 INTRODUCTION01:28 Back from Vacation03:36 Benzo Work Updates04:57 Still Have Some Symptoms07:00 Today's Format08:11 MAILBAG08:17 Benzos and Tinnitus12:58 Nature and Connection15:39 BENZO STORY16:29 Eta's Mum's Story / New Zealand22:04 Medical Communication Failures25:40 FEATURE26:59 BIND Refresher27:43 Our Lives Have Changed28:29 Benzo Life Effects Data30:41 Loss of Confidence35:00 Humility vs. Egoism35:54 Symptoms that Affect Confidence38:23 What Can We Do?38:42 Making Use of the Extra Time40:35 Finding Acceptance42:59 Six Tips for Improving Self-Esteem47:22 MOMENT OF PEACE ResourcesThe 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.— Ackerman, Courtney E. “What Is Self-Confidence? (+9 Proven Ways to Increase It).” Positive Psychology. July 9, 2018. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://positivepsychology.com/self-confidence/.— Ashton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. https://easinganxiety.com/ashton.— Finlayson, AJ Reid, Macoubrie J, Huff C, Foster DE, Martin PR. Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet survey. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2022;12. doi:10.1177/20451253221082386. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/20451253221082386.— Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, CO: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. https://www.benzofree.org/book.— Huff C, Finlayson AJR, Foster DE, Martin PR. Enduring neurological sequelae of benzodiazepine use: an Internet survey. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2023;13. doi:10.1177/20451253221145561. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/20451253221145561.— Ravenscraft, Eric. “Practical Ways to Improve Your Confidence (and Why You Should).” New York Times. June 3, 2019. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/03/smarter-living/how-to-improve-self-confidence.html.— Tinnitus. Mayo Clinic Patient Care & Health Information. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tinnitus/symptoms-causes/syc-20350156.— “Top 10 Tips for Overcoming Low Self-Esteem.” Ditch the Label. September 26, 2022. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.ditchthelabel.org/overcoming-low-self-esteem/. The PodcastThe 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.comMAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribeYOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganxDISCLAIMERAll 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.CREDITSMusic provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio— https://www.storyblocks.comBenzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park”— Artist: Neil CrossPRODUCTIONEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com©2023 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

Share this post with others: Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Final) / Presentation Cancellation, Vacation Reschedule, Benzo Community Activity, Social Media Effects, and Rollin' with the Changes Podcast ID: BFP121 Chapters 00:00  Which Day Is It?00:19  Presentation / Vacation04:59  What to Talk About?05:48  Benzo Community Activity06:15  Social Media Effects08:30  Promoting Others' Sites10:12  Rollin' with the Changes12:23  Closing References The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. 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= Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback Email us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer All content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. Music Credits All music is provided by and licensed through Storyblocks (https://storyblocks.com). Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park"— Artist: Neil Cross Production Credits Easing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com

Share this post with others: Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 5-6) / 1st Day of Rx Summit, Small Victories, Managing Benzo Limitations, BIND, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Urinary Difficulties, Fear of Heights, and Finding Ways to Do Things Podcast ID: BFP120 Chapters 00:00  Welcome to Days 5-600:28  Day 5 Recap01:31  First Day of Conference04:15  Benzo Morning Obsessions06:50  Small Victories07:13  Managing Limitations07:47  Pelvic Floor Dysfunction10:45  Managing PFD14:57  Symptom Management15:50  Fear of Heights17:40  Finding Ways to Do Things19:06  Thought Train Derailment 220:30  Closing References The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. 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= Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback Email us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer All content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. Music Credits All music is provided by and licensed through Storyblocks (https://storyblocks.com). Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park"— Artist: Neil Cross Production Credits Easing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com

Share this post with others: Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 4) / Nashville, TN to Alpharetta, GA / Driving and Flying Working Around Limitations, Emotions and Social Media, Setting Boundaries Podcast ID: BFP119 Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Georgia02:16 Managing My Symptoms 102:46 Hotel Room Tour04:51 Driving in the Rain05:42 Managing My Symptoms 206:24 Driving and Flying07:47 Work Around Limitations08:48 Emotions and Social Media11:59 Setting Boundaries12:52 Train of Thought Derailment13:20 Back to Boundaries14:53 Care for Our Caregivers15:37 Closing References The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. 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= Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback Email us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer All content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. Music Credits All music is provided by and licensed through Storyblocks (https://storyblocks.com). Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park"— Artist: Neil Cross Production Credits Easing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com

Share this post with others: Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 3) / Branson, MO to Nashville, TN / Back Home in Missouri, People with Crosses on the Roadside, Getting Out There and Doing Things Podcast ID: BFP118 Chapters 00:00  Welcome to Opryland01:11  Back Home in Missouri03:27  Roadside Crosses: Preface07:29  Roadside Crosses: Interview09:24  Roadside Crosses: Follow Up12:54  Getting Out There and Doing Things14:31  Closing References The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. 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= Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback Email us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer All content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. Music Credits All music is provided by and licensed through Storyblocks (https://storyblocks.com). Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park"— Artist: Neil Cross Production Credits Easing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com

Share this post with others: Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 2) / Salina, KS to Branson, MO / Benzos and indecision, the loss of confidence, life becoming small, and appreciation of the little things. Podcast ID: BFP117 Chapters 00:00  Welcome to Branson01:24  Drive Status01:58  Confidence, Indecision, and Benzos07:10  Life Becoming Small09:06  Appreciating the Little Things11:50  What's Next?12:55  Thanks for Joining Me13:08  Finding Beauty in Everything14:13  Closing References The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. 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= Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback Email us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer All content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. Music Credits All music is provided by and licensed through Storyblocks (https://storyblocks.com). Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park"— Artist: Neil Cross Production Credits Easing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com

Share this post with others: Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 1) / Denver to Salina, Kansas / Series introduction, why I like road trips, a friendly voice. Podcast ID: BFP116 Chapters 00:00  Welcome to Day 100:47  About the Road Trip02:45  Why I Like Road Trips03:33  Our New Social Feeds04:31  Human Connection07:33  A Friendly Voice 09:11  I Hope You'll Join Me References The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. 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= Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— Website: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YouTube: https://youtube.com/@easinganx Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback Email us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer All content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. Music Credits All music is provided by and licensed through Storyblocks (https://storyblocks.com). Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park"— Artist: Neil Cross Production Credits Easing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com

Share this post with others: 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. Podcast ID: BFP115 Chapters 00:00  INTRODUCTION02:04  Benzo Recovery School07:13  Benzo Collaboration13:09  Shooting Short Films14:25  Feature Benzo Film20:11  Support, Burnout, and Fees28:38  Benzo Clinic / Commune30:53  Structured Healing33:34  Opportunity for Positive Change37:07  Gratitude in Withdrawal37:37  Jungian Approach40:38  Not the Ideal Situation41:09  Benzo Overprescribing44:21  Benzo Revolution44:58  America, Society, and Unity47:43  Bruce Lee, a Chinese Hero48:22  Humanity and Positivity51:34  Age, Wisdom, and Reality56:43  Wrapping Up58:47  CLOSING References The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. POWERS BENZO RECOVERY COACHING Website — https://www.powersbenzocoaching.com/ YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18DrdP18DuSxoi2dxuSYUg Benzo Recovery School — https://www.powersbenzocoaching.com/benzoschool Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback Email us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer All content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. Music Credits All music is provided by and licensed through Storyblocks (https://storyblocks.com). Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park"— Artist: Neil Cross Production Credits Easing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com

Share this post with others: 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. Podcast ID: BFP114 Chapters 0:00:00  INTRODUCTION0:02:35  Rx Summit0:03:46  Upcoming Vacation0:06:02  INTERVIEW: Intro0:07:28  Filmmakers Chat0:11:38  Welcome to the Podcast0:12:34  David's Benzo Story0:25:38  Benzo Advocacy0:27:29  Are You Fully Healed?0:28:39  Giving Hope0:30:36 Audience-Led Podcasts0:33:14  Publishing His Book0:34:47  Moving into Coaching0:38:22  Benzo Recovery School0:44:56  Wrapping Up PhD0:46:26  Research and Funding0:50:35  Forums and Fear0:53:35  GABA and the Limbic System0:56:08  Responding to Fear0:58:15  Nerves, Symptoms, and Focus1:02:24  CLOSING References The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. RESOURCES (Powers Benzo Recovery Coaching) Website — https://www.powersbenzocoaching.com/ YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC18DrdP18DuSxoi2dxuSYUg Benzo Recovery School — https://www.powersbenzocoaching.com/benzoschool Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback Email us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer All content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. Music Credits All music is provided by and licensed through Storyblocks (https://storyblocks.com). Benzo Free Theme— Title: "Walk in the Park"— Artist: Neil Cross Production Credits Easing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com

Zibby interviews New York Times bestselling author Ana Reyes about her debut, The House in the Pines, a chilling, atmospheric, and unputdownable psychological thriller that involves two inexplicable deaths, an unreliable narrator, hazy memories, and a desire to unlock old secrets. Ana describes her protagonist's drug abuse, revealing that it paralleled her own struggle with Klonopin withdrawal. She also talks about her lifelong love of thrillers and learning to write one. Finally, she reveals what she is working on next and shares what it was like to be chosen as Reese's Book Club pick for January!Purchase on Zibby's Bookshop: http://bit.ly/3nxzXEYPurchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3JWhAklSubscribe to Zibby's weekly newsletter here.Purchase Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books merch here. Now there's more! Subscribe to Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books on Acast+ and get ad-free episodes or exclusive access to the in-store author events at Zibby's Bookshop in Santa Monica, CA. Join today! https://plus.acast.com/s/moms-dont-have-time-to-read-books. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darren Prince, International Best Selling author of his memoir Aiming High, is a prominent sports and celebrity agent and global advocate for addiction/mental health recovery. Through his agency, Prince Marketing Group, he represents icons Magic Johnson, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Jerry West, Dominique Wilkins, Chevy Chase, Charlie Sheen, Denise Richards, Carmen Electra, and many others as well as having worked with the late Smokin' Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali and Evel Knievel. As a leading authority in this space, Prince's insights have been featured in WSJ, NYT, USA Today, CNN, Fox and Friends, Chris Cuomo, Tucker Carlson, “On Purpose” podcast with Jay Shetty, Extra TV, Dr. OZ and many other top media outlets. Darren has experienced what life is like in the celebrity world but also seen the dark reality of addiction through his own personal struggle with opiates. With over 14 years of sobriety, it's now Darren's mission to help others avoid and break free from addiction and mental health struggles. He had a God awakening on July 2, 2008, and believes in a spiritual higher power and that anyone can turn their bottom into a new beginning. Connect with Darren here: https://officialdarrenprince.com/ Summary Introduction to today's episode. 0:42 How did you end up with addictions? 1:36 The turning point in his life. 6:39 It's better now than it was then. 12:24 Where's the drugs when the drugs wear off? 16:32 The miracle of calling out to god. 21:03 The power of choice. 25:09 Finding your purpose in life. 29:05 The importance of taking care of your health. 35:44 Getting a call from the White House. 39:01 Darren's message 45:22 Intro Guy 0:00 Your journey has been an interesting one up to hear you've questioned so much more than those around you. You've even questioned yourself as to how you could have grown into these thoughts. Am I crazy? When did I begin to think differently? Why do people in general appear so limited in this thought process? Rest assured, you are not alone. The world is slowly waking up to what you already know inside yet can't quite verbalize. Welcome to the spiritual dough podcast, the show that answers the question you never even knew to ask. But you the answers to questions about you this world the people in it most importantly, how do I proceed now moving forward? We don't even have all the answers but we sure do love living in the Question Time for another decade of spiritual dub with your host Brandon Handley. Let's get right into today's episode. Brandon Handley 0:42 One Hey there Spiritual Dope I'm on here today with Darren prince. He is an international best selling author of his best of his memoir. Aiming High is a prominent sports and celebrity agent and global advocate for Addiction and Mental Health Recovery. There was agency Prints marketing group who represents icons Magic Johnson, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Jerry, West, Dominique Wilkins, Chevy Chase, all these guys are greats. Right? And, you know, I didn't meet him getting autographs or anything like that. Darren, I met recently at an event with Brandon Novak and Novak house. And I think that's somebody that you're fairly close with, through addiction and recovery. So I said, You know what, I don't want to miss this opportunity to chat with somebody and share your story about all that you're doing. It's so great out there in the space. So Darren, Thanks for Thanks for coming on today. Darren Prince 1:36 Thanks for having me. Brandon Handley 1:38 Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, let's let's just kind of dive right into it. You know, you You're, you're well known you've done. You've worked with all these greats. But you've started like, with an addiction at a pretty young age, right? You started with an addiction at a pretty young age, and it caused a lot of havoc in your life. And now you've kind of translated that and transmute it into something good let's start at the beginning man like how did you end up with with some addictions Darren Prince 2:09 I you know, I grew up you would have thought just a normal childhood which I'd say for the most part i i had great loving mother and father and sister but I was always verbally to use for things so called Special Ed and small classrooms and back then, which probably more add whatever I was interested in, I gravitated to them most of the stuff I didn't. And I think just that did a number of my psyche and my self confidence, my self esteem. So at 14 When I was in sleepaway camp, and I had terrible stomach pains one night, the nurse gave me the scream liquid and having no idea what it was for the pain I took it and walking back to the bunk within a minute I felt like Superman like all those feelings of inadequacies and low self worth and self esteem. I knew I felt just as good as everybody else just as popular just as smart and went to bed then I think nothing of it. But I did all the activities that camp that next day, and I remember just lying in the bunk bed next night obsessing on that feeling and I wanted more of and I did that for a couple of weeks until mom and dad came up with visitation day and found that I was taking liquid Demerol. Yeah, I don't know what is Demerol and emeralds in OBS general problem most likely something that gives you a hospital like more but heavier opiate and back then the opiate epidemic wasn't anywhere near but you know, it was today. And you know, I had a way about me to assist innocent kid that was just in a lot of pain. And you know, she was probably just trying to come a relief every night or I was getting his bed stomach cramps and just, you know, played it to the hill just like I did when I had my wisdom teeth removed a few months later and my mom gave me these white pills that were called extra sent by cannons and that same feeling came back and you know, when I saw the bottle had two pills left I put on the crocodile tears fry it and said I've got to go back to the dentist have a bad infection. I know it's something's wrong and you know, panicked as a loving mother took me back and gave her another dozen bills, whatever it was. Brandon Handley 4:15 Yeah, it's crazy. It's crazy to us and it's such a young age. Right. And those are like those are some that was your thing, right? Like kind of like Demerol and opiates and Darren Prince 4:27 cocaine, ecstasy, you name it. Sure. And I he became an age and opiates were the ones that taught me up and it took me straight to the bottom. Brandon Handley 4:37 Sure, sure. Let's let's walk our way into the agents. Phase two. Right. So here you are. Age 14, you're kind of you're already like, you know, a script chaser. Right. But you've also got some cool things going on. You may mention that you're you were in like these quote unquote special ed classes. You know, you need a little bit extra attention to get through teaching you how to chip on your shoulder. But that actually led you on to something kind of cool. Right? Talk a little bit about that. Darren Prince 5:06 Yeah. So I started a mail order baseball card company long before the internet boom, and became nationally recognized, doing trade shows all over the country. First person, I think in the state of New Jersey, I have a cell phone, it was called Bell Atlantic, it was in a big leather carrying case with a battery pack, the phone cost me about $3,500. That's how tough we were to get about $3 a minute to use the phone. And the dumb idiot that wasn't going to go anywhere in between class was going into his locker room dealing with stockbrokers and a bunch of guys from ESPN. Were buying from me some of the big commentators that were big collectors and I would just broker deals of it. I had an incredible network database of dealers around the country, I was advertising because trade shows I would go to the best convention to get the best location. So I was spending 1000s a week on advertising myself, I became a very well known figure in the baseball card hobby and the boom of the 80s. So for any collectors that are listening now, it actually started in the 80s, which is why there's an industry there is today and by Tom, I'm 16 years old man, I'm probably making a quarter of $1,300,000 Ask us globally mean anything to me, you know, I came home from school. And it was about, you know, the hustle of laying out my ads for the next week and filling orders and hiring. You know, some of the so called friends that were were calling me, idiot and dumb. They were now calling me boss at 16 and 17 years old. And you know, and then from there, eventually I sold that company in 19. I dropped out of college, my freshman year of Bridgeport and went full steam ahead into the memorabilia business. So it's booking autograph signings from Muhammad Ali magic chevy chase to Frazier. Pamela Anderson. And by the time I was 24, built, built that business had some legal issues. And it was kind of at this turning point in my life where first time I ever had some financial difficulties and magics dip on my side and said, Hey, I know about making mistakes he had he was coming up with his HIV announcement, the anniversary of that was November 7 on Monday. And what do you want to do now? And because of my dad giving me the inspiration of explaining that to you know, like, not what you know, we work with the most iconic people in the world. You know, go speak to magic, you supported you and first client for my agency. Brandon Handley 7:33 That's pretty that's pretty awesome. I love that. Well, give me a moment here. Like how did we translate from, you know, in first of all, like, I'll just in my mind, I'm thinking like, mail order catalog. I thought you were just I thought you were just going in and setting up setting up the tables doing the shows you were. Darren Prince 7:51 Yeah, but we had a big Yeah, I have people taking orders. We're going on clothing and buy the stuff on the weekend, sell it during the week and knew exactly what I needed to find on a weekend to follow orders, mark it up and make a profit and get it out next week. Brandon Handley 8:05 That's awesome. And you were making what you're making? This is a what is the 80s? Is that right? Like mid 86. So I mean, I'm just gonna I told my son right now he's 10. And he's already feels like he's done with school. And I told him like, you know, when he makes his first million, feel free to drop out, right? Like, you know, go ahead. So, so you go from you go from this card business bit, and it's working out really well for you, you sell it how do you make the translation over into, you know, signatures like what? Darren Prince 8:34 What happened, and it's funny because one of my agents here Matilda was telling her the story older I think the sexiness and the coolness of being around like some of the biggest stars that were doing these autograph signings at conventions, it drew me to it. And, you know, again, that insecurity brokenness, like no cards are cool and making money but the cards, and I kind of just more or less went into the autograph signing thing, because I was like, wow, I've an opportunity to book my first autograph signing with Muhammad Ali, the most recognized human being on Earth. And, you know, for somebody with low self esteem and you know, was always high and to be around that environment. It was just unbelievable. And then I just think my appetite grew. From there it was same sort of thing. Well, autograph signings are kind of cool and hanging out with them but I won't be this autograph fucker for shinies I want to do big things. I want to do endorsements commercials, you know, when that's how that evolved. Brandon Handley 9:28 You wanted to level up and this whole time you know, you're you're you're popping pills, right? You're you're doing whatever. Darren Prince 9:35 You're on the autograph signing era, which the company was called prints of cards. That was the same name as the the big card company. You always partying whatever it was you name it, I did it. But when I became an agent, I learned real fast with magic when a morality clauses when the lawyers put together an agreement I was like, Alright, I gotta play this straight. Sciatica had anxiety and hey, like any good drug out If you junkie, I played it to the hell, you know how easy it was to get any script that I needed when I'd get them on the phone with Joe Frazier or bring him a Magic Johnson signed jersey or go like this guy's got it all together and a lot of pain, go get an MRI, go get an x ray, let's see how we can fix you. Let's do medication management. And for the first five, six years, man of my ancient life, you know, it worked really did. I became a rock star with networking. But I also say like this, like what was once living to us turned out to using to live. Yeah, and I just don't know when it turned. And I do remember that night I lost my superpower. So I remember when the oxycottons didn't work at an example, Joe Frazier in Dallas, Texas, and probably for a good six or seven years. I was trying to chase that high after that. Yeah. Brandon Handley 10:52 And you talk a little bit about this insecurity and brokenness, right. Like where do you feel like that stemmed from a little bit that was encouraging. Darren Prince 11:00 Like, I can't blame my mom and dad for it. And my mom and I came from a family with a lot of love. You know, my dad had tough love bugs. That was my biggest supporter. My mom gave me way too much. I think some people could understand that because that cause anxiety, it'll leave the house and I'll be around them all the time. And you know, those two were on there's too much and she was she overwhelming. With love were a kind of, you know, like I said, causing excess amount of anxiety with the over coddling knowing that I was special ed and need special attention. And I think it just can be very uncomfortable and how to deal with life. If I was in, you know, attached to her at home with her and my dad, and we get homesick a lot if I'd sleep over at friend's houses or birthday parties or weekend getaways. I remember it just a horrible feeling in my stomach just not being comfortable being away from mom and dad. And you know, you take all that into the real world with the verbal teasing and you don't speak up about those words a dumb an idiot I think using the word that begins with our from mentally challenged, I heard all these things. And when you absorb that, and those developmental years, guess what, you start believing it especially now put it out. And I didn't have the courage to speak up. Brandon Handley 12:14 Yeah, and the 80s You know, I grew up in a suit. Like they weren't kind. They were not. They like yeah, now I think so it's, you know, gratefully for my children a lot. It's better, right as different than than what it was then. But there was there was very few teachers really stopping that from happening to right. Oh, hell, it could be the teachers. Darren Prince 12:37 Back then, like I had a teacher. I won't mention her name, which she's not even alive anymore. US history. 60 kids in the class. I remember like yesterday, and you know, it's a level of psychological trauma, nothing that you know, it's something I've been healed from but you remember it. And she bought the first 90% of the class their test. And I'm in the bath with for six kids. My friend John Angelo gave squirrel joy. I'll never forget my crew, Carmen. And we called ourselves the our only group. People can figure out what word I mean. joking around about it. But again, I'm actually taking this in Stoke, right? Handed everybody else their tests. She's shouts in front of the entire class, I'll get to you guys in the back row with your test in a minute. Let me just take care of everybody else first. And even the tone was speaking to us in a way that we're less than we're not as smart or not as good. And you remember that? Yeah. Here we are. 40 something hours later, and I'll never forget it. Brandon Handley 13:43 For sure. So when you're when you're, you know, drugging when your pill pop and when you're drinking. You're trying to forget that piece of who you are. Darren Prince 13:54 I'm trying to forget that piece of who you are. But I'm also there's a great revelation on Jay Shetty. He's a dear friend of mine. I was at his place on Sunday that I made it to the top. But I'm looking backwards at all the people that said I wasn't going to make it. Usually when you get to the top or somebody to fake top there's a lot of smoke and mirrors still it I didn't feel worthy of being at the top of the industry around the biggest stars in the world. And so my thing was always look backwards. Look at me look at the dumb ugly one to one no doubt that I'm Swanee one that wasn't going to make it look, I mean, I look at it, you know, and it was that way when I was 16. I remember when I would just go to bed at night laughing because my dad was like, you're making more money than most of your friends fathers that are that are lawyers that have real crown like the bed like, you know, celebrating this and Brandon Handley 14:53 what kid wouldn't right at that age for sure. That makes sense. Darren Prince 14:57 And that was all that deep rooted. insecurity that that verbal teasing and just that feeling of less than and, you know, my mom thought it was funny sometimes when she would hear me on the phone like buy and sell this person backwards and forwards and she thought it was hilarious, but it came from a deep place of insecurity and resentment. And I was like, How funny is that this guy is going to go to college mom for the next four years paying off loans for the next 10 years when he gets out, and already have more millions put away and she'd be like, I'm so proud. It wasn't like a corrective thing. I was just, you know, so I think all of that though, when I looked back, it was just such a deep level of brokenness and inadequacy that I just always had approved. And then now here I am at the top of the industry with magic and you know, Ali and Frazier and you know, Pam, Pamela Anderson and Chevy Chase and smokin Joe Frazier. So it's a recipe for disaster, man, you know, and the luck started coming. And I started developing and working out and the girls start comping left and right. I'm just frickin doing whatever the heck I gotta frickin do to uphold this image that my entire class is like, holy shit. Darren prince made it bigger than every single one of us is this world famous agent that's on the sideline of the Superbowl and, you know, backstage passes and walk in the red carpet at the MTV VMAs and all these big award shows, and I just ate it all up. I thought that's what what my calling was meant to be. And, you know, I need I needed a lot of driving force. I needed the expensive sports cars to be driving an Acura NSX, souped up at 21 years old that cost me $200,000 First person to buy a house and you know, the jewelry and the diamond Rolex is and now I look now and this is me. I could go on buy a new Rolex tomorrow. It's not what makes me happy. Brandon Handley 17:00 Sure. For sure. Sure. Well, let's get there. Right, like so where where's the drugs wear off? Right? You realize you'd lost your superpowers on one night, right? You go to pop the oxys and they're not doing what you need them to be doing? What happens then you panic. I mean, what where's it all got panicked. Darren Prince 17:21 I went down to this corporate event in the conference room this ballroom and I couldn't figure out for the life of me what was going on. And the next day the same thing happened and I'm in Florida by myself two days later, and I found a different way to ingest it. That gave me a little bit of a buds I started snorting my oxys my Percocet and my bike and it's, you know, I kind of mostly live that way. For another four or five years had an overdose and Las Vegas came back after that overdose finally in New Jersey, and called an addiction psychiatrist told me I was an opiate addict put me on Suboxone, but never go to a therapist and lie to him like I did because he didn't hit a nail. I was taking Xanax and Valium and mood stabilizers and antidepressants and anxiety. Every anxiety pill that I can get my hands on and snorting Ambien the frog went to bed at night and still drinking a couple of days a week and Mike Mike died awakening came on July 1 As you heard that I yeah, my Uncle Steve made the rest in peace in his own girlfriend Andrea. I was just sick and tired of being sick and tired at the jumping off point. My ego was too big. I'm too important to go to rehab I can't lock myself up for 30 days and she just came into my condo at the time I never met her and it was a godsend. She's like, I've never met you but are you okay? And I told her I told her everything I never had such an honest conversation but the human in my life and I just felt drawn to her. And she looked at me and said devalue an advocate below so manage by see that she could be related to you are powerless and said yes. And she because all this started looking at all the photos on the walls with all the celebrities and awards and different things that I've gotten because none of this means anything because you don't mean anything to yourself. Do you realize that the disease of addiction does not discriminate it doesn't matter for from Park Avenue or park bench or if you've gone to Yale or jail and that broke my soul. And here I am the so called Big Time super agent broke down and cried and she goes it's okay on each because I just celebrated five years sober last week. pulls out a five year coin at her pocket. And she goes Do you want to get sober he wanted to anything that takes us at anything she because you have to put this before everything in your life and occur what it is if you lose the business, you don't want to lose your life but you can do this and I can show you the SOP period so right and was beautiful life. And yeah, she put me on a 36 hour detox plan and that next night was seven o'clock on a Sunday night July 2 I came back from the gym I was living at the Caroline building. I was married man and I came back from the gym. It's my third workout at the gym clinic do everything I can to get the dopamine going and the endorphins and came up I called them I said I can't frickin do this. I'm going to call the doctor I gotta get whatever we got to get my ankle struck Yellin on the other end and said, It's the goddamn disease talking of time, kick the crap out of it. You've been doing this since you were 14 years old. He was in recovery as well. He was back in recovery. He struggled for years until he passed and I said I can't frickin do this because you have to get yourself to a damn meeting, put your hands up and tell these people who are sick and suffering you need help and I hung up the phone ran in the bathroom, I shut the door I'm going from medicine cab and looking for Klonopin or some other non narcotic anxiety meds, take the craving away and out came to Vikings. I don't want to pull bottles, which was just shocking because Simona and on my axe, we spent hours going through other medicine cabinets two days before mine 36 hours before when Andrea said you got to get them all out of the house. You know, I'm weaning them off Suboxone. And I thought it was the gap that that is exactly what I need a man that bloods that God moment in that split second just when I needed. And the miracle happened because I thought on my knees for the first time in my life. I never called up to God like this before. And I've never done it since I pray every single night to him now. And I said God, take the money, take the notoriety of the business, I don't care, I need a single day of freedom to feel like little Darren when I was a young kid again, I'll do whatever it takes. If you take me out of hell. I will spend one day at a time the rest of my life using my platform take another jet with the exact words that I said. And it was like a lightning bolt. Because their shoulder was literally felt like somebody had a blowtorch on it. And I heard in this year as a voice. Say I'd got you and you're ready. And I stood up. And this hand opens and I flushed the opiates left in the living room on to computer there's no Uber back then. And I searched 12 step meetings near me and I found a church. So little ways away in the upper 80s Because it was late at night on Sunday had had an 8pm meeting and jumped right in a taxi cab and I looked up on this gorgeous summer, July 2 2008. I said to myself, Oh my God, for the first time of my life, I wanted to stay sober. More than 100 Get Hired What the heck just happened and I walked into a church basement 150 to 200 addicts, alcoholics that were at once to a hopeless state of mind and later send anybody new coming back sick and suffering or struggling and Sam went right up. And I know, he lifted it. And I came playing in front of a roomful of strangers. And it just came out. I said, I'm sick, I'm suffering. I'm suicide. Amazing life. And I didn't know why I'm doing this myself. But I need you guys help. And, you know, in that moment, I had to get to desperation. And I was crying out to get the power of choice back in my life and these people but it doesn't spiritual brothers and sisters, right after I said that, which was so key, came over to me and started kind of talking to me intimately in a soft tone voice not to disrupt the meeting. And they said, You're in the right place. We've been where you've been. Keep coming. You know, if you aren't what we have, do what we do. Take the car out of yours, put it in her mouth. We will love you before you ever learn how to love yourself. And then the one that was just magical, they said, keep coming to AAA. And don't worry about if you get it, because if you keep showing up. It's gonna get you nice. And that was that I felt in that room during that hour man. A connection that I never felt in my life. Ever Brandon, it was just I've heard things like I do that. Oh my God, that's my oh my god. And it was like, it was like just to add a body experience where no therapist, no drug. I literally felt it was almost like the dark side of me clearing out of my body. Yeah, immersed and obsessed with me and nothing can be for my in person meetings. I did the 99 date. I eventually got my sponsor Steve Delaval who just celebrated 35 years. You know, and once I hit that, probably six month mark because, you know, you're doing pretty good. He goes, I just got to tell you. You want to keep this gift, right? I said yeah, he goes over doing stuff. We're gonna wrap up the steps probably by the end of the first year. I'm not rushing, you throw it because your drug addiction wants to rush, your substitute, Rush. But once we get there, you want to keep this gift that I'm giving you. You better be prepared to give it away. I'd others. And once I started doing that, after that one year more hope and recovery began to heal on the Cleon. Brandon Handley 25:09 I love this and like, I think that, you know, if I looked at this through, you know, part parts of this to just general spirituality, you that part where you, you flushed down the pills, right? You opened yourself up to receive, you know, the higher power, right? You let it come and through and through you, you surrendered, like, you're like I can't do like, I'm not doing this life anymore. And you recognize this like power of choice, I love that you bring up the power of choice, you realize that? Maybe you that had been taken away from you for a moment, were because of your addiction. Right? So being able to say like, I want that back in my life. Yeah. Tell me a little bit about your what? You know, for somebody that's not familiar with step work. Tell me Tell tell the group a little bit about it. Because I think that one part of it, and I'm not a stepper there. And so I just happen to be familiar with the space. And I've gone through the steps without doing the steps, right. So it's really cool to see, like, oh, wow, what I did is in alignment with this thing. So tell the audience a little bit about it. If they're not familiar, Darren Prince 26:30 you have the 12 steps. I actually emailed my girlfriend, Nicolette them a couple of weeks ago. She's young and like anyone at any age, really, but especially young is working on our own clearing and healing and stuff. And my whole point to her was everybody can use these every single day. Yeah, alcohol is only mentioned in the first step for a reason to reason over 212 Step organizations around the globe with an adapted from a built up even talked about created on June 10, in 1935. You know, it's about meeting a powerless, that life has become unmanageable, whatever error that might be. It's about kind of coming to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore you to sanity. It's about taking your own personal inventory. It's about making amends to the people that you've harmed along the way. But also in a way that you don't farm them or others, it's about continuously taking your personal inventory. And when you're wrong, promptly admitted, no matter what area of recovery, you might be in or healing. You have to be vigilant every single day. And then, you know, it's about maintaining that constant contact and whatever that area of recovery or healing that you've attained and achieved giving it somebody else. Yeah. That is the magic. That's what has given me the self esteem. Yeah, that adult due respect I love them to death their dear family friends at this point, magical Ric Flair. Charlie Sheen, Chevy Chase criminal electorate, that young, beautiful people, they never gave it to me. I got it from my spiritual brothers and sisters. And I get it every time I give this away to somebody because I have a God given gift. And I've kept my word. Anybody that works with me sees it. There's not a single day that goes by I still might not get to in person meetings as much as I used to. I'm doing that more I'm still doing zoom meetings, but there's not a single day that I'm not doing something connect with somebody in recovery. You know, I'm on the board of Banyan treatment centers I do whatever I can to scholarship people there. I've gotten people to oaks recover. I've gotten people to know facts house using funds that I've raised from my aiming high foundation, but the greatest thing in the world because I'm not just giving them an opportunity to get a new life I'm helping every single human in their life. The benefit of this person getting their life back. And it's the greatest feeling in the world. I could lose all the money tomorrow and lose the business tomorrow. We don't live in this beautiful place in Brentwood, but I found me found me and the heartbreaking part about all that I've ever lost like I said, it's everybody that's so near and dear to me that I do what I can to take care of and make their lives better financially. I might not have that but Darren Prince could have be all good. I mean, you're gonna speak and at the same Darren friends that was paying found his purpose. Right Brandon Handley 29:33 now. I love that and kind of what you're talking about. There's your, your scene like that image where, you know, one one match strikes and lights and other right. That's what you're doing is helping others to light themselves up and see kind of the truth of who they are the power, the connection that they've got. Darren Prince 29:53 But that when that just one gets finished. I've had so many that have been just mine Long when I see the lights come on in somebody's eyes. Yeah. Brandon Handley 30:08 I mean, that's, that's me. That's when you realize kind of what your purpose is right? Darren Prince 30:11 Obviously with my dear friend Jen Cohen last night just a huge podcast habits and hustle one of the top 10 Business podcasts in the world. There's Mark Cuban, I just know, helped her out. She got him and she said Gary Vee and Eric Thomas and she did a podcast that was out in the Middle East. These guys reached out to Scott Bo Hopkins, for me and her oddly, we had no idea I went to first she went the second I had the entire crew, including the whole, in tears multiple times to the interview, because he had something similar not to drugs in the alcohol, but he understood the brokenness, he understood the looking back, Spencer, the host, and she goes, You have no idea when I got there. I was like, why am I here? While they're talking about is Darren's don't like he had every single one of us in tears. Like, he took us to a different level of accountability and recognizing either flaws or what we've been through, because I think that's what God wants, wants me to do. You know, I'm not afraid to tell people at all mistakes I've made and continue to make, and my character flaws and my character defects because it's a free feeling. Yeah, liberation for 99% of this world. I think it's smoke and mirrors, and everybody's got something out there trying to cover up. You know, me my background Brandon Handley 31:33 right here. I'm trying to cover up my background right now. Darren Prince 31:39 I'm like, Man, I don't know if you put on a little bit of weight to try to buy, just to just to be able to have that for the first time of my life and this type of being made and said, I stomach. I'm not perfect, better quality mistakes lashed out. And this mouth can get me in trouble or texting or emailing. But I'm way better than I've ever been. I tell people try to say what you mean mean what you say don't say we try to scam people, instead of you being understood. I think in the heat of an argument for anybody listening, and you're about to open up your big fat mouth. Don't engage. And it's better to feel alright. And right. If you're 100%, right. The strength is keeping your mouth shut. Don't send that text don't send that email. Because in five or 10 minutes, whatever you're about to explode about forgotten like that. And that's how you build your spiritual relevancy built discipline that to yell at change of character defects to staying in alignment to manifest to your higher self. And I've gotten so good at that again, not perfect. Yeah. But filthy her will hurt me with my mom a handful of times. It's not easy. Sure. My girlfriend, I'll tell you but I am so much better than I've ever been. I'm aware of it. I'm vigilant. I have to weigh out. Take a deep breath. Which is why I'm looking forward to working with you. Be fun battered i Yeah, it could be Brett. Is this worth it was also in recovery. We say we're not doormats. Occasionally. My sponsor stabbed a laptop, my it things have to come out a certain way. Get out. But y'all know if you're right and wrong when you're in recovery. If you have that emotional hangover, there has been times I've had to put people in their place. I'll hang up the phone, go on with my day, not even think twice about it. Sure. Oh, my gosh, I know that it was something that had to be done. So people can understand the way I expect things to be done. Brandon Handley 33:43 For sure. Right. Yeah. I mean, I like that. Not being a doormat part, I think, um, could you help, maybe see, to be of service but not a servant. Right? Because I think a lot of us, especially when we find that we want to be of service, right and go out there. We contend to let ourselves be taken advantage of but again, become more of a servant than off service. Explain a little bit of that, that difference there. Darren Prince 34:11 I think there's a huge difference when I say you got to become selfish, to be selfless. And the truth is, again, we're all trying to better ourselves. We're trying to feel better about ourselves, not externally, internally. So if you allow yourself to not be of service, but be assertive, and you're still not in a place to live in your higher self, you're you're a yes person and you're being told what to do. You're not living the life that you want to live, you're not standing your ground and you know, living the purpose for life, and you have to speak up. You know, sometimes people say, Oh, I'm not motivated by fear. Now that fear is a great motivator. And if you're in a place where uncomfortable, speak up, because the more you express yourself, that's where the growth comes in. But if you allow help people to keep shitting on you and mistreating you, if it's your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, sister, co worker, what's not gonna do, you're gonna frickin go home and just feel like crap, that's gonna just blow out your self esteem. You know, if the situation's not right, or Hodgson, I'll sit down and talk about it, go to therapy, do whatever you got to do, don't turn a blind eye to it. If you're in a relationship, same thing, if there's a co worker, that that you're not getting along with that, that's just bringing out that bad energy every time you see them, to pull them aside and say something, you know, it's Life's too short. People don't realize at any age, that history teacher that I had, it can happen in your 30s, in your 40s, or 50s. And it's a lot harder to get rid of when you get older. You know, our lives get so busy and so crazy that if you if you take it in, and you don't do something about it, at our age is man, health issues, mental health issues, physical, emotional, spiritual, not worth it. Brandon Handley 36:05 You're all torn up, we're all torn up. This time you say you listen, so you wrote a book called aiming high, you put you put a lot of this information in there. And you've also taken that book and the AMI high notion and you've created a foundation out of that, you want to share a little bit about that, you know, again, kind of going from, you know, this, this center into St. You're, and you know, for those of you that don't know to step 12, is what we taught what you brought up right, Darren Prince 36:34 giving it a spiritual awakening as a result of the six steps. Yeah, we've tried to carry this message to other alcoholics and people that are sick and suffering to practice and all their principles all their affairs. Brandon Handley 36:45 Sure. And so you're doing this now, in part through your aiming high foundation, you will share a little bit about what that group does Darren Prince 36:55 for the foundation combat when I wrote my book in October of 2018, aiming high, which Anna David was my publisher, Chris McGinnis, my brilliant writer, I gotta give her all the glory, even though she gives it to me. She's the one that wrote the masterpiece, within a week and a half became an international bestseller in England, Canada, Australia, and the US. And, you know, we got like the Amazon award and all these great accolades that came from it. But number it was ego driven. I mean, I just knew this was God. You know, given my purpose, and my dad passed you earlier, I told him my in the hospital, I was blessed that he added me back for eight and a half years sober. And I said, if I'm going to touch the world, I'm like this experience of what I had to deal with the past 32 days. And of course, it was 32 days, the last step after we went into the hospital, and our algorithm was Magic Johnson shirts, a number from the Lakers, and so urban like one by Israel, and I thought that was beautiful. And I just looked at him and I was like, you know, I never felt so comfortable during the most uncomfortable time in my life. Like, above up there with Joe and Muhammad, grandma, grandpa, Uncle Joe uncle, and I see you're gonna look down as the daddy, I'm going to touch the world. Not only with this experience, but with this gift, because I need people to understand that you can get food the roughest times in life and not have to drink not after drug not after. And it just took my spirituality to a whole nother level, for sure. And to be able to hold his hand say goodbye. And just He's crazy. I call them GMCs my friend Bruce are that passed away was so near and dear to me, my spiritual brother, couple of years ago used to call them GMCs got managed coincidences. But then two weeks, I got a call that I was going to be honored at New Jersey's largest drug and alcohol rehab center. I invested a ton of money and time into being a professional speaker. I knew this was just going to be a big moment. Not just for me, but to really carry the message to the general public and try to help people and then I went so fantastic. literally the next day to rehab got a call because the extreme that on Facebook from Dr. Oz's executive producer that they want on Dr. Oz The next day was Charles Schwab area when city went on Dr. Oz talked about recovery with Darryl and do an incredible job themselves. And literally right after Dr. Oz I got a call from Roanoke. Perhaps it was Donald Trump's executive assistant forever I think she's still got them Donald Trump is a dear friend from Celebrity Apprentice from having Dennis Rodman on their brand new Roderick a bunch of clients. I did a bunch of work with them. I got to see a different side zone because it was a sweetheart loyal always do an ad to the rehab center gal is that and they want to me at the White House. Wow. Frickin things for him to sign this $8 billion opiate epidemic Bill, you know, to start talking to teens around the country and I'd say you know, this is unbelievable. And then my dad always wants me to write a book Brandon and I just I didn't Feel comfortable writing about the HMI. I always take a lot of my stories out there between me and my my loved ones that I foster my clients myself and I met Anna David on Instagram one day, a few months after that. And I guess she saw something about, you know, a hashtag recovery and the White House and opiate epidemic. And somehow we linked up and I saw her that December of 2017, which was probably about eight or nine months after my dad passed and talking or just checking in with you, because your story is unbelievable, because you know, I'm in recovery. I was like, I had no idea. Because I've been in recovery, I read a couple of best selling books, I think it's time you write one. Because I have the angle. I know you said your dad always wants to do right when she goes take people on a fly on the wall journey of what it's like to be the agents most iconic stars of all time, like you went deep into health care side. And we looked at each other with tears. I said, That's it. That's powerful. That's hot. And so anyway, when the book came out, and I did so many speaking engagements, and I noticed that there was opportunities, very limited. And that short window of people that actually had such a deep connection with there was high school kids Did someone come over to me put their hands up during the q&a, where I knew I had an opportunity right then and there to help. There was adult audience, Gallows corporations, where people were just, they had that moment of clarity. And I'm like, I need to start a foundation. And because if I can grab somebody, and their lights come on in that moment, and they can afford it, and I could say, I could help you, right? Go home, pack your bag of a car company get you, it's gonna take you treatment center tonight, to check your work to get the life you deserve. And that's how even high Foundation came about. Brandon Handley 41:52 That's awesome. That's awesome. So I mean, you you you've gone from, you know, this kind of this broken, scared person, even though you had massive success came crumbling all down. And now you know, you've rebuilt yourself. And I always always look at spirituality is you recognize the truth of who you are personally, right? Like, I mean, you see the core of who you are. And you're looking now to help others to find that in themselves through AAA and through your foundation through the work. Darren Prince 42:23 And my friend Jen and I were laughing last night, I would say I didn't, I didn't get sober writing, you hide and make money. I didn't do it to build my brand, which I think just by default, you know, business is better than ever. I am a consultant with Ben and I help people, you know, get a, you know, get in there when I can't afford it. i I'm part of a it's an incredible group now bridge therapeutics that has this revolutionary 100 time better suboxone that hits the system, and 10 seconds when suboxone when I was on, it took 15 minutes. And I'm a voice for them. And I know it's gonna, you know, get people off methadone. And like, all these blessings that I've been a part of, because, you know, I've had that I've had the foundation in my business. But, you know, like Jay Shetty, and I was talking about now I had no idea that a byproduct was just the agency life. God knew all along the values ready. You know, Hong Kong, and he says an expression, he came into testimony for the back of my book that was so powerful and said, you know, July 2 2008, brother us God for the blessing. And he said, you've come to me correct. Now it's time to make your blessing to others. Brandon Handley 43:43 Yeah. Love it, man. And it's like, just like you said, you know, I was looking at, you know, the universe provides before you need the things right. So the universe kind of Gates gave you this agency and this platform so that like, when you got to this space, now you're able to leverage that to do what it is that you're doing right now. Exactly. That's awesome. There. Now what's next for you, man? What do you you know, where are you headed? What's going on? Darren Prince 44:12 I'm low on the travel for the next three weeks. Thanks, God me, my girl, her mom and my mom. Both of our moms are flying out for Thanksgiving just laying low. We have so much great business stuff going on. But you know, for me the stuff that really gets me excited is recovery. Get back out there and speak and again and you know, write my next book, which should be next year, raising whatever money I came from our foundation like I said bridge therapeutics, you know, I just can't wait to get this thing out to all the treatment centers and people that are suffering and you know, Banyan would probably have another you know, gala coming up for Banyan next year fundraiser. I just that's the stuff that really gets me excited. I mean, I got my dog on a personal override and I still up on my life. It's football season. Hopefully my Los Angeles chargers can turn Turn it around their records, okay, but they stink, they're all banged up and injured. So I do what I can to get my own personal enjoyment of time to check out and you know, with my girl and her dog and, you know, work out five days a week, still taking care of myself and nice. That's it. But I think, you know, it all comes into alignment when I put this first and when I help people. Brandon Handley 45:22 Yeah, I love that too, you know, that this is first for you. And I think that that's very profound. And hopefully that's something that some others take away as well. Man, I appreciate you coming in here. Like I said, we kind of bumped into each other Novak's house. And I you know, wanted to have you on Bill to share this story with some other people. I appreciate you being on World Darren Prince 45:44 Cup on Saturday. What's that? We're gonna wake up on Saturday. Brandon Handley 45:49 That's right. 100% Yeah, man, I'm looking forward to it. I you know, I think it'd be even. That's exciting. That's exciting for me that you're interested and the work that that I've been doing over there has been just kind of so makes me feel good, right? Kind of like the way it's what you're talking about. You can go there and get some people to see and connect with themselves and put some type of gap in between this anxiety that are feeling right and let go everything around them and just being able to do that for a moment, especially as they're making this transition from off the street. Some of these guys. I mean, these Darren Prince 46:29 are fresh. Exactly. Brandon Handley 46:31 Give them that for a moment. Man. This last one was super powerful, very excited. But again, man looking forward to us this coming week and we can and this has been a lot of fun. Darren so thank you. Thanks for where's that some people to find out more about you? How can they contribute? How where can people go to Darren Prince 46:48 follow me on Instagram at agent underscore DEP. The Foundation website is aiming high foundation dot work. Got my own personal site Official Darren prince.com. And for people that are intrigued by the agent life and whatnot, the business side is print marketing group.com Awesome. Thanks, Dan. All right. You got it. Excellent. I Intro Guy 47:15 really hope you enjoyed this episode of the spiritual dough podcast. Stay connected with us directly through spiritual dove.co. You can also join the discussion on Facebook, spiritual dough, and Instagram and spiritual underscore Joe. If you would like to speak with us, send us an email Brandon at spiritual dove.co And as always, thank you for cultivating your mindset and creating a better reality. This includes the most thought provoking part of your day. Don't forget to like and subscribe to stay fully up to date. Until next time, be kind to yourself and trust your intuition. Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Nurses Out Loud with April Snipes RNFA, BSN, CNOR – Lindsay's defense attorney Reddington “alleged that she was ‘thoroughly destroyed' by several medications - including Valium, Prozac, Klonopin, and Zoloft- which he claimed masked her symptoms rather than treated them.” Her symptoms were misdiagnosed and inadequately treated by multiple practitioners which led to the death of her three children, and her permanent disability...

***TW/CW*** suicide, murder and harm to children will be discussed.We are diving back into the Lindsay Clancy case - she has been accused of strangling and killing her children. If you aren't familiar with this case please listen to it here: (https://open.spotify.com/episode/6wU3SpiZxeaMwcmrKWWHVB) and then come back to this episode. ***Lindsay was prescribed 13 different psychiatric medications:zolpidem (sold under the brand name Ambien); clonazepam (sold under the brand name Klonopin); diazepam (sold under the brand name Valium); fluoxetine (sold under the brand name Prozac); lamotrigine (sold under the brand name Lamictil); lorazepam (sold under the brand name Ativan); mirtazapine (sold under the brand name Remeron); quetiapine fumarate (sold under the brand name Seroquel); sertaline (sold under the brand name Zoloft); trazodone, hydroxyzine, amitriptyline, and buspirone.Nonprofit ‘The Blue Dot Project': https://www.thebluedotproject.orgRustic Marlin: https://rusticmarlin.com/blogs/influencer-round-up/the-blue-dot-projectPatrick Clancy's Statement/GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/patrick-clancy-donationsFollow me: @manicandmedicated_If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts please call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 800-273-8255 to connect with a trained counselor, or visit 988lifeline.org.

Share this post with others: What can we do about tinnitus? What about brain lock? What about insomnia? Does alcohol help? Can flumazenil fix this? What about overwhelm and isolation? These and other questions are discussed as we dive deep into the mailbag. In today's episode, we explore the mailbag — in particular, your YouTube comments. We also catch up on D's health, progress with the workgroup, some exciting conference news, and much more. It's good to be back and we're so glad you tuned in. Podcast ID: BFP112 Chapters 00:00  INTRODUCTION01:29  A Hopeful New Year03:13  My Health Update06:39  Reminder of Acute W/D08:56  Website Update09:59  Peer Support Training Update11:46  Rx Summit Presentation 14:39  Hope and Overwhelm16:58  It's Good to Be Back19:00  MAILBAG19:08  Benzos in the ER21:34  Flumazenil Treatment25:47  Where Did BIND Come From?28:52  Suicidality, Brain Lock, and Isolation35:37  Insomnia37:19  Alcohol and Withdrawal40:48  Sleep Hygiene Tips43:23  Tinnitus45:34  Coping, BIND, and Kind Words47:36  Anecdote About BIND48:52  We Make a Difference50:22  Thank You for Everything52:09  MOMENT OF PEACE References The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. Work Group Projects— Benzodiazepine Action Work Group (BAWG) — https://www.benzoaction.org— BAWG Peer Support Training Information — https://www.benzopeertraining.orgBIND Information— Easing Anxiety: Basics of BIND — https://easinganxiety.com/blog/basics-of-bind/ Video Presentation— A New You: Life After Benzos — https://easinganxiety.com/blog/a-new-you-life-aftter-benzo-withdrawal-bwpres2022 Conferences— Rx and Illicit Drug Summit — https://www.rx-summit.com/ — ASAM Annual Conference — https://annualconference.asam.org/2023/asam/index.aspSuicide Prevention— Easing Anxiety: Suicide Prevention Resources — https://easinganxiety.com/blog/category/resources/resources-suicide/resources-suicide-us/ Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YOUTUBE (Easing Anxiety): https://www.youtube.com/easinganxiety— YOUTUBE (Benzo Free): https://www.youtube.com/benzofree PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK— COMMENT: On this video in YouTube— COMMENT: On the blog post on our website— FEEDBACK FORM: https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback— EMAIL: feedback@easinganxiety.com SUPPORT US— Make a Donation: https://www.easinganxiety.com/donate Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback Email us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer All content provided on this YouTube channel is for general informational purposes only and should never be considered medical or health advice. The author of the content provided on this channel is not engaged in rendering medical, health, psychological, or any other kind of personal or professional services. 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. Music Credits

The Z-drugs: Ambien. Lunesta. Sonata. What are these? Are they benzos? Hypnotics? When did they hit the market? Can they cause dependence? Withdrawal? BIND? These questions and more will be discussed in our feature today. In today's episode, we focus on nonbenzodiazepines, or Z-drugs. How are they like benzodiazepines, and how are they different? We also answer some questions about dosage, duration, and rebounding and we hear a story of struggle from Tulsa, Oklahoma. https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/z-drugs-the-other-benzos-an-in-depth-look-at-ambien-lunesta-and-sonata-bfp111Video ID: BFP111Chapters 00:00 INTRODUCTION02:09 My Podcast Voice05:33 Progress on Website06:33 Peer Support Training Update09:10 Struggles, Symptoms, and the Podcast14:47 A reason why, or just coincidence? 18:16 MAILBAG18:58 Does dosage or duration matter? 21:24 Rebound from medical procedures?24:31 BENZO STORY32:28 FEATURE: Z-drugs34:38 What are Z-drugs?36:00 When did Z-drugs hit the market?36:36 Do Z-drugs act like BZDs on the body?37:54 Z-drugs often partnered with BZDs39:46 What are Z-drugs prescribed for?40:07 The Quest for the Magic Pill42:04 Are Z-drugs less likely to cause symptoms?45:06 What are the Z-drug side effects?47:02 Are Z-drug symptoms different?48:20 How to taper from Z-drugs?49:05 BZD and Z-drug Terminology51:48 MOMENT OF PEACE 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. FEATURE: Z-drugsAshton, C. Heather. Benzodiazepines: How They Work and How to Withdraw (aka The Ashton Manual). 2002. Accessed April 13, 2016. https://easinganxiety.com/ashton Brandt J, Leong C. Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs: An Updated Review of Major Adverse Outcomes Reported on in Epidemiologic Research. Drugs R D. 2017 Dec;17(4):493-507. doi: 10.1007/s40268-017-0207-7. PMID: 28865038; PMCID: PMC5694420. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5694420/. Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, CO: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. https://easinganxiety.com/book Kay, Abigail L. et al. Drug Abuse, Dependency, and Withdrawal. Therapy in Sleep Medicine. 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2009-0-40426-4. Schifano F, Chiappini S, Corkery JM, Guirguis A. An Insight into Z-Drug Abuse and Dependence: An Examination of Reports to the European Medicines Agency Database of Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2019 Apr 1;22(4):270-277. doi: 10.1093/ijnp/pyz007. PMID: 30722037; PMCID: PMC6441128. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6441128/. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Taking Z-drugs for Insomnia? Know the Risks. Last Updated April 30, 2019. Accessed November 30, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/taking-z-drugs-insomnia-know-risks. Waller, Derek G., Anthony P. Sampson. Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and insomnia. Medical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. Fifth Edition. 2018. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780702071676000208. Wikipedia. Nonbenzodiazepine. Accessed November 30, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonbenzodiazepine. Z-Drug. ScienceDirect. 2022. Accessed November 30, 2022. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/z-drug.  The PodcastThe 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.comMAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMERAll 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. CREDITSMusic provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTIONEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2022 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

Dr. Anna Lembke is our guest today — and trust me — you don't want to miss this one! We discuss benzodiazepine tapering, substitution, the dopamine cycle, flumazenil, anxiety, social media, finding a doctor and so much more.Anna Lembke, MD is a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine, chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and an internationally recognized leader in addiction medicine, treatment, and education. A best-selling author, she has also testified before both the U.S. House and Senate and appeared in the Netflix documentary, “The Social Dilemma.”https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/conversation-with-stanford-psychiatris-anna-lembke-md-bfp110Video ID: BFP110Chapters 0:00:00 INTRODUCTION0:01:55 Benzos & Surgery Update0:03:25 PROTECT Study0:04:35 FEATURE: Dr. Anna Lembke0:05:28 Dr. Lembke's Bio0:06:54 Welcome / About Dr. Lembke0:09:32 Deprescribing Clinics0:10:53 Learning from Addiction Medicine0:12:17 The Bravo Protocol0:13:37 The Ashton Manual0:14:59 Benzo Horror Stories0:15:50 The Dopamine Cycle0:19:45 Addiction vs. Dependence0:21:59 Is Benzo Withdrawal Unique?0:24:52 When Did You Become Concerned?0:26:40 Changes in Prescribing Practices0:29:15 Increasing Rates of Anxiety0:30:24 Drugifying Human Behaviors0:31:28 Digital Device Addiction0:34:59 Reinforcing Negative Experiences0:38:37 Mindfulness / Expectations0:41:49 Finding Acceptance0:43:48 How Do You Taper Your Patients?0:46:48 Substitution vs. Direct Taper0:49:57 Dosing Schedule / Flexibility0:52:06 Stabilizing Before Tapering0:54:31 Finding a Doctor You Can Trust0:56:04 You Make a Difference as a Patient0:56:53 Flumazenil and Other Treatments1:00:33 Benzos and the Elderly1:02:24 The Danger of Designer Benzos1:03:59 What are Benzos Good For?1:05:31 Benzos for Medical Procedures1:07:32 Final Words for the Patient1:09:10 CLOSING BIO for Dr. Anna LembkeAnna Lembke, MD is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A clinician scholar, she is the author of more than a hundred peer-reviewed publications, has testified before the United States House of Representatives and Senate, has served as an expert witness in federal and state opioid litigation, and is an internationally recognized leader in addiction medicine treatment and education.In 2016, Anna published “Drug Dealer, MD – How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It's So Hard to Stop” (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016), highlighted in the New York Times as one of the top five books to read to understand the opioid epidemic (Zuger, 2018). Dr. Lembke appeared in the Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma,” an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives. Her latest book, “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence” (Dutton/Penguin Random House, August 2021) was an instant New York Times and Los Angeles Times bestseller and explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world. 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. RESOURCES for Anna Lembke, MD— WEBSITE — https://www.annalembke.com/— PROFILE: Stanford University — https://profiles.stanford.edu/anna-lembke— BOOK: “Drug Dealer, MD” — https://www.annalembke.com/drug-dealer-md— BOOK: “Dopamine Nation” — https://www.annalembke.com/drug-dealer-md — VIDEO: “Benzodiazepines: The Hidden Epidemic” — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln1F2oANexw— VIDEO: “Benzodiazepines: Dependence and Withdrawal” — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W9EEI2ZXKU— VIDEO: “Benzodiazepine Tolerance: An Adverse Medical Event” — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7r_94vyOL4— BRAVO! A Collaborative Approach to Opioid Tapering — https://www.oregonpainguidance.org/guideline/tapering/— The Ashton Manual — https://easinganxiety.com/blog/ashton-manual/ The PodcastThe 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.comMAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMERAll 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. CREDITSMusic provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTIONEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2022 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

What happens when you need surgery during protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal (BIND)? How do you manage the anxiety? Do you take meds? Benzos? Opioids? How do you handle recovery? Join D on his personal 14-day journey.In part 2 of this 2-part series, the surgery is completed and D reviews his decision to be given a benzodiazepine for sedation. He monitors its effect on his symptoms, discusses his recovery and use of pain meds, and explores his improved outlook on life after his successful procedure.https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/benzos-and-surgery-a-journey-of-anxiety-recovery-medication-and-success-part-2-of-2-bfp109Video ID: BFP109Chapters 00:00 INTRODUCTION02:07 Listing Benzos As an Allergy (Day -1)07:11 Morning of Surgery (Day 0)09:28 Back Home Recovering10:41 Deciding to Take a Benzo14:14 Comedy of Errors (Day +1)18:29 Post-Op Meds20:09 Putting Weight on Foot (Day +2)21:18 Positivity from Success25:20 Symptoms Mild26:10 Feeling Better (Day +3)27:41 “The Midnight Library” / Perspective31:05 Recovery Setback (Day +5)32:38 Feeling Better Again (Day +6)35:30 A Little Bit of Normalcy37:42 Benzos, Hope, and Timelines41:14 Better Life on the Other Side43:39 Relaxation Videos (Day +7)45:10 In Search of Something Profound46:07 Success Breeds Success48:50 Gratitudes50:26 Final Benzo Update51:07 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. SITE RESOURCESBenzodiazepine Action Work Group (BAWG) — https://benzoaction.orgBenzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC) — https://benzoinfo.comThe Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices — https://benzoreform.orgREFERENCESAshton, 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. Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, CO: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. https://easinganxiety.com/book  The PodcastThe 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.comMAILING LIST: https://www.easinganxiety.com/subscribe YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@easinganx DISCLAIMERAll 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. CREDITSMusic provided / licensed by Storyblocks Audio — https://www.storyblocks.com Benzo Free Theme — Title: “Walk in the Park” — Artist: Neil Cross PRODUCTIONEasing Anxiety is produced by…Denim Mountain Presshttps://www.denimmountainpress.com ©2022 Denim Mountain Press – All Rights Reserved

Share this post with others: What happens when you need surgery during protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal (BIND)? How do you manage the anxiety?  Do you take meds? Benzos? Opioids? How do you handle recovery? Join D on his personal 14-day journey. In part 1 of this 2-part series, D discusses his anxiety, insomnia, and other complications leading up to the surgery. He also shares his fear of cancellation, his struggles to find courage, and his reliance on traditional coping skills like distraction, visualization, and meditation. LISTEN TO PART 2 HERE: https://www.benzofree.org/podcast/benzos-and-surgery-a-journey-of-anxiety-recovery-medication-and-success-part-2-of-2-bfp109/ Welcome to Episode #108 Follow D on his 14-day journey preparing for and recovering from foot surgery while still dealing with the symptoms of BIND. D recorded his thoughts for a week of prep leading up to the surgery as he dealt with anxiety, fear, and other complications. He also continued to record for the week following his surgery including his experience with taking a benzodiazepine during the procedure, any effects of that decision, managing his pain meds, and other recovery difficulties and successes. Video ID: BFP108 Chapters 00:00  INTRODUCTION02:24  About My Surgery (Day -7)03:41  Creating a Traumatic Event05:53  Prepping for Surgery07:59  Too Much Time / Trapped10:32  Benzo Morning / Anxiety (Day -6)14:23  It's Just Anxiety / The Off Switch16:30  Calm on the Outside18:14  “Regarding Henry” / Change24:20  A Good Day / Internal Energy (Day -5)29:04  Morning Ritual / Meditation (Day -4)31:50  A Bit More About Meditation34:21  I'm Much Better Than I Was36:03  Anxiety, Irritability, and Shame (Day -3)38:25  Exposure Therapy and Success40:44  Anxiety of Anxiety42:53  Exhaustion of Chronic Anxiety (Day -2)44:47  Courage Visualization46:34  Yea! I Made It This Far (Day -1)48:23  When Plans Change50:48  I Feel Good53:19  CLOSING Episode Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. — Benzodiazepine Action Work Group (BAWG) — https://benzoaction.org— Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC) — https://benzoinfo.com— The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices — https://benzoreform.org 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.Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, CO: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. https://www.benzofree.org/book.   Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YOUTUBE (Easing Anxiety): https://www.youtube.com/easinganxiety— YOUTUBE (Benzo Free): https://www.youtube.com/benzofree PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK— COMMENT: On this video in YouTube— COMMENT: On the blog post on our website— FEEDBACK FORM: https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback— EMAIL: feedback@easinganxiety.com SUPPORT US— Make a Donation: https://www.easinganxiety.com/donate Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedbackEmail us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer

Share this post with others: What happens when you need surgery during protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal (BIND)? How do you manage the anxiety?  Do you take meds? Benzos? Opioids? How do you handle recovery? Join D on his personal 14-day journey. In part 2 of this 2-part series, the surgery is completed and D reviews his decision to be given a benzodiazepine for sedation. He monitors its effect on his symptoms, discusses his recovery and use of pain meds, and explores his improved outlook on life after his successful procedure. LISTEN TO PART 1 HERE: https://www.benzofree.org/podcast/benzos-and-surgery-a-journey-of-anxiety-recovery-medication-and-success-part-1-of-2-bfp108/ Welcome to Episode #109 Follow D on his 14-day journey preparing for and recovering from foot surgery while still dealing with the symptoms of BIND. D recorded his thoughts for a week of prep leading up to the surgery as he dealt with anxiety, fear, and other complications. He also continued to record for the week following his surgery including his experience with taking a benzodiazepine during the procedure, any effects of that decision, managing his pain meds, and other recovery difficulties and successes. Video ID: BFP109 Chapters 00:00  INTRODUCTION02:07  Listing Benzos As an Allergy (Day -1)07:11  Morning of Surgery (Day 0)09:28  Back Home Recovering10:41  Deciding to Take a Benzo14:14  Comedy of Errors (Day +1)18:29  Post-Op Meds20:09  Putting Weight on Foot (Day +2)21:18  Positivity from Success25:20  Symptoms Mild26:10  Feeling Better (Day +3)27:41  “The Midnight Library” / Perspective31:05  Recovery Setback (Day +5)32:38  Feeling Better Again (Day +6)35:30  A Little Bit of Normalcy37:42  Benzos, Hope, and Timelines41:14  Better Life on the Other Side43:39  Relaxation Videos (Day +7)45:10  In Search of Something Profound46:07  Success Breeds Success48:50  Gratitudes50:26  Final Benzo Update51:07  CLOSING Episode Resources The following resource links are provided as a courtesy to our listeners. They do not constitute an endorsement by Benzo Free of the resource or any recommendations or advice provided therein. — Benzodiazepine Action Work Group (BAWG) — https://benzoaction.org— Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC) — https://benzoinfo.com— The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices — https://benzoreform.org 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.Foster, D E. Benzo Free: The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal. Erie, CO: Denim Mountain Press, 2018. https://www.benzofree.org/book.   Site Links VISIT US ONLINE— WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com— YOUTUBE (Easing Anxiety): https://www.youtube.com/easinganxiety— YOUTUBE (Benzo Free): https://www.youtube.com/benzofree PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK— COMMENT: On this video in YouTube— COMMENT: On the blog post on our website— FEEDBACK FORM: https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedback— EMAIL: feedback@easinganxiety.com SUPPORT US— Make a Donation: https://www.easinganxiety.com/donate Podcast Summary This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax. Feedback We'd love to hear from you! The Benzo Free Podcast is a community podcast and we need your input to help it grow and improve. You can tell us what you think in the following ways: Fill out our Feedback Form at https://www.easinganxiety.com/feedbackEmail us at feedback@easinganxiety.com Comment on one of our videos or posts. Disclaimer All content provided on this YouTube channel is for general i...

The drag starlet on the rise known as JUDY joined me for a delightful afternoon to talk the magic of anxiety, first time in drags, being bi-polar, Kim Petras, Rubber Child, our inner liberal middle-aged moms, Sugar Tank, getting used to crowds again, The New Beverly, Hollywood folklore, Xanax VS. Klonopin, Shelley Duvall, Maggie May Fish, Arkansas and more! Stay tuned for Part 2

Comedians Dave Temple and Brendan Sagalow join Big Jay Oakerson, Luis J. Gomez, and Dave Smith to discuss performing comedy on cruise ships, and react to self-sucking compilations from the Woketern Olympians. All This and More, ONLY on The Most Offensive Podcast on Earth, The LEGION OF SKANKS!!! Air Date: 03/14/22Support our sponsors! Fans over the age of 21, visit ZippixToothpicks.com and use promo code SKANKS10 for 10% off your order!Go to ChickNSkin.com and use promo code SKANKS for 20% off your order!Fans over the age of 21, go to MiPod.com and use promo code SKANKS for 20% off your order!Legion of Skanks merchandise is available at PodcastMerch.com/LOS!You can watch Legion of Skanks LIVE for FREE every Monday & Friday at 8:00pm EST at GaSDigitalNetwork.com/live.Once you're there, sign up to GaSDigitalNetwork.com with promo code LOS to receive a 7 day FREE TRIAL with access to our entire catalog of archived episodes! Including over 350 video episodes and over 500 audio episodes that have ever been recorded! On top of that, you'll also have the same access to ALL the other shows that GaS Digital Network has to offer!FOLLOW THE WHOLE SHOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA!Dave TempleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/imdavetemple/Twitter: https://twitter.com/imdavetempleBrendan SagalowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendansagalow/Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendansagalowLegion of SkanksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/legionofskanks/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LegionOfSkanksBig Jay OakersonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigjayoakerson/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigjayoakersonLuis J. GomezInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gomezcomedy/Twitter: https://twitter.com/luisjgomezDave SmithInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theproblemdavesmith/Twitter: https://twitter.com/comicdavesmithGaS Digital NetworkInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gasdigitalTwitter: https://twitter.com/gasdigitalSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.