Thousands are prescribed benzodiazepine every year without being warned of their effects.

This video was originally published on benzo-case-japan.com and republished with permission. 

For many, the horrors that come from the withdrawal of benzodiazepine are known only after it’s too late and the damage has been done. Patients will seek a doctor to help cope with a conditions like anxiety, panic, seizures/convulsions, insomnia and other sleep problems among many other issues and trust that their doctor is going to give them the best possible medical advice. Sadly, despite the abundance of natural solutions to many of these problems, because they are not profitable or because the doctor is simply under educated in natural healing, benzodiazepine is recklessly prescribed and peoples’ lives are being ruined.

One of the major problems with this class of drugs is that they can easily lead to dependence. Often times the dosage given to a patient is increased over course of treatment and have no idea that they can expect side effects. Sleep disturbance, fatigue, headaches, loss of orientation, confusion and aggression are just a handful of side effects of the drugs. Some have described being on this class of benzos as feeling like an emotionless zombie or doll. Patients are also often unaware that coming off of these drugs can be incredibly difficult and withdrawal symptoms can be just as bad (or even worse) than the original condition it was fighting. Describing the experience as torture is not at all uncommon, and many people will live in this torturous situation for years at a time.

World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day was created in order to bring this crisis into view. A way to let the unknowing understand how horrible these drugs can be and let sufferers of these drugs know that they are not alone in their fight. Join us in spreading the word about these awful drugs.