Doctors across the country prescribe benzos to people from all walks of life for short-term relief from anxiety and insomnia. When taken long-term, however, benzodiazepines can be highly addictive. They can also be detrimental to brain health and cognition. At Red Oak Recovery®, our substance abuse treatment programs provide comprehensive benzo rehab in North Carolina. If you or someone you know is ready to stop using benzos, Red Oak Recovery® can help. Call us now at 828.382.9699 to learn more about our North Carolina-based benzo addiction treatment programs.
What Are Benzos?
Benzodiazepines or benzos slow down the brain and body. By releasing high levels of GABA and dopamine, benzos slow the nervous system and bring feelings of calm, joy, and elation. The brain makes both GABA and dopamine every day. However, when someone takes benzos, their brain will slowly stop making its own GABA and dopamine. This can lead to withdrawal and benzo addiction. Common benzos include:
- Xanax
- Valium
- Restoril
- Ativan
- Klonopin
- Librium
- Dalmane
While many take benzos for trouble sleeping or intense anxiety, the drug is designed for short-term use. If someone takes benzos for more than a few weeks at a time, they risk cognitive impairment and can experience changes in how they perceive the world.
How Do Benzos Affect the Brain?
An increase in GABA and dopamine can cause long-term effects on the brain. Long-term effects of benzos include:
- Difficulty processing
- Slower metal processing
- Trouble following conversations
- Memory loss
- Trouble speaking or understanding language
- Trouble understanding objects, scenarios, and the world around you
It’s hard to understand the long-term effects of benzos without experiencing how they change a person’s brain. When benzos change a person’s brain, they may struggle to understand objects in space. Their brain can distort reality and make it challenging to understand speech and language. This can make it hard to seek help and know when it’s time to ask for help.
When someone stops taking benzos, they will often experience a rebound effect. When this happens, a person’s initial symptoms like anxiety and insomnia will return and worsen. These symptoms can be discouraging and frightening, leading many people to use benzo again to stop symptoms. Unfortunately, benzos are not a long-term solution for anxiety or insomnia. At Red Oak Recovery®, we help clients safely recover from benzo addiction from benzos, mitigate withdrawal, and find alternative solutions for anxiety and insomnia through comprehensive psychiatric care.
Beginning Benzo Addiction Treatment
Benzo addiction treatment begins with a safe, effective detox. At Red Oak Recovery®, we provide comprehensive men’s addiction treatment for those struggling with benzos. Our addiction treatment program offers a range of psychiatric services to help clients uncover, understand, and manage the root causes of benzo addiction.
Whether you’ve been through rehab before or this is your first time in treatment, we are here to help. We believe in a different type of support during benzo addiction treatment. With an emphasis on stress reduction, our multidisciplinary team can help you plan for long-term recovery. If you and your loved ones are struggling with benzos, don’t quit cold turkey. Instead, join Red Oak Recovery® today.
Begin Benzo Addiction Treatment at Red Oak Recovery®
If you or someone you love is struggling with benzos, Red Oak Recovery® is ready to help. From treatment to aftercare planning and alumni programs, Red Oak Recovery® is here to support your detox and sobriety. With a range of evidence-based and experiential treatment options, clients at Red Oak Recovery® get the support they need to manage benzo addiction. Call us at 828.382.9699 to learn more about our benzo rehab programs and get started.
