Alcoholic Psychoses

I was prescribed Alprazolam (generic Xanax) & then Clonazepam (generic Klonopin) when I was in my 20’s. Among other issues, I have GAD(Generalized Anxiety Disorder), as well as Social Anxiety Disorder/Agoraphobia, & Panic Attacks. I didn’t like the way that any Benzodiazepine medications made me feel, so I would only take them on an as needed basis for acute symptoms & in anticipation of stressful situations, but found that they did little to help my condition. I felt dulled on them, & there is a great deal of evidence, medical studies & literature about the many possible negative side effects of long-term use of this class of drugs, like dependence, tolerance, **withdrawal**, addiction, & a variety of harmful potential cognitive & neurological changes in the brain. “In current long-term users, benzodiazepines have been shown to cause impairment in the domains of motor coordination, psychomotor speed, verbal reasoning & learning, executive function, sensory processing, episodic memory, & concentration. They have also been shown to cause decreased IQ, processing speed, & visuospatial and visuomotor abilities. They can also result in delayed response time & an altered perception of self, environment, & relationships in addition to causing deficits in expressive language, working memory, visuoconstruction, and divided attention.” ( Source: https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/cognitive-consequences-of-benzodiazepine-use-is-it-worth-losing-our-mind-over-# ) Personally, once I began to learn about possible brain damage being caused by this particular type of drug, I did not feel comfortable with continuing to take them, & took myself off of them. But, since I was only taking them sporadically, my withdrawal symptoms were minimal, thankfully, although I did experience some headaches, increased brain fog, & difficulty with attention & concentration. This is just my personal experience, & I realize that the benefits may outweigh the side effects for some people. However, Benzos are highly over-prescribed, & are not intended to be taken for long-term use. These drugs work by dulling our nervous system’s response, and, as an abuse & trauma survivor with Chronic Complex-PTSD, I can confidently say that there are circumstances in which that can definitely be detrimental to one’s survival & wellbeing. Not all fear is bad, as it’s supposed to be our brain’s way of trying to warn us when we may be in danger. The real problem arises when the brain begins to alert to inappropriate stimuli, making us feel the fight/flight/freeze response is necessary in normal everyday scenarios, which are not actually life-threatening or dangerous. (I am also hyper-vigilant, a feature of my Chronic C-PTSD, so I’m hyper-aware of everything going on at all times, & constantly fearful of potential hazards.) Our bodies & minds can be injured by traumatic experiences, & start to malfunction in ways that make our lives more difficult. And, for some, prescriptions may temporarily aid us in dealing with the difficulties that arise. But, ultimately, most drugs are not cure-alls, & they are merely treating symptoms. They do not get to the root of the issue, so it’s like putting a small bandage on a gaping bleeding wound. It will help to some small degree, but it will not fix the problem. Also, taking any type of “head meds” not in conjunction with some form of therapy is not advised. If you are currently seeing a therapist or counselor, it may be safe & helpful to work with them to try to ascertain the roots of your anxious thoughts & feelings, while medicated for short-term usage. But, personally, I benefited way more from talking to professionals & educating myself than any minor perceived short-term benefit I ever felt from taking any drugs. To paraphrase author Eckhart Tolle, “Worrying (/Anxiety) only pretends to be necessary, but actually serves no real useful purpose.” We can’t control everything; only plan & be prepared. Learn to trust yourself again. &, good luck! :)

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