Anxiety disorders are affecting many people around in our communities. Many people are dealing with anxiety on a daily basis. Perhaps one of the most unfortunate things about this issue is that people are often prescribed medication for such disorders. The fact that people use prescriptions to manage the disorder isn’t necessarily the problem. But the main issue is that these medications have the tendency to be extremely addictive. Often, doctors recommend benzodiazepines for those who are dealing with an anxiety disorder. But, people who take benzos for anxiety treatment may be at a high risk for developing a drug dependence problem. They may even begin to deal with an addiction issue. But, this doesn’t have to be the case. There are more ways to treat an anxiety disorder than with addictive medication. It’s important to find alternatives to taking benzos for anxiety treatment so that you or your loved one can live a life free from addiction.
What are Benzodiazepines?
Most of the time, people refer to benzodiazepines as benzos. This category of medications is one of the most commonly prescribed. Benzos are drugs that can help to relax one’s muscles. They are often called tranquilizers. Although many may not know exactly what benzos are, they may recognize some of the names of commonly used benzo medications. Here are a few of them:
- Xanax
- Serax
- Doral
- Prosom
- Valium
- Ativan
- Librium
Again, people usually use these medications for their calming effect. So, the fact that people use them in order to ease or relieve anxiety is certainly understandable. However, using benzos for anxiety disorder treatment can lead to some very serious problems. Many individuals who have used these medications on a regular basis have found themselves struggling with substance abuse and addiction. Let’s talk a little bit about why this happens.
About Benzo Dependence and Addiction
A substance abuse or addiction problem doesn’t just start all of a sudden. It doesn’t happen overnight. So, it’s very unlikely that a person who is using a medication in the benzo category will develop an addiction right away. However, after using these meds for a while, signs of addiction may begin to so. But, first, the individual develops a tolerance for the medication. To put it simply, a person who uses a specific substance may become used to that drug. After using it for a while, the body doesn’t respond to the substance in the same way anymore, which causes the person to use more of the drug in order to get the desired effect. In this case, relaxation and anxiety relief is the effect people want to feel. If the individual begins to take the medicine outside of the recommended amount, he or she is abusing the drug. After a while, the body’s tolerance for the benzos may become an addiction to that substance.
Let Simple Path Help You!
Unfortunately, many people who take benzos for anxiety treatment develop a substance dependence problem. Their bodies become addicted to the medication and it becomes very difficult to end that dependence. But, there is hope! The good news is that it’s definitely possible to put a stop to addiction. Here at Simple Path Recovery, we truly believe that our clients deserve to find total freedom from substance dependence. So, we work to make sure freedom is no longer a dream but a reality in the lives of our patients.
If you or someone you know has been using benzos for anxiety, you may know what it means to be dependent on medication. But, we want to make sure you experience a life beyond the bondage of addiction. Please contact us today to find out how we can help!
