Benzodiazepine Rehab in Marietta, Georgia

Understanding Benzo Addiction

Benzodiazepines are considered sedative-hypnotic drugs. When taken, activity is enhanced for the brain’s GABA receptors, producing calming or relaxing effects. Dopamine production is also increased, and the benzo takes away the brain’s ability to recycle excess dopamine.

Because of this, the brain craves that effect since it cannot naturally activate GABA and produce dopamine in the same potent way. This can lead to cravings, leading a person to take more and more of the medication.

And because the brain eventually gets used to this effect, tolerance will be developed, thus leading to a person craving increased doses and uses of the benzo.

Common benzodiazepines are Xanax (alprazolam), Valium (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), and Klonopin (clonazepam). Benzodiazepine use can cause a person to experience the following:

• Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Impaired Coordination
• Memory Problems
• Respiratory Depression
• Benzodiazepine Dependence
• Addiction

In general, doctors recommend that benzos should only be used as a short-term treatment option for mental health disorders. The shortest duration of use is often the best, however in general they are okay to use for approximately 2-4 weeks. Any longer than this, and the risk of benzodiazepine dependence increases significantly.

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

If a person tries to stop benzodiazepine use on their own, especially after extended use, they may begin to feel benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms.

Unfortunately, benzo withdrawal is incredibly dangerous and can be life-threatening if medical attention is not sought out.

Because withdrawal from benzos is the most dangerous form of withdrawal, it has been called Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome. It looks like:

• Sleep Disturbances
• Irritability
• Increased Tension
• Anxiety
• Panic Attacks
• Tremors
• Sweating
• Muscle Spasms
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Dry Heaving
• Nausea
• Weight Loss
• Palpitations
• Headache
• Muscular Pain and Stiffness
• Perceptual Changes

Benzodiazepine withdrawal is one of the most dangerous that a person can experience, and depending on the amount and duration of use, withdrawal from this medication can be deadly. Your brain becomes so dependent on the medication that it will induce uncomfortable, painful, life-threatening symptoms to urge you to take more.

If you want to stop taking benzos, seeking medical help is the safest choice. Contact a doctor or rehab facility and ask what your options are. You don’t have to experience this alone.

Benzodiazepine Overdose

In 2022, there were about 11,000 deaths related to benzo overdose in the United States. The number of deaths related to benzos has risen steadily since 1999, particularly among adolescents and young adults.

These numbers are striking, so understanding what a benzo overdose looks like is critical to ensuring that those numbers don’t continue to rise. If a person is overdosing from benzos, it may look like:

• Extreme Drowsiness
• Confusion
• Impaired Coordination
• Decreased Reflexes
• Coma
• Profound Sedation
• Respiratory Depression

If you or a loved one is experiencing these effects, calling 911 is critical.

Benzo Addiction Treatment in Marietta, Georgia

Seeking professional help for overcoming benzodiazepine substance abuse is critical. At Thoroughbred Wellness and Recovery, we are experts in helping our clients overcome addiction and live healthy lives in long-term recovery.

Detoxification

The first step in getting sober from benzo abuse is typically detox. Because the withdrawal process is so dangerous, we emphasize the importance of going through this step of recovery through a benzo detox facility.

Here, you will work with medical professionals who will monitor your progress every single step of the way, ensuring you are safe and as painless as possible.

Detox programs often use nonaddictive medications to help minimize uncomfortable symptoms, allowing clients to get through withdrawal more easily. Under direct medical supervision, clients can detox from benzos in a safe, supportive environment.

Partial Hospitalization Program

Once medical detox is complete, we recommend initially participating in our PHP program. This is our most comprehensive level of outpatient care, requiring clients to come to our facility Monday through Friday for approximately four hours per day.

Each schedule is unique to each client because we understand that no two situations are identical. Treatment plans are designed with your specific medical team and include a combination of options that best address you, your unique needs, and any underlying conditions.

Because benzos are used to address anxiety and other mental health problems, we offer dual diagnosis treatment to address all co-occurring issues at the same time.

Options available for the PHP program include:

• Group Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Family Therapy
• Individual Therapy Sessions
• Medication Management
• Aftercare Planning

These evidence-based therapies are proven to work, but we also incorporate an extensive list of holistic options throughout the recovery journey to address overall client well-being. Clients may work with horses, meditate, learn yoga techniques, or exercise in group settings.

Our PHP treatment plan allows clients to invest in their recovery, and the longer a person remains in treatment, the more successful their outcome will be.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

While PHP is our most comprehensive level of care, at Thoroughbred Wellness and Recovery, we understand that not everyone can commit that amount of time to treatment. We believe that recovery should fit into your life because not every person can stop working or step away from their families.

This is why we have day and evening IOP options, allowing our clients to create a schedule that works for them. IOP consists of three days of treatment a week for only a few hours each day.

Your time will mostly be taken up by individual and group therapies, but IOP clients also have access to various holistic options.

IOP is also a great option for stepping down from inpatient treatment or our PHP program. It allows clients to gradually step down from treatment, especially for clients suffering from dual-diagnosis mental health disorders. Ongoing support is often critical when a person suffers from both.

Outpatient Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment Program

Once clients have completed either PHP, IOP or some combination of both, we highly recommend that they continue short-term help through outpatient care. With outpatient treatment, clients can choose how much or how little they need.

The goal is to provide ongoing support and aftercare planning to decrease the threat of a relapse. Outpatient care can help address ongoing health conditions as benzo substance use disorders can have long-term consequences.

Outpatient care is considered an ongoing intervention, but it can be incredibly important in addressing clients’ individual needs as they step away from higher levels of care. They can also be critical in continuing to help clients hone their coping mechanisms.

Our outpatient addiction treatment center offers flexibility in schedule and level of care to ensure that every client receives the best treatment options.

Why Choose Thoroughbred Wellness for Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment

When it comes to benzodiazepine addiction, you want professional healthcare individuals who have experience helping people safely detox from benzos. At Thoroughbred Wellness, we aim to help you create habits that enhance your daily life.

We work closely as a team to pinpoint triggers and root causes of addiction, then focus on creating a healing environment where positive habits and coping mechanisms can be utilized daily.

The recovery process is a lifelong journey, and at Thoroughbred Wellness and Recovery, we treat every client as a family member.

When you seek help from us, you will never have another day alone. Our goal is to address the negative habits and thought patterns that led to drug use and transform them into positive habits and thought patterns that promote the total well-being of the body, mind, and soul.