What are the symptoms of addiction? How do I know if I am addicted to benzodiazepines? When we talk about being addicted we don't mean the classical getting high although this is sometimes one possible feature. We are generally referring to the physiological part of addiction which occurs due to the constant presence of benzodiazepines. These physiological adaptions occur mostly in the CNS (Central Nervous System) but also throughout the body due to the constant presence of the drug. These changes occur because the body tries to counter act the drug to return the brain to normal functioning, this phenomenom is known as tolerance. Once this physical addiction process has occured then withdrawal symptoms can be expected if the drug is stopped suddenly. It is independent of personality and independent on external enviromental factors. Physical addiction occurs to all laboratory animals tested, all humans tested and also all babies born unto mothers using benzodiazepines. Here are some questions. A yes answer may indicate you are addicted to benzos. The more Yes's the more likely you are addicted.
It has been shown that complete tolerance to the anti-anxiety effect occurs after about 3 months of continuous use of benzodiazepines and complete tolerance occurs to the sedating effect after about 1-2 weeks of continuous use. There is of course some variations between individuals as to how quickly their body becomes tolerant to the drug and how the drug is used also determines this.
Some of the symptoms asked in this questionaire may become more intense or appear for the first time when benzodiazepine dosage is decreased or stopped suddenly.
Have you used your benzodiazepine daily for longer than a month? [Yes] [No]
Have you ever subsituted one drug for another e.g alcohol or cannabis or increasing pain killers when you have run out of benzodiazepines or felt they are not working anymore? [Yes] [No]
Have you ever found yourself manipulating your doctor to increase the dose of your benzodiazepine? [Yes] [No]
Do you need to take your benzodiazepine as soon as you wake up? [Yes] [No]
Do you need to use other drugs to counter act the negative effects of benzodiazepines e.g alcohol or additional psychotropic prescribed/unprescribed drugs? [Yes] [No]
Has your job or previous normal day to day activities suffered as a result of your use to benzodiazepines e.g. isolating from friends, not socialising, job loss etc? [Yes] [No]
Have you ever tried to stop taking benzodiazepines and found that you can't? [Yes] [No]
Have you ever been admitted to hospital due to your addiction e.g psychiatric hospital or drug rehabilitation center? [Yes] [No]
Does the thought of running out of your benzodiazepines frighten you? [Yes] [No]
Do you feel it is impossible to live without benzodiazepines? [Yes] [No]
Have you ever found yourself questioning your sanity? [Yes] [No]
Has your use of benzodiazepines effected family life at home? [Yes] [No]
Do you suffer irational fears phobias especially agorophobia e.g. fear of open spaces fear of shopping centers? [Yes] [No]
Has your sex life declined since being on beznodiazepines? [Yes] [No]
Have you ever tried to commit suicide or you think about it regularly? [Yes] [No]
Have you developed new 'psychiatric' or bizarre neurological symptoms which you did not have before using benzodiazepines or alcohol or other addictive drugs? [Yes] [No]
Have your cognitive abilities e.g memory, reasoning skills or concentration been effected from using benzodiazepines long term? [Yes] [No]
Have you ever stopped taking benzodiazepines and experienced withdrawal symptoms e.g anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis, shaking (occasionally epileptic seizures when high doses are stopped suddenly)? [Yes] [No]
Have you noticed your personality has changed over time from using benzodiazepines? [Yes] [No]
Do you suffer from unusual mood swings or emotions which you did not have before using benzodiazepines? [Yes] [No]
Do you feel the need to carry your benzodiazepines around with you?
- Finally the last and most important question! Do you think you may be addicted to benzodiazepines? [Yes] [No]
Only you can answer the last question and only you can decide what action to take. We are here to support you in whatever decision you make and to provide information to those who need it. Often benzodiazepine addicts dismiss their symptoms of addiction by saying such things as I am not addicted I am just having a tough time and I will quit when i feel a bit better or they dismiss their withdrawal symptoms wrongly as emotional or mental health issues and say they need their benzodiazepines. Unfortunately as is most often the case with addiction the time of feeling better does not come unless gradual withdrawal and a recovery has been allowed to occur. Addiction tends over time to get worse and more ingrained. Only you have the power to change your life. We will support you in whatever direction you choose to take.
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