I'm 11 years benzo-free, yet I still get waves on occasion. BIND is a roller coaster ride, and devilishly unpredictable. In today's podcast, I discuss my recent battles with BIND and how I find hope during the darker days.

CHAPTERS

0:00:00 It's Been A While

0:02:06 Our Uneven Life Community

0:06:00 Tinnitus Kicks In / My Wave

0:06:49 Update on Podcasts

0:08:30 Podcasts Fell to Back Burner

0:09:41 I'm Sorry You Have to Go Through This

0:11:41 I Still Get Setbacks & Waves

0:14:33 Lunch, Friends, & Anxiety

0:24:30 Benzos, Setbacks, & Jordan Peterson

0:30:59 It Gets to You Sometimes

0:32:50 I Want to Acknowledge Your Courage

0:33:51 There's a Reason I Still Struggle

0:37:11 The Life We Think We Should Have Had

0:39:53 There's Always Something We Can Do

0:46:08 Planning a Road Trip

0:47:15 It's Rarely Just BIND

0:49:57 I'm Really Sorry This Happened to You

0:52:40 Focus on the Light

0:53:56 Wrapping Things Up

REFERENCES

The Uneven Podcast

— https://unevenLife.com/podcasts

— A more personal take on living with anxiety and anxiety meds.

Uneven Life

— https://unevenLife.com

— Visit our community, coaching, and content on anxiety and anxiety meds.

Uneven Life Coaching

— https://unevenLife.com/coaching

— Learn about our coaching programs.

RECODING INFO

— RECORDED: Sunday, October 5, 2025

— LOCATION: Colorado

PODCAST SITELINKS

— PODCAST WEBSITE: https://www.unevenLife.com/podcast

— UNEVEN WEBSITE: https://unevenLife.com

— YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@theUnevenLife

— X (TWITTER): https://twitter.com/@theUnevenLife

PODCAST SUMMARY

This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax.

PODCAST DISCLAIMER

The Benzo Free podcast is for general information purposes only and should never be considered medical, psychological, or any other form of health advice. Health-related information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems or to prescribe any medical devices, psychological treatments, or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it.

Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://unevenLife.com/disclaimer.

SUICIDE PREVENTION

If you, or anyone you know, is having suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. Resources can be found on our website at: https://www.easinganxiety.com/resources#suicide.

PODCAST MUSIC

All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com)

Benzo Free Theme Music

— TITLE: Walk in the Park

— ARTIST: Neil Cross

PODCAST PRODUCTION

The Benzo Free Podcast is part of Uneven (https://unevenLife.com) and is a production of Denim Mountain Press (https://denimmountainpress.com).

Discover five essential elements for successfully managing BIND (Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction). Join us in today's episode as D explores key findings and practical insights to support your healing journey.

CHAPTERS

0:00:00 Introduction

0:01:31 The Uneven Community (uneven.life)

0:03:54 Visit Us on Social Media (@theUnevenLife)

0:05:16 Guided Meditations Coming Soon

0:05:39 The Benzo Free Podcast LIVE @ Uneven

0:09:21 Benzo Info / Everyone Is Different

0:13:18 Confusion Around Benzos & BIND

0:15:58 This Experience Is Hard

0:18:01 Key Elements for BIND Success

0:19:49 1) It's a Mental Game

0:24:25 Keep Yourself Occupied

0:25:32 There Is No Short Cut / Acceptance

0:28:27 2) The Anxiety Tool Belt

0:31:18 3) Helping Others

0:34:01 4) The Natural Approach

0:38:39 5) Signs Your Body Is Healing

0:43:06 Mindset Matters

0:44:13 Find Support

0:46:12 Wrapping Things Up

REFERENCES

"Hope and Help for Your Nerves" by Dr. Claire Weekes

— https://a.co/d/2yY8c1E

Benzo Free Podcast: Managing the Fear (Part 1 of 3)

— https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/managing-the-fear-of-benzo-withdrawal-part-1-bfp003

— First of our 3-part podcast series on Managing the Fear of benzo withdrawal.

The Uneven Community

— https://uneven.life

Uneven Website

— https://theUnevenLife.com

RECODING INFO

— RECORDED: Tuesday, June 3, 2025

— LOCATION: Colorado

PODCAST SITELINKS

— PODCAST WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com/benzofree

— EASING ANXIETY: https://www.easinganxiety.com

— YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx

— X (TWITTER): https://twitter.com/@easinganx

PODCAST SUMMARY

This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax.

PODCAST DISCLAIMER

The Benzo Free podcast is for general information purposes only and should never be considered medical, psychological, or any other form of health advice. Health-related information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems or to prescribe any medical devices, psychological treatments, or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it.

Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://easinganxiety.com/disclaimer.

SUICIDE PREVENTION

If you, or anyone you know, is having suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. Resources can be found on our website at: https://www.easinganxiety.com/resources#suicide.

PODCAST MUSIC

All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com)

Benzo Free Theme Music

— TITLE: Walk in the Park

— ARTIST: Neil Cross

PODCAST PRODUCTION

The Benzo Free Podcast is part of the Easing Anxiety network (https://easinganxiety.com) and is a production of Denim Mountain Press (https://denimmountainpress.com).

What really is tolerance? How does it differ from withdrawal? From BIND? When does one start and the other finish? Today, we clear up some confusion around benzo terminology and timing. We also examine the recent uptick of fatigue and pain. Join us.

CHAPTERS

0:00:00 Getting Everything Ready

0:00:42 Welcome / Catching Up

0:03:14 The Uneven Community (uneven.life)

0:08:02 ASAM Benzo Guidelines

0:10:36 Learning from Working with You

0:11:22 Benzo Community as a Model for Others

0:13:18 Our Team at Uneven

0:14:42 Terminology in the Benzo Community

0:17:00 Why BIND is the Proper Term

0:21:56 Benzo Belly vs. GABA Belly

0:24:40 Are These Symptoms Tolerance?

0:28:23 Too Focused on Terminology?

0:30:19 Looking for Answers / Obsession

0:34:20 The Rationality of Acceptance

0:36:19 There's No One Way to Do This

0:38:35 Fatigue, Aches, Pain, and COVID

0:43:15 Symptoms May Not Be Just Benzos

0:45:50 Wrapping Things Up

REFERENCES

ASAM Benzo Guidelines

— https://www.asam.org/quality-care/clinical-guidelines/benzodiazepine-tapering

Basics of BIND

— https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/basics-of-bind

Long COVID: Lasting effects of COVID-19 (Mayo Clinic)

— https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-long-term-effects/art-20490351

Podcast Episode on the ASAM Guidelines (#142)

— https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/new-asam-benzo-guideline-pros-cons-top-10-takeaways-benzo-free-142

Understanding Drug Tolerance (Healthline)

— https://www.healthline.com/health/drug-tolerance

RECODING INFO

— RECORDED: Friday, April 18, 2025

— LOCATION: Colorado

PODCAST SITELINKS

— PODCAST WEBSITE: https://www.easinganxiety.com/benzofree

— EASING ANXIETY: https://www.easinganxiety.com

— YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@easinganx

— X (TWITTER): https://twitter.com/@easinganx

PODCAST SUMMARY

This podcast is dedicated to those who struggle with side effects, dependence, and withdrawal from benzos, a group of drugs from the benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine classes, better known as anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping pills, sedatives, and minor tranquilizers. Their common brand names include Ambien, Ativan, Klonopin, Lunesta, Valium, and Xanax.

PODCAST DISCLAIMER

The Benzo Free podcast is for general information purposes only and should never be considered medical, psychological, or any other form of health advice. Health-related information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat health problems or to prescribe any medical devices, psychological treatments, or other remedies. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it.

Please visit our website for our complete disclaimer at https://easinganxiety.com/disclaimer.

SUICIDE PREVENTION

If you, or anyone you know, is having suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately. Resources can be found on our website at: https://www.easinganxiety.com/resources#suicide.

PODCAST MUSIC

All music provided / licensed through Storyblocks (https://www.storyblocks.com)

Benzo Free Theme Music

— TITLE: Walk in the Park

— ARTIST: Neil Cross

PODCAST PRODUCTION

The Benzo Free Podcast is part of the Easing Anxiety network (https://easinganxiety.com) and is a production of Denim Mountain Press (https://denimmountainpress.com).