Benzodiazepine Rehab
If you have ever struggled with anxiety or insomnia, you may have been prescribed a form of benzodiazepine to help treat these conditions. While this medication can be extremely effective, it is also highly addictive and even short-term use can result in a physical or psychological dependency. [1]
In these cases, it is recommended that you begin your recovery journey by seeking help at a specialised rehabilitation centre.
What can I expect from benzodiazepine rehab?
Deciding to enter treatment for a benzodiazepine addiction can be a daunting prospect for many people. However, gaining an understanding of the recovery process and knowing what to expect from your treatment programme can help the experience to feel less intimidating and may help you to feel more confident about your choices.
1. Assessment
Before the physical and psychological treatment can begin, patients must undergo a professional diagnosis and assessment in order to determine the severity of the addiction and create a personalised plan for treatment.
2. Detoxification
Detoxification is the process in which the body is completely cleansed of benzodiazepines, typically involving a period of time in which the frequency and amount of the dosage are slowly tapered off. This can result in a number of physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. [2]
3. Counselling
In order to determine the patient’s goals and motivations for treatment as well as provide coping strategies and guidance for avoiding triggers and reacting to stressful situations in a healthy manner, professional counselling is required. This can also allow the patient to explore and work through past trauma that may have lead to the development of the addiction.
4. Aftercare
The period of time after the treatment programme has ended is the most dangerous, with many people relapsing shortly after leaving rehab. A personalised aftercare plan provides a guide to long-term recovery, recommending local support groups and ongoing counselling to keep the patient on track.
What are the advantages of inpatient benzodiazepine rehab?
Choosing to enter a dedicated rehabilitation centre as an inpatient may appear to be a daunting task, but this form of treatment offers a wide range of benefits that can assist you in making a full recovery from benzodiazepine addiction.
A common advantage of inpatient benzodiazepine rehab include:
1. Supervised detoxification
The withdrawal process during benzodiazepine rehab can be uncomfortable and difficult to deal with as the body attempts to relearn how to function without the medication. In some cases, it can be dangerous and even life-threatening.
An inpatient facility offers 24/7 monitoring and round-the-clock medical guidance and supervision to ensure your safety and comfort during the detoxification process.
2. Higher success rate
Studies have shown that patients who enter a rehab centre as an inpatient typically experience a higher success rate than those who choose to recover as an outpatient. [3]
This may be due to the immersive experience of inpatient treatment, as patients are completely removed from their former life. They also receive a wide range of therapeutic treatments and counselling options as well as a personalised aftercare programme to decrease the chances of a future relapse.
3. Support and community
During your time in the treatment centre, you will be surrounded by other people who share similar experiences and struggles, and this can be a great source of comfort and support. You will be encouraged to share your story and emotions with others during group therapy sessions, relieving the burden and gaining inspiration and motivation from your fellow residents.
Many of these friendships will continue even once the treatment programme has been completed, helping to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness that can often trigger a relapse.
What are the advantages of outpatient benzodiazepine rehab?
While inpatient treatment for a benzodiazepine addiction has a higher success rate, attending rehab as an outpatient provides a number of benefits that can make the idea of seeking professional help seem more attainable and accessible.
Common advantages of outpatient benzodiazepine rehab include:
1. Continued employment
It is entirely possible to be struggling with addiction while still maintaining full-time employment. Therefore many people do not have the option to attend rehab as an inpatient for the length of the programme and are unable to resign or take a leave of absence due to financial reasons.
Attending rehab as an outpatient allows them to continue their employment while simultaneously receiving treatment for their addiction, removing one of the most common barriers to recovery.
2. Lower childcare costs
As rehab centres typically do not allow children on the premises, it can be difficult for parents to source and afford childcare that spans the length of a treatment programme. Outpatient rehab allows them to spend the majority of time at home with their children, only requiring childcare for a few hours a day while they undergo treatment.
This can make the idea of rehab more accessible and appealing to a wider range of people.
3. Familiar surroundings
Recovering from a benzodiazepine addiction can involve a range of uncomfortable sensations and emotions. The withdrawal process can be particularly unpleasant, and counselling may uncover a number of painful memories that have been subconsciously buried for years.
This experience can feel more difficult in an unfamiliar environment, often far from home. Being in familiar surroundings and close to friends and family during treatment can help patients to feel less isolated and alone, and may be beneficial to their recovery.
Which medications can be used during benzodiazepine rehab?
While withdrawal and recovery from a benzodiazepine addiction can be uncomfortable and difficult to deal with, there are a number of medications that can be prescribed to make the treatment process more appealing to many patients.
Common medications used during benzodiazepine rehab include:
1. Anticonvulsants
One of the more dangerous withdrawal symptoms, convulsions and seizures can occur during rare cases of benzodiazepine detoxification. Anticonvulsants can be prescribed to patients with a history of seizures to lower the potential risk of this side effect.
2. Clonidine
During withdrawal from benzodiazepine, the patient’s blood pressure can increase significantly. In these situations, Clonidine can be prescribed in order to reduce blood pressure and reduce the health risks that may result from this symptom.
3. Ondansetron
A common symptom of benzodiazepine withdrawal is nausea and vomiting, which in some cases can result in dehydration. Ondansetron can be prescribed to prevent these symptoms from occurring during the detoxification process.
4. Antidepressants
A range of SSRI antidepressants may be recommended to treat the symptoms of anxiety and depression that can occur during recovery from benzodiazepine addiction.
These side effects can make it extremely difficult to maintain sobriety, but with the short-term help of antidepressants, many patients are able to get through this difficult period.
What to look for when choosing a benzodiazepine rehab centre
With the huge range of treatment options available in our modern-day society, choosing a rehab centre has never been so complicated.
It is not recommended to blindly choose a rehab centre without first researching factors such as the location, cost and available treatments. The facility you choose could mean the difference between long-term recovery and short-term relapse.
Key factors to look for when choosing a rehab centre include:
1. Do they specialise in benzodiazepine addiction?
Many rehab centres specialise in treating specific addictions or problems, making it possible to select a dedicated treatment facility for almost any type of addiction.
Make sure to choose a rehab centre with positive customer testimonials and proven success at treating your specific addiction, particularly if your problem is less common.
2. Is there a range of therapy treatments to suit my needs?
It is important to choose a facility that provides effective and varied treatment options in order to receive the help and support that you require.
For example, if you believe that you will benefit from complementary therapies such as reflexology and acupuncture in addition to more traditional treatments then you should take care to select a rehab centre that provides these options.
3. What is the standard of living?
Feeling comfortable and safe in your chosen rehabilitation centre plays a large role in the effectiveness of the treatment.
While you do not need to stay in the equivalent of a five-star hotel in order to recover from benzodiazepine addiction, a range of amenities and a high standard of living can make rehab a more appealing and pleasant experience.
4. Is it local to me?
Many people find that travelling a long distance to attend rehab as an inpatient can be beneficial, as it effectively severs all connection with their former life during treatment. Others prefer to stay closer to home, particularly if they have responsibilities to work and family during their recovery.
Depending on which school of thought you subscribe to, it’s important to consider how close the treatment facility is to your home and whether you would prefer it to be more accessible or in a completely new location.
5. Do they have affordable treatment options?
In a number of cases, the main factor considered when selecting a treatment centre is the cost. Rehab can be expensive, but a number of facilities offer cheaper programmes depending on the length of your stay and whether you opt for a single or shared room.
Many treatment centres also offer payment plans or accept private health insurance. If your addiction is less severe, you may want to consider attending rehab as an outpatient which will significantly reduce the cost.
