I’m Jennifer Leigh, PsyD
Benzo Withdrawal Coach & Educator
Helping You Heal & Thrive
Individual Coaching
Book a 15-minute check-in, or a 30-minute or 60-minute session for education/support.
Mornings With Jenn Support Group
On a budget but need support?
Mornings With Jenn offers over 9 hours a month of live support.
Where Are You In Your Benzo Journey?
Considering Getting Off A Benzo?
Please know that not everyone has a hard time getting benzo free. You may not have a challenging tapering experience. The Ashton Manual is a good guide for how much to taper. There are a few methods to tapering; each one having its own pros and cons. Please learn about them before you begin. Most doctors are not educated about benzos so please be careful and do your own research. There is a large body of evidence-based knowledge about getting benzo free. Learn from those who have gone through it.
Are You Tapering?
Are You Benzo Free?
Helpful Resources
The Ashton Manual
Dr. Ashton’s manual is the guidepost most people use for tapering and education.
Benzo Withdrawal Tapering Journal
A tapering journal for keeping track of your daily doses, symptoms, and more.
Benzo Withdrawal Journal
Already benzo free? This journal is for you to take notes of your recovery.
Soul Reminders
Little Chats With God, a book of tender stories to sooth a weary soul.
Soul Reminders
I am writing Soul Reminders again as we go through this challenging pandemic together.
You can find the short stories of spiritual inspiration at soulreminders.com
You can subscribe and have them delivered to your inbox Monday- Friday.
I hope that my words are comforting and help you find some peace.
About Me
Like you, I took a benzodiazepine as prescribed. I hit tolerance (when the drug damages the brain and more is needed) sometime in the mid 1990’s and didn’t know what was wrong with me. I visited doctors—cardiologists, neurologists, internists, audiologists, therapists, etc.—none of them told me that the cause of my ill health was the benzo.
I stayed on the drug for many years, growing more and more sick and disabled.
October 2010, I began to taper off the drug and became bedridden. Many doctors who claimed to know about benzos tried to help me but they all harmed me.
Eventually, I was cold-turkeyed off the drug by a specialist who told me I would be fine. He was dead wrong. (Do not stop your medication abruptly as it can be life-threatening to do so.)
I have blogged honestly and openly about my recovery. It’s all here, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the wonderful richness and beauty of life after benzo withdrawal.
As my brain and nervous system returned to normal, I focused on achieving true well-being— a vibrant life without any mood altering substances. I found the way to go from barely surviving to thriving! I’d like to share with you what I have learned.
Disclaimer: I am not an M.D. or a psychologist (I have a doctorate in psychology but I am not licensed to practice). This website, my coaching, workshops, or support group are not intended to diagnose or to treat any type of illness.
Testimonials
“I joined Mornings With Jenn when she first offered it. I didn’t feel so crazy when I had the support I needed. It helped.”
“Jenn saved my life. I wanted to give up, but she helped me hold on during the dark days. A session with her feels like a warm hug.”
“Thank you Jenn for your website. I’ve never spoken with you, but I read every word you write for us in benzo withdrawal.”
The Blog
Comments are moderated. Please think before you post, as your words will be public and I will not be able to remove them at a later date.
New Things Are Afoot!
I'm way overdue for a blog post. My apologies. It's been a busy past few weeks. I'm excited to share with you that I am extending my coaching practice to anxiety sufferers who are not on a benzodiazepine, in hopes that they will avoid going down that dangerous path. I...
To My Black Benzo Buddies. I love You. I Am Listening.
This is not a typical post from me. It may be triggering for some. Read with caution. I have pondered and prayed for days—what's the right thing to do in the wake of the murder of George Floyd? Do I write about it or not? After all, it's not benzo related. But my...
Dear Friends And Family, This Is Benzo Withdrawal
Chances are, most of our friends and family members have never experienced benzo withdrawal. They have a hard time understanding what we experience. They can't appreciate how much effort it takes to get through a day or to hold onto the hope that we will heal. This...
Coping With Waves.
Healing from the damage caused by taking a benzodiazepine doesn't happen linearly. It's not like recovering from a bad cold— each day getting a bit better, a bit brighter, after the peak of the infection. Healing comes in what is known in the benzo community as...
Withdrawal Trauma + The Pandemic. Why Predictability Is IMPERATIVE
The definition of trauma is to be unable to do anything to change the situation. i.e., the loss of control or a sense of helplessness. In benzo withdrawal, we feel traumatized—feeling that we have no control over what our bodies or our minds are doing— we don't have a...
How To Cope With Some Of The Most Intense Symptoms
When I think back to my taper and the months following my cold turkey, I am overwhelmed by the memories. It's painful to remember what I experienced in benzo withdrawal. And it's painful to know that many of you are experiencing some of the same things. Although there...
An Apology And An Important Announcement
Dear Benzo Buddies, My apologies that it has taken me a few weeks to connect with you here. As you may know, four weeks ago, I came down with the flu and was incredibly sick. I took some time off from individual coaching but managed to lead my Mornings With Jenn...
The Corona Virus (COVID-19) And Benzo Withdrawal.
We are bombarded daily with new updates about the COVID-19 virus. News outlets and social media share sad tales about the unfortunate souls who fell ill and never recovered. We watch the number of countries with active outbreaks rise, worrying when the virus will...
Coping With Cold-Turkey Symptoms. 20 Suggestions.
It is not advised to abruptly stop your benzo. Doing so can result in life-threatening symptoms such as seizures. It can also result in some of the more cruel benzo withdrawal symptoms such as auditory, olfactory, and visual hallucinations, extreme terror, paranoia,...
Stepping Off Your Benzo? Here’s 12 Thoughts To Help.
People who are still tapering often ask me what they can expect once they step off their benzo. They ask me what my experience was like. Mine wasn't typical because I jumped from .625 mgs of Clonazepam. Don't cold turkey! Unless there is an urgent medical necessity...
We Are Either For Ourselves, Or Against Ourselves.
There have been a few life-changing realizations in my life. One of them—perhaps the most life-changing—was the realization that I was either for myself of against myself. I had the choice to decide how I wanted to respond to my thoughts and feelings. I couldn't...
How To Stop Fearing The Future
Fear is a common benzo withdrawal emotion. It can come out of the blue, settling over us like a heavy wet blanket. Sometimes we don't have any idea why we are fearful or what we are fearful about; we only know that we are very much afraid. And, that the fear is...
Most Popular Blogs Posts
What We Wish Family And Friends Knew About Benzo Withdrawal
If we had been diagnosed with cancer, our family and friends would know that we are sick.They'd make us casseroles, take us to our chemo appointments, and call us to see how we are doing. After all, cancer is a serious matter, They would be concerned. But family and...
Can We Stop Fearing Fear?
First, it's important to understand that we feel fear in benzo withdrawal because the medication we took downregulated our GABA receptors. We don't have the necessary "equipment" to produce calm in our bodies or our minds. We aren't fearful because we lack backbone or...
Seven Suggestions For Practicing Acceptance
At 36 months out, I got slammed with the mother of all waves. It hit after I had been making measurable strides back to health and wholeness. I was out in the world more. I was writing again. Laughing. Going out on a few dates. I even created the curriculum for a...
A Letter To Our Doctors
Dear Dr. It is understood that many doctors are not properly educated about Benzodiazepines. Please allow me to arm you with some basic facts to better work with your patients. First, please allow me to introduce myself. I am Dr. Jennifer Leigh. I have a...
Questions? Get in touch…
This website is not intended to be medical advice. It neither diagnoses or treats any illness. It is for education only. Please consult a trained medical professional if you have any concerns about your health or well-being. Readers of this website take full responsibility for their decisions and actions and hold Jennifer Leigh,
