I’m Jennifer Leigh, PsyD
Benzo Withdrawal Coach & Educator
Helping You Heal & Thrive
Individual Coaching
Book a 30, or 60-minute coaching session for education, support, and coping skills.
Mornings With Jenn Support Group
On a budget but need support?
Mornings With Jenn offers over twelve hours a month of live support.
Mornings with Jenn, A Unique Support Group For Benzo Withdrawal
Helpful Books
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.
About Me
Dear Friend,
Like you, I took a benzodiazepine as prescribed. I hit tolerance (when the drug damages the brain and more is needed) sometime in the late 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.
From my heart to yours,
Dr. Jenn
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.
Winterizing Your Benzo Withdrawal Recovery
This morning I woke up as the stars twinkled their last in the pre-dawn sky and walked to Starbucks. It must be fall, because pumpkin pie spice is back on the menu! (Their PPS syrup has dried milk in it, so I chose a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon on top of my decaf...
My Story. Part One. (Trigger Warning!)
I've received a lot of requests recently to share my story. I'll share it, in parts. Reading about other people's benzo withdrawal experiences can be triggering. Please, take good care of yourself and stop reading if your symptoms increase. I hope that in sharing my...
Antibiotics, Probiotics, and Prebiotics In Benzo Withdrawal
Should you take an antibiotic while you are on a benzodiazepine or in benzo withdrawal? Of course, if you need one! Ask your doctor to make sure that antibiotic treatment is necessary and that the correct antibiotic is prescribed. Here are some thoughts about...
Will These Three Things Keep You From Healing?
The number one question people in benzo withdrawal ask me is, "Will I heal?" The answer is always YES! The second question is, When? (Unfortunately, there is no way to predict that. Everyone has their own unique healing timeline.) Another frequent question is, "Will...
Coping With The Three Most Common Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms
The list of possible benzo withdrawal symptoms is lengthy. Thankfully, we don't usually experience all of them. The most common benzo withdrawal symptoms fall into three main categories: anxiety, pain, and what we call in the benzo community "head symptoms." Let's...
Coping WIth Triggers
"I've been triggered." I hear this all the time in the benzo community. I, too, used to get triggered easily and often. It's one thing to cope with everyday, ongoing symptoms; it is quite another to cope with those bursts of intense thoughts and feelings. What can we...
New Support Group, Plant-Based With Jenn
Finally! I've created a private Facebook group, Plant-Based With Jenn, for anyone who wants to move towards a plant based diet/lifestyle for health and healing, The group is open to anyone who is recovering from psych med withdrawal. We will meet live, once a...
When You Realize The Truth About The Health Care Community
Like most children, I believed in Santa Clause. I'd sit by the front window on Christmas eve, hoping to catch a glimpse of him and his reindeers flying across the sky. After a while, my mom would cup her hand to ear, "Is that Santa's sleigh bells I hear?" I'd squeal...
News To Share!
Hello friends, Many of you know that I had to cut back on my days for coaching as I've been in classes for nutrition and the gut microbiome. I am also creating teaching content about psych med withdrawal for a university in Canada. Plus, I am still working on a benzo...
I’m Curious About The Gut Microbiome and Detoxification In Benzo Withdrawal
Last summer, I stumbled onto a research paper indicating that HDAC inhibitors might help repair and protect GABA receptors. That fascinated me. Since then, I've been on a quest to discover three things: what causes benzodiazepines to damage some, but not all, what...
Should You Take A Magnesium Supplement?
Magnesium is a mineral workhorse—needed for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It wears many hats— playing a role in nerve and muscle function, supporting the immune system, keeping our heartbeats steady, and our bones strong. It also adjusts our blood...
I am Unavailable Until July 20th
I've not taken a true vacation in over a decade. Even when I do take a few days off, I always answer emails or texts from people seeking help with benzo withdrawal. This time, I am turning off all of my electronics and enjoying my time. I'll be in Hawaii, celebrating...
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 about working with me? 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,
