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 over 15 hours a month of live support.
Visit my Mornings With Jenn support group to see if it is a good fit for you.
Send me your email for a FREE visit.
Yes, I want a free day to check out MWJ!
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
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.
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.
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...
This 150 Year Old Adage MAY Help With Benzo Withdrawal
I grew up hearing a lot of adages. "A penny saved is a penny earned." "Don't put the cart before the horse." One of my favorites was "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," a saying that dates back 150 years. I always wondered what it was about an apple that keeps us...
Remember That Promise I Made?
Years ago I promised to write a book for the benzo community. I asked people to share their symptoms with me so we'd have an alphabetical list of Benzo Withdrawal symptoms. I received a lot of replies. I complied and shared the list, but the book never got finished....
TEN YEARS BENZO FREE! The Top Three Things I’ve Learned Along The Way
Don't get me wrong; I enjoy celebrating Christmas and my birthday. But there is one day of the year far more special than the two of them combined: June 23. That was the day I was benzo-free after 18 years on Clonazepam. I swallowed my last dose on June 22, 2011....
All Things Akathisia.
During my recovery from the benzodiazepine injury syndrome (aka Benzo Withdrawal) from taking Clonazepam as prescribed, I experienced many strange and frightening symptoms. One extraordinarily horrific symtpom was akathisia—an inner restlessness and agitation that...
How To Summer-Proof Your Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms
One of my favorite songs is "Summertime And The Living Is Easy," sung by Ella Fitzgerald. It reminds me of the summers I spent on our farm in Georgia, relaxing by the river, watching the fish rise. But I couldn't listen to it while I in Benzo Withdrawal. The summers...
Dr. Jenn, Where Have You Been?
I've had to answer that question a lot lately. My last blog post here was in February! I've been incredibly busy with my Mornings With Jenn support group (I've added more hours of live support each month), writing my book, The Benzo Withdrawal Survival Guide (yes,...
What Topics Should Be Addressed in A Video Series?
I am starting to create short videos of me discussing "all things benzos," from deciding to taper, tapering, cold turkeys, and being benzo free and coping with symptoms. I will also address how to talk with family, friends, and medical professionals about benzo...
What Is Life Like After Benzo Withdrawal?
The sun reaches her warm fingers through my window, searching for me. "Wake up!" she insists. Already, the birds are singing, welcoming the new day. I open my eyes and lazily stretch my arms up over my head. I want to linger in the coziness of the blankets, but there...
Am I Going Crazzzzy?
Going crazy is a common fear in benzo withdrawal. Our thoughts can be chaotic, a rush of horrible tangle of things. Our thoughts may arrive in an orderly fashion, but still oozing their wretched words or images. Our thoughts may insist on digging up memories of the...
On A Benzo, Tapering, Or Off. What’s Important To Know?
No matter where you are in your relationship with a benzodiazepine, it's important to know a few facts so that you can make the best decisions about your health and well-being. Whether you are still on your prescribed daily or "as-needed dose," tapering, or benzo...
Let’s Focus On Healing For 2021!
We've ushered out 2020. (What a challenging year it was!) Welcome, 2021! Let's put our focus and energy on our healing. Let's put our health first this year. If we focus on the four cornerstones of well-being— eat right (whole-food plant-based), move enough, stress...
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,
