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.
Support Group
Mornings With Jenn is a unique support group based on the four cornerstones of well-being + bonus membership perks.
Tired Of Hearing Only About Symptoms?
Mornings With Jenn Focuses On SOLUTIONS!
So many of my coaching clients tell me they’ve been triggered by support groups because they highlight the fear and negativity of withdrawal. Focusing on benzo symptoms can cause an increase in benzo symptoms. That’s why I created the Mornings With Jenn support group, where the focus is on well-being, and the ways in which we can embrace true healing.
Focus on the four cornerstones of well-being, eat right. move more, stress less, love well
Full access to the Acceptance and Healing With Love workshops & Facebook groups
Mondays and Wednesdays 45-minute live video chats 9am Pacific at the private Facebook group page. (That's about 6 hours of live connection a month. )
Members-only blog and vlog content, including surprise pop-up live feeds
Join any time
No contracts. Cancel at any time
$59 a month
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?
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 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.
Misunderstood? Here’s Ten Tips To Cope.
It Sucks. There is no polite way to describe the feeling of being misunderstood. It sucks. It's uncomfortable. It's demoralizing. It triggers our nervous system into a fight, flight, or freeze response even though there is no physical danger. Any type of judgment or...
New! New! New!
NEW! Yesterday I downloaded a membership plug-in so that I could begin creating the members-only blog content for my support group, Mornings With Jenn. Unfortunately, the plug-in wasn't what I needed so I deleted it. When it left for parts unknown into the ethernet,...
Lisa Ling and Dr. Heather Ashton
As you probably know by now, Lisa Ling's expose on the dangers of benzodiazepines airs October 6th on CNN. The producer of Lisa's show contacted me ages ago when the segment was being considered. I told him, please, above all else, believe the people you interview,...
Mornings With Jenn Support Group Starts September 30
Finally! It's here. Mornings With Jenn will start Monday, September 30th. The support group will focus on the four cornerstones of well-being: eat right, move more, stress less, and love well. We won't be focused on benzo withdrawal symptoms, but of course, we will...
The Internet And Benzo Withdrawal
The Internet is a double-edged sword for benzo withdrawal. On one hand, it allows the fast sharing of information which we need since the medical community is mostly uneducated about the dangers of benzodiazepines, and on the other hand, some of that information that...
New! Well-Being Support.
After years of coaching and hosting online workshops and support groups, I've come to a place where I want to combine all of my education and lived (and learned from others) experiences and offer a true well-being support group. The focus will be on the four...
Is it REALLY benzo withdrawal so far out?
I've had more than a few phone calls and emails this weekend from people who were worried that *maybe* their symptoms aren't benzo withdrawal anymore. They ask if it's possible to be suffering from benzo withdrawal 18, 24, 30, 36, or more months out. The answer is...
What I Wish I Had Known About Benzo Withdrawal Before My Taper
Looking back over the last eight years, there are things I wish I had known before I started this journey. Here are five of them, listed in no particular order. I wish I had known the full extent of the medical communities ignorance about benzodiazepines. Had I...
The Dog Stole My Glasses and Other Such Nonsense
I couldn't find my computer glasses. I looked high and low for them. Considering that my little cottage is just that, little, it seemed odd to me that my glasses had just up and vanished. The next day, I woke up and my distance glasses weren't on the nightstand where...
The Daily Cycling Of Symptoms
The mornings from hell. Nevermind that my sleep was so incredibly screwed up. My insomnia was child's play in comparison to the gruesome torture that awaited me when I woke up from whatever amount of sleep my damaged nervous system allowed me. Mornings were a...
Anniversary Flare Ups.
In a wave at 12, 24, or 36 months out? One of the most interesting things I read about benzo withdrawal when I was tapering was the phenomenon of anniversary waves. Why in the world would the anniversary of our getting off of our benzo cause an uptick in symptoms? I'm...
Celebrate!
Eight years free! Sunday, June 23, I celebrated eight glorious years of being benzo free. What a wonderful feeling to have that much distance away from the little pill that slowly destroyed my brain and body. Life is incredibly good these days! I am in much better...
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,
