Jennifer Leigh, PsyD
Benzo Withdrawal And Anxiety Coach

Dr. Jennifer Leigh
Coach. Educator. Author.

Hope. Help. Healing.

After I earned a doctorate in psychology, I became a coach. As an award-winning author, I appeared on national radio and TV and my work was showcased in top newspapers and magazines. I was vetted for my own reality show and Psychology Today asked me to be a contributor. But that career came to a halt when I had a life-threatening brain injury due to a benzodiazepine I took as directed by my doctor. I blogged honestly about my ordeal, sharing my experience with others. Now recovered, I help people around the world who are in benzo withdrawal.

I have a doctorate in psychology, trauma training under Dr. Peter Levin and Bessel van Der Kolk, post-doc education in social neuroscience, certification in Plant Based Nutrition from Cornell University, and certification in the Gut Microbiome.

I am on a crusade to reduce suffering in the world by helping people recover from benzo withdrawal and to help them go on to live their best lives ever.

Book A Coaching Session.

My Story

I began taking a benzo in my mid-thirties for panic attacks. In my forties and fifties, I drank wine every night to stave off tolerance withdrawal symptoms, and I was increasingly bedridden. I didn’t know that my drinking and poor health were fueled by the little pill I had dutifully swallowed per my doctor’s instructions. In 2010, I got sober. Next, I started my journey to get off of the benzo so that I could be healthy and whole.

It wasn’t an easy journey (benzo withdrawal was hell!) but it was a worthwhile journey. I’ve compassionately examined every aspect of my life, my eating habits, lifestyle, belief systems and faith. I’ve worked hard to raise every element of my life to its highest and best. I filter my daily life through the question “What is the most loving thing to think, feel, and do?”

I’ve learned to live the four cornerstones of well-being: eat right, move more, stress less and love well. I’ve learned how to be happy no matter what life throws at me.

I’d be honored to help you as you journey through benzo withdrawal.

 

 

I Believe

Benzo withdrawal can be a time of enormous growth

As traumatic as my recovery from benzos was, it was also a time of personal growth.  I used the time to let go of past wounds, limiting self-beliefs, and resentments that had kept true health and happiness at bay.

You have more inner wisdom than you know

When we are quiet, we can tap into our inner wisdom that reminds us that we are whole, even in benzo withdrawal. Benzos can’t damage our authentic selves, no matter how strange we may be feeling. We’re still in there!

Acceptance is everything

Fighting our symptoms or feeling sorry for ourselves creates more suffering. Acceptance is a powerful ally in withdrawal and helps us to avoid feeling desperate and hopeless. The Serenity Prayer is good medicine.

We eventually recover

It may take a great deal of time for some of us, but we do heal. Living the four cornerstones of well-being is key. Healing the gut microbiome through diet and lifestyle goes a long way to healing the brain and nervous system.

 

Career Highlights

  • On national television and radio

  • Interviewed by top-tier media (New York Times, Huffington Post, Reuters, etc.)

  • Taught at Stanford University

  • Global speaking engagements

  • International workshop leader

  • Addictionblog.org contributor

  • Psychology Today contributor

  • Award-winning author

  • Cornell University Certification Plant-Based Nutrition (In process)

  • Registered Holistic Nutrition Practitioner (In process)

Connect with me!

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