by Jennifer Leigh | Jul 11, 2021 | Coping Skills |
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,... 
by Jennifer Leigh | Jul 4, 2021 | Microbiome |
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... 
by Jennifer Leigh | Jul 1, 2021 | Uncategorized |
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... 
by Jennifer Leigh | Jun 23, 2021 | Recovery |
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,... 
by Jennifer Leigh | Jun 17, 2021 | Coping Skills |
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... 
by Jennifer Leigh | Jun 12, 2021 | Recovery |
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... 
by Jennifer Leigh | Jun 8, 2021 | Hope |
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... 
by Jennifer Leigh | Feb 13, 2021 | Recovery |
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... 
by Jennifer Leigh | Feb 13, 2021 | Recovery |
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... 
by Jennifer Leigh | Jan 12, 2021 | Coping Skills, Uncategorized |
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...