Head Symptoms During Benzo Withdrawal
Withdrawal from benzodiazepines (benzos) can be an incredibly challenging experience. (I know because I lived through it!) Head symptoms are some of the most common symptoms of withdrawal/BIND. This blog post will explore these symptoms and offer some practical ways to cope and find relief.
Dizziness and Disequilibrium
Vertigo (spinning) or a sense of disequilibrium are common symptoms of benzo withdrawal/BIND. You might feel off balance, as if you’re on a boat or the room is spinning around you. To cope with these sensations, try the following:
- Practice deep breathing exercises to help stabilize your body and mind.
- Use a walking aid, if necessary, to maintain balance and prevent falls. ( I used a walker and a cane until my disequilibrium disappeared.)
- Avoid sudden head movements and take your time when changing positions.
- Check with a healthcare professional if you have vertigo. A simple head movement may put wandering crystals that cause vertigo back in their proper place.
Head Pressure and Brain Sensations
During withdrawal, you may experience unusual sensations in your head, like pressure, brain sloshing, or even feeling like your brain is a snake writhing around. These sensations can be unsettling but are typically harmless. To find relief, consider the following:
- Apply a cold or warm compress to your forehead or the back of your neck.
- Practice progressive muscle relaxation to alleviate tension in your head and neck muscles.
- Engage in gentle exercises, such as walking or stretching, to improve circulation and reduce discomfort.
- Remind yourself that you are safe and that the sensations you are feeling are part of the benzo withdrawal/BIND experience. (Always see a doctor to rule out anything else if you want reassurance.)
Brain Zaps, Fizzing, and “Exploding Head”
Brain zaps are sudden, electrical shock-like sensations that can occur during benzo withdrawal/BIND. You can also feel as if your brain is fizzing as if it is carbonated. “Exploding head” is a strange phenomenon that happens as one falls asleep. It is a sudden loud noise and can be accompanied by an extreme hypnotic jerk. I experienced exploding head a few times. I’d hear a loud sizzle, then a deafening “boom!” I’d see a blinding white light (my eyes were closed), and my entire body jerked rigidly. It was harmless but frightening. To cope with these symptoms:
- Practice grounding techniques to redirect your attention, such as focusing on your breath or engaging your senses.
- Listen to a guided meditation for sleep/relaxation.
- Engage in comforting self-talk.
- Slow down your taper if you are going too fast.
- Remind yourself that you are safe and that the sensations you are feeling are part of the benzo withdrawal/BIND experience. (Always see a doctor to rule out anything else if you want reassurance.)
Tight Band Around Head and Ears Popping
A feeling of a tight band around your head, as well as ears popping, can be attributed to withdrawal-induced muscle tension or changes in pressure. Eustachian tube disturbances are common in benzo withdrawal/BIND. To help alleviate these symptoms:
- Try gentle neck and shoulder stretches to release tension.
- Practice calming breathing exercises.
- Yawn intentionally to help with ear pressure.
- Wear a headband or hat to counterbalance the tight band sensation.
- Use a warm compress on your forehead or temples to help relax the muscles in your head.
Tinnitus
Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, can be another uncomfortable symptom of benzo withdrawal. To cope with tinnitus:
- Use white noise machines or soothing background sounds to mask the ringing.
- Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Remind yourself that tinnitus usually goes away as the nervous system recovers.
- Avoid exposure to loud noises.
- Slow down your taper if you feel you are going too fast.
Vision Issues
Double vision, floaters, light sensitivity, or blurry “Vaseline in eyes” can occur during withdrawal/BIND. Bloodshot, pain/pressure, and feeling like sand or grit in your eyes are also common. To cope with these vision issues:
- Rest your eyes frequently and avoid activities that strain your eyes, such as reading or watching TV for extended periods.
- Wear sunglasses.
- Use blue lenses glasses for screen exposure.
- Use lubricating drops if tolerated.
- Rest with cold compresses on your eyes.
- Consult your healthcare provider to rule out any underlying eye conditions or medication interactions.
Feeling Like You Can’t Hold Up Your Head
During benzo withdrawal/BIND, you might feel you can’t hold up your head due to muscle weakness or tension. To cope with this symptom:
- Use supportive pillows to prop your head up while resting.
- Engage in gentle neck and shoulder exercises to strengthen the muscles supporting your head.
Back of Head Pain and Headaches
Headaches and pain in the back of the head are common during benzo withdrawal. To cope with these symptoms:
- Stay hydrated.
- Rest when you can.
- Avoid stressful situations/loud noises.
- Apply cold or warm compresses to the painful area.
- If you need to use an OTC pain reliever, Tylenol is better tolerated in benzo withdrawal/BIND than Advil.
- Gentle massage can help, but avoid deep tissue work or a lot of neck manipulation.
Weird Face Sensations
Weird face sensations, such as feeling like spiders are crawling on your face, experiencing hot or cold sensations, or tingling, can occur during benzo withdrawal/BIND but are typically harmless. Here are some ways to cope with these symptoms:
- Distract Yourself: Engaging in a relaxing activity or focusing on something else can help take your mind off the sensations. (Gardening is an excellent distraction!)
- Practice grounding techniques that bring you back to the present moment and redirect your focus.
- Practicing mindfulness and meditation can help you observe and accept sensations without judgment.
- Applying a cold or warm compress to your face may provide relief from the sensations.
- Gently massaging your face with your fingertips or a soft cloth can help relieve tension and may alleviate the sensations you’re experiencing.
Teeth and Mouth Problems
Tooth pain or feeling like teeth are moving, grinding your teeth, burning tongue syndrome, sore throat, sores in the mouth/on lips, and biting your tongue or inner cheek are common during benzo withdrawal/BIND. Here are some ways to cope:
- Get regular dental checkups. ( I can’t stress this enough!)
- Use a gentle toothbrush.
- Avoid harsh mouthwashes.
- Avoid spicy foods that can stir up sensations in your mouth.
- Sip on warm or cold beverages (no alcohol, caffeine, or sugary drinks) to see if they help.
- Chew your food carefully.
- Wear a night guard if you grind your teeth.
Conclusion
Reach out to a benzo-wise healthcare professional (my course for healthcare workers launches soon, and successful graduates will be listed on this site), join a positive, solution-focused support group, and connect with understanding friends and family for encouragement and comfort. Above all, be patient and compassionate with yourself as you navigate the healing process.
Add your voice to the conversation.
What types of head symptoms have you experienced? What made them worse? What helped? We’d love to hear about your experiences. Sharing our stories helps one another. Thank you for participating.
Dear Dr jenn. I am 9 months off my benzo. I am experiencing something awful. It’s new and increasing everyday. It’s like bits of me and I mean emotionally physically and cognitively are here and the rest is I don’t know where. It’s so scary. Even looking at a piece of paper on tge ground appeared flat and I didn’t know why it was there. In the car when my husband drives it’s like the road in front of us is hurtling towards us. I have a normal mri from brain. What on earth is happening. I am having trouble explaining this. I would love your advice.
Thank you for this article as it is extremely timely for me. I am at 6 1/2 years since my benzo injury, and have a new symptom that is maddening. Balance problems existed for me since I was in tolerance withdrawal, but I had a terrible incident of severe vertigo, where my body felt out of control, this happened twice. One doctor diagnosed it as labyrinthitis, and another one as benign, positional vertigo, but lingering minor balance problems have persisted for two months now. Even the ENT told me that diagnosing dizziness is gray, not black-and-white. My symptoms very much match what most people describe as a boaty feeling in withdrawal. I am able to function, I just have to be careful about not moving too quickly. It’s so maddening to have a new, persisting symptom like this so far into my recovery! And, of course, it’s scary to be struggling this far out… Before this, I’ve had many periods of feeling a lot better, although never symptom-free. Thank you again Jennifer.
I am sorry to hear you have such a disturbing symptom. If I understand correctly (I know how difficult it can be to describe some of our symptoms!), you are having visual disturbances. New symptoms can occur at none months off, and visual issues are common. Things can be blurry, look as if they are moving, have odd shapes, shimmer, appear to be “breathing,” etc. Our perception of time and space can be altered. If you’ve had things checked out and the doctor can’t find anything wrong, it’s probably safe to assume BIND causes these frightening perceptions. The best way to cope is to not worry about them and remind yourself that things will appear normal again as you heal. Thank you for sharing your story. Keep healing!
I am sorry to hear you have the “Floaty-Boaty” symptom. It is hard to describe how it feels, but I know it’s uncomfortable. I had it for a very long time. It does eventually go away. The more we accept it and not worry about it (It sounds as if you are doing a good job of that!), the better off we are. If we worry about it and fight it, the more we keep our nervous system in the protect state, which doesn’t help our healing. Remember too, that some of us feel worse right before we heal. We don’t know why this is, but it happens. It could be that you are experiencing your last wave, and healing is just around the corner! I hope things resolve soon. Thank you for your comment. It helps others to know they aren’t alone with their similar symptoms.
Thank you so much for your comment Jennifer. It’s always good to be reminded that I need to accept a symptom. As for this possibly being my last wave, I’m sure you understand that gets hard to believe when I’ve heard it so many times before. I am currently plagued with the symptom of believing this is never going to end… Your knowledge and support is invaluable, thank you again.
Getting to the dentist is impossible when your chemical anxiety is through the roof and you cannot catch your breath.
Did you find supplements, anything, that helped get you to medical appointments?
Thank you,
Last week I feel pain behind my ear awful 😞 pain I have to put some ice . Very uncomfortable I have to take the seroquel and Lamíctal snd go to sleep.
I am experiencing the same symptoms as listed in the above article. Yesterday I kept feeling my head to see if there was a head band on or if I had forgotten to take off my cap. In addition to issues with dizziness and my head, I am also experiencing weight loss. I have been off Xanax for close to five months. The immediate symptoms were an absolute nightmare. The weight loss started in January and continues to this day. I saw my physician who knew that I was having trouble with the symptoms of Xanax withdrawal, and he brushed off the fact that I had loss over 15 lbs. My hope comes in hearing Dr. Jenn say that it will all get better in time. My guess is that everyone’s time may be different.
Hi, i have flu-like symptoms and hadrd time breathing , like asthma. I read it can from Ati tolerance. It’s very hard to taper when breathing is compromised.
Did you ever hear of intense pain and irritation BEHIND the eyes? I have been checked by several Opthalmologists all of home say my eyes are ok. ER did CT of my head. Everything ok. This is torment.
Yes! I had that as well. It was very uncomfortable. It did go away, in time. Glad you got it checked out.
yes, it can be more challenging when we are in tolerance withdrawal. But we can do it! Sending you lots of good energy.
Sorry to hear you have that. Ear pain is very common. Keep healing!
We all healing in our own timeline. Weight loss is a very common symptom. We do gain it back, usually, as we recover. Thank you for adding your thoughts to the conversation. Keep healing!
Most substances that are calming work on GABA and are not recommended. Most of us go to our appointments even feeling scared, etc. I avoided the dentist for years, and I wish I had not. I encourage peope to get the neccessary care that they need, even if it flares the for a bit. I know it’s a challenge.
You are most welcome!
This subject was timely for me too. Two months ago I had a vertigo episode that took me to ER thinking that I was having a stroke. All the tests came back negative for heart, stroke, etc. A CT Scan of my head said there was nothing abnormal there. I saw a doctor that got the crystals in my ears back to normal; but, I am still dizzy and terribly off balance. I’ve been off all meds for 6 years but seemed to be going backwards after Thanksgiving; the vertigo really threw me. This post explained to me what is going on; I am back in BIND big time. I am hoping and praying that it won’t take another 6 years to get well but all your coping methods have been and are helpful. Thank you, Dr. Jenn.
All the best to my journeying companions on this very difficult path.
I experience debilitating head pain many days and it can often last from wake up until dinner time. (I’m tapering Val and zol.) The wd sxs are very challenging to cope with because I get so little relief. I just can’t see the end of this psych med wd nightmare because I have to taper so slowly and I’ve already been tapering for over 7 yrs (which includes 2 unnecessary hospitalizations/updosing/more drugs added because the doctors wouldn’t believe me that I was in benzo wd). I’m finally down to 2 drugs but it’s not getting any easier to taper. At this rate, I’ll never get off and recover before I’m too old to have a life. I’ve lost so much time with my teenage children and my marriage is struggling. 😪
Thank you for everything you do for the benzo community.
dear dr jenn,
I also have extreme floaty boaty. it doesn’t go away in windows either, it just gets a little less. also a massive pressure in the head. i often think that the brain has to come out of the head or out of the ears at some point. sometimes the pressure is gone and then it hurts, like someone ramming an ice pick into my head. the head gets very hot too. the longer windows get, the worse waves get. have you heard about it? I have a racing mind and think of words that don’t exist. totally crazy. the teeth often hurt so much, it’s as if every tooth were being pulled out without anesthesia. I can’t sit because of floaty boaty. the body is very heavy. the head always falls forward because it is so heavy. when i read about years that the symptoms can last, i get scared. This pain, this shaking and trembling, also of the head, this dizziness, everything is terrible.
Best regards
clarissa
I have head pains that come and go quickly!
I was quite worried when I first started having them!
My Dr. Sent me for a CT scan, I think it was just for reassurance, they did not use a dye!
Many unnecessary tests are done…who knew!
It is so scary!
I am sorry to hear you are so symptomatic. Usually the better our window, the less intense our waves, but we know that every recovery is unique. There are very few absolutes in the benzo world. Keep healing. We do get better, in time!
Keep going. You will have a wonderful life again! You’ve done an amazing job on your journey to health and happiness! I am proud of you.
I hope the vertigo settles down soon. Learning the Eply maneuver to reposition the crystals in the ear is a good thing. Keep healing! We do get better and enjoy a richer, happier, and healthier life. thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
Thank you so much for this article. I am counting it as a miracle for me right now. I was on benzo on and off for a year. Had a great neurologist that helped me get off. I have just gotten back from a third opinion ENT today ( talking about anxiety) for my balance being so off!! I have been off now for two months. I know know this is benzo Bind without a doubt. Two out of three ENTs asked what medicine did I just stop. Thank you for my miracle today!!
You are so welcome! I am glad the post helped you. Keep healing! Thank you for your comment. Much appreciated.
I am in the healing of the head stage with lots of reactions – close to three years of any medicine. I, and I know others, have fluid in my ears which you can feel off and on and get extra clear wax in ears. I also have noticed that each time my head acts up my benzo belly is worse. I also have nerve burning on face and in eyes at times. Sinuses can burn as well as scalp. (I know that my sinuses are fine as I used to have a lot of infections prior to three surgeries. This is not an infection.) Sometimes my scalp will itch. Using Scalpicin helps quell the itching. I have seen advertised a contraption that you can put on your head that holds an ice pack or warm one that you can velcro to stay on your head so that your hands are free. They advertise it for use with migraines. Can Google it. Not that expensive. Have not had all reactions listed but most. Hoping that this is a grand finale and will be moving forward with less intensity soon! Thank you all for your comments.
You are welcome. Keep healing! You have a great attitude, which always helps.
I really needed to read that head symptoms are quite common, as headaches, head pressure, feelings of running water in the left side of my head, and other strange head sensations have been with me since June of 2018. MRI’s show a healthy brain and now at 38:months post-taper from a year of taking Valium, I do see a decrease in the headaches. I actually went almost two months recently with no head symptoms, but for the past month they have returned with a vengeance. They start in the morning, but by late afternoon they magically disappear. This is so confusing! Any thoughts Dr. Jenn?
So sorry to hear about your head symptoms. It’s not uncommon for symptoms to wax and wane. They can come and go, until one day, they go for good. I’d do my best to embrace the four cornerstones of well-being, and lean into acceptance, patience, gratitude, and distraction as much as I could. Sending you lots of healing energy.