We may be tempted to listen to binaural beats or other sound or tone therapies. They seem innocuous enough, so why not give them a try? They might reduce some of our benzo withdrawal symptoms, right? Wrong, unfortunately. A few of our benzo buddies have tried them with terrible consequences. These sound therapies can greatly increase withdrawal symptoms or create a setback in those who have felt mostly healed.
I am not an expert in any of the sound therapies out on the market, so I am not going to explain how they work on the brain and nervous system. You can Google them for any information you’d like to know. What we do know in the benzo community is that they can be dangerous for some and they are best avoided. This doesn’t mean that you have to become hypervigilant about anything that you listen to. It just means you want to avoid being exposed for a length of time, to anything that is marketed as a sound, tone, or beat therapy. Don’t put on headphones and listen to them.
I don’t know the exact action these sound therapies have on the brain. I only know the outcome—a very excited nervous system. The few people in our community who have been stricken with an increase in symptoms or a setback describe their situation as intolerable. New, frightening symptoms often appear and they can take some time to fade away.
It is best to avoid these sound therapies while we are healing from benzo withdrawal, and for some time after we seem healed, in order to give our nervous systems enough time to truly strengthen. Remember that the way out of benzo withdrawal is through. I know it is a challenging path often fraught with loss, pain, fear, and dispair, but please keep going. Don’t look for an “easier, softer, way.” There is none. There is only acceptance, distraction, and the four cornerstones of well-being: eat right, move enough, stress less and love well. These are the things that really help us to heal and to go forward with our lives more whole, healthy, and happy. Listening to a tone, beat, or sound, will not shorten our benzo journey, and can perhaps, make it more challenging.
Please share this information with others who are going through benzo withdrawal. Let’s make sure that everyone in benzo withdrawal knows the dangers of these sound therapies.
Oh my gosh, I have been doing this! Listening on repeat play all night on head phones to try and sleep. Thank for letting me know about it. Maybe this is partly to explain my convulsions.
This injury is just unreal.. . I have noticed this as well. The sound therapy…
all so sad. I guess we are the data huh. The test subjects we have to pay attention. We are all different but also so much alike. Your words of encouragement are so very needed. Thank you for acknowledging the scary too. Wish we didn’t have to. 💔.
Happy holidays. Xoxoxo
This is not the same for everyone .Binaural Beats helped me a lo.It can be so different
I listened to one for 20 min…got put in a trance and actually stopped breathing and snapped into a panic attack….Jenn confirmed to me that those were bad…I’ll stick to the spa music….Hang in there everyone
I am a musician and sound healer so sound is healing for me. For me, toning or singing and playing healing music is vital for me so you can’t generalize for everybody.Some of us really like sound therapy and choosing the right music is important. If I am uplifted that is a good thing. I just wanted to put in my 2 cents worth.
Great! If it works for you that’s wonderful. As with all things in benzo withdrawal, one size does not fit all. But some people have had bad reactions, so it’s important people are aware and can use caution.
I agree that it is best to be careful or patently avoid. Just like with horrible benzo withdrawal symptoms, you never know if YOU will be the one effected. I cannot listen to binaural beats at all or I will experience worsening symptoms, but a few months ago I started attending sound healing sessions with crystal bowls and gongs and I tolerate those well. However, I wouldn’t have been able to do that the first 2 years of my post-withdrawal. Now at 28 months post, I can handle crystal bowls and gongs.
Just a healing process. Be careful and treat your body with kid gloves right now.
Great post Jen..your right!! Just keep going through this to the other side.its the only way..through it!! It’s so scary ..that we would try anything but it’s all just time!!! ❤️
I have listened to them a number of times ans they seem to have no effect on me at all.
Hi Jen,
Thanks for all you do.
I remember reading a post somewhere about Don Killian and binaural beats.
How is he doing?
He is getting better. Thanks for asking.