Stories of Hell and Healing: Internet Users’ Construction of Benzodiazepine Distress and Withdrawal

Abstract

Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs used mainly as sedatives, hypnotics, anti-epileptics and muscle relaxants. Consumption is recommended for 2-4 weeks only (NICE CKS 2013) due to fast onset of dependency and potentially distressing withdrawal symptoms (Ashton, 2005;Lader, 2012). Few peer review studies have drawn on the user experiences and language to appreciate first hand experiences of benzodiazepine withdrawal or discontinuation syndrome (Fixsen, 2015). We looked extensively at patient stories of benzodiazepine withdrawal and recovery on Internet support sites and YouTube. Our analysis indicated that users employ rich metaphors to portray the psychologically disturbing and protracted nature of their suffering.We identified seven major themes: hell and isolation; anxiety and depression; alienation; physical distress; anger and remorse; waves and windows; and healing and renewal. By posting success stories, ex-users make known that "healing" can be a long, unpredictable process, but distress does lessen and recovery can happen.

Limited Utility for Benzodiazepines in Chronic Pain Management: A Narrative Review

“…When alternatives are inadequate, BZRAs used short-term (2–4 weeks) may benefit co-occurring insomnia and anxiety disorders. It is not unusual, however, for improvements to diminish over time [ 133 – 136 ], though this may be difficult to distinguish from worsening of the underlying conditions. Loss of efficacy may become apparent only upon cessation of the medication, which has also been observed in a clonazepam discontinuation study in seizure disorders [ 137 ].…”

“…BZRAs may have side effects that may or may not be evident [ 139 – 141 ]. Although true addiction is unlikely [ 142 ] other side effects are frequent and sometimes severe [ 133 , 139 ]. Excess mortality overall [ 143 ], suicide [ 144 ], and accidental overdose fatalities [ 22 ] are associated with use.…”

“…Perhaps of greatest concern is the development of physiologic dependence which develops in 20–100% of those on BZs even at normal doses for more than a month [ 150 – 154 ]. Withdrawal symptoms may occur during medication use (interdose or tolerance withdrawal) [ 139 ], after as little as 2–6 weeks of exposure [ 155 ], and be quite severe [ 133 – 135 , 139 ]. Symptom expression while tapering may be attributed to relapse or rebound of the underlying condition [ 156 ].…”

The Social Construction of a Concept—Orthorexia Nervosa: Morality Narratives and Psycho-Politics

“…Although some Identifiers’ body appearance spoke of having an ED, posters in this study were more overtly preoccupied with physical appearance, in particular personal thinness and weight control. Norms and rules apply to these types of online realms ( Oksanen et al, 2015 ), including the censoring of comments which might encourage self-destructive thought patterns and behaviors ( Fixsen & Ridge, 2017 ). The tone of the threads we searched was more self-deprecating than the responses of Identifiers, who were more inclined to frame their dietary discipline as part of a rationalized, sometimes ethically motivated lifestyle choice.…”

“…Anonymity on the website may have made it easier for posters to “confess” to feelings of self-disgust following dietary transgressions, convey their need for peer support and express their views about others with EDs. As in other studies of online communities, Posters employed in-group language and metaphors (author) using terms such as “ortho” (orthorexia), “b/p” (binging and purging), “cycling” (between EDs), and “messing up” both to identify and categorize their experience and allow for sharing of emotive ( Mizes & Arbitell, 1991 ) and stigmatized topics ( Fixsen & Ridge, 2017 ; Oksanen et al, 2015 ). Despite their different positions on or off any ED scale, Posters and Identifiers shared a common interest in the pursuit of a better, “cleaner” self, whether ethical (e.g., associated with animal welfare) or aesthetic (e.g., associated with physical appearance and social media image).…”