Benzodiazepines, more commonly known as benzos, are a commonly prescribed class of prescription drugs. Doctors across the country prescribe benzos to people from all walks of life every day. Generally, benzos are designed for short-term anxiety relief or insomnia. Sometimes, benzos treat other conditions too. Because of their calming effect and ability to treat multiple symptoms at once, many people take benzos longer than they are prescribed. Unfortunately, this can lead to dependency and addiction, which are increasingly common today. A detox program through a benzo detox center is the safest, most effective way to stop using benzos.
If you or someone you care about needs support for benzo detox, Atlanta Detox Center can help. Our comprehensive care programs include treatment at our benzo detox center in Atlanta. Call us today at 470.450.2355 or reach out to us online to find out more about what to expect from benzo detox.
How Do Benzodiazepines Work?
Benzos slow down the brain’s processing speed. This means they also slow messages from the brain to the nervous system and the body. This can help lower anxiety, help people sleep, and reduce seizures. By increasing amounts of GABA in the brain, benzos calm the nervous system. GABA is the chemical our brains naturally produce to help promote sleep and calm. Benzos flood the brain with higher amounts of GABA than we naturally make, which can cause us to stop making GABA on our own. Benzos also increase dopamine levels, causing joy, elation, euphoria, and motivation. Unfortunately, the brain may also stop making dopamine on benzos.
How Do Benzodiazepines Effect the Brain?
Benzos alter brain chemistry in both short- and long-term use. In the short term, benzos can help people fall asleep and temporarily reduce anxiety. This makes benzos perfect for short-term life changes like moving, air travel, or after a traumatic event like losing a loved one.
Long-term effects of benzos include difficulties with:
- Processing language
- Thoughts
- Following and understanding conversations
- Memory
- Speaking
Benzos might change the way a person sees and understands the world. Unlike other drugs, their awareness and understanding of objects and language can become distorted, making it hard to communicate with and understand others. Because of these long-term effects, it’s safest to detox with professional support through a detox program.
What to Expect from Benzo Detox
So, what happens during benzo detox? Like other addictive substances, benzo detox causes withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on how often and how long someone takes benzos. Because benzos have such intense effects on spatial awareness and cognition, it’s important to detox in a detox center.
Benzo detox will usually begin with medically assisted detox. If someone stops taking benzos cold turkey, they will experience a “rebound” effect. This means their original symptoms, like anxiety or insomnia, will return and worsen. This can lead to other drug-seeking behavior, relapse, and sometimes self-harm. However, during residential detox, clients work with doctors and therapists to safely mitigate withdrawal with medication, supplements, and nutrition.
Programs at Atlanta Detox Center
Unfortunately, in our busy world, benzo addiction is increasingly common. If you or someone you love is struggling with benzos, know you are not alone. Our compassionate staff at Atlanta Detox Center is ready to help. Every client who visits Atlanta Detox Center for residential treatment leaves with a comprehensive after-care plan to support long-term recovery. With alumni programs and multiple types of behavior therapy, our clients enjoy a balance of medical and psychiatric care. We are ready to help you every step of the way.
Our board-certified detox programs include:
- Men’s detox
- Women’s detox
- Drug detox
- Medically-assisted detox
Additional programs at Atlanta Detox Center are:
- Alumni program
- Behavioral therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
Learn More About What to Expect from Benzo Detox at Atlanta Detox Center
With a multidisciplinary team, our Atlanta Detox Center team believes in long-term recovery planning and success. Call us today at 470.450.2355 or fill out our online contact form to find out more about what happens during benzo detox.
