[jwx48]

If you've been on these long-term, I cannot stress enough how slowly you need to taper.

Edited to add that I wish I could contribute more to this conversation than lived experience, but saying that benzodiazepines "...are associated with an increased risk of suicide due to aggression, impulsivity, and negative withdrawal effects"[0] is like describing the sinking of the Titanic as a fender-bender.

[0]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzodiazepine

[dankai]

I've tried many drugs in my life but benzos have been the scariest that I would never do voluntarily.

[audition0069]

Same at first it was like "Cool, no thoughts head empty, I don't feel anything anymore" but then it was "fck no thoughts head empty, I really don't feel anything anymore".

I got them prescribed by my psychiatrist (~4mg/day). And getting off of them was like going through hell, I really just wanted to stop taking them (I tried it for one day...), but I needed to reduce it by 0.5/week to not completely go berserk. But even with slowly reducing it, it wasn't a pleasent experience.

[nickels]

Were you able to completely stop?

[audition0069]

Yes, I wasn't addicted (as it didn't feel good to take it) and after reducing it step by step, I was off of it (took some time). Though after that my other stuff (the reason why I got benzos prescribed) was there again, but I had no urge to take Benzos again.

[tnecniv]

The withdrawal can also kill you outright. Most other drugs can lead to a fatal withdrawal due to complications, but the withdrawal process itself isn’t lethal, like with benzos.

I take them occasionally for panic attacks and my god they are strong. A nibble off a corner normally does the job for me. I can’t imagine being prescribed them for daily use — and regular use has a whole bunch of nasty side effects.

[3seashells]

Didn't Jordan Peterson try a experimental cure to get of them fast?

[jwx48]

I believe he did, but I'm not convinced it went as well as he'd hoped. I'd read something to that effect, but am unable to recall what and where.

[Two4]

There's a theory bouncing around that the medical coma he supposedly used resulted in some degree of brain damage, causing him to really go off the political deep end.