May 30th, 2025

In this episode: I speak with Ryan Hebert from California, U.S.A. Ryan is two years psych med free after being misprescribed benzodiazepines for 12 years, spanning most of her adult working life. She was on Ativan (generic: Lorazepam), before being switched to Klonopin (generic: Clonazepam).

It took Ryan three attempts and three years to fully taper, much of it during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, she became extremely ill and was diagnosed with a mitochondrial metabolic disorder, linked to the combined stress of withdrawal and multiple COVID infections.

Ryan speaks about a farm-based recovery program post-benzodiazepine in North Carolina, evacuating due to hurricane Helena to Santa Barbara to be closer to family and friends. Today Ryan is focussing on rebuilding her life and raising awareness about the harm of benzodiazepines.

Ryan starts off with words of gratitute for her family and ends with a short self-produced song. She also wanted to share this quote:

"You don't get to check out of the human experience for over a decade without severe consequences -- emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual. Coming back online after that long is not just a process, it's a reckoning."

In Spring 2027, Ryan plans to walk the Camino de Santiago with other survivors as a symbol of healing and hope. If you want to join and/or connect, you can e-mail Ryan at: [email protected] and her Instagram: elcaminoforacause.

May 7th, 2025

In this episode: I talk to Emma Saunders from the UK, a regular guest of Benzotired about setbacks. We talk about setbacks she and I have had, others have had or may have. We talk about alcohol, supplements, food and much more.

Find Emma at: the The Psych Med Sanctuary

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepsychmedsanctuary/

(00:00) Intro

(01:45) Emma's worst setback

(04:15) Naftal's worst setback

(07:59) Paid jobs with symptoms

(13:25) Alcohol

(15:42) Magnesium

(17:03) Stress and pressure

(19:30) Excercise

(21:00) Chemicals, food and drinks

(25:02) Coffee

(28:42) Supplements

(30:20) Medical gaslighting

(32:52) Liquid taper and changing brands

(38:47) Navigating through setbacks

(40:35) Vitamin B6 & polydrugged

(42:45) Medical procedures, drugs and outro

May 7th, 2025

In this episode: I catch up with Emma Saunders from the UK. Emma has featured on many episodes of Benzotired. She was prescribed Lorazepam (Ativan) for tinnitus and ended up being polydrugged. In this episode she shares her successfully tapering Quatiapine and Lorazepam and she shares her current state of affairs.

Currently Emma is tapering Mirtazepine (Remeron).

Find Emma at: https://thepsychmedsanctuary.com/

February 22nd, 2025

In this episode: I talk to my friend Jenny, from New York, U.S.A. She is featured on episode #2 and #16. On episode #2, she was still tapering and she shares her benzo story, aswell as her horrible experience in a detox facility.

On episode #16 (recorded around June 2023), she had been off benzodiazepines, but still dealing with symptoms, known as Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfunction (BIND).

In this episode, we catch up with Jenny again. She has been benzofree for two years now. We talk about the benzo community, menopause, waves and windows, rebuilding a life and much more.

February 20th, 2025

In this episode: I talk to Malissa Pistillo about our experiences and knowledge about insomnia. We discuss Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Insomnia (CBTi), things that help us sleep and more.

Check out episode #43 for Malissa's benzo story and more information about her.

As discussed in this episode:

"The Insomnia Diaries" by Miranda Levi (episode #13)

The Matt Walker Podcast

(00:00:00) Intro

(00:01:33) Malissa's insomnia

(00:06:45) Naftal's insomnia

(00:10:45) Benzos effect on sleep

(00:12:00) CBTi

(00:21:02) Malissa's learnings on insomnia

(00:26:10) Timezone changes, winding down, chronotypes and education

(00:37:45) Rebound REM sleep

(00:46:17) What helps Malissa sleep

(00:53:10) What helps Naftal sleep

(00:56:00) Naps

(00:58:00) Switching bedrooms & coffee

(01:01:00) Work, hope & outro

December 20th, 2024

In this episode: Barbara Connolly, PhD is the Senior Admin of the Benzo Warrior Community. She is a retired professor of political science, she has lived experience with complicated withdrawal from both benzodiazepines and antidepressants, and truly understands living with complex chronic illness and pain, particularly Ehlers-Danlos and mast cell activation syndromes. Barb was herself badly injured in 2017 by a rapid taper off Klonopin after 22 years of prescribed use for muscle spasms, and didn't realize until much later that the resulting cascade of symptoms and disability was due to benzodiazepines. Because of that experience, it became important to her that others going through withdrawal from benzodiazepines get far better information and support. She has run Benzo Warrior Community for nearly four years  with a terrific team of peers all of whom haved lived experience, and has helped thousands navigate their journeys through benzodiazepine recovery. BWC has about 4,500 active members in English-speaking countries all over the world, and features Zoom support meetings for members and caregivers alike. Barb hosts a speaker series for BWC about all things benzodiazepines, withdrawal, BIND, and recovery, featuring doctors, coaches, pharmacists, and survivors. She excels at connecting people with the resources needed to consult effectively with doctors, marshal support from family and friends, cope with difficult symptoms, and figure out all the logistics of tapering as well as managing food sensitivities. A member of the Benzo Action Work Group, Barb is one of the trainers for the benzodiazepine peer training and is interested in research on  health care policy and benzodiazepines. She enjoys hiking, ballet, and politics and is grateful to be much-recovered and able to wander again in the great outdoors.

November 26th, 2024

In this episode: I talk to Rikka Allen from Finland. She was harmed by Cymbalta (generic: Duloxetine) and Oxazepam (also known as Serax). Rikka shares her journey as she is currently tapering her benzodiazepine using water. We also discuss directly tapering, finding English information and national issues surrounding benzodiazepines.

November 19th, 2024

In this episode: I speak with Malissa Pistello. She is a benzo and a psych drug advocate with a background being in Cloud Computing & Cyber Security.

She has personal experience with protracted injuries caused by SSRIs, SNRIs and benzodiazepines, which has shaped her mission as she continues to navigate the ongoing challenges of Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurological Dysfuntion (BIND).

Malissa manages the TikTok and YouTube channel TheFaceofMALPractice, where she shares vulnerable videos of her journey and provides education in the hope of spreading awareness. She is currently authoring a book that talks through her experience with psych drugs, how they nearly killed her and her journey to healing her true self.

November 3rd, 2024