{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"EP184: John Staight - Breaking the Bonds of Benzodiazepines (& Antidepressants)","description":"***WARNING\/MEDICAL DISCLAIMER***  This audio content is for conversational purposes only and does NOT constitute medical, mental health, or any other kind of personal or professional services or advice.  Consult with your doctor or health care professional before making any changes to your prescription medication. \u201cNATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH RESEARCH: \u201cFDA Updates Black Box Warning for Benzodiazepines\u201d https:\/\/www.center4research.org\/fda-updates-black-box-warning-for-benzodiazepines\/   . The agency warns patients to talk with their healthcare providers in order to develop a plan for safely and slowly tapering off a benzodiazepine.1 . . . Benzodiazepines already have a black box warning, which warns that taking benzodiazepines at the same time as opioids can lead to extreme sedation, slow and ineffective breathing, comas, and even death.6 FDA\u2019s 2020 decision keeps this previous warning about combining benzodiazepines with opioids and adds additional warnings about the risks of addiction, as well as dangerous withdrawal symptoms. \u201chttps:\/\/www.center4research.org\/fda-updates-black-box-warning-for-benzodiazepines\/   While experiencing the transition from high school to college, John Staight was prescribed alprazolam (i.e. Xanax), a powerful benzodiazepine (benzo). As a responsible patient, John acted in good faith, and took his medication as prescribed.  He trusted the \u201call-knowing doctors\u201d and mental health professionals with his life. Decades later, at a cliffs edge, his trust in the mental health system would be permanently broken.  Listen in, as John shares how he navigated the heroes\u2019 journey and now lives to educate and help others escape the clutches of antidepressants and benzodiazepines. \u201cNo one is more hated than he who speaks the truth\u201d Plato Colorado Consortium Benzodiazepine Action Work Group https:\/\/corxconsortium.org\/work-groups\/benzodiazepine\/ The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices https:\/\/benzoreform.org\/ The Benzodiazepine Information Coalition https:\/\/www.benzoinfo.com\/ Benzo Free website and podcast (D Foster) https:\/\/www.benzofree.org\/ \u201cBenzo Free:  The World of Anti-Anxiety Drugs and the Reality of Withdrawal\u201d (D Foster) https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Benzo-Free-Anti-Anxiety-Reality-Withdrawal\/dp\/173227861X\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16KI20S4PGKLX&keywords=benzo+free+book&qid=1664916369&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjIyIiwicXNhIjoiMC41MCIsInFzcCI6IjAuNzIifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=benzo+free%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1 \u201cMedicating Normal\u201d documentary website https:\/\/medicatingnormal.com\/ Watch \u201cMedicating Normal\u201d on Amazon Prime https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Medicating-Normal-Robert-Whitaker\/dp\/B09KDF2VQ8 \u201cMedicating Normal\u201d YouTube Channel \u2013 Interviews with patients and medical experts https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/MedicatingNormal \u201cAs Prescribed\u201d documentary website https:\/\/www.asprescribedfilm.com\/ The Ashton Manual https:\/\/benzo.org.uk\/manual\/  BenzoBuddies support forum http:\/\/benzobuddies.org\/ BenzoBrains YouTube channel (Jocelyn Pederson) https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/BenzoBrains SurvivingAntidepressants.org support forum https:\/\/www.survivingantidepressants.org\/ \u201cWhat I Have Learnt From Helping Thousands of People Taper Off Antidepressants and Other Psychotropic Medications\u201d  (Adele Framer, Founder of SurvivingAntidepressants.org, in Sage Journals) https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full\/10.1177\/2045125321991274 \u201cDeath Grip:  A Climber\u2019s Escape from Benzo Madness\u201d  by Matt Samet https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Death-Grip-Climbers-Escape-Madness\/dp\/125004328X\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3UINZ48R09R5T&keywords=Death+grip+benzo&qid=1664917147&sprefix=death+grip+benzo%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1 \u201cSaving Normal: An Insider\u2019s Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric Diagnosis, DSM-5, Big Pharma, and the Medicalization of Ordinary Life\u201d  (Dr. Allen Frances) https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Saving-Normal-Out-Control-Medicalization\/dp\/0062229265\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1A7RR0FSZXJ0U&keywords=saving+normal&qid=1664917255&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjcxIiwicXNhIjoiMS4zNiIsInFzcCI6IjEuNjAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=saving+normal%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1 \u201cYes, Benzos are Bad for You\u201d  (article by Dr. Allen Frances in Psychology Today) https:\/\/www.psychologytoday.com\/us\/blog\/saving-normal\/201607\/yes-benzos-are-bad-you \u201cAnatomy of an Epidemic:  Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America\u201d (Robert Whitaker) https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Anatomy-Epidemic-Bullets-Psychiatric-Astonishing\/dp\/0307452425\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=25OPKBEADLMP8&keywords=anatomy+of+an+epidemic&qid=1664917567&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjYwIiwicXNhIjoiMS4xMCIsInFzcCI6IjEuNDIifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=antaomy+of+an+%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-1 The Inner Compass Initiative https:\/\/www.theinnercompass.org\/ The Withdrawal Project https:\/\/withdrawal.theinnercompass.org\/ \u201cA Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs\u201d (Will Hall, The Icarus Project and Freedom Center\u201d http:\/\/nycicarus.org\/articles\/reduction-psychiatric-drugs\/  \u201cThe Serotonin Theory of Depression:  A Systematic Umbrella Review of the Evidence\u201d  (Dr. Joanna Moncrieff et. al, Nature) https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41380-022-01661-0 Dr. Joanna Moncrieff\u2019s website https:\/\/joannamoncrieff.com\/ Dr. Roger McFillin on twitter: https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrMcFillin The Radically Genuine Podcast by Dr. Roger McFillin https:\/\/radgenpod.com\/ \u201cThe Better Brain:  Overcome Anxiety, Combat Depression, and Reduce ADHD and Stress with Nutrition\u201d  (Dr. Julia Rucklidge and Dr. Bonnie Kaplan) https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Better-Brain-Overcome-Depression-Nutrition\/dp\/0358697131\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HSY6D8ZSWHER&keywords=the+better+brain+by+bonnie+j.+kaplan+and+julia+j.+rucklidge&qid=1664987325&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjk5IiwicXNhIjoiMC45OCIsInFzcCI6IjAuNjUifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=julia+ruck%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1 Newsweek articles on antidepressant withdrawal, antidepressant effectiveness, and lack of evidence for \u201cchemical imbalance\u201d theory of depression https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/2022\/09\/30\/antidepressants-work-better-sugar-pills-only-15-percent-time-1744656.html https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/how-kick-antidepressant-drugs-without-triggering-relapse-new-research-1745509 New York Post Article \u201cWhy we should stop casually prescribing antidepressants to teens\u201d (Brooke Siem, chef and author of \u201cMay Cause Side Effects\u201d) https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/08\/27\/why-we-should-stop-casually-prescribing-antidepressants-to-teens\/ Media interviews with psychiatrist Dr. Joanna Moncrieff regarding her recent serotonin research publication and antidepressant effects https:\/\/youtu.be\/d65J2Kqv4xQ https:\/\/youtu.be\/6eF6f3tQ6aw https:\/\/youtu.be\/Lx7hfk3cpg4 Mad in America Podcast and website \u2013 source for a critical look at the evidence for current mental health practices and psychiatric medications https:\/\/www.madinamerica.com\/mia-radio\/ Interview with author Matt Samet https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=qN0TY9CRBcM&t=1s   National Suicide Prevention Lifeline . . . 988 https:\/\/suicidepreventionlifeline.org\/     ","author_name":"The Builder's Journey","author_url":"http:\/\/thebuildersjourney.libsyn.com\/website","html":"