The Benzo Free Podcast
Launched in February 2019, the Benzo Free Podcast has become a lifeline of the benzo community providing information, support, and a personal connection to thousands struggling with benzodiazepine dependence and withdrawal (BIND). Hosted by D E Foster, the podcast blends personal stories, interviews, and a variety of facts and studies from a decade of research and lived experience. If you, or someone you know, has been affected by anxiety medication, you might want to check it out. Learn more on our website at https://easinganxiety.com/podcast.
Episodes
Benzos and grief, diet, and distension. Benzos and pets, laughter, and levity. Benzos and indecision and lack of memory. Benzos and research, internet, and advocacy. So many topics, so much to discuss.
In today’s episode, we dive into our mailbag again to hear from you. D shares some comments, answers some questions, and even reads some critical feedback. Join us for a few insights and friendly discussion.
Video ID: BFP126
CHAPTER...
What’s new at Easing Anxiety? What’s new in the benzo community? What’s new in the world of BIND? And what should someone new to benzos do if they’re just getting started? Join D for an off-script conversation this lazy Sunday morning.
In today’s episode, D records the podcast live on his back patio enjoying the sights and sounds of nature. He discusses the EA Community, a new team member, lingering symptoms, coaching, training, sur...
Join the Benzodiazepine Survey Research Team for a lively roundtable discussion about their research, the findings from the survey, and their latest paper which formally introduces the term benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction, or BIND.
Benzodiazepine use and discontinuation are associated with nervous system injury and negative life effects that continue after discontinuation, according to the article “Long-term consequ...
Naftal Benisty is the creator and host of the podcast, “Benzo Tired.” A social worker by trade, Naftal’s personal experience with kindling, seizures, and multiple prescriptions for benzodiazepines steered him into the world of benzo advocacy.
In our conversation, Naftal shares his benzo story and the reasons he decided to start a podcast. We also talk about seizures, the indefinite hold, BIND, deprescribing guidelines, medical educa...
Personality changes. Loss of ability. Loss of confidence. Loss of self. These are common in benzo withdrawal and BIND, and yet we rarely talk about them. What does this look like? What are its causes? And most of all, what can we do about it?
In today’s episode, we explore the loss of self during benzo withdrawal. We also respond to a question on tinnitus, share a comment on the benefits of nature, and hear a benzo story from New Ze...
Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Final) / Presentation Cancellation, Vacation Reschedule, Benzo Community Activity, Social Media Effects, and Rollin’ with the Changes
https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/rx-road-trip-final-lifes-detours-bfp121
Podcast ID: BFP121
Chapters00:00 Which Day Is It?
00:19 Presentation / Vacation
04:59 What to Talk About?
05:48 Benzo Community Activity
06:15 Social Media Effects
08:30 Promoting Others’ Sites
10...
Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 5-6) / 1st Day of Rx Summit, Small Victories, Managing Benzo Limitations, BIND, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Urinary Difficulties, Fear of Heights, and Finding Ways to Do Things
https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/rx-road-trip-day-5-6-conference-day-1-symptom-management-bfp120
Video ID: BFP120
Chapters00:00 Welcome to Days 5-6
00:28 Day 5 Recap
01:31 First Day of Conference
04:15 Benzo Morning Ob...
Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 4) / Nashville, TN to Alpharetta, GA / Driving and Flying Working Around Limitations, Emotions and Social Media, Setting Boundaries
https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/rx-road-trip-day-4-limitations-and-boundaries-bfp119
Video ID: BFP119
Chapters00:00 Welcome to Georgia
02:16 Managing My Symptoms 1
02:46 Hotel Room Tour
04:51 Driving in the Rai
05:42 Managing My Symptoms 2
06:24 Driving and Flying
0...
Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 3) / Branson, MO to Nashville, TN / Back Home in Missouri, People with Crosses on the Roadside, Getting Out There and Doing Things
https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/rx-road-trip-day-3-people-on-the-roadside-bfp118
Video ID: BFP118
Chapters00:00 Welcome to Opryland
01:11 Back Home in Missouri
03:27 Roadside Crosses: Preface
07:29 Roadside Crosses: Interview
09:24 Roadside Crosses: Follow Up
12:54 ...
Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 2) / Salina, KS to Branson, MO / Benzos and indecision, the loss of confidence, life becoming small, and appreciation of the little things.
https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/rx-road-trip-day-2-benzos-confidence-and-indecision-bfp117
Video ID: BFP117
Chapters00:00 Welcome to Branson
01:24 Drive Status
01:58 Confidence, Indecision, and Benzos
07:10 Life Becoming Small
09:06 Appreciating the Littl...
Road Trip to the Rx Summit in Atlanta (Day 1) / Denver to Salina, Kansas / Series introduction, why I like road trips, a friendly voice.
https://www.easinganxiety.com/post/rx-road-trip-day-1-series-intro
Video ID: BFP116
Chapters00:00 Welcome to Day 1
00:47 About the Road Trip
02:45 Why I Like Road Trips
03:33 Our New Social Feeds
04:31 Human Connection
07:33 A Friendly Voice
09:11 I Hope You’ll Join Me
Resources
The following reso...
David Powers is an artist, filmmaker, PhD candidate in psychology, and founder of Powers Benzo Recovery Coaching. After a severe car accident, David became dependent on diazepam. Now benzo-free, he helps others through his films, videos, and coaching.
In Part II of our conversation, we learn about support, coaching, and membership sites. We also discuss psychology, overprescribing, gratitude, burnout, healing, society, culture, and...
David Powers is an artist, filmmaker, PhD candidate in psychology, and founder of Powers Benzo Recovery Coaching. After a severe car accident, David became dependent on diazepam. Now benzo-free, he helps others through his films, videos, and coaching.
In Part I of our conversation, we hear about David’s personal struggle with benzodiazepines. We also discuss research and funding, the limbic system, GABA, fear, hope, symptoms, and e...
What happens when COVID meets BIND? What happens when someone in protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal gets long COVID? Does it set off a wave? Does it make their benzo symptoms worse? Tune in for answers and more.
In today’s episode, we explore COVID and benzodiazepine withdrawal (BIND). We also look at endogenous benzodiazepines, hear two benzo stories of success, and visit the launch of our new website and social media feeds. I h...
What can we do about tinnitus? What about brain lock? What about insomnia? Does alcohol help? Can flumazenil fix this? What about overwhelm and isolation? These and other questions are discussed as we dive deep into the mailbag.
In today’s episode, we explore the mailbag — in particular, your YouTube comments. We also catch up on D’s health, progress with the workgroup, some exciting conference news, and much more. It’s good to be b...
The Z-drugs: Ambien. Lunesta. Sonata. What are these? Are they benzos? Hypnotics? When did they hit the market? Can they cause dependence? Withdrawal? BIND? These questions and more will be discussed in our feature today.
In today’s episode, we focus on nonbenzodiazepines, or Z-drugs. How are they like benzodiazepines, and how are they different? We also answer some questions about dosage, duration, and rebounding and we hear a sto...
Dr. Anna Lembke is our guest today — and trust me — you don’t want to miss this one! We discuss benzodiazepine tapering, substitution, the dopamine cycle, flumazenil, anxiety, social media, finding a doctor and so much more.
Anna Lembke, MD is a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine, chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and an internationally recognized leader in addiction medic...
What happens when you need surgery during protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal (BIND)? How do you manage the anxiety? Do you take meds? Benzos? Opioids? How do you handle recovery? Join D on his personal 14-day journey.
In part 2 of this 2-part series, the surgery is completed and D reviews his decision to be given a benzodiazepine for sedation. He monitors its effect on his symptoms, discusses his recovery and use of pain meds, an...
What happens when you need surgery during protracted benzodiazepine withdrawal (BIND)? How do you manage the anxiety? Do you take meds? Benzos? Opioids? How do you handle recovery? Join D on his personal 14-day journey.
In part 1 of this 2-part series, D discusses his anxiety, insomnia, and other complications leading up to the surgery. He also shares his fear of cancellation, his struggles to find courage, and his reliance on trad...
Are benzos effective for treating anxiety? Insomnia? Seizures? If they aren’t safe, what is the evidence? How many BIND symptoms are there? Could these be permanent? And what about COVID? Tune in for the surprising answers.
In today’s episode, we ask some key questions about benzos and provide real answers, with evidence to back them. We also share questions from our international listeners on CBD and probiotics, and we hear a power...
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