Stories of Hell and Healing: Internet Users’ Construction of Benzodiazepine Distress and Withdrawal
Abstract
Benzodiazepines are a group of drugs used mainly as sedatives, hypnotics, antiepileptics, and muscle relaxants. Consumption is recommended for 2 to 4 weeks only, due to fast onset of dependency and potentially distressing withdrawal symptoms. Few peer-review studies have drawn on the user experiences and language to appreciate firsthand experiences of benzodiazepine withdrawal or discontinuation syndrome. We looked extensively at patient stories of benzodiazepine withdrawal and recovery on Internet support sites and YouTube. Our analysis indicated that users employ rich metaphors to portray the psychologically disturbing and protracted nature of their suffering. We identified seven major themes: hell and isolation, anxiety and depression, alienation, physical distress, anger and remorse, waves and windows, and healing and renewal. By posting success stories, ex-users make known that "healing" can be a long, unpredictable process, but distress does lessen, and recovery can happen.
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Longer-term BZD use and use of high-dose, rapid-acting BZDs increase the risk of protracted withdrawal.
“Longer-term BZD use and use of high-dose, rapid-acting BZDs increase the risk of protracted withdrawal”
From Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering: Considerations When Risks Outweigh Benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [131]
Post-acute protracted withdrawal symptoms can also occur after discontinuation of low-dose BZDs.
“these post-acute symptoms can also occur after discontinuation of low-dose BZDs.80,130,131”
From Joint Clinical Practice Guideline on Benzodiazepine Tapering: Considerations When Risks Outweigh Benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [131]
Many patients prescribed benzodiazepines have not taken part in the medical decision-making process in any meaningful way.
“In fact, many patients prescribed benzodiazepines have not taken part in the medical decision-making process in any meaningful way.”
From Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet survey (2022) · cites this paper as [18]
Previous studies have reported on online forums and websites assisting people withdrawing from all forms of psychiatric medications.
“Previous studies have reported on online forums and websites assisting people withdrawing from all forms of psychiatric medications.”
Fixsen and Ridge concluded that benzodiazepine withdrawal experiences should be of great interest and value to practitioners and researchers and should be influencing support strategies in general practice.
“They concluded that, although benzodiazepine withdrawal is unique to the sufferer, their experiences should be of great interest and value to practitioners and researchers and should be influencing support strategies in general practice.”
Research suggests those who are fully supported during drug withdrawal, either by peers or healthcare experts or support staff, have a more successful outcome.
“Research suggests those who are fully supported during drug withdrawal, either by peers (via groups such as those followed in this study), healthcare experts or support staff have a more successful outcome.8,13,48”
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References 63 · Cited by 34
- Authors
- Fixsen, A. M., & Ridge, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Westminster (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Fixsen, Alison M.
- Venue
- Qualitative Health Research
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2017-09-09
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 13
- Pages
- 2030-2041
- ISSN
- 1049-7323 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-7557
- OpenAlex
- W2751716305
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 1.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Qualitative Health Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- WestminsterResearch (University of Westminster) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Literacy and Information Accessibility
- Keywords
- benzodiazepine withdrawal, benzodiazepine dependence, patient experience, online support groups, YouTube, metaphor, recovery, anxiety, depression, isolation, alienation, physical distress, healing
- MeSH terms
- Anger, Benzodiazepines, Humans, Mental Health, Self-Help Groups, Social Isolation, Substance Withdrawal Syndrome, Internet
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