psychiatrists aren't doctors.
Yes they are.
^ so you're saying my psychiatrist isn't a real doctor then, because I'm prescribed benzos everyday long term? That's a dangerous idea to be spreading on a harm reduction site. I do cognitive therapy with my doc as my primary means of therapy, and benzos are adjuncts. Maybe you just have different needs. Some people may need benzos in the long term, like those with sever panic attacks, or convulsive disorders.
I've been prescribed benzodiazepines for a decade, I'm prescribed three benzodiazepines, and I need them. I have debilitating conditions which do not respond to other forms of treatment and I have been prescribed them for the long-term, and the foreseeable future. My psychiatrists have been great doctors who I had a great doctor/patient trust relationship with.
This was critical for me because I have many psychiatric problems and most of them are treatment resistant to the first second even third lines of treatment. I'm extremely blessed to have a doctor that I can speak my mind to completely honestly and talk about medications without getting judged.
I'm not even dependent on benzodiazepines anymore, I haven't been for over a year. I take my benzodiazepines as needed, usually a couple times a week, if that, for debilitating insomnia, panic disorder, and PTSD. I no longer use benzodiazepines regularly for my severe general anxiety, and by using them infrequently and strictly as-needed, I have been able to make substantial progress with my mental illnesses. I put in a lot of hard work and alternative treatments, CBT, etc, and it paid off.
I totally agree that benzodiazepines are handed out like candy to the wrong people, which is a HUGE problem, but it's really dumb for you to say that my psychiatrist is not a real doctor, or is somehow a quack for prescribing me 3 potent benzodiazepines in the long-term. Yes, for most people, they couldn't handle it and it wouldn't be a good idea, but I'm not most people. I use these medications extremely carefully, as infrequently as possible, I dose responsibly, taking a fraction of the dose I'm supposed to take every day.
I am very experienced with these drugs, I know how they affect me and am thoroughly educated about these drugs, much more so than your average psych patient, but then again, I've been taking these medications for the better part of a decade.
TL;DR, there are people who legitimately need benzodiazepines in the long term, and there's nothing wrong with that. The problem is that benzodiazepines are given out like candy, and many people who take benzodiazepines long-term
do not have debilitating conditions.
Psychiatirists are real drs. You come in there with a problem and their job is to fix it.
Some people benzos are the only thing that works.
Benzos are not right for all people and all situations.
Yes there are psychologists who are burnt out and don't really care any more. They will give you what ever to keep you coming back. Is this bad? Yes and no. If you have a patient who only responds to say Xanax and no other dr will give it to them because of the war on drugs, it's good. If they give a bunch of Xanax to someone who's goal is to be messed up all the time regardless of health issues, bad.
Benzos have there place in medicine. When I have a panic attack it helps bring me down to a level of Calmness and peace. It helps me tremendously.
Exactly.
