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Hooked on Anxiety Meds? How to Tell if You Have a Valium or Xanax Addiction

Hooked on Anxiety Meds? How to Tell if You Have a Valium or Xanax Addiction

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Are you someone who suffers from panic attacks and sleeplessness due to anxiety? If so, you may have been prescribed anxiety medication by your GP. Valium and Xanax are benzodiazepines that might start off making your life calmer but over time can cause serious side effects and addiction. 

Drugs such as Valium (also known as diazepam) and Xanax can be very helpful in settling you when you are feeling emotionally overwhelmed and out of control. They can make you feel calmer and help you get to sleep…but did you know that these drugs are highly addictive and can cause negative impacts on your body and mind if used over a long period of time? 

You can also overdose from either of these drugs, which is something most people are unaware of due to the fact that both Valium and Xanax are legal and commonly prescribed to patients by registered medical professionals.

What are Benzodiazepines?

Valium and Xanax fall into a category of drugs known as benzodiazepines. These drugs are also called sedatives. They are prescribed for conditions such as panic disorders, anxiety and insomnia – and work by providing a calming effect on the patient.

Why are Benzodiazepines so Addictive?

Although drugs like Valium and Xanax make you feel calm when you take them – that calm feeling will not be as powerful if you keep taking the drug day after day. This is because your body starts to build a tolerance – requiring larger doses of the drug to reach that ‘feel good’ point. Like other addictive substances, if you try to quit or cut back on your dosage, you will experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can be very dangerous and even life-threatening for older members of the community. For this reason, supervised medical detox is recommended for benzodiazepine addicts so that they can receive care and treatment from medical professionals during the withdrawal process.

How Long does it Take to Get Addicted to Valium or Xanax?

The time it takes to get addicted will vary from person to person but research indicates that taking Valium or Xanax for longer than 4-6 weeks can increase your chances of becoming addicted. Some people can start to build a tolerance to the drug after a month, which can then lead to addiction.

Signs of Xanax Addiction and Valium Addiction

If you are using Valium or Xanax and find yourself needing to take larger doses to feel calm and relaxed, you are most likely addicted. There are a number of other warning signs and symptoms that come with Valium and Xanax abuse. These include:

  • Craving the drug daily
  • Inability to sleep without the drug
  • Continuing to use the drug even though it’s causing problems
  • Feeling isolated from friends and family
  • Losing interest in social activities and work
  • Memory problems
  • Drowsiness
  • Dizziness
  • Impaired vision
  • Nausea

Heavy users of Valium or Xanax are also more at risk of developing the following symptoms:

  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Agitation and aggression
  • Hallucinations
  • Seizures

What Happens if You Keep Using Valium or Xanax?

If you are addicted to either of these drugs and don’t seek help, you are likely to start suffering serious consequences – not only physically but also emotionally and socially. Drug addiction to Valium and Xanax can cause relationship breakdowns and loss of employment as your life becomes more and more focused on your drug usage.

These drugs also increase your risk of having a car accident due to the fact that they slow things down in the brain and cause blurred vision, which can be fatal on the roads. You are also more likely to fall over and injure yourself if you are a heavy user.

Valium and Xanax Withdrawal Symptoms

Effects of acute withdrawal are usually experienced between 1-4 days after your last dose and they will vary depending on how much of the drug you have been taking on a regular basis and for how long. It is important to understand that withdrawal from these types of drugs can be very dangerous.

Symptoms include:

  • Vomiting
  • Headaches
  • Stomach cramps
  • Tremors
  • Seizures
  • Confusion
  • Increased blood pressure
  • Cravings
  • Panic attacks
  • Rebound anxiety

Due to the seriousness of some of these withdrawal symptoms, it is strongly advised that you do not try to detox at home. For your own safety, you should have medical supervision when you try to quit Valium or Xanax and the most effective way to manage symptoms and gain support is at a drug rehab centre.

24-hour Onsite Medical Care

Depending on how long you have used Valium or Xanax, you could suffer life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. The benefits of being an inpatient at a drug rehabilitation facility like The Dawn in Thailand is that you will have 24-hour onsite medical supervision. We have a team of highly experienced medical and clinical experts who can help you manage your physical withdrawal symptoms – as well as emotional issues that arise as you go off the drug.

Therapy to Address the Reasons Behind Your Addiction

Sedatives like Valium and Xanax can be very useful in helping you get through a rough period in your life but what happens when the need to take them continues long after the initial tough time? If you are someone who feels that you can’t relax or find inner peace without taking your sedatives, you should consider therapy to address the reasons behind your addiction.

At The Dawn drug rehab Thailand, we can work with you to identify the stressors and triggers of your anxiety. We use a combination of psychotherapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to then help you create new ways of thinking about challenging situations. We give you the tools you need to manage your fears and anxiety without the need for drugs. We can also address any co-occurring addictions such as alcohol abuse, that could be contributing to your Valium or Xanax addiction.

Anxiety Drug Addiction Intervention at The Dawn

A nurse checking a man's blood pressure at a desk at The Dawn.

If you feel that you are ready to get the support you need to overcome your Valium addiction or Xanax addiction, contact The Dawn rehab centre in Thailand for a free phone consultation. We offer both mental health and addiction treatment programmes that can be combined to benefit individuals suffering from a dual diagnosis of an anxiety disorder plus addiction.

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