Mark Leeds, D.O.
Mark Leeds, D.O.
ACT: A Supportive Approach for Benzodiazepine Tapering and Recovery
ACT: A Supportive Approach for Benzodiazepine Tapering and Recovery
ACT: A Supportive Approach for Benzodiazepine Tapering and Recovery
Saturday 10th August 2024
Discover how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) supports benzodiazepine tapering and recovery with Dr Mark Leeds.
5 minutes
Informative
Supportive
Compassionate
Hopeful
Encouraging
About this podcast
Author:
Mark Leeds, D.O.
Overview:
Categories:
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Sobriety Toolkit
Family Recovery from Addiction
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Nutritional Pathways to Recovery
Links:
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Episodes:
381 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!ACT: Easing Benzodiazepine Tapering and Recovery
Episode Overview
- ACT helps manage withdrawal symptoms by promoting acceptance without judgment.
- Mindfulness techniques keep individuals present, reducing overwhelm.
- Reconnecting with personal values provides motivation beyond symptom management.
- Psychological flexibility aids in adapting to new realities during protracted withdrawal.
- Committed action encourages small steps towards goals despite challenges.
Recovery is a process, and it's okay to take it one step at a time.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a supportive framework for those tapering off benzodiazepines, addressing both immediate withdrawal symptoms and long-term recovery challenges. In this episode, Dr Mark Leeds, an experienced osteopathic physician, shares how ACT can be a game-changer for individuals reducing their benzodiazepine intake. Withdrawal can feel like waking up after a long sleep - uncomfortable and overwhelming. ACT helps by encouraging acceptance of these experiences without judgment, reducing the stress that comes from resisting them.
This approach also emphasises mindfulness, helping people stay present and manage symptoms one moment at a time. Dr Leeds highlights the importance of reconnecting with personal values and committing to meaningful actions during tapering. By focusing on goals and interests set aside while using benzodiazepines, individuals can find purpose and motivation beyond just managing symptoms. For those facing protracted withdrawal, ACT offers a framework for adapting to new realities.
It promotes psychological flexibility, allowing individuals to pursue life goals even if the path looks different than before. The concept of 'self-as-context' reminds people they are more than their symptoms, which can be empowering for those struggling with depersonalisation or derealisation. ACT techniques also help manage specific long-term conditions associated with withdrawal by approaching experiences with curiosity rather than fear. Committed action encourages taking small steps towards goals, even in the face of challenges like physical discomforts.
Dr Leeds underscores that ACT doesn't promise to eliminate all symptoms but provides tools to live a fulfilling life alongside them. This perspective can be liberating for those searching for a cure or a return to their pre-benzodiazepine state. Recovery is a process, and it's okay to take it one step at a time. With patience, self-compassion, and the right support, it's possible to build a meaningful life beyond benzodiazepine use.