Knackered Questions Power with Benzos

   Hey there, Knackered here.  “Power is defined by psychologists as having two separate aspects.  First, a powerful person is one that has control over their own and other’s resources.  Second, someone can be said to be powerful when she/he has the capacity to influence someone else, and stay uninfluenced by others.  One can exert influence based on expertise, charisma, or by simply being able to grant someone favor.”  (Benjamin Voyer- London School of Political Science)

   If you’re onsite and reading this, you know that we are all fellow travelers.  We’re on a path that none of us have chosen willingly.  At some point during our experience with Benzos, someone or something had the power to influence our decision in regard to withdrawal.  I’d like to think that we had the personal power to make that decision on our own, but I seriously doubt it.

   The Ashton Manual states on the first and second pages of the front matter that no one should have the power to make us do this.  In this same section, it’s also stated that no doctor or medical provider should have the power to control our taper; the speed of which should be controlled by the patient themselves.  All this is true and good.  The problem being, of course, that few medical providers have heard or read these words and are likely to discount anyone else’s advice, research and technique other than their own.

   In my own personal case, and I would imagine your’s as well, someone else made this decision by having the power to control the prescription pad (digital these days), or influence what we did medically, or how we should behave ourselves while we’re their patient.  Again in my case, I had very little control over the doctor or agency policies and practices.

  What I did find out quite quickly was that there were stiff consequences for ‘misbehaving’.  At one point, I was labeled medically non compliant. (??)  Apparently messing with your pills (up dosing) without the specific consent of providers is prohibited.  Consulting with another provider (my PC in this case) was grounds for being accused of “doctor shopping.” Also not good.

   Along the way, with the help of my therapist, I developed the advocacy skills necessary to make things right. As I write this, all is well-with a new provider who understand and practices with compassion.  But, it’s been an uphill climb all the way.

   At the risk of being labelled contentious, let me quote Christopher Hitchens:  “Never be a spectator of unfairness or stupidity.  Seek out argument and disputation for their own sake; the grave will supply plenty of time for silence.”