ADDICTION SPECIALIST medical doctor on importance of using proper terminology

[[Qu...]]

I wonder if the emphasis should be on absolute accuracy, or if it should be on intended impact. I was talking about this on other thread, and I thought of when the republican's rebranded the estate tax as "The Death Tax."

 

not that it matters. Victims don't get to name things.

 

 

[[Fl...]]

Recovery is the only thing that is important.

 

I refer to it as being in recovery. If asked for what, I reply as I posted previously, as Dr. Wright suggested "Benzo Injury Syndrome."

 

Recovery is important, but it is a given. If you are trying to explain this to someone why would you lead with "I am in recovery"? Of course you are in recovery. Anyone who is healing from some type of medical issue is in recovery. It doesn't tell people anything. 

 

We are talking about needing a name for the syndrome or illness or damage or whatever it is. We need a name that that succinctly summarizes the damage that has been done to our bodies by a prescription drug.

[[Fl...]]

I wonder if the emphasis should be on absolute accuracy, or if it should be on intended impact. I was talking about this on other thread, and I thought of when the republican's rebranded the estate tax as "The Death Tax."

 

not that it matters. Victims don't get to name things.

 

There is a case to be made for both.

 

I used to love coming up with business and product names, advertising slogans, etc. I can tell you from experience that here is both an art and a science to it.

[[Ma...]]

I wonder if the emphasis should be on absolute accuracy, or if it should be on intended impact. I was talking about this on other thread, and I thought of when the republican's rebranded the estate tax as "The Death Tax."

 

not that it matters. Victims don't get to name things.

 

There is a case to be made for both.

 

I used to love coming up with business and product names, advertising slogans, etc. I can tell you from experience that here is both an art and a science to it.

 

In Germany we have a word for it, but to translate it in English makes no sense, - it would be "Benzo-damaged person". Which is, in my opinion, not really wrong, but more "finished" cause you cannot recover from a damage. In german the meaning is more like "injured by benzos": "Geschädigter". It is the same word we use when someone has been affected in a car accident or in a legal fight, it just means the person who has suffered because of an event.

[[th...]]

Recovery is the only thing that is important.

 

I refer to it as being in recovery. If asked for what, I reply as I posted previously, as Dr. Wright suggested "Benzo Injury Syndrome."

 

Recovery is important, but it is a given. If you are trying to explain this to someone why would you lead with "I am in recovery"? Of course you are in recovery. Anyone who is healing from some type of medical issue is in recovery. It doesn't tell people anything. 

 

We are talking about needing a name for the syndrome or illness or damage or whatever it is. We need a name that that succinctly summarizes the damage that has been done to our bodies by a prescription drug.

 

Of course you would. I'm in recovery from Benzo Injury Syndrome.

 

Now I'm going to read some posts on the Post-withdrawal Recovery Support forum.

[[Qu...]]

I also dislike the abbreviation benzo, since we're talking about such things. I think it sounds frivolous. Like a candy. If my doctor had asked me if I would like to take a (minor) tranquilizer every night I would have said no, because that sounds serious. Which is why, I guess, they don't use the word.

[[Ma...]]

I also dislike the abbreviation benzo, since we're talking about such things. I think it sounds frivolous. Like a candy. If my doctor had asked me if I would like to take a (minor) tranquilizer every night I would have said no, because that sounds serious. Which is why, I guess, they don't use the word.

 

That is a good point.

[[th...]]

I also dislike the abbreviation benzo, since we're talking about such things. I think it sounds frivolous. Like a candy. If my doctor had asked me if I would like to take a (minor) tranquilizer every night I would have said no, because that sounds serious. Which is why, I guess, they don't use the word.

 

It has been years, but I don't really remember my prescriber using the terms benzo or tranquilizer. I think she might have just said "Xanax." In my experience, my doctors usually use the brand name.

 

I just use "benzo" because I got tired of typing out the full word.

[[Qu...]]

If you told a doctor "I have been taking a tranquilizer every day for the last few months/years." I wonder how they would react.

 

I wonder if we sent two patients in, on the same day, and one said, "Doc, I've been taking this tranquilizer every night for a year and I feel depressed and horrible and I'd like to come off." And the second person said the same thing, but used the word "benzo," I wonder how differently the majority of doctors would react?

 

I think it wouldn't have stopped the problem, but I think the doctors who legitimately don't know what this shit is would have behaved very differently. The amount of stupidity that has gone on for the last 60 years around this mess is startling and maddening. 60 years in and we don't even have a name for what we are suffering from.

 

 

[[th...]]

If you told a doctor "I have been taking a tranquilizer every day for the last few months/years." I wonder how they would react.

 

I wonder if we sent two patients in, on the same day, and one said, "Doc, I've been taking this tranquilizer every night for a year and I feel depressed and horrible and I'd like to come off." And the second person said the same thing, but used the word "benzo," I wonder how differently the majority of doctors would react?

 

I think it wouldn't have stopped the problem, but I think the doctors who legitimately don't know what this shit is would have behaved very differently. The amount of stupidity that has gone on for the last 60 years around this mess is startling and maddening. 60 years in and we don't even have a name for what we are suffering from.

 

It's funny that you say that... In the last month I've seen an psychiatrist, my regular doctor, a psychotherapist, a MD that is a sleep specialist, and next week a neuropsychologist. And I've been using the term "tranquilizer" with all of them. Now that I think about it, you are probably right. It seems to have a greater impact than saying "benzo." "Benzo" is too off the cuff.

 

For example, I say "Well, what should I expect after being on a tranquilizer for ten years."

 

 

Edit: Typo.

[[Qu...]]

this is good advice I think for everyone. I'm going to make a thread suggesting it.

[[Qu...]]

though, come to think of it, I don't know where. haha

[[th...]]

though, come to think of it, I don't know where. haha

 

This forum is as good as any! 

[[Qu...]]

I think it's just a tactic everyone should consider employing if they get stonewalled. It's simple. And I bet many people would have doctors react the way you did.

 

I also don't like the name Benzo Buddies (sorry Colin!), as though we were friends with our medication, but whatever.

[[th...]]

I think it's just a tactic everyone should consider employing if they get stonewalled. It's simple. And I bet many people would have doctors react the way you did.

 

I also don't like the name Benzo Buddies (sorry Colin!), as though we were friends with our medication, but whatever.

 

Yeah, a bit confusing. I can think of a few names I would prefer:

 

The "Horrifying Shitshow My Life Has Become On Benzos" forum.

The "Sheer Chemical Terror at 3am" forum.

The "Wait Till I Get Ahold of That Doctor That Prescribed Me This Poison, I Am Going to Strangle the F Out of Her" forum.

 

I could go on all day.

[[Lo...]]

I also dislike the abbreviation benzo, since we're talking about such things. I think it sounds frivolous. Like a candy. If my doctor had asked me if I would like to take a (minor) tranquilizer every night I would have said no, because that sounds serious. Which is why, I guess, they don't use the word.

 

Same here, Quietquiet. I loathe the abbreviation 'benzo', too. I think it sounds borderline disrespectful. It's like calling alcohol booze and calling heroin smack. It's the type of terminology reserved for shaming people. Plus it's also laziness. People don't want to look it up, so they just keep saying 'benzo', 'benzo', 'benzo'.

 

There had been tranquliizers/sedatives before benzodiazepines, so I am not sure at what point in history was the abbreviation 'benzo' widely introduced. 2013? 2015?

[[Fl...]]

Ben-zo-di-a-ze-pine.

 

That's a six syllable word. It might not be ideal but it is only natural that people would tend to abbreviate it.

[[Qu...]]

I agree it's natural; I just think it's also unfortunate, as with much of the terminology we are stuck with.

[[th...]]

Ben-zo-di-a-ze-pine.

 

That's a six syllable word. It might not be ideal but it is only natural that people would tend to abbreviate it.

 

Off a letter there.

 

ben·zo·di·az·e·pine.

[[Lo...]]

It is natural, but it ignores the history of tranquilizers. Matt Samet correctly calls them benzodiazepine tranquilizers in his book. It's a mouthful, but there was a minor tranquilizer market (Miltown, Equanil, etc.) that was quite large (Milton Berle was a big fan of Miltown back in the day) before Librium and Valium became available, so benzos were not the first drugs in the minor tranquilizer class on the market.

[[es...]]

Words that make my skin crawl: addiction, withdrawal, Benzos, getting sober, getting clean, recovery, pre-existing condition, and any references to “taking responsibility for my part in this”. It is not addict-shaming to reject language that falsely defines oneself. Some of these words, for example “recovery”, are hard to avoid, but I don’t feel good when I have to use them. The word “Benzo” is just easier, for obvious reasons. I read a lot of posts using the term “get clean”, but I am not comfortable with calling out those who are suffering and asking for support. Overtime, we all seem to catch on and figure out which words are helpful, and which cause more pain. The outside word is not as easy to change. It will take time, but the day is coming. Lisa Ling’s broadcast is a step. Espy

[[Fl...]]

I read a lot of posts using the term “get clean”

 

Yep, that's even more cringe inducing than the word addiction.

[[Ma...]]

I did not like the website but I always thought that "survivingantidepressants" as a name was clearer than "benzo-buddies"

Because thats what it is - to survive a medication.

So maybe the name "surviving-benzodiazepines" is most understandable and close to reality. Surviving is a process, far away from recovery.

[[th...]]

I did not like the website but I always thought that "survivingantidepressants" as a name was clearer than "benzo-buddies"

Because thats what it is - to survive a medication.

So maybe the name "surviving-benzodiazepines" is most understandable and close to reality. Surviving is a process, far away from recovery.

 

I'd like something catchy and accurate, but "Benzo Buddies" isn't it. I mentioned the forum to a doctor the other day and she looked at me like I was joking.

[[no...]]

I did not like the website but I always thought that "survivingantidepressants" as a name was clearer than "benzo-buddies"

Because thats what it is - to survive a medication.

So maybe the name "surviving-benzodiazepines" is most understandable and close to reality. Surviving is a process, far away from recovery.

 

same here :thumbsup: