Benzo withdrawal is typically very challenging and requires much support, ideally from a professional. During benzo detox, professionals introduce medicines to reduce the discomfort and speed up the recovery process. Food also plays a part in this. When used right, nutrition can ease benzo withdrawal symptoms, so rehab centers in West Virginia are paying more attention to it. Our top-quality yet affordable programs are holistic. We care for your body, mind, and spirit equally, and healthy nutrition helps with that. We’ll explore why nutrition is an integral part of recovery. Keep reading to learn what to eat during withdrawal and specifically what food helps with benzo withdrawal. We will also share tips on how to cope with benzo withdrawal (or rather, how to ease benzo withdrawal). Finally, we will speak of supplements and the importance of hydration when detoxifying from benzos.
Understanding Benzo Withdrawal and Nutritional Needs
Withdrawal is what happens to your body once you decide to quit using alcohol or drugs. Some people decide to quit on their own and abruptly, risking not only severe withdrawal symptoms but also relapse and overdose. Benzo withdrawal symptoms can be very uncomfortable and overwhelming, and you might feel compelled to resolve them by leaning back into benzo use. It’s not unusual in those situations to use more than what is considered a safe dose, causing an accidental overdose.
Withdrawal goes through several stages, and withdrawal symptoms can peak within a few days. Here are the typical symptoms you can experience while withdrawing from benzodiazepines:
- Sleep disturbance
- Irritability
- Increased tension and anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Hand tremor
- Sweating
- Difficulties in concentration
- Dry retching and nausea
- Some weight loss
- Palpitations
- Headache
- Muscular pain and stiffness
How Long Does Benzo Detox Take?
The length of benzo detox depends on several factors, including how long you’ve used the drug, the dose, and your overall health. Some people begin to feel withdrawal symptoms within a day or two. These symptoms often peak within the first week. For many, detox lasts about 10 to 14 days, but it can take longer if the dependence was severe.
In some cases, people experience symptoms for several weeks. This is called protracted withdrawal. It may include anxiety, trouble sleeping, or mood swings. Support from medical professionals helps you get through it safely. During detox, therapies like REBT for addiction can help you manage thoughts that make withdrawal harder. REBT helps you challenge negative beliefs and stay focused on recovery. Detoxing alone is risky, but with the right support, you can make it through safely.
How Nutrition Supports Detox and Recovery
Rather than going through withdrawal alone, choose a professional benzo detox at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center. This way, you get continuous professional support, including medication-assisted treatment, crisis management, individualized nutritional programs, and access to additional treatments and therapies.
We have recognized the importance nutrition has in your recovery, especially considering the negative health effects of addiction and withdrawal. You are likely to be malnourished, exhausted, and weak. You might lose weight and lack the strength to handle detox. Fortunately, all of these concerns can be addressed during a professional detox. We know what helps benzo withdrawal symptoms, and we ensure you get it. Knowing the role nutrition has in addiction recovery and that food can ease benzo withdrawal symptoms, we include a balanced diet during detox and recovery.
What to Eat During Withdrawal for Optimal Recovery
With so many suggestions available online, you might feel lost about what proper nutrition implies and still wonder what to eat to help your body recover. Perhaps the easiest way to approach dietary changes is to focus on three things that can immediately help you.
So, what are three things that can help with withdrawal symptoms? It´s nutrient-dense food (proteins play an especially important part), fluids (primarily water), and supplements. Each of these components has its role in ensuring your body can handle Benzo withdrawal and achieve recovery.
Nutrient-Dense Foods to Stabilize the Nervous System
While in recovery, your diet should consist of nutrient-dense foods, which help stabilize the nervous system. Whole foods that provide essential vitamins and minerals are crucial. Leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins ease Benzo withdrawal symptoms and support overall health.
Does protein help with withdrawal, and what is the role of fats in the recovery? Although all macronutrients are important, we must highlight the role of protein and fats. Proteins provide amino acids that aid neurotransmitter repair. Healthy fats are essential for mental clarity and mood stability. Fish, poultry, tofu, eggs, and legumes are the best protein sources. On the other hand, you will find omega-3s in salmon, flax seeds, walnuts, and olive oil.
Supplements That Help with Benzo Withdrawal
It can be difficult to discuss supplements during the recovery process, as their regulation is often less stringent than that of medicines. However, there are natural supplements, and by consulting a professional, you can make a good choice introducing certain elements to your diet.
What Natural Supplements Help with Benzodiazepines?
What natural supplements help with benzodiazepines? Evidence-based supplements like magnesium, B vitamins, and omega-3s can be of great help when recovering.
- Magnesium is essential for healthy muscles, nerves, and bones. It improves sleep quality, keeps the heart rhythm steady, and regulates blood sugar. Magnesium is widely distributed in plant and animal foods (e.g., spinach, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains) and in beverages but can also be taken as a supplement.
- B-complex vitamins play essential roles in catabolic and anabolic metabolism. Simply put, it helps bodies break down food and release energy. B vitamins can be found in meat, fish, poultry, legumes, seeds, eggs, dairy products, and leafy greens. You might need a B complex supplement if you can’t get your diet’s recommended daily amount of B vitamins.
- Omega-3s are crucial for normal brain functioning. The three main omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is mainly found in plant oils (e.g., flaxseed, soybean, and canola). DHA and EPA are found in fish and other seafood.
Hydration and Detox: The Power of Fluids
Benzo withdrawal typically implies dehydration, which in turn worsens withdrawal symptoms. Common withdrawal symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and irritability tend to worsen with insufficient hydration, and here are mechanisms leading to that:
- Dehydration reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain, resulting in severe headaches.
- Without adequate hydration, the body has problems producing energy. Dehydration during withdrawal can cause extreme fatigue and lethargy, which can make coping with the recovery process more challenging.
- Dehydration also impacts hormone balance and brain function. As a result, there are heightened mood swings and irritability.
How to Stay Hydrated to Support Recovery
So, what could ease Benzo withdrawal symptoms? Sufficient fluids like herbal teas, coconut water, or electrolyte-rich drinks will hydrate you. Even water-rich fruits and vegetables (like cucumbers, oranges, watermelon, and celery) can help. Avoid coffee, as it has a diuretic effect and can dehydrate rather than hydrate you.
To help yourself, you can always carry a water bottle, set a daily drinking goal, or use an app to remind you to drink fluids regularly. Avoid waiting until you feel thirsty, as this sensation indicates dehydration that you could have avoided. These strategies and enough fluid intake will improve mood, energy, and cognitive functioning. It will also support your physical healing throughout the withdrawal timeline.
Lifestyle Strategies to Support Nutrition and Recovery
Taking care of your food and fluid intake will undoubtedly ease benzo withdrawal symptoms, but they should become part of your everyday work toward better health. Consider introducing lifestyle changes to support your recovery and ensure you feel good every day rather than just using food as a quick fix.
How to Cope with Benzo Withdrawal Through Meal Planning
Introducing any new habit can be challenging. One way to address the challenge of changing your diet is by dedicating yourself to simple meal prep. This strategy is especially useful for those who struggle with appetite or fatigue. You can choose a day to prepare your meals for the whole week. This way, you’re ensuring you have the nutrients you need while minimizing the effort around preparing food. Additionally, you avoid getting fast food or home delivery that does nothing for your health.
Those who struggle with eating enough or dislike cooking can choose simple and easy-to-digest foods, like salads, that provide vitamins and magnesium without taking much time to prepare. On the other hand, if you like cooking, you can turn it into a social activity. Such activities can help you strengthen your support system and potentially find partners for a healthy lifestyle.
The Gut-Brain Connection in Withdrawal
Experts discovered a bidirectional connection between the gut and the brain, revolutionizing approaches to treating various medical and mental health conditions. In the same way you can have gut issues when under stress, distressing your gut system can cause mental health issues like mood swings.
The good news is that you can harness the connection. Taking care of your gut will make you feel better mentally. A simple way to do this is by introducing probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, kimchi, or sauerkraut.
Seeking Professional Support for a Safer Recovery
Given the typical discomfort associated with benzo withdrawal, you may wonder: How can benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms be avoided? Some withdrawal symptoms are bound to happen, but with professional support, they can be significantly reduced. Seek addiction treatment centers in West Virginia for specialized programs and treatments.
Choosing professional and specialized programs is important for many reasons, including the fact that treating addiction to one substance often requires treating another one as well. For instance, today, it’s not unusual for fentanyl to be laced with benzos or for these two substances to be mixed, making it crucial to address benzos dependence during fentanyl detox treatment.
The Role of Therapy in Addiction Recovery
Any substance dependence or addiction requires much psychotherapeutic work to uncover the underlying causes of the condition and build both healthy coping mechanisms and support systems.
- One-on-one sessions are an ideal place to identify thinking, feeling, and behavioral patterns that are not serving you but rather causing issues, such as substance misuse. Therefore, individual therapy for addiction addresses individual factors, triggers, and challenges. It empowers you to deal with current and future issues.
- Settings that involve groups, meaning group therapy for addiction, rely on group dynamics to uncover potential problems and triggers within the group (e.g., family therapy) or to provide inspiration (e.g., support groups).
Holistic and Affordable Treatment
You can count on a combination of treatments and approaches at Harmony Ridge Recovery Center, as we aim to address any condition holistically. We equally care for your body, mind, and spirit to ensure sustainable and long-lasting results. While top quality, our services are still affordable. If you have an insurance plan, like Humana rehab coverage, your treatment at our center will be fully or partially covered.
Rebuilding Strength and Wellness for Long-Term Success
Recovering from benzos is hard, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Support, proper nutrition, and hydration can ease benzo withdrawal symptoms and help you feel stronger day by day. Small changes like eating better, drinking more water, and adding the right supplements can make a real difference. Still, this isn’t something you should manage without help. Detoxing at home can be dangerous. If you’re feeling lost or unsure where to start, reach out. Our team understands what you’re facing and knows how to help. You deserve a better life, and we’re ready to help you build it.
Sources:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002149.htm
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7841856/
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-Consumer/
