In my practice, which focuses on brain health prevention and optimization, some of the most challenging cases are ones that include chronic polypharmacy with prescription psychiatric medications like those prescribed for anxiety, depression and even sleep. Exposure to these medications on a routine basis dramatically alters normal nerve cell communication, not just in the brain, but in the whole body. As a result, rapid withdrawal from these types of medications can be catastrophic and life threatening. In this episode, we are speaking out in order to save lives and prevent suffering by educating and empowering you with the knowledge that is often not imparted to you from the doctor prescribing these medications to you -(not out malevolence, but out of ignorance). We want you to have the tools to advocate for yourself to ideally, avoid these medications altogether, but if that is not possible, to know how to safely withdrawal and recover from them. This is an important topic because of the high rate that these drugs are prescribed in YOUNG people and the link to cognitive decline with ongoing use. To discuss this hot topic, I am being joined by Nicole Lamberson, PA, who head of marketing, distribution, and outreach for the documentary Medicating Normal (as seen on PBS). We discuss what an experience of benzodiazepine tolerance and withdrawal looks like, as well as the research, the advocacy and the guidelines that are being created around this issue. Join us as we dig into this complex issue and leave you with some powerful tools for self-advocacy. Re-THINK what you think you know about anxiety, depression, CFS, ADHD and how to identify and heal from the root cause of these issue and stop bandaging the symptoms. Resources The Withdrawal Project Benzodiazepine Information Coalition Benzodiazepine Action Work Group of the Colorado Consortium International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal. Medicating Normal (also follow Medicating Normal on Facebook) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cleanlivingbasics101/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cleanlivingbasics Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sandebphd