As a muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant, benzodiazepines have brought people relief for a variety of ailments. Doctors primarily prescribe it for anxiety, panic disorder, seizures, and alcohol withdrawals. But sometimes, people misuse the medication, which often leads to addiction. Getting faith-based help can play an important role in recovery from benzodiazepine addiction.
The Prevalence of Benzo Addiction
Over 30 million people use benzodiazepines a year. Doctors prescribe Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, and other benzos for short-term use. This is because long-term use can have dangerous consequences. Although people reach out to their doctors to relieve agonizing symptoms, they’re still prone to addiction if they misuse the medication.
Those who know can attest that a benzo addiction can happen to anyone. It might be baffling to think that Teachers, doctors, police officers, politicians, adolescents, and seniors are all susceptible to benzodiazepine addiction. Even members of church congregations or their families may struggle with the misuse of their medication. In fact, of the 30 million benzo users in the country, 5.2 million become addicted to them.
Church leaders’ have the responsibility of looking after the members of the church. It’s common for people with a benzo addiction to turn to someone they trust for help. It’s important to have effective resources ready for them. Someone may ask for help or a faith leader may identify someone in their congregation who needs help. Faith-based addiction recovery centers are abundant, and they save lives.
Searching for Help
Patients approach their doctor for help with the disruptive symptoms of their mental health disorders. They’re searching for a better quality of life, despite having to live with these conditions. Searching for a way to overcome mental health disorders is nothing to be ashamed of. Medications help patients live better lives across the country and beyond.
However, they certainly don’t expect to end up looking for recovery programs to get off the medication. To safeguard from an addiction, continuous use must be very brief. This is because it doesn’t take long to build a tolerance to the medication. That means the patient needs to take more of the medicine to get relief for their symptoms.
Christian Help for Benzo Addiction
Let’s learn from Cara’s situation. Cara visits her doctor to address her recent panic attacks after a car accident. After a period of time, she notices that she doesn’t get relief unless she takes more than her prescription allows.
1 Corinthians 6:12 guides us in these moments saying in part, “’I have the right to do anything,’ but I will not be mastered by anything.” Although she realizes that she’s struggling to control her use, she feels too ashamed to ask for help.
So, she attempts to stop taking the medication. But her body responds with excruciating symptoms that she can only relieve by taking more medication. Cara is experiencing withdrawals. A person going through this type of struggle would need Christian rehab resources available to them in their time of need.
She and many other people felt that there was no hope for them. But, in 1 Peter 5:10, the Bible says, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”
Finding faith-based and guidance and help is urgent in these situations. Especially due to the risk of death that comes along with benzodiazepine withdrawals. Addiction takes away the healthy mind and body of a person. It also takes one’s close relationship with God. The longer the addiction progresses, the harder it is to regain one’s spirituality and sense of self.
Healing and Restoration in God in Christian Rehabs
The first chapter of James shares a message that everyone should keep in mind. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
In fact, the 12-step program encourages an addicted person to turn to God early in the program. Step Two is “come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity.”
Addiction changes the chemical makeup of the brain and is the source of denial, shame, and loneliness. But the Bible has messages of hope to remind us that he won’t give us anything we can’t handle.
For example, 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
The Bible Says God Will Help His Children Through Recovery
- Romans 6, 5-6: For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
- Romans 5, 3-5: More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
- Psalms 107, 19-20: Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Although addiction can feel like a pit of despair, God’s Word reassures his children. It says that Jesus can heal the damage caused by addiction. What’s more, Christian addiction help restores one’s healthy relationship with the Lord, as well as loved ones and self.
Getting Christian Help for a Benzodiazepine Addiction
Ministry leaders have a profound responsibility to their congregation. They lead as role models in dedicating their life to Christ. The congregation takes examples from their church leaders to apply Christ-like love in their own lives. In other words, Christ-like love for loved ones and strangers, as well as for one’s self.
When members of the congregation become lost, they may approach a ministry leader for help. Christian rehab centers offer a variety of evidence-based treatment options that center around one’s love for God. Recovery from a benzodiazepine addiction begins with a medically supervised detox.
After overcoming withdrawal symptoms as safely and comfortably as possible, treatment can continue with the following:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Education about Addiction
- Art, music or equine therapy
- Strength training or yoga
- Life skills training
- Nutritional therapy
Christian recovery programs pair these therapies with meaningful, spiritual advisors who help people find recovery through their faith. In fact, faith-based recovery programs aim to help people who are embarking on a faith-based journey to recovery. Although God doesn’t want sin to master the lives of his children, he also understands that they’re not sin-free.
God tells us in Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” God forgives his children for falling into temptation. He wants them to recover and live a purposeful life.
Chaplain Mike Can Help
Chaplain Mike’s ministry in San Diego, CA is dedicated to help people overcome a benzodiazepine addiction by pointing them in the direction of treatment resources. He has a personal story of addiction and recovery. Now he strives to help others write their own story of recovery. He knows where to start, and how to get an addicted person back on track. Contact our ministry today at 8777819685.