Faithful Remnant Counseling Center

02/09/2026

02/09/2026

02/05/2026

02/02/2026

01/19/2026

Jordan Peterson has been very ill, and I want to talk about something that may be relevant to his story, because it can happen to ordinary people, quietly, in clinics every day.

Benzodiazepines are sedative medications that slow the brain down. Xanax, Klonopin, and Va**um are common examples. They are typically prescribed for anxiety, insomnia, and distress. They can also create physiological dependence quickly, which is why long term use is so risky.

Most people think the danger is addiction. That is not the whole picture.

There is a condition that is increasingly recognized called benzodiazepine induced neurological dysfunction. In a substantial minority of patients, long term exposure can become neurotoxic. Symptoms can look like severe agitation, akathisia, cognitive impairment, sensory sensitivity, neuropathic pain, balance issues, sleep disruption, and overwhelming anxiety. Many patients describe it as a neurological injury, not simply withdrawal.

This is where things often go wrong. A patient gets sicker, clinicians misread it as worsening anxiety or depression, the dose is increased, and symptoms worsen. Or the medication is stopped too quickly, and the nervous system destabilizes further.

There is no test that can predict who will develop this.

So the message is simple. Avoid benzodiazepines beyond short term use unless there is a clear, time limited plan. Exhaust non drug approaches first. And if you are already taking one, do not stop abruptly. Taper gradually with someone who understands what they are doing.

This is not anti medication. This is what informed consent should look like.

01/17/2026

01/17/2026