I was on benzos for 17 years. Spent last summer tapering. I successfully got off them and feel so much better. Not easy. One of the greatest accomplishments of my life.

Look, how choked up my man got at the very end of this video, I dig it man I know what he’s talking about. If you haven’t suffered from this or if you haven’t gone through it you’ll never know it’s like dying and going to hell but you’re still on earth as an exhibit for the rest to look at

I remember watching this at the time thinking: he's back but he's still fragile. Now, 2 years later what a difference. Thank God he's in good form now.

My Sister died from seizures stopping Xanax, I’m 12.5 years free from Xanax ✊After of 10 years daily 2mg Xanax prescribed for sleep. It was very tough but well worth the discomfort that Xanax detox entails. Remember the monkey is off your back, but the circus is always in town. ✊Keep on keeping on 😇

I've been a clinician and CEO within the medical field for a very long time (50 yrs). Having been drafted during Vietnam war while in pre-med I became a medic in the USAF. Upon discharge I experienced panic attacks 'out of nowhere'. They called this an 'anxiety reaction' or AR at the time. I thought it may have been flashbacks, or perhaps I was losing my mind, hence "panic" attack. This lasted about 15 years, and during this time I feared taking anything for it, so the script for Valium sat unopened for years. Then in 1980 we had a son who was later to be diagnosed as autistic, another anxiety component perhaps? Nevertheless, I did my job, finished my education and got on with life through many hills and valleys. I was clinically depressed (dysthymia) but functional. Then in 1993 I was in a high speed car accident resulting in many serious injuries and chronic pain which I've had from age 39 until now - 30 years. During this 30 years I had been given opioids for pain combined with Valium for muscle relaxation and anxiety, which worked wonders for about 2 years until we began climbing into serious dependence at higher and higher dosing by an MD who I once heard say to his receptionist as he wrote my script "you see this - this is my bread and butter". But by that time I knew it was his easy-money, and I had no problem with it, it was " the 5th vital sign" by then wasn't it ...I would have taken anything to continue functioning better than normal. But then, the opioid crisis was just around the corner. In a couple years I'd be on too much and began a very rough taper - the more difficult part was the Benzo, but I expected this from researching and writing a MSS entitled "PILLSTORM" about my journey and the (then new) opioid epidemic. I tapered 150mg oxy to 40mg within a year. AND, I went from 30 mg a day of Valium to 5mg a day, then nothing, in about 4 years. I am still recovering from the Benzo taper now, sleepless, and thank God the VA showed mercy and allowed me a small dosing of pain medicine in a body that has been mangled and painful for a long time. I went from 200 lbs (6') to about 168 lbs.... no appetite at all. I survive on one meal and nutrition drinks every day.

I overdosed 3 times with benzos ... 6 years sober in March 2022 by the grace of God!

I am now 2 months sober from alcohol and have just started weaning off of benzodiazepines. It is certainly a rough ride. Sometimes it takes everything to get through just the next minute. Thank you for being so courageous to share. God bless you

I am in this boat. It's terrifying. I also went through a divorce, job loss and an unvalidated injury from work. I haven't made money in 3 years..I am blessed to have a mom that supports me. I am 40

I’ve been tapering of of Xanax for several years. Made the mistake of going cold turkey, ended up in the emergency room. Scared me into this journey I’ve been on. With the world is exploding in crazy, no family. It’s been very difficult. Thank you for this podcast.

I woke up from alcoholism almost 33 years ago, I had to hand my life over to God's care, and it was the hardest thing I've ever been through. I'm so sorry, Mr. Peterson, you are having to go through the pain and agony of withdrawal you are in my prayers and God is watching over you with so much love that it goes beyond understanding. You have touched so many people, my our prayers touch you now. Love Rita.

It is a blessing to listen to your articulation. The community is blessed for your voice.

I so feel his emotions at the end. For me and everyone withdrawing from benzos, we hear you & feel for you & hope more people have loved ones who are backing & supporting them through this very hard experience that most people are just beginning to understand. Let’s all be there for each other! We need love, understanding, and calm to get through it until our brain starts producing GABA receptors. Thank you!

"worse than death" - so true. benzo withdrawal is something you cannot stand for a moment.

This is a great interview. I love listening to Jordan peterson. Only someone who has felt the pain of addiction can give a honest review of recovery.

Thank you for coming back. We are all blessed to have you with us.

In my family, Xanax is so common that I literally thought it was like Tylenol. So at 25, when my dr insisted I try it to stabilize my anxiety, I didn’t worry at all. I was on a low dose for over 20 years. My dr recently took me off of them. Understand, I didn’t even know I was addicted. It has been almost 2 weeks of pure hell and I don’t wish it on anyone. I can’t even think clear. I’ve come to far to turn back now, but it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. Thanks for sharing your struggle JP.

A horror that no one who has not been through it can even begin to understand. I know I’m one of the very lucky ones because I wanted to die for only fours months after cold turkey from 1 mg Klonopin per day. My heart and prayers go out to all who are dealing with the living hell of benzo withdrawal.

I feel this so hard! Benzodiazepine withdrawal was the absolute worst thing I had been through. I would prefer child birth vs benzo withdrawal anyday! And the sad thing is I felt very alone through it! Yes, I did have support but I felt so alone that no one understood the agony it put me through! There were absolute times I would wish death! I’m blessed to say I have been able to get past that chapter in my life, I do feel so much better! I don’t wish it on anyone!

We love you Jordan, get well soon Brother❤️

This is by far the best and most important video I’ve seen with both of you. Such important topic!! I’ve lost so many friends due to mostly benzodiazepines (some heroin and fentanyl as well) I lost count.

Professor Jordan Peterson is the most honest man, to watch him talk to his beautiful daughter with the true reality of what he went through coming of that drug, was a life changing moment this family are truly beautiful, very real very honest and full of respect for each other and he still is speaking with his intense wisdom educating me daily that's what I know as I watch professor Jordan Peterson daily and always will.

Jordan I want to thank you you have changed my life I am a 51 year old man and I had been on the verge of ending my life but I discovered your lectures and I have downloaded your book 12 rules for life. And it was like wake up call you have. changed my life. I now know it's normal to feel not normal. I was working from home for 5 years and I was so depressed and suffering from Anxiety my family were saying I over reacted like a DIVA. Now I know. Thank You Jordan I feel like you are a friend.

So glad to see that you are finally being more detailed about your medical problem that u suffered from for so long.

So true. When you are in emotional pain and experiencing anxiety, time is so slow that you would rather die than be alive. Thank you for sharing. I feel you.

God what he says explains it so well, the anxiety and depression when coming off this shit is crushing. It's more than crushing. There's no words to describe the depression and anxiety but he came closest

I’m sorry for what you went through doctor. But your story must be helping a lot of people 🙏❤

Thank you so much for your courage and you talking about those medications to help people.

You're so brave. Thank you for sharing your story!

I respect this man even more for his honesty explaining such a shame-related topic and for being through this, still alive, after all this he is gone through. Thank you for staying and sharing!

I feel this on so many levels. I’ve been off 6-8 mg of Xanax a day since May 23, 2022. My daughters 3rd birthday. I didn’t want her to grow up without me. I had the scariest days of my life behind me now. The w/d alone is enough to hinder me from ever taking them again. Even though I was legally prescribed I built up a tolerance and unfortunately my doctor kept upping the dose to maximum and it still wasn’t enough. I’m so very grateful for the 2nd chance I’ve been given at life. And thank you Jordan for everything you do. Stay strong my friend. Much love and admiration. 😊

Thank you for being real. And for sharing what you know. This struggle is real.

I wish you all the best, I suffer from tremendous anxiety but it's not worth doing through that hell again. Ever.

Jordan said it perfect. Whenever he speaks on a topic he says it coming from a place of having learned it and wanting to inform others instead of talking from a place of knowing things that others don't

All you can do is tell people how bad it is, but unless you've been through it you really can't understand

Thank you so much JP

Powerful! Wish this man nothing but the best. Thank you for all the help Dr Peterson ❤ Wishing you a prosperous 2024 ✨️

I feel every bit of his pain bc it’s similar to my own story, keep speaking on these issues it helps more than you know. Peace and love ❤️

I feel for Dr. Peterson and his family. I wouldn't wish that hell on anyone.

Thank you for being so honest. This will help people with similar problems. ❤

The end hits so close to home, I shed a tear that was deep

It's so scary when you realise that you've been taking benzos for a long time and it's taken over your mind. Honestly, I have no idea what will happen to me. Like a lot of people, I can't afford private clinics.

The experience Jordan described where time seemed too long is called time dilation. It happens with psychedelics too but what he described sounds much more severe.

Jordan, Thank you for doing this video. I have been on this medication for over 15 years and did not know for so many years the dangers of this drug. I to believe this is the next epidemic that will be hitting the world. This drug damages the brain and if you have heart issues as I do your heart issues go haywire and it can be deadly. I recently was in the cardiac ICU after my psychiatrist had me start tapering (and I actually tapered at half what the doctor wanted me to). I am still having heart issues after a week post hosputal. Warning others is so needed as most doctors have no clue how to taper or the dangers that come with it.

Thanks for sharing.

I stopped 2 years ago in November. It was absolutely brutal and I'm still struggling today. God bless 🙏

I was given 2 mg of Xanax for 13 years for sleep when I got interdose withdrawals and learned the hard way that you can ABSOLUTELY NOT come off cold turkey the safest way is to taper very very slowly and to switch to Valium and which is 20 milagrams to 1 milagrams of Xanax.. I tapered 1 mg a month for 2 years.. first 9 months was too dizzy to drive or do much of anything,, withdrawals are worse than hell and I am lucky as I have no protracted withdrawal symptoms.

Full respect for this guy

Such a brave man to expose himself in this way. Benzo withdrawal is horrific and the truth of these drugs really needs to be exposed. I spent 5 months on benzodiazepines.. and it took me roughly 2 years to recover from them. Getting off is to live in a state of terror!!! I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, ever. I’m so proud of him for speaking out.

Thank you so much dear strangers, my mother took her first doze of lorazepam 2mg last night and she was in a state of confusion and was uneasy throughout the next day, she was not eating was feeling nauseous , the doctor has prescribed her lorazepam 2mg for an entire month!! Somehow this popped up in my recommendation and i now know how dangerous that small pill can be. THANK YOU EVERYONE

Thank you so much for this video! Two years ago, I was trapped with benzos, prescribed by my doctor for insomnia (like you, Mikhaïla!) and since then, I couldn’t stop. Oxazepam, lorazepam, bromazepam, prazepam, diazepam, clorazepate, and back to bromazepam (9-12 mg daily). All attempts to withdraw and stop failed here in Switzerland, and I really relate to Dr Peterson’s suffering. Could you kindly indicate to me in which clinic in Belgrade Dr Peterson was treated? Was it a good treatment? Do you know other good clinics in Eastern Europe?

So glad you're ok, Doc

Dear Dr. Jordan, I Love You and pray your healing is peaceful. Nina

geez he held it together but you could see the emotion creep in at the end.. i felt that man prayers out to you

I feel so bad for anyone stuck on them it’s terrible

Oh my god I cant stop .. but him describing the way it feels freaks me out so bad

I am in tears at the end when he tears up and says thank you to his daughter. THANK YOU, Dr. Peterson, for enlightening us with your own painful experience so we can learn and avoid the same pitfall. Agh, what a gem of a human being.

i quit after several months cold turkey and after week 2 i completley lost the plot with delusions...ended up jumping from a 2nd story building thinking i was on a sinkng ship and broke bones in my back and my 2 ankles...woke up in hospital and immediatly put back on low 5mg doses 3 times a day....the mania went away but im still facing the tapering process and it scares the life out of me because of how bad i lost the plot and ended up in hospital after involintarily nearly killing myself....what a nasty drug...

this guy needs a hug

This was a very informative heartfelt video. Dr. Peterson is one of my hero’s, one out of a very few. Great interview, I will listen a second time.

Jordan in my opinion is one of the most brilliant minds ever. You can literally see the gears turning in his eyes as he speaks. If you read this i hope and pray everything is ok with you and your family sir.

Your right. Very difficult to quit. It made me a alcoholic. I was drinking very heavily to offset the WD from xanax.

Thank you for mentioning the difference between physical and physiological addiction

I love their authentic and loving relationship ❤ God bless u both for sharing your lives with us. We love u both. ❤

I got diagnosed with anxiety and got prescibed xanax, for 3 years. I stopped at once because my new partner did't want me on drugs. Hell came forth after that but I kind off got out. It is almost impossible to talk to people why you got the prescribtion. And when you stop it is impossible to talk to people why you try to manage with substances so you can manage to be normal. It's a poor cycle noone should experience.

I was on klonopin clonazepam 0.5 for 20 years at bedtime... I tapered for almost 2 years... I've been off for 10 months and still there are many bad days & bad nights .....hell on earth.. !!!!!!!!!!

I was in the Emergency room today because my doctor of 6 years vanished and I was out of all meds. Only taking 10 mg. Of Valium. Hellish withdrawal. I'm a solo ager and I did not sleep for days. I could've easily had a seizure . The doctor in emergency said I probably wouldn't find a doctor to help taper down because DEAis cracking down on prescribers. Cold Turkey nearly killed me. The hospital stabilized me with 10 mg of valium and sent me home with a 10 day prescription. I can't do a slow and gradual withdrawal with a 10 da supply. I will try to find help and s compassion. I heard you went through hell too.

i’m glad he’s better

I've been taking Xanax on and off for over 20 years. Couple of years ago I started getting head and neck tremors, internal tremors, extreme muscle tension and coordination issues. Many times my whole torso trembles like a leaf, often shaking violently. About two years ago I quit taking Xanax with medical assistance and have been clean since, the tremors became worse and so did all the other stuff I suspect is either long term side effects and/or withdrawal symptoms: Extreme startle response, body zaps, tremors, social fear, extreme muscle tension in legs, jaw, face, stomach, heart palpitations, feeling of getting electrocuted, vertigo, hyperacusis etc. I'm holding on for dear life hoping this nightmare will end in my lifetime.

Hey Dr. Jordan. Always love you shedding light on this silent epidemic. We need facilities for benzodiazepines but how can I get funding for a true recovery safely and comfortably for family. I need advice, because it's time to help everyone in the world. Our economy will be highly damaged if we don't get these facilities for victims ect.

I’m 9 days off a high dose of suboxone today. It helped me for a couple years stay of opiates and away from the risk of fentanyl. But it’s pretty brutal drawn out detox.

I so desperately wanted her to end the video with “I love you dad” 😢 such a heartwarming/inspiring story.

I read a book called “I’m dancing as fast as I can.” It’s a first person story and it’s terrifying!!!!

Thank you for mentioning seizures - our 19 year old daughter has epilepsy as the result of an inoperable brain tumor. She was given benzos as a “rescue” pill to take upon seizure aura. Now she seems to have panic attacks and takes one when that happens (since the panic can trigger a seizure). I’m concerned There is nothing else out there that helps with anxiety/panic in a safer form than benzos. The SSRI family is considered “watch closely” (increased seizure risk) for her and so many meds lower her seizure threshold. Prayers for you and thank you for sharing!

Thank you and good Luck

Wow sorry to hear this for people dependent on this drug.

My doctor just randomly retired and said for me to find another doctor. Only trouble no doctor wants to prescribe it. Im weening off idk what I’m going to do.

I learned a new word today: "akathisia", defined as, "an inability to remain still. It is a neuropsychiatric syndrome that is associated with psychomotor restlessness. The individual with akathisia will generally experience an intense sensation of unease or an inner restlessness that usually involves the lower extremities." Sounds like hell.

I spent 6 years on benzos. Getting off was one of the most sickening experiences of my life. Thank God for a freind/Dr who helped me. Night number 3 I was running wind sprints at 2 am in -4 dgree weather to offset the pain.

I only started the last week or 2 and they help me so much and make me feel normal and like myself

Antidepressant withdrawal is a nightmare too...

I have been having severe panic attacks for 30 years now and I've been on Xanax for 30 years. I was on 6 mg a day and now I'm on 3mg a day. I don't know what else I could do to help with the panic attacks however without being on the benzos. Ty for all the information

Just love how as a human being, we have the ability to feel compassion for a complete stranger. When it was obvious Jordan was emotionally tearful for all sorts of reasons, it immediately transmitted into me, and I welled up also. I'm watching this because I think I've been suffering from Diazepam withdrawal, for which I was prescribed for not being able to sleep for a bulged disc which has led to severe sciatica. I've been off them for almost a week, and I feel an anxiety that stops me from being productive. I hope everyone finds a way to get off these, and doesn't see them as a good drug to get involved with... 4 years ago I was taking no meds at all... and now I'm on regular meds, and my life hasn't improved as a result.

I'd love to talk to him about this.. been there done that ..and my god it took me 10 years to get away.. man what a mistake

I went from 6mg bromazepam to 0. It was hell on earth i can't describe

Informatory thanks

Relatable. Not benzodiazepines, but Benadryl. Instead of asking for help I just self medicated. I had seizures before that were not as severe as a tonic clonic seizure, but they started after the self medicating. I still live with them, but not as frequent thanks to 200mg twice daily. Huge hugs dr Peterson. I don’t always agree with you, but you’re an amazing person.

In medicine people endure years of suffering before the truth emerges.... Benzodiazipines are rarely if ever prescribed in the UK now.

Both my current wife and ex wife have issues with Benzodiazepines (Clonazapam). My ex wife also had a huge problem with the closely related Zolpiedem. and had seizures. I took Lorazepam for. Month after my wife cheated on me, but my experience was positive, and I was able to wean off without consequence. I did also get addicted to Zolpiedem but have successfully cut my dose to 6.25 mg which is effective without the negative side effects. My wife suffer severe PTSD from physical abuse throughout her life. She is not able to get off and definitely feels sick whenever her supply runs out before the 30 Days.

I'm one of those folks who disagrees with Jordan a lot but I'm in the throes of withdrawal from benzos and I cried with him.

i started drinking due to panic and sever anxiety 24/7. i put my self in rehab in egypt got sober off alcohol but was prescribed xanax to sleep after two years of taking it every day i finally weened myself off in february of this year. finally i feel alive again. i wish u all the best. push through

TIME DISTORTION. This!!! Absolute worst feeling. You think you’ve been suffering for 2 hours but only 2 minutes has gone by.

Fuck, the end. I know exactly what he’s feeling I almost wanted to cry man..

I’m still completely bewildered over how I got out of withdrawals from benzos, specifically clonazepam. I was abruptly cut off over a year ago. I wasn’t on a high dose, and I’d abuse them so that they were always gone after 2 weeks and I’d go the next 2 weeks without until the next monthly refill. I wonder if that is why? Did not taking it 24/7 365 days a year save me from wd?

I was on them a few years after I got out of the military. I went overboard for about 14 months and was at the VA one day and didn't realize I was 24. I seriously thought I was 23 because the last year or so had been a blur. Super embarrassing. Coming off was tough but withdrawal only lasted 8 days. Doc just wrote me a short script for Temazepam which is a low risk benzo in my opinion to treat my insomnia. I'm older and wiser so I'll be using with caution only as needed. Never ever more than 3 days in a row.

Sedative-hypnotic use disorder is a substance use disorder on the DSM-5.

I’ve been on benzos for about 30 years. I used to take like 40-50 mg a day. I’m now down to about 2mg.. but I had withdrawal symptoms once for 7 years.. I have given up. I don’t ever want to try to stop again 😭 It’s too much

Just took em for a year. Got myself off of them about a week ago. Still struggling but god willing ill do it.

Love this man

I am Serbian from Belgrade I remember you being here. I am happy you found cure in Russia and Serbia ❤

I just tapered from 3mg a day to 1.5mg a day its the worst feeling in the world hardly slept for 10 days very hard withdrawals for 7 days thought i was going to die no joke.