Unheard Additions

Certain addictions are relatively uncommon in India. Benzodiazepine addiction is one such example. This does not mean there is no addiction here; rather, it often goes unnoticed. Many people take these medicines without being aware of their harmful side. Yet, evil is evil.

Just for fun, just for sleep, just for depression… this is how it slowly enters our lives. By the time it starts showing its ugly side, it may already be too late.

Here is a detailed explanation of why it is difficult to remain on benzodiazepines—even at a very small dose—for the long term.

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUGS, TOLERANCE, AND THE BRAIN

People have tried to explain tolerance in many ways, but here is a simple perspective. Your brain is an incredibly complex and amazing organ. Its number one priority is to keep you alive.

One of the ways it does this is by maintaining an optimal balance between neurotransmitters—those that trigger the “fight or flight” response, helping you react to threats, and those that calm you down once the danger has passed. The brain is constantly adjusting to maintain this balance.

When any psychoactive substance is introduced, the brain senses it and responds.

When you first start taking a benzodiazepine, it works very well. In addition to the natural calming chemicals your brain produces, the drug adds more, making you feel even calmer. Many people initially feel it is a “miracle drug.”

However, the brain soon recognises that there is an excess of calming chemicals. This is not ideal for survival—because, over thousands of years, the human brain has evolved in harsh environments where alertness was essential.

Since the brain cannot physically remove the drug, it adapts. If it detects a steady external supply of calming chemicals, it reduces its own production. This leads to tolerance, where the same dose becomes less effective.

Typically, people respond by increasing the dose. This may work temporarily, but the brain again reduces its own production.

Eventually, the brain adopts another strategy—it starts reducing or shutting down the receptors that these chemicals act upon. This is actually a very clever mechanism. At this stage, no matter how much of the drug is taken, it becomes less effective because there are fewer receptors available.

The good news is that the brain is capable of recovery. Once the external drug is reduced or stopped, the brain gradually resumes its natural production and begins rebuilding the receptors.

However, this is a slow process. That is why tapering must be gradual—so the brain has enough time to adjust. Recovery will happen, but one must accept that it is neither quick nor easy. Still, it is absolutely doable.

The brain is like a computer—it can be reprogrammed. So, feed it with success stories, hope, and gratitude, and it will slowly rewire itself towards health.