Benzotired

July 22nd, 2026In this episode: a personal update from your host, Naftal Benisty.Visit https://naftal.jimdosite.com/ for more information.

April 13th, 2026In this episode: I speak to Karin Kellum, a tattoo artist from Illinois, USA. She was prescribed SSRIs at the young age of 16, which eventually led to a prescription of benzodiazepines. After seeing a Netflix documentary, she decided to want to get off, which led to a severe withdrawal.Find Karen @ https://www.instagram.com/karintats/Find Karen's tattoo shop in Peoria, Illinois @ https://www.instagram.com/rebel.heart.tattoo/(00:00) Intro and SSRIs(07:50) Xanax (Alprazolam) and Ativan (Lorazepam)(13:53) Netflix documentary(19:52) Rapid withdrawal(24:55) Ashton Manual and research(27:30) Reinstatement(36:00) Switching to Valium (Diazepam) and taper(46:50) "Crossing Zero", other advice and closing

January 28th, 2026In this episode: I catch up with benzo survivor, artist and filmmaker Emma Hames from the United Kingdom.Emma is featured on episode 12 where she shared her brief story about being severely harmed by benzodiazepines. She also featured in episode 37 as we talked about working whilst being harmed. As I relistened to episode 12 I felt the importance to go more in depth into her journey concerning her symptoms and recovery and I reached out.In episode 12 she speaks about the journey, which includes contracting a virus affecting her lung capacity, leading to a benzodiazepine prescription. In this episode, we pick up where Emma had abruptly stopped her benzodiazepine. Additionally we talk about her recovery process from the last recording almost three years ago until now, the effect of COVID on the benzoinjury, her documentary in the making: TOXSICK and more.Find TOXSICK @: https://www.toxsick.org/(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:07) Cold turkey and symptoms(00:10:45) Year 3 and 4 after(00:15:50) Slowly getting better and diagnosis(00:17:55) Sleep and COVID(00:24:00) "The Oasis"(00:31:02) Rebuilding a life, processing trauma and creativity(00:44:17) Developments since 2023, TOXSICK, other documentaries(00:51:25) Challenges making the documentary(00:56:35) Putting passion in your project, saving others, advocacy(01:02:45) Getting feedback from our bodies & impact(01:05:40) Truth, western society and new take on life

November 21nd, 2025In this episode: Along with my occasional co-host Emma Saunders I talk to dr. Mark Horowitz and Melanie Davis about the National Psychiatric Drug Describing Clinic in the United Kingdom.Melanie Davis is featured on Benzotired episode nine about her local support group called REST. Dr. Mark Horowitz is featured on Benzotired episode thirty-six about his book: “The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines”.We discuss how professor Heather Ashton was an inspiration for the clinic, conditions to receive help from the clinic, alternatives to the clinic for people abroad, Mark’s book “The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines” and much more.Find more information about the Psychiatric Drug Deprescribing Clinic @ https://psychdeprescribing.org/Find Mark at Outro Health in the United States @ https://www.outro.com/Find the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines @ Amazon and other booksellers.Find the documentary TOXIC @ https://www.toxsick.org/Find Emma Saunders @ https://thepsychmedsanctuary.com/(00:00) Introduction(01:46) Melanie - update on REST(03:16) Melanie - becoming Senior Prescribed Drug Worker(05:14) Melanie - involvement documentary TOXSICK(07:07) Mark - how the clinic came about(10:14) Mark - criteria to enroll(12:37) Mark - duration of the treatment(16:05) Mark - advice for people outside the U.K.(19:01) Melanie - inspiration by Heather Ashton(20:50) Mark - reception and translations of the Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines(28:02) Melanie & Mark - comments on the reception(29:21) Mark & Naftal - newer takes since the Ashton Manual, long holding and tolerance(33:15) Mark - his taper and wellbeing(36:29) Mark - data on long-term use of benzodiazepines(39:15) Melanie- REST members seeing the play KORE(41:30) Mark - where people can find information about the clinic

November 12th, 2025In this episode: I talk to Tiffany Camilleri from Malta. She works in marketing and is a mental health advocate. Tiffany got prescribed benzodiazepines and other psych meds at the young age of 14. From the beginning Tiffany started to wonder if some of her issues were caused by the medications that she was taking, but every time she went to see a psychiatrist, she was gaslit.Finding the Ashton Manual and visiting some forums led her to decide to want to taper her benzodiazepines. In a long journey, including a lot of seizures, Tiffany has decided to long hold on 6 milligrams of Diazepam (also known as Valium).Find Tiffany @: https://www.instagram.com/tiffany_camko/