078: Dr. Anna Lembke, Bestselling Author, Psychiatrist & Stanford Professor: The Hidden Epidemic Of Benzodiazepines & How It’s Impacting Your Sleep

Benzodiazepines (often referred to as benzos) are often prescribed to treat anxiety, seizures, and sleep disorders. Some of the most common benzos include Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, and Valium. In this episode, the Author of “Dopamine Nation” & “Drug Dealer, MD,” Psychiatrist & Stanford professor Dr. Anna Lembke, joins us to discuss the sleep-related drug benzos and why it's called a "Hidden Epidemic." Dr. Lembke notes that between 1990 and 2012, the rate of benzo use increased, leading to widespread addiction and overdose rates. Dr. Lembke discusses her journey as a therapist specializing in addictions and explains the risks associated with long-term benzodiazepine use and the process of helping patients get off these hugely addictive drugs.  Thankfully, the latest neuroscience research has allowed her and others to understand better what's happening in the brain as we become addicted and what happens when we embark on the process of getting off of them. Benzodiazepines cause many physical changes in your body and brain. These can be unpleasant and frightening, but they can also be eased off gradually & responsibly with the support of trained professionals. If you or someone you know is struggling with long-term benzodiazepines, you will want to listen to this episode!

Om Podcasten

The Sleep Is A Skill Podcast, exists to transform the conversation around sleep on the planet! Each episode is a conversation with industry leaders designed to deliver practical takeaways to improve your sleep. The intention is to shift the paradigm of wellness to make SLEEP the #1 focus in our journey towards great health. . For years, my sleep was a problem in my life. When I went through my own challenging period of insomnia while traveling internationally, I felt like there was nowhere to turn. After obsessively learning all that I could about chronobiology and circadian rhythms — what I learned changed my life and I’m committed to sharing what I've learned (and continue to learn!). . Creator Bio: Mollie Eastman (McGlocklin) is the creator of Sleep Is A Skill, and the host of The Sleep Is A Skill Podcast. Sleep Is A Skill is a company that optimizes people’s sleep through a unique blend of technology, accountability, and behavioral change. After navigating insomnia while traveling internationally, she created what she couldn’t find - a place to go to learn the skill set of sleep. With a background in behavioral change from The Nonverbal Group, she became fascinated with chronobiology and its practical application to sleep and our overall experience of life. Knowing the difference between a life with sleep and without, she’s now dedicated her life to sharing the forgotten skill set of sleep. In the spirit of that goal, she has created the #2 sleep podcast, written a popular weekly sleep newsletter for over four years, partnered with luxury hotels & lifestyle brands, and has appeared on over 150 podcasts.