Overall, the worst withdrawal symptoms tend to occur within two weeks of stoppage of use and gradually decrease in severity. Throughout the process, patients will generally notice three distinct phases:
Early Withdrawal
During the early withdrawal stage, which begins shortly after ceasing use, repressed feelings like anxiety occur—additionally, symptoms of insomnia increase.
Acute Withdrawal
Within a few days of not using Benzos, the acute phase begins. Some of the harshest withdrawal symptoms occur during this phase. In the acute phase, patients complained of prolonged confusion, mood swings, cravings, aggression, nausea and vomiting, paranoia and anxiety, blurred vision, and muscle pains.
In the worst cases, patients also experience hallucinations, seizures, and memory impairment. Although this phase may persist for years in rare instances, in most cases, it is done within several months.
Protracted Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms that persist make up the protracted stage. During this stage, symptoms like cognitive deficits, sleep disturbances, muscle weakness or spasms, and anxiety are found to be challenging to manage. In fact, the development of these comorbid illnesses usually requires additional treatment and mental health interventions for recovery.