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Rachael currently resides in northern Alabama. She is originally from the Northeast USA, (PA & NJ). She also lived in Tucson, AZ before moving to AL in 2010.
Her education is in nutrition and research. She holds both a master’s degree in Information Science and a master’s degree in Nutritional Science, as well as she is a Registered Dietitian.
Rachael is an eating disorders specialist, She has worked in residential treatment centers, psychiatric hospitals and private practices as a writer and researcher. She also teaches part-time at a University in the Nutrition and Dietetics Department.
Rachael’s hobbies are primarily crafting, which includes making shirts, cards, etc. with a cricut machine.
The Benzodiazepine Cause
Rachael’s background in research, counseling, and in treatment settings have helped her to contribute to work with the prescribed harm community.
She runs the Round Table meetings (twice a week) for Benzo Warrior Community, and she is working on some research independently from the group.
Benzodiazepine Experience
Rachael was initially prescribed benzodiazepines (Klonopin) for tinnitus in 2004. She remained on them or about sixteen and a half years. She was initially prescribed them by a college at the psychiatric hospital where she was working, and like most, she wasn’t given any warnings or any list of side effects etc. about the medication.
After a number of years, and living in AL, she noticed that she had forgotten to take the pills on a number of occasions and eventually decided to try cutting back on their use.
She went from 3mg to 2mg to 1mg on her own, over a 4-year period without any obvious withdrawal problems. Her doctor had mentioned nothing about tapering.
Rachael came to the realization that over the years on benzodiazepines that her personality had changed. She developed anxiety, panic and memory loss.
Once she reached 1 mg, she became very ill from withdrawal, which is when she learned to taper slowly, on her own. This process took about one and a half years.
After having been off benzodiazepines for one year, she is still quite symptomatic with fatigue and cognitive problems being her primary issues.
Benzo Awareness
Rachael is a member of the admin team for Benzo Warrior Community. She runs the online support group called — Round Table, which offers support to members and brings in guest speakers to discuss topics of awareness and education.
Rachael is in the process of organizing a “Friends & Family” support group, which will also be facilitated online. It will give opportunity to offer support to loved ones of the prescribed harm community, provide awareness, outreach and education about benzodiazepines.
She contributes to the Benzo Warrior Awareness pages, both on Facebook and the website. She is currently involved in research on the experiences of those harmed by benzodiazepines, with a goal of publishing in a journal such as Psychological Times, or similar.
Motivation for Joining W-BAD
Rachael’s wish is to be involved in outward-facing projects of awareness and education. She’d like to tell the stories of those who have been harmed, and in addition, would like to interact with physicians who are interested in education about the problem.
She is also interested in meeting and finding a way to work with researchers who are already working in the area of benzodiazepine withdrawal research with the hope of incorporating this information into education and awareness projects.
For W-BAD, Rachael says that she would like to put on awareness events that include handing out informational materials, and possibly having speakers available.
With Alabama having already received an official state resolution for W-BAD, Rachael plans to meet with Mo Brooks who is the state representative to the US House of Representatives and currently running for US Senate. Rachael hopes to involve him in raising awareness.