All data must be read in conjunction with the survey limitations.
The graph below shows the number of months it took for people to feel that they were recovered or almost recovered after completing their taper. Sixty-seven percent (67%) felt that they had reached this stage by 12 months off, 91% indicted that they felt recovered by 2 years off and 98% by three years off.
To add some more perspective to this it is interesting to look at the survey response numbers. Seven surveys were conducted. These were:-
Benzodiazepine Survey One - Getting Ready to Withdraw.
Benzodiazepine Survey Two - Withdrawal Completed.
Benzodiazepine Survey Three - Recovered.
Benzodiazepine Survey Four - Still in Withdrawal 12 Months after Stopping Benzodiazepines.
Benzodiazepine Survey Five - Still in Withdrawal 24 Months after Stopping Benzodiazepines.
Benzodiazepine Survey Six - Still in Withdrawal 36 Months after Stopping Benzodiazepines.
Benzodiazepine Survey Seven - Decided not to Withdraw.
The graph below shows that 6% of those surveyed were still experiencing symptoms after 12months, 3% after 24 months and 4% after 36 months.
Around 36% said that the worst time in recovery was as they completed their taper. The majority had past their worst point by 2 months off.
Most significant improvement occurred for most in the first six months of their recovery.
Setbacks in recovery were relatively common, with 74% of respondents experiencing them. Setbacks were most common in the first 10 months off benzodiazepines.
