All data must be read in conjunction with the survey limitations
The ability of respondents to be involved in the various activities with ease, varied depending on the point in the benzo journey they were at. The graphs below show the percentage of respondents able to participate in each category with ease. For instance before starting benzos, socializing was the activity that was causing the most problems but about 70% were able to do this with ease. Self care was the activity that was most easy for respondents and about 93% of respondents were able to do this with ease.
At all the stages, self care was the activity that respondents found they were able to do with the most ease. At all stages, socializing or working were the activities that respondents found most difficult.
There is a noticeable drop off in functionality between the time respondents decided to take benzos and the time they decided to withdraw. For instance 76% said they were able to work with ease before they started to take benzo, this had dropped to 31% at the time they decided to withdraw and then dropped again to 13% at the worst point in withdrawal.
Before starting to take benzos, the majority of respondents were participating in all activities with ease. All activities had at least 70% of respondents reporting that they could be managed with ease.
At the time respondents had decided to taper, functionality had begun to decrease. All activities were now reporting only 30% or more could be managed with ease. Seventy-five percent (75%) of respondents were able to self care with ease and 30% were able to socialize with ease.
At the worst point in withdrawal the percentages of people being able to be involved in these activities was still dropping. Only 58% were self caring with ease, 9% were socializing and 13% were working with ease.
At the end of the taper functionality was improving in all activities.
For those not well at 12, 24 and 36 months off, socializing and working were the activities the were showing the least improvement.
Those who had decided to stay on benzo had a greater percentage able to do things with ease in all activity groups than respondents who had decided not to stay on benzos, rated at the time they decided to withdraw and at the end of their taper.