Stop or cut down on tranquillisers

Want to stop or cut down on tranquillisers or sleeping pills?

Treatment at Jellinek is no more strenuous than necessary. We keep it as low-level as possible, but we offer intensive treatment if you need it. We have no waiting lists, or only short ones for certain specialised treatments. To an extent you can determine the course and setting of the treatment yourself.

To get your addiction under control, cognitive-behavioural therapy is often a good approach. We can provide it in individual or group sessions or in combination. If necessary, these can also be combined with medical treatment. If you want to stop completely and would like to do so with the support of other people who are achieving the same thing, then the 12-step Minnesota treatment model may be right for you. It emphasises empathy and solidarity with others.

Cognitive-behavioural therapy Minnesota model
  • The most empirically validated addiction treatment
  • Emphasis on behavioural change
  • Outpatient and more intensive day-patient and inpatient options
  • Abstinence or limited drinking
  • Day and evening sessions
  • Full or partial online treatment
  • Supplementary therapy available for mental health problems
  • Most widely used treatment approach
  • Emphasis on on mutual empathy and commitment
  • Intensive therapy in day-patient or inpatient form
  • Full abstinence
  • Separate groups for men and women
  • Cooperation with the Safe House recovery programme
  • Recovery continues in self-help groups

Jellinek gives you hope of a different life, a life without addictive substances or gambling. Take your first step today and contact Jellinek. We have treatment centres in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Amersfoort, Amstelveen and Hilversum.

Symptoms of medicine dependency

After prolonged use of tranquillisers or sleeping pills, you may notice you can no longer do without them. If you don’t have enough in stock, you get nervous. You take them more readily and more often. You notice you need higher doses in order to sleep or to overcome anxieties and tensions. Your emotions may seem flat and you seldom feel happy or sad. You may feel tired and listless. There may be negative effects on your work, your daily activities and your contacts with other people. If you try to stop taking the medicines, you get restless and you sleep poorly.

Cut back gradually, never stop abruptly

We advise people who want to stop taking tranquillisers or sleeping pills after a prolonged period of use to reduce their dosage very gradually. By tapering the dosage downwards step by step, you’ll experience fewer withdrawal symptoms and run less risk of serious complications. The length of time needed to completely halt the use of benzodiazepines varies from person to person.

Professional assistance in cutting back consists of medical supervision and psychological therapy. The doctor will help you make a withdrawal plan and will support you in carrying it out. During that period, you’ll also learn different ways of coping with your problems with anxiety and stress. You may want to receive treatment specially tailored to your problems, so you can solve them rather than pushing them away. If you have a specific anxiety disorder or other psychological disorder that needs treatment, Jellinek can provide that.

Advantages of stopping or cutting back

  • clearer thinking, improved concentration and memory
  • better relationships and contacts with family and friends
  • better performance at work, school or home
  • sleeping better
  • renewed focus on the future, more confidence in making plans
  • fewer problems with anxiety and tension by learning better ways of solving your problems.