In the episode, "A Chat with Emma Hames on Benzo Withdrawal and Recovery in the Film 'Playing with Life: The Soundtrack' (S3, E10)," Emma shares how she was affected by a benzodiazepine psychiatric drug prescription and how she turned to sound healing, nature and creativity to rebuild her life. As part of her recovery, she decided to produce the film “Playing with Life: The Soundtrack.” In tandem with the film, she is producing an NFT collection called Cassette Monkeys in order to create community and funding for the production.
In America alone, 120 million people are currently on the class of medication known as benzodiazepines, which is highlighted in the film, along with how holistic healing can be achieved without drugs and with better alternatives. As the Western biomedical paradigm regarding mental illnesses is a global problem, Emma believes in supporting health sovereignty while we prepare for change.
Emma Hames is an artist, songwriter, musician, and filmmaker currently living in the UK. At University she studied Environmental Science, later taught English and Art in a Cambodian orphanage, studied climate change in Malaysian rainforests, and even lived on her own 23' sailing boat for a year, which connected her to the natural world and gave her the freedom to explore her creativity. She later went onto Tour as a saxophonist and musician in several bands throughout Europe.
In 2012 she was prescribed Bromazepam abroad after going a year with undiagnosed asthma and reduced lung capacity, which led to anxiety, following doctors' orders as prescribed for 4 years, and without knowing the risks she cold-turkey-ed the drug which caused Protracted Benzodiazepine Withdrawal. She decided to challenge herself with writing the soundtrack for the film as part of her recovery, and explore the role of creativity in healing. Check out Emma's website at: https://www.emmahames.com/ or follow her on Twitter: @emjadehames or IG: @emjadehames. And follow the film at: https://www.thesoundtrackfilm.com/.
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