I Wish I Had Known
Submission Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in sharing your experiences and helping to prevent and raise awareness about benzodiazepine harm. We are interested in hearing what you wish you had known to help others avoid the same problems. To make the most out of your efforts, we have compiled guidelines and tips for making your video.
Your video will be shared on some or all of the Alliance’s social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and TikTok. Please note that most people lose interest in longer videos, and we recommend videos that are 30 seconds to 1 ½ minutes.
Please record up to 1 ½ minutes of video –
- State your name (optional)
- Provide a short statement about why you were prescribed benzodiazepines (e.g., for anxiety, insomnia), how long you were on these drugs, and how it affected you – Describe what you wish you had known before you started using benzodiazepines
- You can submit your recording via emailing to media@benzoreform.org, sending us a message to the @BenzoReform social media accounts, or using this submission link.
Here are some brief examples of things to say:
“What I wish I had known before first taking Xanax 20 years ago was that it would be potentially life threatening to quit cold turkey”
“What I wish I had known before taking Klonopin for my sleep disturbances was that my insurance would no longer cover it once I turned 67 and I would develop BIND”
**Please note: We cannot post videos that blames or bashes doctors. **
By submitting your video recording, you agree to allow the Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices (”the Alliance”) to post it to their social media platforms. The Alliance reserves the right to post, not post, or re-post the video you provide, or use quotes from the video, and assumes no liability for its content. The Alliance may add an introduction and/or a closing frame to the video, in the manner shown on the existing I Wish I Had Known videos. Videos exceeding 1.5 minutes may be truncated.
Filming Tips:
Horizontal Orientation
Always record in landscape (horizontal) mode for better video quality and compatibility.
Steady the Camera
Steadily hold your phone to minimize shakiness, or you can also use
a stand or lean the phone against a stable surface if available.
Good Lighting
Whenever possible, choose well-lit environments and avoid strong backlighting that could obscure your face.
Framing and Composition
Keep a reasonable distance from the camera, not too close or too far. Aim for a comfortable head-and-shoulders framing.
Clear Audio
Record in a quiet space to minimize background noise. Speak clearly and at a moderate volume, ensuring your voice can be heard and understood.
Eye Contact
If speaking directly to the camera, maintain eye contact by looking at the lens, not the screen.
Practice Before Recording
Do a quick test run to check lighting, framing, and audio quality before recording your final take.
Be Mindful of Background
Remove any clutter or personal items that you don’t want to be visible, as these videos will be shared publicly.