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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIn a 2018 interview, Australian fashion designer Aurelio Costarella said he was tapering after four years of taking prescription benzodiazepines, including diazepam (Valium). He described headaches, panic attacks, sensitivity to light and noise, and difficulty leaving home. His account concerned withdrawal from prescribed medication—not illicit drug use—and does not establish what happened to his health after the interview.
What Aurelio Costarella disclosed in 2018
PerthNow journalist Lucie Morris-Marr reported on 15 July 2018 that Costarella said he had taken benzodiazepines for four years and was tapering. He said he was taking 13 mg of Valium a day at the time; that is a historical detail from his personal account, not a recommended dose. He described headaches and panic attacks, along with sensitivity to light and noise and difficulty leaving home. PerthNow’s 2018 report presented these as details Costarella disclosed in the interview.
The article also reported that Costarella had been admitted to The Perth Clinic eight times over four years, with his most recent admission running from March to May 2018. It stated that the facility cost $850 per night in that reporting context; that figure is not a current price. The number of admissions and the cost are reported claims, not independently verified medical or billing records.
What he said about care and why he spoke publicly
Costarella criticized the support he received after his 2018 admission. The Perth Clinic’s chief executive, Dr Glen Power, declined to comment on an individual patient and defended the clinic’s general care. The report did not independently resolve the disagreement, so neither account should be treated as a finding about the care provided.
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Costarella said he wanted to speak openly to reduce stigma around mental health and encourage people to understand medication effects and consequences. A 2015 profile in The West Australian had previously covered his discussion of depression and anxiety and his work as a Lifeline WA ambassador. The 2018 interview is a snapshot of his account at that time, not an update on his later health.
What benzodiazepine withdrawal can mean
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine. Withdrawal experiences can vary; symptoms Costarella described are his reported experience, not a prediction of what another person will experience. Healthdirect Australia explains that withdrawal symptoms differ by person and circumstance and that medical support matters when stopping an addictive substance. Its benzodiazepine guidance advises discussing a gradual reduction with a doctor.
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Healthdirect’s specific guidance for diazepam says: “Discuss with your doctor how to slowly reduce your dose of diazepam to avoid any withdrawal symptoms when stopping treatment.” Do not use Costarella’s account to decide how to change or stop a prescription. If you are considering stopping diazepam or another benzodiazepine, contact the prescribing clinician for advice; suddenly stopping an addictive substance can be unsafe.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the account does—and does not—tell us
Costarella’s disclosure brought together a personal account of medication withdrawal and his stated wish to make discussion of mental health less stigmatized. In the PerthNow interview, he said: “I feel lucky to be alive to be honest and that’s why I’ve decided to share my experience.” The available reporting does not establish his subsequent course, so no later outcome can responsibly be inferred from this interview.
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- STAY ACCOUNTABLE & MOTIVATED TO KEEP GOING: The key part of this journal are the daily pages to plan your daily life and journal. Monthly exercises and progress reviews will help you develop self-awareness.
- REINFORCE YOUR PROGRESS ON A RECOVERY PROGRAM: This recovery journal works with the 12-Step Program and other common recovery programs and books. It has easy-to-use layouts and will only take 10-15 minutes a day to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
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- A POWERFUL TOOL TO SUPPORT YOUR SOBRIETY: Clever Fox Addiction Recovery Journal is a powerful instrument developed to help you stay in recovery. Lasting 6 months, it will become a daily source of support, making it easier to carry on.
- STAY ACCOUNTABLE & MOTIVATED TO KEEP GOING: The key part of this journal are the daily pages to plan your daily life and journal. Monthly exercises and progress reviews will help you develop self-awareness.
- REINFORCE YOUR PROGRESS ON A RECOVERY PROGRAM: This recovery journal works with the 12-Step Program and other common recovery programs and books. It has easy-to-use layouts and will only take 10-15 minutes a day to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS & DESIGN FEATURES: The addiction progress notes planner measures 5.8 by 8.3 inches, and has a vegan leather hardcover, thick 120gsm paper, a pen loop, an elastic closure, 3 bookmarks, a pocket for notes, stickers, and a user guide.
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