Hey there, everyone. Here's my take on benzo's.

My doctor put me on .5 mg of Xanax almost a year ago. After a couple of months, he raised the dosage to 1mg, 60 a month, because they weren't working as well for me. Then he decided after a few months of that he wanted to take me off Xanax completely, much to my protest, and put me on Klonpin because he said it was eaiser to 'come off of.' I absolutely HATED the Klonpin. It made me feel drunk and slugglish and lasted way longer than Xanax does and did NOTHING for the anxiety in my case. I told my doctor just put me back on the Xanax because it actually does help me and I don't abuse it. He did, but back to .5 mg, which I still think is too low a dosage.

I don't understand what the problem is with these kinds drugs. I know they're addictive, but I would be willing to take it for the rest of my life if it meant not having to suffer anxiety. I do take it everyday now, but I don't usually take more than the dosage perscribed to me. There have been some days, which were especially bad, and I took 2 mgs total, but those days are few and far between. I don't know if I'm addicted to it, but frankly, I don't care. If it helps me, I don't see a problem. People who abuse benzos aren't usually the ones who need them. At least, that's been my experience. I don't take them to get 'messed up,' I take them to feel normal.

My doctor asked me once what I did to cope before I was given a perscription to Xanax and I really sat down and thought about it. Most people get on perscription drugs and their lives spiral out of control, for me, it was the opposite. Before being perscribed medicine, I was an absolute mess. I only worked part-time, called in constantly, couldn't sleep, had no friends, hardly ever left the house, and stayed in an abusive marriage because I didn't believe I could ever make it on my own.

I finally reached my breaking point and went to see a doctor who perscribed me Xanax and I was amazed how quickly things started to turn around. My fears and anxieties dissipated and I began not feeling so bad every morning when I woke up.

I started going to work everyday again, calling my friends, going out and doing things with them and my son. I finally had the courage to go to a job interview and actually got the job and am now working full-time. I found the strength to leave my husband and can now support myself, take care of my child, and function in a world which scared me to death just a year ago.

I honestly don't know how benzo's work biologically, but for me, they help me think rationally about things. I am no longer suffering from obsessive thoughts, having panic attacks as much, and I don't get as angry as I used to with myself.Why any doctor would want to take something that works away from someone is beyond me.