Xanax is a benzodiazepene.

Benzodiazepines | Drugs.com

Not everyone who takes a benzo gets addicted. I take a different, stronger benzo (klonopin) I was told to take every night (I take it to help me to not have awful dreams)....when I told my pdoc I wasn't taking it when I thought I wouldn't sleep anyway (insomniac)...my pdoc said I could have seizures, etc, so to take it regardless. Benzodiazapenes like xanax and ativan have a shorter lasting effect then klonopin.

One can often build up a resistance to any benzo over time and need more to get the same result. I haven't had that reaction to klonopin, and I am also not addicted to it.

Buspar is a medication used for both animals (my friends have cats who are on it) and people to treat anxiety. It is very mild with few side effects. It did nothing for me. It HAS helped my friends' cats tho.

Hope that helped some.