Hi FLG,

What a horror story. That doc should be fired!

Just to reassure you, I believe protracted withdrawal is diagnosed 18 months AFTER finishing a slow taper. That being said, if you did a slow planned taper off, say 3 mg., doing the Ashton Method, you would be benzo free in about 18 months. If, after being benzo free from a slow taper, you still may be symptomatic for many months without being considered protracted. It's just a marathon for many of us. When you're in it you think it will never end. That's a sx of benzo withdrawal syndrome. Hang in there.