Hi there! I went through a brief period of being dependent on a benzo (Ativan). I was started at 1mg as needed. By the end I was taking 3mg daily and relied on it to get through the day. I decided to taper off and have not touched a benzo since. They help some individuals but it is also a risky medication to be on. I am sad to hear that you were prescribed so much at such a young age, that is incredibly inappropriate on the part of the professional who did so.

My replacement coping strategies for the benzo were: self-education on where anxiety comes from in the brain, which helped me to realize it would eventually pass, and deep breathing. Deep breathing is huge for me and has helped to prevent potential panic attacks (or make them less severe).

I also find that doing something I enjoy, such as playing video games, helps me to focus on something 100% and not focus on my worries. For you it may be something different, such as exercise, reading a book or writing in a journal.

I wish you all the best with returning to college!