I'm a long-time benzo user too. I got extremely sick in my early thirties when my life was chaos and i wasn't in contact with a doctor and went into withdrawal.

Ativan is ten times the strength of Valium. Clonazepam (Klonopin) is twenty times the strength of Valium. My understanding is that benzos lose their effectiveness after a mere two weeks of continuous use, but then you are left with the dependence on them.

My current doctor helped me reduce the harm of my Clonazepam use (oversedation) by substituting in Valium and cutting down on it, as it can be reduced in small, relatively comfortable amounts ("The Ashton Method"). I got down to five mg of Valium and couldn't go any lower as i was having trouble with fear and anger. I was really uncomfortable.

So i've decided to stay on five mg of Valium indefinitely which is still a significant reduction, down 75% of my dose of Clonazepam. I don't like being dependent but it's the best i can do and at least i am waking up at a decent hour in the morning at 7:30am, instead of two o'clock in the afternoon.

I wish i'd been more cautious with benzos back when i started but i was in a terrible crisis, an absurdly messy divorce and career imploding. I recall my doctor advising me of the risks but i was so desperate i didn't listen. Now i'm dependent for life.