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Hello. I have a few questions that i would really like OPINIONS on! History of benzo use: I started taking 2 mgs Xanax in 2008 for mild social anxiety and GAD and what i would describe as constant motion sickness(although the last was never discussed with a doctor and was a MAJOR reason i kept taking them). I had panic attacks but they werent terribly often. (i was also taking my xanax daily so i might have just been keeping them at bay) I took this dose for the past 5 years. I noticed around year three i could no longer not take at least 1 or 2 of my pills a day without noticing strange feelings in my body. (Dizziness, tightness in my chest, numbness in my hands and legs) I just thought "Hey, obviously you have bad anxiety, so stop forgetting to take your meds" and went on with my life. This year, starting in May, my anxiety seemed to be climbing. And its been pretty much out of control since. I have had two SSRI experiences since and I do not like them and do not wish to be on them. I was waking up in them middle of the night with heart palpitations and feelings of terror. ANd the daytimes where only slightly better than the nights. I pretty much only felt ok after taking 1 mg of xanax and that had to happen ever 4-5 hours. which was putting me above my prescribed dosage. I have never abused them and i wasnt about to start so off to the doc. On sep 4th i saw her and she thought i was experiencing those nightime symptoms because xanax has such a short halflife. (she also thinks im crazy for not taking an ssri with my combo of adderall and xanax but i will not.) So she and i discussed klonopin and now i am taking 0.5 mg 3 times a day(am,afternoon,pm) and so far, the nighttime symptoms have gone away but i just feel borderline ok. Has anyone ever taken a particular Benzo for a long period of time(1+years) and had it stop working? If so, did you switch to another or did you withdraw? Is withdrawal always extremely difficult? (And yes I KNOWW not to ever ever ever just stop taking meds but especially benzos) I am having a hard time deciding if new anxiety issues are caused by my benzo dependence/tolerance i guess and id like to hear stories. Sorry its long, but i felt the history was important. thank you