Xanax! Am I ok?

[Stone_Flower]

I started taking Xanax only as needed for severe panic attacks.  I took them only on occasion for the first couple of years.low dose  (, 25mg).  Then I started taking it every night to help me sleep.  Then it went to every night to sleep, and once in a while to not be anxious when leaving the house. Well.. Then it went to one. 25 or. 05mg both day and night on occasion.  Only RECENTLY  I've been having lots of anxiety and the only thing that helps is 1mg to 1 and a half mg.  Most days taking it morning and night.  This started about 5 years ago.  It's obvious I developed a tolerance,  which is why I had to up my dose to get relief.  I asked my Dr if I should ween off,  but he said no because it's working and allows me to get out of the house without panicking.  However,  what happens when the 1 mg stops working and do on..... I tried to ween myself,  but after not sleeping for two days and having bad anxiety,  I gave in,  and just now popped that one and a half tiny pill.  My body now feels normal again,  and it really helps bring my blood pressure down to normal.  People tell me I need to stop taking the benzo,  that I'm going to have seizures,  or die even.   Wth?  It's still a small dose.  I just don't know what to do.... I think I'd rather be a lifer on Xanax versus living my life with extreme panic and anxiety.  Can ANYONE  relate?  Thanks!

[Paxiled]

Benzos are addictive drugs when you take them regularly, so there's that.  If it's the only thing that works -- therapy didn't work, antidepressants didn't work, etc. -- then it's the only thing that works.  There's also some psychological element to this -- you think you need one, you have an anxiety problem, so you take one and feel better for having done so.  The seizure problem comes when you try to quit, which is why you never quit cold turkey -- you taper off as slowly as you need to, even if it takes a very long time.  But again, if you've tried everything else and this is what works for you, then that's where you are.