I was able to taper off Klonopin - 1 mg after about 12 years of using 1mg every night for sleep. It was not easy, but I will never go back. I was a happy camper all the years I was on it, not aware of anything other than it worked great and I was able to sleep. Never increased the dose or took it during the daytime. Only when I was forced off of it because I was turning 65 did I even entertain the idea. The problem was, the doctor doing the taper minimized my reaction to getting off the medication. He did not offer anything else, and discharged me at the end of the taper, when the withdrawals were terrible. The taper was over 9 months, and at the end of it, I did not sleep much at all for another 9 months, trying everything behavioral, OTC meds, antihistamines, even cannabis gummies - which was the only thing that helped somewhat for awhile. A sleep medicine doctor finally affirmed my sleep problems were as damaging as any drug - chronic insomnia changes your brain and affects all aspects of your life. The side effects of chronic insomnia are similar to those of sleep meds - memory issues, increased falls, etc. Sleep is important, and if your brain won't allow you to sleep, then taking a medication is better. Lunesta works for me, thankfully, and I'm a better, less anxious person sleeping. She had an arsenal of drugs to try if it didn't work. Ambien caused increased anxiety for me. My advice would be to work with a Neurologist specializing in sleep. Allow your taper to be as gradual as you need it to be and understand that your brain is altered, yes, but our brains are amazingly adept at re-organizing through neuroplasticity. Norman Doidge has written some great books on the subject. Since Lunesta does not help with anxiety, I am able to use the behavioral tools I've learned and breathe through the anxiety. I stay active, and do things like birding and puzzling to keep my mind calm busy. Best of luck. I believe in you!