Abby, I'm pretty sure that my body is physically addicted to clonazepam after all the years I've been on it. And y'know what? I don't care! It helps me.

I have had panic/anxiety disorder for as long as I can remember, even as a kid. I had no idea that I had "something." I just figured everybody felt that way and that they were better at dealing with it than I was. When we lived in St. Paul, Minnesota, the University of Minnesota was conducting a study on panic/anxiety disorder. My husband saw the ad for it in the paper, decided it sounded a lot like me, and suggested I go. I got into the study. I have no idea if I was on a placebo or a drug. No matter what, I learned a lot about the illness, and I could get medical help after the study ended.

If clonazepam helps you, there is NO NEED to get off it. As to being an addict--I mean, who cares? We're not talking any kind of dangerous addiction here. We're talking about something that's life saving.

And you would NOT be better off dead! You would have last-minute regrets, and you'd pull yourself out if you could. So, don't do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure that all of us with clinical depression have been there. It sucks. But things do get better. And docs do eventually find the right combination of meds. See my post below: I had to spend 3 1/2 weeks in a psych ward to find the combination of meds that help me, and I am actually grateful for my time in the psych ward.

Keep writing to us, OK?

Hazel