YES, benzodiazepines - oxazepam/Serax, diazepam/Valium, etc. - are potentially addictive and it is important to be (made) aware of this fact. 

HOWEVER, like most potentially addictive substances, benzos do not have some \* magical demonic call-your-exorcist \* power to make you dependent on them regardless of your actual needs and circumstances. 

Benzos make you calm. They are addictive *as long as* you experience a severe shortage of calm in your life that you are not able to, or not seeking to, resolve in a different way. Your brain is simply wired to want the things you need and lack, and if you really need calm, it's going to try and get that for you, even if it's the quick and dirty way.

So if you are extremely anxious and there's nothing to suggest that deficit will be addressed in a more constructive, long-term way in the future, YES, you are at risk for benzodiazepine addiction.

BUT if you:

* are anxious because the beneficial effects of your new antidepressants will only kick in after 6 weeks
* are anxious because your mom just died and the grief is so intense you get daily panic attacks
* are anxious because of any other problem that is clearly temporary and/or you are in the process of solving in a constructive manner

... you are NOT at high risk for benzodiazepine addiction. The antidepressants / passage of time / changing situation / more constructive solution for your anxiety will in all likelihood *take away your need* for the benzos.

I'm writing this because I myself was very scared of taking benzodiazepines. And then my GP told me "You don't have to worry about that at all. The antidepressants I've prescribed you WILL help you, but you will potentially feel worse in the first 4-6 weeks. Take your Serax *as much as you need* in this period of time. Take them preventatively if that helps. **Because I would much rather have you on a daily dose of benzodiazepines than have you exhausted with anxiety and potentially suicidal.**"

Sadly, not all doctors are this sensible about benzodiazepines. Maybe worse, not all patients listen to sensible doctors instead of internet horror stories about addiction, and are overly cautious with taking prescribed benzodiazepines - at their own risk.

While benzodiazepines might be overprescribed for long term use, for short term / sporadic use it's under-prescription as well as people's ungrounded fear of benzos that is the more dangerous problem. Because it's potentially lethal.

Please educate yourself, don't suffer simply out of fear for addiction, and take care.

*DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical doctor. You know what that means.*