I took high doses of Xanax daily for about 10 years. Sometimes there would be either klonopin or Valium added to the mix, but not very frequent. Towards the end of my run I would also take ambien for sleep, though those didn't touch me, I would have to take at least 10 to start getting tired.
I went to rehab for alcoholism, and they made me go cold turkey on the benzos. I was given an antiseizure medication, and that was it. I was okay for the first 30 days, but then PAWS started getting bad. I had extreme anxiety, very limited cognitive function (speech, reasoning, coordination), and my memory was nil. I literally had to write everything down. I was barely functional - couldn't drive and couldn't cook because I would forget I was making food and would walk away. I also had a soul crushing depression set in, and was contemplating suicide. I knew it was PAWS, but it felt like it was taking forever. Around the 6 month point was the worse, then it slowly started getting better.
After two years off of benzos I started having a noticeable decrease in general anxiety (it was still bad but not like it was), and my memory was dramatically improving. I still had depression but it wasn't constant, and I was no longer suicidal. I suffered from really bad tics and twitches toward the end of my run with Xanax, that got worse when I stopped taking it - those got much better. I could drive again, though I got really bad frustration from driving. I would feel trapped by slow drivers, which would initiate panic attacks.
I've been off benzos for over five years now and almost feel normal. I still have anxiety from time to time, but it's not continuous and I seldom have a full scale panic attack. My sleep is much more consistent - still not great but manageable. I get the blues every now and then, but I wouldn't categorize it as depression. My memory is so much better, and I notice as time goes on it continues to improve. I believe my cognitive functioning have been restored to about 85% of what it was prior to benzos, and I notice that it also continues to improve.
I've tried going back to work off and on throughout this time. I'm a software developer, so obviously being congnitively impaired has made it difficult. I've worked a total of about three years during this time, at three different places. I found that I would have anxiety over both trying to perform my job function and getting easily distracted by loud coworkers. I resigned from all three positions. I want to go back to work now but am going to get a few certifications first so my knowledge is current. I am going to try to get a remote/telecommute position so I don't have to be around people and their quirks. For some reason, since getting clean I am really sensitive to both noise and smells. I have found in an office setting, people eat continuously and make the most disgusting mouth noises, and more often than not their food smells gross (ie fish, eggs, etc). I also don't understand why people bathe in perfum/cologne first thing in the morning, but I know I am sensitive so it's probably just me.
Sorry for the long post - I hope it helps. Good luck to you!