It's also an endogenous chemical in the CNS. There's a disorder wherein people, by nature, have way too much GHB in them, causing all sorts of issues. I'm sure that in recreation, it has been given props, but thinking of being under the influence of it all the time makes me understand why it would be so terrible.
Also, strangely enough, they give it to people for narcolepsy. I have no idea why, and wasn't told when I asked.
As for benzos, taken as prescribed, they help. People who take them as prescribed tend to not notice the feel-good effects after a month or a few of daily use. That said, they still work. They don't have the side effects of SSRIs, but might be less healthy for the brain. Stories vary. And excitotoxicity due to anxiety that one can't reign in can be much more harmful than being on a benzo, as theory goes that it would "normalize" brain function as an opposing sedating agent.
I'm still interested in the antidepressant effect, apparently, of alprazolam/loprazolam. If I remember right, it was due to another dopaminergic mechanism. But this leads me to think it's not a sustainable mood effect. From those I know, people on alprazolam either have a pill in their wallet to reduce anxiety in a psychosomatic manner, or they switch to a longer-acting benzo and find more utility.
I think that abuse potential and high a1 and a5 binding is why temazepam isn't used for anxiety, at least not that I've heard. This in essence means it makes people too sleepy and forgetful.