I know I'm being a hypocrite but please try and keep this thread on topic, guys
Jayjay - as cliché as it sounds, talking really is the only starting remedy. It being a healthcare professional is good and if you have a close friend you can talk to about it, it really lifts the weight off for a while. You might need to have the weight lifted off regularly for a while but, man, the relief feels great.
I've had benzo habits, but never been dependent on them, and even that left my head in the shitter more than any other type of drug (bar stimulants). I'm sorry if I've jumped to the wrong assumption of dependence. If you need to see a light at the end of the benzo addiction tunnel - look at Nicklazz's brilliant turnaround. He was heavy into the benzo use,managed to taper, and now has lots of great things going on in his life.
I can only echo what others have said about this making you no less normal than anybody else. You'll find many people, especially on here, for whom having some form of mental distress is normal. Even for those who have never had an issue, they're only one experience, tick of life's clock, or tough break in life away from experiencing a problem with their mental health. My depression is quite cyclical/situationally dependent and, if you met me as a stranger, you would most likely have no idea that there's even a time of the day that I'm not smiling 8)
I really hope you can get a bit of relief, man. I'm very confident that you can. To end with one more cliché - you've taken the vital first step
