I think you are right to be careful re chronic doses of
ativan,
and yes, people do get hooked on this
and have a hard time getting off of it. But not all people have that problem, there is a huge number who stay on this kind of medication, never going to higher doses, and never having to get off of it. On the other hand, the safest course is a course of investigative psychotherapy, getting to the sources, and learning how to control the experience in an entirely new and safe way.