Hello , Mr I understood ur concern , you have doubts regarding Long term effects of clodon & their consequences. -- Over Few things I wud like to clear your    doubts. 1. Clodon or clonazepam or Benzodiazpine or    anxiolytic can be taken for maximum  4 weeks    to 6 weeks(Means for max 1.5 months),    depending upon the severity & previous    history of symptoms. 2. Anxiolytic is very effective for anxiety & sleep     problems. Infact it is first line treatment for      anxiety spectrum disorders  but it come with     sideffects like Dependence over drug & it's     withdrawal effect after long term use but that     can also be easily taken care off. 3. Yes ,SSRI is recommended for long term use      but that depends upon ur diagnosis &      severity of symptoms ,anyhow it doesn't rule      out the benefits of anxiolytics at first      place,bcoz even SSRI for long term or short      term use cause side-effects. So side-effects      must not be primary concern bcoz every      drug in market has sideffects. 4. Watch ur symptoms, that sud be primarily      concern rather then getting scared of      side-effects, this is called Risk benefit      ratio ,that means if the risk that ur      symptoms can cause to you is more than the      side-effects, then as a Psychiatrist he/she has      to treat ur disorder first followed by careful      monitoring of side-effects. But thinking of      side-effects and not taking medicine or      altering dose will add more problem to you. 5. Most important things , you mentioned , " "     Everyone told me " ". Stop listening to these     everyone bcoz everyone is not Psychiatrist.     Listening to these everyone, following google     knowledge or any other heath proffessional     apart from Psychiatrist will misguide &     confuse you.

Benzodiazapine eventhough a good anxiolytic usually not preferred for long term treatment due to chances of development of dependence and subsequent adverse effects like cerebral atropy. Combination with SSRI is usually done for few days for initial immediate relief and response.

Both are anxiolytic ....with equal potency . But benzo are much well tolerated n faster action than SSRI AT SAME TIME dependency can increase to them. So it's like 2+2 = 4 So ur doc is rt. What i suggest start CBT with SSRI , LATER STOP BOTH THE MEDICATION