I agree that one must be careful with benzos. However, the anxiety I experience when starting an SSRI is so intense (it made me realize why some people are at risk for suicide when they start taking them) that taking a benzo is the only way I can get through it. I guess it's a situation of outweighing the pros and cons of taking any type of medication.
There's another thread going on this forum on Topomax. I have no experience with it, but they're making it sound like it's some kind of miracle drug!