Xanax (Alprozolam) withdrawel

[9ballplayer]

I started taking alprozolam about a year ago after I had a bad panic attack or at least what I think was a panic attack... My head got a dizzy and lightheaded and my heart rate began to accelerate.  It literally scared me to death and after the first panic attack, I began to have multiple panic attacks throughout the rest of my sales trip.  The medication seemed to be helping me out a lot.  After a couple of months, I tried to stop taking the medication and I felt fine for a couple of days, but then started to feel just plain awful.  I didn't think that I would have withdrawel symptoms since I was on such a low dosage.  I was only prescribed .5 mg twice a day... After a year I tried to taper off and had my Dr. reduce my rx to .25 mg.  and for the most part i thought that it was working, so I tried to just stop completely.  I went about a week without taking any xanax, but I started having panic attacks again...  They only seem to come when I am walking to my car in a parking lot or in a meeting... Lately, I am not really sure if I was having anxiety or panic attacks or if there is something else seriously wrong with me...  Sometimes I feel so disoriented and derealization symptoms.. Is this normal?  Does anyone have any advice that they could give to me?  Is it possible that I tried to come off of this to soon? or possible that I was not taking the right medication to begin with.  Anyone that has any advice for me would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks.