It took me many years to get an "official" diagnosis of Bipolar 2. For many years I was told I had major clinical depression with generalized anxiety. So I went along with the doctor & took Nortriptyline for depression. Here's how I got the Xanax. I saw 2 doctors, telling them my depression med is working but I still have sooo much anger and agitation. Since I hadn't had a manic or hypomanic episode the doctor said the anger and agitation was due to generalized anxiety disorder. So Xanax was added to my Nortriptyline. I have had the Xanax adjusted a few times and even tried to go off it. When off the anger & agitation came right back. So my current doctor and I agreed to keep me on both medications. Then these two drugs weren't lasting 24 hours as they had been in the past. We added Citalopram & all went well until last summer when I had a manic episode. So now I am on Nortriptyline, Citalopram, Xanax and Lamictal. I have tried again to stop the Xanax but always have increased anger and agitation. There is help out there, you just need to assert yourself with your doctor. When pervious doctors wouldn't agree with what medication I should be on, I went on the internet and studied, studied all I could about the different psychiatric drugs. Once I was able to talk back and forth with my psychiatrist intelligentlly I was able to get the correct medication.  Hope this helps and best of luck.