hello.i have gone through your history and understand you are stressed first of all for stress,try to avoid drugs as much as you can,because you tend to build up a tendency to make it a habit you can try meditation,listening to mild music and practise yoga instead or even opening up to family and friends. Coming to xanax,understand that it is alprazolam a drug used for anxiety,stress and panic disorders mainly and induces sleep and calmness too. minimal usage of 0.25mg to 0.5mg at night occassionally is considered safe.if you have to tide over a short term stress period and consider it necessary to take xanax,go for 0.5mg for a week but not more. it tends to cause memory loss,abnormal body movements,loss of appetite and many such side effects if used in large doses over long term. hope i have cleared your doubt and hope it get past your stress period soon..take care and good day