Dependence can occur after using them for a few months. The feelings of dependence often bear no relation to the actual size or physical effect of the daily dose taken. Dependency will still develop for people on long-term low doses. People who are psychologically dependent feel as though they can't cope without benzodiazepines. They crave the drug and find it very difficult to stop using it.
Physical dependence occurs when a person's body adapts to benzodiazepines.
The body gets used to functioning with the drug present. Withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines vary from person to person but can be quite severe. Some people have no symptoms at all while others may have symptoms lasting a few weeks or months, or even up to one year. A small percentage of people have even longer lasting symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms tend to come and go, but all withdrawal symptoms will eventually disappear as the body adjusts to functioning without the drug.