Wow, so many different opinions since I started this topic!
I guess I should update my own experience. Since I made this topic, my therapist hooked me up with a psychiatrist who then prescribed me an SSRI (Prozac, to be specific). So, I can't say I've had any experience with prescription benzos.
As for Prozac, though, I've been on it since November. I started out with 10 mg, then it was upped to 20 mg this month. I've been having mostly positive results with it, because my mood seems to be a lot better; I'm less impatient when I go out; I don't get as irritable; and things that normally annoy the hell out of me don't seem to anymore (or at least not as much). So it's been pretty good for my temper and any other negative emotions I may experience.
Anxiety levels don't seem to feel as high as they used to, but I still do engage in my nervous habits from time to time and feel anxiety in specific situations. I also still worry about things a bit too much still. I would say that Prozac helps mostly with my moods and a little bit with my anxiety levels, but I think that therapy and exposure, in combination with it, will ultimately be the best for my SA.
The only side effect of Prozac that is a bit bothersome is drowsiness. I've been sleeping A LOT more ever since I've been on this pill, and even switching to taking it in the evening hasn't eased that much. Well, it started to help with it, but now I get tired during the day again. I've been sleeping so much that I've started using a cucumber eye gel under my eyes so I don't get dark circles, bags, or puffiness. Sometimes I end up messing my sleep schedule up because I'll take too long of naps.
But yeah, other than drowsiness, my body has seemed to adapt pretty well to Prozac. Then again, my body's always been pretty good with most pills. I think the only pill I've ever taken that my body has had a bad reaction to is Vicodin (I was prescribed it when I got my wisdom teeth removed and took one after running out of Lodine; it made me feel sick).