Adrenaline rushes on top of everything else

Been suffering with a lot of anxiety/panic and depression for awhile now but this time around I have also been experiencing LOTS of adrenaline rushes, especially when waking in the morning. I have no trouble going to sleep but once I wake up I can't go back to sleep because of these awful rushes that well up thru my body. I worry sometimes that I'm addicted to Xanax even tho others don't agree with me. I was originally prescribed .5 milligrams twice a day but never took that...only have been taking.25 once a day in the morning as I always had morning anxiety. Lately though I've been taking .25 two or three times a day (still not what I was originally prescribed) just because anxiety level has spiked in the last few months (for a lot of family/life issues) but I wonder if that increase in dosage is the reason for the adrenaline rushes when the meds wear off. Everyone says it's ok to take that much when you're going through such a severe bout of anxiety and, believe me, I don't take any when I'm feeling pretty good but someone said that's not a good thing to do either ... that you should stay on a regular dose until you're feeling better, then wean off slowly. Then I hear others say that what I'm taking isn't even enough considering my level of anxiety. I'm very confused and scared about this. I'm seeing a new therapist in a couple of weeks who I hope will give me some guidance but in the meantime I'm hoping for some input from you folks. Thanks.

Thanks so much Momtogig...you've made me feel a lot better. I always wondered if taking this Xanax sporadically might not be the best idea so maybe you're right. I'm going to try and take it regularly for awhile until I see my new therapist and see if it helps. I also have been taking Toprol in the morning for years...initially prescribed for BP and slowing pounding heartbeats but that's the one that makes me have intrusive thoughts ( and someone else said it made them feel like a zombie) so I'm going to ask the doc about that too. Maybe I'll post about that issue too and see what others experience with Toprol has been.

Thanks everyone for your sage advice!