My advice: Don't underestimate the substance, but also don't give too much importance to stories of people that overdid it and had a terrible time. People have been using Phenibut for long periods of time without getting dependent -- provided they space out the "Phenibut days" enough. Of course that requires some self-knowledge: If you are the kind of person who would have trouble keeping it to "not more than twice a week maximum (ideally not more than once a week) at reasonable dosages", then Phenibut can easily turn into a slippery slope to physical dependence, with horrible withdrawals.
If you know yourself enough not to overdo it, it's not _that_ terrible a thing; though your individual response to it will of course vary, which is where the "self-knowledge" comes in again.
If you have "Phenibut days", you're addicted. You may space it out, but your body is adjusting to it being in your system. It is that absolutely powerful. I was like you before things got bad.
