My toolbar constantly freezes up without warning. I don't have any idea what prompts it. Sometimes it does it immediately after it starts up. I'll click on the lizard icon and nothing happens, and then I can't use the panel or the minimized programs or anything else on the toolbar. The only way to fix it is to restart the computer, and the only way I can do that, since the panel isn't working, is to hit Ctrl+Alt+F1 and type in "shutdown -r now," which makes the computer hang so I have to force power off. Is there any way I can fix this?

Next time do not restart the machine but kill the current session by combine the keys: Ctrl+Alt+Backspace

This will log you out to the current logged session then you can log in again.

So sorry for rebooting all the time.

About the reason why you are faced with that situation, there is one tool, I forget its name it is used to track which process is using memory than the other and also report any process that freezes, next time if I'll find its name I'll inform or anyone who knows that may help.

Also you can use top tool to check which apps cause the memmory useage to the high in the command line.