Addicted to sleeping pills?!
Question: I've been taking OTC sleeping pills for about a year now. At first I did it recreationally (yup you can get high from them), but then I used them just to go to sleep.
I went through a bout of depression after my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I started taking them in order to sleep the day away. The more I slept, the less time I had to think about how sad I was. Being asleep was so healing.
But now it's getting to the point (it started 6 months ago) where I have to take 6 or 7 pills everyday just to go to sleep. I sleep about 14 hours a a day and only stay awake long enough to go to class and eat something.
I can't sleep without these pills and I can't do without them either...I don't want to stay awake most of the time. It's too painful to be conscious.
Is it possible to be addicted to them? How do I stop this, should I quit cold turkey (I've tried and stayed up 48 hours and ended up taking some) or do I taper off? Any advice welcome.
Answers: I've been taking OTC sleeping pills for about a year now. At first I did it recreationally (yup you can get high from them), but then I used them just to go to sleep.
I went through a bout of depression after my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and I started taking them in order to sleep the day away. The more I slept, the less time I had to think about how sad I was. Being asleep was so healing.
But now it's getting to the point (it started 6 months ago) where I have to take 6 or 7 pills everyday just to go to sleep. I sleep about 14 hours a a day and only stay awake long enough to go to class and eat something.
I can't sleep without these pills and I can't do without them either...I don't want to stay awake most of the time. It's too painful to be conscious.
Is it possible to be addicted to them? How do I stop this, should I quit cold turkey (I've tried and stayed up 48 hours and ended up taking some) or do I taper off? Any advice welcome.
hi,
i know what your going through. i was addicted to them too for a year and a half after i quit drinking 13 years ago. i found that when i did not take them i would get withdrawal headaches, so they are addicting. you are self medicating because you find it hard to cope with your fathers illness. do not start drinking or do not take any sedatives like valium or barbituates because you will be headed for real trouble instantly.. and don't be afraid or ashamed if you may have to go to a 12 step meeting to make some friends who will instantly bond with you and support you. i am not going to just advocate you going to an AA or NA meeting for support, there is more that you need to do. what I did to quit my over the counter addiction of sleeping pills ( i had a tolorence to them and was taking as many as you do) was to start drinking herbal teas which had natural sedatives in them. like cava cava, and valerian root. i also first switched from over the counter pills to the natural over the counter pills like valerian root and melatonin. they too are addicting but less addicting than the sominex types. you do not say if you have any issues with anxiety. because if you do then you need to start walking everyday, or excercising, even maeditating. you have addictive tendancies so please do not drink alcohol. i am sure it can be hard and depressing facing your father and seeing him in his ill condition. do everything you can for him and tell him now how important he is to you and tell him how much you love him. put a brave face on for him. even admit to small things you did in the past that you were afraid he would have hollored at, you both may share a laugh. he will love you for your honesty. when actor bill cosby's son was shot in the head and killed 10 years ago, he was devastated. he handled it well and summed up life by saying that life is a series of crisises and you just have to learn to be strong and tolerate them. time does heel all wounds. but there will be more challenges to come in the future and addiction can't be a way to help you cope. it will bring more problems than the ones you face. in all my experience i do not feel people get addicted because they are weak, it's just that emotionally they take things harder because they seem to care more. i hope this real advice can be of use to you.bless you, john
yes, my mom was addicted and she was in her 50's. you will have to detox by either cutting back to 0 or by going straight cold turkey. and yes, like the sandra bullock movie, it does generally take 28 days.
If youre on 6 or 7 pills everday, thats a start.
It seems logical to me to reduce those to 5 for a few days, then 4, then 3, then 2 then 1. It would be a battle, but you would have your life back! (btw...im not a doctor! you should ask him about the best way to come off them) I sleep in all the time because I get depressed, and I really hate the idea of facing a new day. But getting up is the only way to make the day better in the long run..(although I guess youre well aware of that!) Not in rivers, but in drops.
Hope things look up soon
:)
Yes, you are addicted. Go talk to your family about getting off the pills right. The withdrawls will hurt so you might want to go to a detox unit. Also talk about getting therapy for your dad's illness. I understand what you are going though! I lost my dad two years ago. I am finally starting to heal though therapy and no medications
I am not sure what you mean by OTC sleeping pills.
Also, you may have started taking these "pills" as a way to cope with something. For example, you may have a form of depression (classified as). Sometimes people make the mistake of using narcotics and alcohol to treat something they don't understand.
I sounds like you may have some psychological and/or possible dependence on whatever you're taking.
You're doing what's known as "self-medicating" (treating yourself).
I would suggest you pay a visit to your physician. If possible see a psychiatrist for a professional diagnosis and treatment.
I don't suggest you quit, "cold turkey"!
Yes, you can get addicted to sleeping pills. Over the counter or not. I have been to rehab twice and there were several people there for sleeping pill addiction and sleeping disorders.
What you are doing is very dangerous. If I we're you, I would taper off them over time. Your goal should be not to have to use them to fall asleep. Wake up early and get on a normal routine. If you are having trouble sleeping at night, exercise is the besy medicine! So, 1) wake up early 2) exercise 3) eat balanced meals 4) take vitamins and lots of water AND do not substitute your addiction from one drug to another, alcohol, etc.
Do not go back to sleeping pills when you get off of them, learn from this experience... you are susceptible to pill addiction.
As much as you may not want to hear this, it's the best advice that most people can give you.