Are You Addicted to Sleeping Pills? When to Call the Addiction Hotline Free

Sleep aids are commonly prescribed to treat insomnia, and work by slowing down the central nervous system so you can relax and fall asleep more easily. But using sleeping pills for an extended period of time can cause you to develop a tolerance and become physically dependent on the medication — increasing the risk for addiction. If you suspect you may have a problem with sleep aid addiction, it may be time to call the addiction hotline free so you can get started on the path to enhanced mental clarity and an addiction-free life.

If you think you might have a problem with prescription drug abuse, call our 24/7 confidential helpline at 800-430-1407Who Answers?. Our caring drug abuse counselors will help you find nearby drug rehab centers devoted to helping you achieve lifelong sobriety from substances.

Signs of Addiction to Sleep Aids

When you’re caught up in addiction, it can be difficult to determine whether you truly have a problem until it’s too late. Review the following signs of sleep aid addiction to find out whether it’s time to call an addiction hotline for help.

Common signs of sleep aid addiction:

Developing a tolerance to sleeping pills is a sign of addiction.

• You need sleep aids to feel like yourself
• You’ve developed a tolerance to sleep aids
• You lie about using sleep aids
• You devote excess time to obtaining, using, and recovering from sleep aids
• You go through withdrawal when quitting sleep aids
• You experience cravings for sleep aids
• You’ve lost interest in your favorite hobbies
• You neglect important life responsibilities in favor of obtaining or using sleep aids
• You’ve tried to quit using sleep aids without success
• You obtain multiple sleep aid prescriptions from multiple doctors (doctor shopping)
• You experience memory loss frequently when using sleep aids

Rebound insomnia is a common symptom of sleep aid addiction. Rebound insomnia is worsened insomnia, and occurs when your body becomes dependent on sleep aids. If you suddenly stop using sleep aids and experienced worsened insomnia, you are most likely suffering from addiction.

Addiction Treatment for Sleep Aids

Most drug rehab centers treat sleep aid addiction using detoxification and counseling. Counseling helps you overcome or manage underlying psychological causes of addiction such as chronic stress or anxiety. Detoxification helps you overcome physical dependency on sleep aids, and is either conducted as a medical detox or involves the tapering method.

Medical detox is when you quit using sleep aids abruptly, but are prescribed other medications that relieve or reduce certain withdrawal symptoms. Tapering is when your doctor gradually reduces your dosage of sleep aids until you’re no longer physically dependent on the medication. Tapering is often the preferred detox method for sleep aids, since quitting sleep aids abruptly increases the risk for rebound insomnia and other health problems.

Common sleep aid withdrawal symptoms:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sweating
• Increased heart rate
• Rebound insomnia
• Hand tremors
• Body spasms
• Seizures
• Confusion
• Delirium
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Hallucinations
• Cravings for sleep aids

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Counseling and cognitive-behavioral therapy can help you identify negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that may be driving your addiction. Behavioral counseling can treat you for underlying mental health conditions that may have led to addiction, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD. Counseling sessions may be conducted one-on-one, in groups, or with families, depending on which therapies benefit you the most from an addiction recovery standpoint.

Getting Help for Sleep Aid Addiction

If you’re struggling with sleep aid addiction, get help now before your addiction becomes worse and affects your overall livelihood. Call our 24/7 addiction hotline free at 800-430-1407Who Answers? to speak with a drug abuse counselor about nearby treatment options for sleep aid addiction.