Like any other aspect of living a healthy lifestyle, sleep has the utmost importance in the proper functioning of the body. Sleep decides whether you will have a good day or a bad day. But, when sleep is disturbed, we tend to be uneasy & due to an excessive need for sleep, we impulsively decide to consume sleeping pills. Sleeping pills are strictly prescribed as a short-term solution for sleep. But, according to a survey, Ambien( a common sleeping pill) was prescribed 38 million times between 2006 to 2011. Most people don’t have proper knowledge about the correct usage of sleeping pills which might lead to addiction. Evidence suggests that many people increase their dosage without proper consultation from their doctor. When people feel an immense urge to sleep, sleeping pills act as their Saviour. But, they are unaware that this saviour is a slow poison to a healthy lifestyle. Psychologists & mental health professionals make people aware of noticing the symptoms of sleeping pills addiction.

So, let’s talk about what happens to you when you are addicted to sleeping pills.

1. You tend to consume the pill every time you want to sleep: –

Once you’re addicted to sleeping pills, you start creating your cage from where you can’t escape. In this phase, you tend to consume sleeping pills even when you don’t need them. You’ve conditioned your brain to give a command to sleep only when you take a pill. When this addiction becomes excessive, you feel immense uneasiness until you get a sleeping pill.

2. You increase doses without consulting a doctor: –

When you’re addicted, your craving for sleeping pills never ends. You’re never satisfied with your sleep. Which forces you to consume pills urgently which leads to your increased doses without a doctor’s prescription.

3. You try to quit but fail: –

Addiction leads to guilt. You know that you’re not living a good lifestyle and sleeping pills are harming your mind and body. But still, you cant quit. This leads to massive guilt. As soon as you decide to quit, you are not able to focus on any other activity. These continuous failed efforts increase your addiction to sleeping pills.

4. You don’t stop even after its negative effects: –

During this addiction, you feel dizzy, you’ve lack coordination, lightheadedness, hallucinations & many more negative effects. Despite these negative consequences, you prefer to choose consuming pills as it gives you a quick sleep.

5. You look for more than one doctor for prescription refills: –

As you start knowing that your doctor won’t let you increase doses, you change the doctor every time to let them know that it’s your first time & fulfill your urge. In this phase, nothing in this world matters to you except sleep. If you see someone going through the above phase, the person needs attention. If you are facing his issue,

Follow the steps below to prevent the relapse or cure the sleeping pill addiction: –

• Identify the underlying cause: –

Insomnia is mostly experienced during anxiety & depression. If you ignore these disorders, you cant sleep easily. Consult a counselor to go deep into the causes of the same to reach the solution.

• Sleep at the same Time: –

Our body follows the internal clock. If you’ve inconsistent sleeping time, you’re likely to become an insomniac. Instead, people going to bed at the same time every day automatically feel sleepy when the time arrives.

• Don’t forget to exercise: –

You don’t always need to hit the gym to exercise. Simple nature walks & other moderate-intensity exercises help to reduce stress & get better sleep.

• Find a Rehab: –

If you still feel an urge to consume sleeping pills, visit de-addiction centers or the best rehabs in India for better treatment. Veda Rehabilitation & Wellness has its treatment plan & has proven to be the best rehab for treating addiction.

Although there are ‘n‘ number of treatment options, it comes down to one thing i.e how badly you want a change in your life. Start working for it.