Most people assume that doctor-prescribed medications won’t cause any harm. Guess
what? Sleeping pills are found to be just as addictive as many illegal substances. Because of the lack of knowledge on the subject but continued use, sleeping pill addiction has become more prevalent over the years.
What Are Sleeping Pills?
Prescription sleeping pills are classified as sedative-hypnotic drugs. From this alone, you know that these medications are powerful enough to alter your state of mind. They work by inducing relaxation to help an individual fall asleep.
Doctors prescribe sleeping pills to use for 7 to 10 days. The goal is to help people suffering from sleep disorders to hit that reset button and return to a regular sleep schedule. After the given duration, you’re meant to discontinue use.
Not everyone suffers from a sleeping pill addiction. There are many individuals who successfully overcame their insomnia by taking sleeping pills, provided they followed the doctor’s instructions correctly. Unfortunately, others become so dependent on the drug that they can no longer sleep without taking them. This is when the problem starts.
Why Do People Develop Sleeping Pill Addiction?
Anxiety and stress can lead sleeping pill users to take a few to get some shuteye. Once this becomes a habit, the original dosage will slowly lose its effect as the user develops a resistance to it. This will lead them to up their dosage. That’s why some individuals suffering from sleeping pill abuse can take up to a dozen pills, but still not get the desired effect. Many people realize they only have a problem once they chose to forego the habit.
To know if you have an addiction, you need to familiarize yourself with the most common side effects of sleeping pill abuse.
Signs of Sleeping Pill Addiction
Illegal street drugs and alcohol are not the only substances responsible for addiction.
Prescribed drugs, when not used accordingly, can also lead to the same troubled behaviors. Some sleeping pill abuse side effects to watch out for are:
- Memory problems
- Difficulty focusing
- Tiredness
- Numbness
- Poor coordination and balance
- Itchy skin (sometimes accompanied by swelling)
- Dizziness
- Excessive drowsiness
- Falling respiration
- Dry mouth
Each individual experiences different sets of symptoms. However, these are the most
commonly reported. Bear in mind that the longer you use sleeping pills, the more pronounced these side effects become.
Aside from physical issues, most sufferers complain of the negative impact sleeping pill addiction has brought to their relationships and their lives in general. The inability to control the situation leads to many personal issues. People who take sleeping pills excessively often develop these behavioral changes:
- Apathy toward activities they formerly enjoyed
- Illogical reasoning
- Poor decision-making skills
- Neglecting work and family responsibilities
- Inactivity
- Lack of personal hygiene
These behavioral changes lead to difficult life experiences, including getting fired from a job, parting with a loved one, losing friends, and more.
Treating Sleeping Pill Addiction
If you find yourself experiencing any of the following symptoms, seeking treatment can
nip the problem in the bud. Comprehensive treatment helps you find the peace of mind you need to work on your physical and mental symptoms as you work to remove substance abuse from your life.
Look for programs that allow you to replace your unhealthy habits with something more
productive. People who are knee-deep in their sleeping pill addiction might need an immersive environment to recover. Undergoing supervised detox in institutions speeds up the recovery process.
However, for others with mild problems, tapering the dose with the help of an experienced physician is more than enough. Can you become addicted to sleeping pills? If you’re not careful, the answer’s absolutely yes! Its signs and symptoms are similar to illegal drug addiction, such as trouble breathing, decreased mental faculties, etc. The best approach to getting rid of your sleeping pill addiction is a treatment plan beneficial to a person’s overall well-being: physical, mental, and emotional. After medical detoxification, continuous therapy from a Christ-based center can be of great help.
If you are trying to get in touch with a Murfreesboro recovery center, you can call us at Haven House in Hartsville too for more information.
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