[ChrissyZ]

I have been on and off Ambien and OTC sleeping pills for a couple decades. Reading about the link between dementia and sleeping pills is frightening but without a sleeping aid, I simply cannot sleep. I toss and turn and don’t know what to do with myself. I yawn all day but if I take an Ambien, I get an immediate deep sleep. Who wants to read or watch TV all night long? So I usually cave in and take a pill. If I don’t take a pill, I stay on the edge of falling into a nice sleep. It’s like I’m suspended. My brain, I think, has been altered by years of taking pills. I need, somehow, to break this cycle and get my brain back to normal…but I don’t know how. I’ve tried all the natural remedies…melatonin is a joke…nothing works. I laugh at people who say just drink some warm milk before you go to bed. I’m 72. My sister has severe dementia at 74. I do not want to go down that road. I am here to find others who struggle to fall asleep and to get ideas about how to break the sleeping pill cycle.

[Martin Reed]

Hello Chrissy and thanks for sharing. Since your brain’s job is to look out for you, it’s going to generate a lot of thoughts, feelings, and stories in connection to sleep, wakefulness, and the role of medication.

The truth is, sleep doesn’t require medication. When we have been awake for long enough, we will always sleep. ALWAYS.

It’s when we (understandably!) get tangled up in the natural process of sleep that it can all start to get a lot more difficult. That’s because sleep cannot be directly or permanently controlled — so the more we try, the more likely we are to get tangled up in a struggle that leaves us feeling stuck.

In addition, the more we engage in a battle with wakefulness the more we might be training our brain that wakefulness is a threat that it needs to be alert to protect us from. Of course, if the bed has become a bit of a battleground, the brain is going to fire up and try to suspend sleep to keep us safe. It’s really good at doing that (thank goodness, because if it wasn’t we’d have all been eaten by sabertooth tigers a long time ago).

And yet, in the end, sleep will still happen. Maybe not that night, or even the next but sleep drive always wins in the end.

Moving away from the battle, the effort, and the struggle can often make things a bit easier.

Have you discussed your desire to move away from sleep aids with your doctor? In my experience, it doesn’t usually matter too much how someone approaches this (whether they taper or go “cold turkey” — and that’s a discussion to have with your doctor). What matters is putting a plan in place and sticking to that plan as best as you can.

I hope there’s something useful here!

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The content of this post is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, disorder, or medical condition. It should never replace any advice given to you by your physician or any other licensed healthcare provider. Insomnia Coach LLC offers coaching services only and does not provide therapy, counseling, medical advice, or medical treatment. All content is provided “as is” and without warranties, either express or implied.

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