Almost 5 years ago, a doctor perscribed stilnox for me to help with sleeping since I had depression and couldn't sleep. Gradually, I started taking more and more of the pills to fall asleep.. and afterwards, I started taking them during the day because I believed they made me feel better, or at least gave me the feeling of " not caring so much" about daily life's problems. I was hospitalised 5 times, with periods ranging from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. I'd stop for a while after I get out, but eventually, I go back to it again. The problem is that, since almost a month now. I've been taking almost 10 to 12 pills a day! I'm depressed most of the time, or extremely happy. I'm way out of control and I'm starting to have chest pains when I don't take the pills. What can I do to stop? Or cut down at least without having to involve anyone, be hospitalised, or seeing a doctor? Because frankly in my country, parents have the right to be informed, and I can't put my parents through all that again. It's been 5 years, and for the first time they are convinced it's over and are starting to live their lives normally again. PLEASE help!

Hi sbmasri,

First off, you sound like the REAL problem was never addressed properly,sleeping pills for depression are like adding gasoline to an open fire! :eek:

Depression naturally makes the sufferer sleepy and overactive by its very nature,so much sleep and then aggravation due to too much sleep,Sound familiar?:confused:

Secondly,the chest pains sound more like anxiety due to the addiction, or other issues, again, not addressed properly.

Third, How do you get these pills without your parents knowledge of them,are you not in their care?If you are in their care you need to be honest with them and get help, the problem is in the wrong diagnosis and treatment of your real issues.

If your on your own( and if you really want to end this prolonged depression) seek the help from a new source, one other than the one that is treating you with a band-aid instead of a therapeutic treatment.

Lastly,No you probably can't do this without medical help, its very dangerous to withdraw from drugs,especially the amounts you have been taking, without competent medical help.

Is your life worth risking for the 'shame' you feel about needing help?( That's THE DEPRESSION TALKING, NOT YOUR RATIONAL MIND), Don't let it take you down.

Keep us informed, we really are interested in how you do,:)

Ken

Please strongly consider the advice above and tell your parents and get help now. I assume you are a minor as to the parental consent. This amount of drugs is damaging your system. If you are taking the amount you say you are, you will need medical supervision to get off the drugs.

I'm not a minor, I'm 23 and I live with my parents because those are the norms in my country... still, maybe I'll go c a doctor, but I'm not going to rehab again, I just can't do it! And my parents CAN'T know about it... I don't know what to do anymore

What is wrong with rehab?

Did you learn all it has to offer?If so, where did that information go wrong,you still went back on the pills.

What are you hiding from the parents? I am not your parent so lets hear what the problem is.

Have you try moving onto depresion tablets instead of sleeping tablets ?
Takign too man sleeping tablets is eventually going to damage your system, its probably already started now. You need to go see a doctor and get prescribed depression tablets as this seems the problem more than sleeping.

You need to change to some natural things like try drinking chamomile tea at bedtime and try things like reading a rather boring book that always puts me to sleep.

Insomnia, Difficulty Falling Asleep, Staying Asleep, Can't Sleep, Get Help at Peaceful Mind-Alternative medicine and therapies for healing mind, body, spirit

For depression try some of these things

Diet and lifestyle recommendations to decrease depression

1. Reduce your consumption of refined carbohydrates. The brain prefers sugar as its source of energy. However, when a person eats refined sugar or carbohydrates, blood sugars tend to rise and fall quickly, leading to low blood sugar. Symptoms of low blood sugar include depression, anxiety, fatigue, irritability and headaches.
2. Increase your intake of omega-3 oils. Omega-3 oils are an important component of the membranes of nerve cells. It is important to support nerve health so that neurotransmitters function normally. Omega-3 oils are found in wild, deep-water fish (salmon, cod, and sardines) and in nuts and seeds including walnuts, pumpkin and flax.
3. Decrease the toxic load on your body. A major toxin for the body is alcohol, which functions as a brain depressant and increases cortisol levels in the body. Caffeine is technically a stimulant, but has been linked in several studies to depression. The effect of caffeine is worse when combined with sugar.
4. Increase your exercise. The natural endorphins released during exercise seem to have a mood-elevating effect. Some of the best exercises to this end are weight lifting, walking briskly, jogging, bicycling, cross-country skiing, swimming, and dancing aerobically. Participate in a regular exercise program as part of a healthy lifestyle.
5. Eat more vegetables and/or take vitamin supplements. Depressed people are often deficient in many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, B12, folic acid and trace minerals. These vitamins are important for making and processing neurotransmitters in the body. The levels of these vitamins may be low due to hormone or birth control pills, excessive stress, or low levels of stomach acid, which can cause decreased absorption of vitamins and minerals.

The problem is that I've put them through a lot the past couple of years, addiction, suicide attempts, major depression, anxiety attacks... everything.. I failed at uni and cost them over 100,000 JDs- 142,253.5 US Dollars... both my parents and my brother develpoed depression because of my situation and are now on prozac. And I am taking something for the depression too. In my country, rehab is terrible, I've been there a lot of times ( which also costs a fortune by the way), there's nothing to do, the doctor only sees you once a day for 10 minutes, and has 2 sessions a week with you. Other than that there's absolutely nothing. All I do there is cry myself to sleep.

Thank you for following up on this post, that is important for you, and us, the more we write the more we understand:)

As to your family developing depression, they are just trying to cope with something they don't understand, here is a program my family got involved in to help them address my issues.

How to Recognize, Cope and Deal with Your Loved One's Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Parenting

Discover the Comprehensive, Proven System That’s Helped My Mom and Thousands of Other People with Bipolar Disorder Rebuild a “Normal” Life

I know this deals with bi-polar issues, but it also helps the family deal with possible coping skills necessary to help the sufferer( including themselves)

Remember, you are not to blame, this is a chemical imbalance, the best you can do is move forward, the past is just that, the past.So you had things happen in the past,does that make you unworthy of help today? I'd bet your family would help if they see a real solution instead of a quick fix,this didn't happen overnight, it took time to develop into what it is today, give yourself a break, take the time to research solutions, not the problems.

Keep writing and let us know how you are,

Ken

My husband is addicted to mastrubation. I feel this is effecting our sexual life. He takes a very long time in getting an orgasm and even when he does it is only after he has stroked himself. It does not matter as to how satisfying our sex has been. The pattern is always the same. I have started having a complex about not being able to satisfy him. What should I do?