Losing sleep over sleeping pills ? Will I become dependent on them?

It can be frustrating when you can?t catch some shut eye! And, you're not alone in your frustration ? sleep issues are very common. In fact, about 50 to 70 million Americans have reported having a hard time getting to sleep or staying asleep. These issues are critical to address because sleep plays an essential role in maintaining your health. Using medications to help you sleep may help, but are intended as a temporary, short-term solution. People who rely on these pills for an extended period of time or in too high of a dose may become dependent in as little as a few weeks. More to your question, though, research hasn?t been able to pinpoint at what stage sleeping pill use becomes problematic, since it tends to be dependent upon the circumstance of each individual. With that in mind, sleeping pills don't have to be your next stop on the way to the Land of Nod. There are other strategies to help restless folks the sleep they need (including those that you mentioned: a set sleep schedule and avoiding caffeine). But first, time to get into the nitty gritty on sleep struggles.