Insomnia is the bane of my existence, and has been for almost 2 years. I have been on and off sleeping tablets for that entire time. So far addiction hasn't been a problem for me. While I'm on a treatment that is working I can easily stop taking them, but then I have to go back on to them when that treatment stops working.
I've been off the sleeping meds for as long as nine months during that time, but currently I've been back on them now for a bit over a month. I swapped over from taking Tamazepam because that type if very hard to do a gradual reduction from without getting really severe withdrawals, and I'm now taking Diazepam (valium). It can still be as addictive, but because it has a much longer half life in your system you can do a gradual reduction without suffering too many withdrawal symptoms (at least I hope so)
I have a feeling that, at this stage anyway, stopping them won't be too much of a problem for me. Last week I was trying a new HRT and the first three nights were great, my hot flushes had reduced, and I didn't take any diazepam at all, but then it stopped working and I had to go back on to them again.
I hate it and I hate taking them, but I try to take no more than 4mg each night, and less if I can manage it. I also take melatonin and sometimes that can help as well. I've talked at length to my GP about taking these tablets and she never seems too concerned because she said I'm keeping my dosage very small. She tells me I'm beating myself up too much about it, and I've just got to go with the flow for the time being until I can find an HRT that will work for me, because I need to sleep.
I've always been an early riser, so I usually aim to take my meds by around 8.00pm, so I can be in bed by around 8.30pm. Then if it takes me a few hours to get to sleep at least I can still manage around 5 hours sleep. This has had an impact on my social life because I find I avoid going out at night because I stress if I get to bed too late.
What really bugs me if that while I'm watching TV my eyes will get really heavy and I'll be yawning like mad, but as soon as I turn the TV off it's like I get an instant adrenalin rush and I'm wide awake again. If I manage to go to sleep fairly early I will usually wake around 2am and not be able to go back to sleep, so I find that if I turn the TV on for an hour or two that will help me go back to sleep for a couple of hours.
Herbal and over the counter sleeping aids never work for me. I've got a cupboard full of the things and they've been a complete waste of money.