If you have a sleeping disorder like insomnia, your doctor may prescribe you Valium to help regulate your sleep cycle and allow you to get a full night’s rest. Valium works by increasing the levels of a calming chemical in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid. Unfortunately, this prescription medication has a high potential for abuse, and can cause a chemical dependency after only a short period.
How Can Doctor-Prescribed Drugs Lead to Addiction?
Some people believe all prescription medications are inherently safe if they earn FDA approval and come from a qualified health provider. However, prescription drugs can be just as addictive as illicit substances like cocaine and methamphetamine. Even if you take Valium as directed, your tolerance can quickly build, and you may start relying on the relaxing, tranquil feelings this drug provides.
To avoid the risk of addiction, most physicians will only prescribe a limited supply of Valium. However, if you believe this drug is the only way to find relief from your insomnia or you don’t like the way you feel when you aren’t taking Valium, you may try to get more drugs on your own through methods like these:
- Visiting multiple doctors in hopes of getting another prescription
- Forging prescriptions
- Stealing someone else’s supply of Valium
- Hoarding medication
How to Fall Asleep Without Drugs
People with a family history of addiction and mental health disorders may hesitate to take Valium because of the possible risks it might bring. If insomnia is disrupting your life, consider these drug-free ways to fall asleep.
1. Exercise More
A primarily sedentary lifestyle can disrupt your sleep cycle because a lack of movement causes muscle tension and stress to build up throughout your body. Exercises like walking, running and yoga can promote deep sleep. However, avoid exercising too close to your bedtime, as doing so can elevate your adrenaline levels and make you feel too keyed up to relax.
2. Reassess Your Diet
The foods you eat can significantly contribute or detract from your mood and energy levels. If you find yourself tossing and turning all night, try reducing or eliminating caffeine and sugar from your diet. Since the mineral magnesium is a natural sedative, consider taking magnesium supplements or eating more magnesium-rich foods.
3. Change Your Pre-Bedtime Routine
If you’re like most people, you spend the hours before bedtime staring into a screen, but electronics like phones, laptops, tablets and even TVs emit a blue light that can play havoc with your sleep cycle. Eliminate technology from your nighttime routine and use that time to do things like meditating or taking a relaxing bath instead.
Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment at Pillars Recovery
If your insomnia is a symptom of a health condition such as anxiety, Valium alone is not enough to restore your mental well-being. In many cases, substance misuse makes issues like anxiety more severe. Poor sleep habits and a worsening mental health problem can also contribute to a substance use disorder, making it essential to seek help.
People struggling with a Valium addiction are never alone. Instead of losing hope, reach out to us at Pillars Recovery. We are a Joint Commission-accredited facility in Orange County, California, offering new opportunities to men and women with substance use disorders and dual diagnoses. Medication-assisted treatment can help end your dependency on Valium and prevent a relapse in the crucial early stages of recovery.
