I handed the sleeping tablets back to the pharmacy

Dear Delyara, I became dependent on prescription sleeping tablets after a period of severe grief and insomnia. What began as one tablet became more, then doctor-shopping, then hiding how much I used. Eventually, I told my GP the full truth. We created a supervised taper with addiction support and safer sleep treatment. It was miserable at times. I slept badly before I slept naturally. Today, after months of tapering, I returned the remaining tablets to the pharmacy for disposal. There were nine. I had spent years counting tablets in fear of running out. Watching them drop into the disposal container felt strangely quiet. Recovery has not made sleep effortless. I still have bad nights. The difference is that a bad night no longer automatically becomes a chemical emergency. I went home, made tea, and put nothing in the drawer where I once kept a secret supply.