Are Sleeping Pills Safe, or Are There Better Natural Alternatives? - #15614

I’ve been struggling with insomnia for months, and after trying everything I could think of—herbal teas, avoiding caffeine, meditation—my doctor finally prescribed sleeping pills. At first, I was relieved because I could finally sleep for a full night without tossing and turning. But now, after a few weeks, I feel like I can’t sleep without them, and I wake up groggy and sluggish every morning. I’ve started to worry—are sleeping pills actually safe to take long-term? I’ve read that they can be addictive, and I don’t want to become dependent on them just to get rest. Plus, I don’t feel refreshed when I wake up. It’s like the pills knock me out, but my sleep isn’t actually deep or restorative. That’s why I started researching natural alternatives, and I came across Ayurveda. It seems like Ayurveda doesn’t just focus on making someone fall asleep—it actually looks at the root cause of insomnia, whether it’s stress, Vata imbalance, or poor digestion. Does this mean Ayurveda could help me sleep naturally without needing sleeping pills? I read that Ashwagandha, Brahmi, and Jatamansi are powerful herbs for calming the nervous system. Has anyone tried these for sleep? Do they actually work like sleeping pills, but without the grogginess and side effects? Also, are there specific Ayurvedic bedtime routines that help reset the sleep cycle? Another thing I’m wondering is whether my lifestyle is making my sleep worse. I work late, use my phone before bed, and sometimes drink coffee in the evenings. Could all of these things be making my insomnia worse? Are there specific foods or practices that Ayurveda recommends for better sleep? If anyone has successfully transitioned from sleeping pills to natural methods, please share how you did it. Did you stop cold turkey, or did you reduce them gradually? What worked best—herbs, yoga, breathing exercises? I just want to get back to sleeping naturally and waking up feeling refreshed again.