"With the support of this service I beat my addiction"

‘Coming off Zopiclone is a nightmare’ ‘and ‘the side effects of giving up are terrible’ are just two of the sentences I read before attempting to kick a 16 year habit. Message boards can be an excellent source of support but they have a tendency to be used by people with a negative story to tell. People doing well tend not to post. Even if you read nine positive posts, it’s that tenth negative one that creeps through the window at 2am and parks inside your head.

I had flirted with the idea of giving up many times but it was only when I pushed my GP about what the long term affects of Zopiclone use might be that I was given a full and frankly, worrying answer. Although GPs have been happy to prescribe sleeping pills to me for the past 16 years, none have had the time or expertise to address the issue. It was only when I asked to be referred to a specialist sleep clinic that my GP put me in touch with Back On Track.

The clinician I saw, Amy, couldn’t have been more interested in my case. I knew the CBT protocol pretty well but there was something about reporting in every week that gave me that bit of extra support I needed. She was an anchor to my recovery.

Here’s a thing message boards, GPs and self help books don’t tell you. It’ not always as hard to give things up as is reported. The key for me was not to think that I was giving something up or denying myself something (sleeping pills) but more than I was taking something up quite wonderful (a clearer way of life and never having to worry if my supply would run out).

Mindset and the internal voice plays a significant part of addiction and anxiety. Back on Track service gave me the skills to reset.

After sixteen years off taking 1-2 tablets every night, I have now gone four weeks without. Sure, it required some graft on my part but with a clear goal and the support of this service, I did it.

You can too.