Called the doctor this morning.
Hi. I'm running low on my sleeping pills and would like more.
Ok. I see that you haven't visited us for a while and would like a meeting before we can prescribe new ones. The next available slot is in three weeks.

Guess I stay awake until then.

I have severe sleep problems too but I haven’t tried meds yet. Somehow I manage by listening to background noise (talking voices) and drinking tee with melatonin to fall asleep.
Sometimes it feels like torture being tired and sleepy but not being able to fall asleep.
I fear that when I start taking meds for that, I‘d become addicted to them, like you are, I guess.

Do you think it’s worth it?

@Lensflare have you tried a small thc edible 1 hour before sleep? It does help me

Maybe it's a good opportunity to get off of the sleeping pills?

I've had problems falling asleep in the evenings for 20 years
With these pills I can "reset" the daily rhythm a few days and then go on without them for a few days until my night schedule gets screwed up again.
Much better than before.

So to the question am I addicted to them.
Yes, I have needed them for 20years but only got access to them during the last 5 years

Lol you are now getting random advice from strangers that have never seen you and do not know the underlying cause. I would show this to the doc when you visit them so they can see how dangerous it is to just take someone off their meds (any meds) for weeks. Just for validation...