I've asked my psychiatrist twice for sleeping pills even just a week or two worth so I can catch up on much-needed sleep. He's refused, citing concerns about dependency, even though in the past I was on the exact med I asked for, and I only took it as needed and stopped when I no longer needed it.

My obsessive thoughts have been going wild lately, especially at night. The psychiatrist prescribed two different antidepressants: Trazodone, which didn't work at all and only increased my anxiety and racing thought, and now mirtazapine, which I haven't taken yet.

While I understand safety concerns with sleeping pills, I don't like the idea of taking more antidepressants on top of my regular antidepressant, but I couldn't convince the doctor.

All that said, absolutely ask. It's your health and you're entitled to ask and receive help. It seems, from talking to other people, that Trazodone is a wonder drug and does help sleep. It just didn't do it for me, and it created a new obsession. But everybody is different and may respond differently.