I have so little patience anymore that I would have snapped if I were you. I would have just said "You can't sleep, these HELP you sleep. If you don't want to take them, don't whine around me 'cause I don't want to hear it"
Drives me nuts when they complain about something they can DO something about!
If she honestly has a problem/concern with sleeping pills though, has she tried warm baths? If she's willing (cause you know....that would actually be doing something for herself!
) maybe she could use some bath salts or something like the baby wash with Lavender (?) in it that's supposed to help you relax.