Insomnia: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders. While 10% of the adult population has chronic insomnia, 30% or more adults report one or more insomnia symptoms.¹ It goes beyond the occasional sleepless night, as chronic insomnia can impact mental health, reduce productivity, and impact overall well-being. Difficulty falling or staying asleep can leave you fatigued, irritable, and mentally foggy, creating a cycle that worsens over time.

The good news is that insomnia is treatable, and with an integrative approach, you can get back to healthy, restorative sleep and improve both your physical and emotional health. Take the first step toward more restful nights and better days today.

What Is Insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing restorative sleep.² There are several types of insomnia, including:

• Acute insomnia: Short-term difficulty sleeping, often triggered by stress or life changes.
• Chronic insomnia: Persistent sleep problems occurring at least three nights a week for three months or longer.
• Sleep-onset insomnia: Trouble falling asleep at the beginning of the night.

• Maintenance insomnia: Difficulty staying asleep or waking too early.

Common causes of insomnia

Insomnia can stem from a combination of psychological, medical, and lifestyle factors that often overlap, including:

• Stress and anxiety: Ongoing worries about work, school, or personal responsibilities can keep the nervous system in a heightened state, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep.
• Depression or mood disorders: Changes in brain chemistry and circadian rhythms associated with mood disorders can interfere with both the ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
• Medications: Certain prescriptions, such as stimulants, steroids, and some antidepressants, may increase alertness or alter sleep architecture, leading to difficulty sleeping.
• Poor sleep hygiene: Irregular sleep schedules, late night screen time, or caffeine late in the day can worsen insomnia.
• Lifestyle factors: Travel, shift work, and inconsistent daily routines can interfere with natural sleep rhythms, making it harder for the body to maintain a regular sleep pattern.
• Chronic Pain: Ongoing pain or discomfort can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, leading to frequent sleep interruptions and reduced sleep quality.

Understanding these causes of insomnia is key to developing an effective treatment plan, particularly when sleep disturbances are linked to underlying mental health concerns.

Symptoms of insomnia

Common insomnia symptoms include:

• Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Waking up frequently or too early.
• Daytime fatigue and sleepiness. 
• Irritability, mood swings, or anxiety. 
• Trouble focusing, memory issues, or poor cognitive function. 

Persistent symptoms may indicate chronic insomnia, which requires evaluation and treatment.³

How Does Insomnia Affect Mental Health?

Insomnia and mental health are closely connected. Insomnia can worsen mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder by disrupting neurotransmitter regulation, emotional resilience, and cognitive function. Emerging research highlights just how strong this link is: people with insomnia are 10 times more likely to experience depression and 17 times more likely to experience anxiety compared to the general population.⁴

Untreated insomnia can create a harmful cycle in which poor sleep worsens stress, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, and those worsening symptoms further disrupt sleep. Over time, this cycle can become increasingly difficult to break, which is why timely evaluation and intervention often lead to the best outcomes.

Related: The Interplay Between Sleep Disorders and Mental Health

Diagnosing Insomnia

Diagnosis typically involves a combination of:

• Clinical evaluation: Reviewing sleep patterns, mental health history, and medical conditions. 
• Sleep diaries: A sleep diary tracks nightly habits such as bedtime, wake time, sleep duration, awakenings, and sleep quality to help inform your treatment.
• Sleep studies: When other sleep disorders like sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome are suspected, overnight studies (polysomnography) may be recommended.
• Questionnaires: The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a seven-question, validated questionnaire that assesses the nature of your sleep problems, how often they occur, and how much they interfere with your daily life. The ISI helps clinicians classify insomnia as mild, moderate, or severe and track progress over time.

At Neuro Wellness Spa, our psychiatry services assess both psychological and medical contributors, ensuring a holistic understanding of each patient’s insomnia.

Effective treatments for insomnia

Several evidence-based approaches help treat insomnia effectively:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I): CBT-I is a treatment for insomnia that addresses the thoughts, behaviors, and habits that interfere with sleep. Core components often include:
  • Sleep hygiene education to reinforce daily habits that support healthy sleep.
  • Stimulus control to rebuild a strong mental association between bed and sleep.
  • Sleep restriction therapy, a research-backed method that limits time in bed to improve sleep efficiency.
  • Cognitive restructuring to challenge and reduce unhelpful beliefs about sleep.

• Medications: Used selectively under medical supervision to aid short-term sleep. Common medications used for insomnia include:
  • Zolpidem (Ambien)
  • Eszopiclone (Lunesta)
  • Zaleplon (Sonata)
  • Temazepam (Restoril)
  • Ramelteon (Rozerem)
  • Suvorexant (Belsomra)
  • Low-dose doxepin

  Trazodone is also commonly prescribed for insomnia; however, it’s important to note that its use for sleep is off-label, meaning it is not FDA-approved specifically for treating insomnia, even though many clinicians use it in practice.

• Relaxation techniques: Mindfulness, meditation, guided imagery, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation can help reduce physiological and cognitive arousal before bedtime.
• TMS therapy: Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may help reduce insomnia when it is linked to depression by improving mood regulation and stabilizing brain activity involved in sleep. While FDA-approved for major depressive disorder, TMS can support healthier sleep patterns by addressing the underlying depressive symptoms that disrupt rest.

Lifestyle Changes to Improve Sleep

The following healthy habits can complement professional care and support quality, deep sleep:

• Maintaining consistent sleep times and wake times, even on weekends. 
• Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake in the evening. 
• Limiting screen time before bed.
• Creating a good sleep environment, which includes sleeping in a dark, cool room (potentially using blackout curtains).
• Practicing mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing exercises. 
• Engaging in regular physical activity. 

These strategies, combined with professional treatment, can promote long-term restorative sleep.

Learn how better sleep habits can support your wellbeing with our Sleep Routine Tips to Maintain Mental Health.

How Neuro Wellness Spa Can Treat Insomnia

At Neuro Wellness Spa, we provide comprehensive insomnia treatment that addresses the underlying causes of disrupted sleep. Our integrated care model combines psychiatry services, insomnia therapy, and advanced options such as TMS treatment for insomnia to support long-term sleep improvement. Each of our clients receives an individualized treatment plan focused on restoring natural sleep rhythms and improving overall well-being.

If insomnia is affecting your daily life, Neuro Wellness Spa offers evidence-based care designed to help you sleep better. Schedule a consultation today to begin your personalized treatment journey.

FAQs: Insomnia

If you’re struggling with sleep, you’re not alone. Here are answers to common questions about insomnia and its treatment