Sleeping better with psychiatric treatment

Sleep and mental health are deeply connected. Mental health symptoms can get in the way of your sleep, and poor sleep can worsen your mental health. If you’re dealing with sleep difficulties, it’s important to get support as soon as possible. A psychiatric provider can help.

Psychiatrists or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) can evaluate and diagnose you for sleep disorders, like insomnia, that might be getting in the way of a good night’s rest. They can prescribe you with medication that can help both short and long term and connect you to other types of treatment when it’s appropriate.

When to see a psychiatrist for insomnia

Sleep troubles are common, especially in the U.S. Reports show that up to one-third of Americans say they have some symptoms of insomnia. Not everyone who has trouble sleeping needs to see a psychiatric provider, especially if sleeplessness is temporary. For example, you might have a hard time falling asleep if you’re approaching a stressful deadline at work or going through a relationship breakup.

But for some people, not being able to fall asleep goes beyond temporary stress. If your sleep difficulties are regularly getting in the way of your day-to-day functioning, it’s possible you’re experiencing a sleep disorder.

Sleep disorders are serious health conditions that require professional treatment. Psychiatrists aren’t the only providers who can help with sleep disorders, but the services they offer can be an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

You might decide to see a psychiatrist for insomnia (and other sleep disorders) if:

• Your sleep problems haven’t improved — or have gotten worse — over time.
• Your sleep issues are affecting your work, relationships, or other important parts of your life.
• You experience frequent waking during the night or early morning.
• You have difficulty falling asleep even when you’re very tired.

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How a psychiatrist treats sleep issues

Psychiatrists and PMHNPs often work with other health providers to diagnose and treat sleep disorders.

The first step to addressing a sleep disorder is assessment. In some cases — especially for an insomnia diagnosis — a psychiatric provider may be able to provide an evaluation themselves. They might ask you questions about your history, lifestyle habits, previous attempts at improving sleep, emotional health, and whether other mental health conditions could be affecting your sleep. This information could be enough to help them make an insomnia diagnosis.

Through their questions and assessment, psychiatric providers can determine whether your sleep troubles are temporary — and due to some factor in your life or health — or part of a long-term pattern. This can affect the treatments they recommend.

In other cases, they might recommend a sleep study. During a sleep study, you’re monitored while sleeping to observe your brain activity, breathing, and body movements. It can help rule out other sleep disorders and health conditions, like sleep apnea. Psychiatrists don’t usually conduct sleep studies themselves, but they can make a referral to a sleep doctor who can.

In addition to chronic insomnia, some conditions that might be affecting your sleep include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Restless leg syndrome 
• Narcolepsy
• Sleep apnea

After they’ve made an accurate diagnosis, psychiatric providers can prescribe you with sleep medication if it’s recommended for your situation.

It’s often better to talk with a psychiatric provider who specializes in sleep issues for these medications rather than a general provider. Psychiatric providers are trained in mental health conditions, which frequently impact sleep. 

Sleep medications are effective, but, in some cases, medication to address other symptoms might better suit your sleep challenges. For example, if your obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms are keeping you up at night, an OCD medication might be more appropriate than sleep medication.

A psychiatric provider can go over your options, and together you can make a treatment decision that’s right for you.

Other ways a psychiatrist can help with sleep

On top of prescribing sleep medication, a psychiatric provider can also help support your overall mental health — which may, in turn, have a positive impact on your sleep. 

A psychiatrist can:

• Suggest lifestyle changes. You can discuss lifestyle changes that may improve your sleep quality and/or duration. Some options to get more consistent sleep include getting regular exercise, creating a peaceful sleep environment, and limiting technology use before bed. If these haven’t worked for you, a psychiatrist can recommend additional adjustments based on your specific sleep disorder diagnosis.
• Prescribe medication. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication for co-occurring mental health conditions that might be contributing to your sleep difficulties. For example, if you live with an anxiety disorder, anti-anxiety medication can help reduce the racing thoughts that often interfere with falling asleep.
• Connect you with therapy treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is evidence-based to help with chronic sleep disorders. Some psychiatric providers may offer therapy themselves. If they don’t, they can refer you to a therapist who specializes in this area.
• Support hospitalization when it’s necessary. Sometimes, sleep deprivation can become a mental health crisis, and you may need hospitalization. In these situations, psychiatric providers  can help by coordinating your care and ensuring you have the resources you need for recovery.
• Be a trusted resource for you. Sometimes, when you’re going through something as troubling as chronic sleep difficulties, it can be helpful to have a strong patient-provider relationship. Psychiatrists can provide ongoing support to help you stay on track with your treatment plan.

Find care with Rula

Psychiatric treatment for sleep disorders involves diagnosing any underlying conditions and offering medication or therapies to help improve your sleep. Working with a psychiatrist can help you address both the emotional and physical aspects of your sleep difficulties. They can help you get the care you need to sleep better and improve your mental health.

At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.

Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance, so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we’re here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.

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