Insomnia

Up to 30 million Americans struggle with insomnia, making high-quality sleep feel impossible. At Spring Azure Psychiatry & Wellness in Greenwood Village, Colorado, compassionate psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Dr. Alyssa Nadolny, DNP, PMHNP-BC, diagnoses and helps treat insomnia to eliminate sleepless nights. Schedule an in-person or virtual evaluation with Alyssa by calling the office or booking an appointment online today. 

What is insomnia?

Insomnia is a sleep disorder affecting your ability to fall or stay asleep. Sleep plays a critical role in your mental and emotional well-being. When it’s disrupted, it can affect concentration, mood, energy, and overall functioning. An array of factors could contribute to insomnia. While common, insomnia is something you don’t have to live with. Spring Azure Psychiatry & Wellness can help.

What are the symptoms of insomnia?

Examples of insomnia symptoms include:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Problems staying asleep
• Waking up too early
• Waking up throughout the night
• Walking up feeling tired
• Daytime fatigue
• Delayed reaction times
• Memory problems
• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability

Left untreated, insomnia may increase the risk of accidents and poor work or school performance. It might appear along with depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

What are the risk factors for insomnia?

While the cause isn’t always clear, insomnia risk factors include:

• Family history of insomnia
• Stress
• Trauma
• Brain changes 
• Chronic medical conditions
• Temporary illnesses
• Injuries
• Jet lag
• Shift work
• Life changes
• Late napping
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Being a light sleeper
• Not feeling safe
• Lack of a regular sleep schedule 
• Mental health disorders

About half of the people with chronic (long-term) insomnia have a mental health condition like anxiety or depression.

How is insomnia diagnosed?

Spring Azure Psychiatry & Wellness offers a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to understand your sleep patterns, factors contributing to insomnia, and any underlying mental health conditions. Alyssa may recommend a sleep study. She personalizes a treatment plan and collaborates with other healthcare providers when necessary. 

How is insomnia treated?

Your insomnia treatment may include making lifestyle modifications, taking medications when appropriate, psychoeducation, and behavioral or therapeutic approaches supporting healthy sleep. Treatment can improve sleep quality and consistency while enhancing your overall mental health, daytime functioning, and quality of life. 

It’s helpful to create a regular bedtime routine, allowing 7-9 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Aim to go to bed at about the same time, sleep in a quiet and dark room, stay active, minimize stress, and avoid alcohol and caffeine late in the day to optimize sleep quality. 

Schedule an in-person or virtual insomnia evaluation at Spring Azure Psychiatry & Wellness by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.