Which specialist treats insomnia?

Insomnia means ongoing difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking earlier than planned, with an effect on daytime function. A GP can ask about your sleep pattern, medicines, caffeine, alcohol, shift work, pain, breathing at night, and symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, headache, low mood, memory problems, or feeling anxious.

Treatment depends on the cause. A clinician may recommend a structured sleep approach, address another health problem, or arrange a mental health assessment when anxiety, depression, trauma, or another emotional concern is contributing. A sleep specialist may be considered when another sleep disorder is suspected or symptoms persist despite initial care.

Keep a short sleep diary before your appointment, including bedtime, wake time, awakenings, naps, and daytime sleepiness. Bring a list of medicines and supplements. Keep a regular wake time, reduce stimulating activities near bedtime, and avoid driving when you feel too sleepy to react safely. Do not rely on sedating medicines without professional guidance.

Arrange an appointment when sleep difficulty keeps affecting concentration, mood, work, or safety. Seek urgent help for thoughts of self-harm, severe confusion, or an inability to stay awake safely. Loud snoring with pauses in breathing, sudden weakness, or unusual nighttime behaviours also deserve prompt clinical assessment.

Ask what may be driving the insomnia, whether a mental health assessment or sleep referral is appropriate, which behavioural changes to try, and how follow-up will measure improvement.