TaperCareby FeelGround
Integrative mental health
← All conditions

Sleep

Insomnia

Also called Sleeplessness, Can't sleep, Chronic insomnia

Persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking too early, despite the chance to sleep.

Symptoms used to diagnose

The ruleDifficulty with sleep at least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more, despite adequate opportunity, affecting daytime life.

Symptoms

  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Difficulty staying asleep
  • Waking too early
  • Daytime tiredness
  • Poor concentration or memory
  • Irritability or worry about sleep

How diagnosis works

  • Difficulty starting or maintaining sleep, or early waking.
  • Causes daytime problems such as tiredness, poor concentration or irritability.

A diagnosis is made by a qualified clinician after a full assessment — this summary is to help you understand it, not to self-diagnose.

Commonly used medications

Zopiclone →Zolpidem →Temazepam →Mirtazapine →Trazodone →Quetiapine →

Therapies & support

  • CBT for insomnia (CBT-I) — first-line
  • Sleep restriction therapy
  • Digital CBT-I (e.g. Sleepio)

Good to know

  • Sleeping tablets are intended for short-term use (2–4 weeks).

Sources

  1. 01
  2. 02
  3. 03
    The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines

    Horowitz & Taylor, Wiley-Blackwell, 2024