Insomnia

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You toss. You turn. You stare at the ceiling. You look at the clock — again. And counting those ridiculous sheep gets you nowhere.

Everyone has a few restless nights here and there. But when falling asleep or staying that way till morning is something you only dream about, you might have insomnia. Not enough shut eye can make getting through the next day a real struggle. Too few z’s can take a big toll on your mind and your body and leave you dreading bedtime.

At Cleveland Clinic, we understand the importance of a good night’s sleep. We’ll work with you to get at the root of what’s keeping you awake. And we’ll help you find solutions that’ll make getting a good night’s sleep a reality.

Why Choose Cleveland Clinic for Insomnia Care?

Trusted experts:

We’re accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine for being among the first in the nation to diagnose and treat sleep disorders and insomnia in people of all ages. Meet our team.

High-volume specialty:

We do thousands of sleep studies in our labs each year, which makes our expertise in all sleep disorders, including insomnia, extensive.

Patient-centered care:

We take the time to develop personalized treatment plans and solutions designed to improve your sleep-wake cycles in a way that works with you on your terms.

Virtual visits:

If getting to your provider’s office is tough, you might be able to have a virtual visit for some appointments — including in-home sleep studies. You’ll get the same great care but from the comfort and convenience of home.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We're recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.

Diagnosing Insomnia at Cleveland Clinic

Insomnia happens when you can’t fall asleep, stay asleep or sleep enough, or when the quality of your sleep isn’t great. For some, insomnia can be just a minor inconvenience. Other times, it can really affect your daily life. It can cause sleep deprivation (considered chronic if it happens most nights for at least three months). If left untreated, this constant lack of sleep can make you confused, agitated and can bring on mood swings.

What to expect at your first appointment

When you come to us for help, our sleep specialists will ask about your medical and sleep history. This helps us identify any patterns of behavior that might be causing your insomnia.

Then, we may have you do a few tests. These tests won’t tell us for sure if you have insomnia, but they can help us rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms (like obstructive sleep apnea or OSA). We might ask you to:

Do an overnight sleep study (polysomnography) in our lab or use an at-home testing device — usually only if we suspect OSA or another disorder.
Wear a watch-like device that tracks your sleep patterns (actigraphy).
Take timed naps during a specific time period (multiple sleep latency test) to see if you tend to fall asleep during the day.

All of these tests, along with physical exams, neurological exams (and, very rarely, brain imaging), can help us figure out what’s causing a disruption to your sleep and keeping you awake.

Meet Our Insomnia Team

When you come to Cleveland Clinic for help with insomnia, depending on your specific needs, you may meet with sleep experts from a variety of specialties, including neurologists, pulmonologists and otolaryngologists. Other members of your team may also include:

Behavioral health specialists.
Psychiatrists.
Psychologists.

Providers Who Treat Insomnia

Locations

Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.

Treating Insomnia at Cleveland Clinic

Treating insomnia often involves developing good sleep habits, like going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, having a bedtime routine, putting down your phone or computer, and not drinking alcohol or eating before bed. Our behavioral health specialists will help guide you through small, everyday lifestyle changes and management techniques you can use to improve the way you sleep. The most common treatment for insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy.

An increasing number of safe medications (not habit-forming) or the natural hormone melatonin can also help you fall asleep faster or stay asleep.

We may also connect you with a psychologist or psychiatrist if you have any mental health conditions or stressors that are making it hard for you to sleep.

Follow-Up Care

Insomnia isn’t something that’s treated overnight. Finding solutions that work for you is a process that can take weeks or months. Over time, as your sleep begins to improve, our experts will be able to revisit your sleep test scores and determine what’s working and what they need to adjust.

Taking the Next Step

It’s time to stop losing sleep over losing sleep. Cleveland Clinic’s sleep specialists can help figure out the reasons why you’re dreaming about sleep more than you’re getting it. And together, we’ll put together a personalized plan that’ll help you put insomnia to bed and get the z’s you need when it’s time to hit the hay.