Insomnia

Insomnia is more than just the occasional restless night — it’s a sleep disorder that makes it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake feeling rested.

Over time, it can drain your energy, affect your mood, and reduce your overall quality of life.

The good news? With the right support and medical care, restful sleep is possible again.

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What is it really?

Insomnia isn’t simply about “needing less sleep” or being a night owl. It’s a medical condition where your body’s natural sleep cycles are disrupted. Contributing factors can include stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, poor sleep habits, and medical issues such as sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome.

Left untreated, insomnia can worsen both physical and mental health, leading to low energy, poor concentration, mood changes, and greater risk for conditions such as hypertension or heart disease.

How Is It Experienced?

Insomnia can develop suddenly during stressful life events or build gradually over time.
People with insomnia often describe:
Tossing and turning for hours, unable to shut off their thoughts.
Hitting the pillow exhausted, only to lie awake until the early morning.
Waking up multiple times a night and staring at the clock, dreading the alarm.
Feeling groggy, irritable, or foggy-headed the next day no matter how early they went to bed.
Growing anxious about sleep itself, which only makes falling asleep harder.
The cycle of fatigue and frustration can impact work, relationships, and daily functioning — making insomnia more than “just being tired.”

Types of Insomnia

Acute Insomnia

Short-term sleep difficulty, often triggered by stress, illness, or a major life event.

Chronic Insomnia

Long-term sleep problems that occur at least three nights a week for three months or more.

Primary Insomnia

Difficulty falling asleep at the start of the night, unrelated to another medical condition.

Maintenance Insomnia

Waking during the night and struggling to return to sleep.

Nightmares & Sleep Disruptions

Intense dreams that cause repeated awakenings, making it hard to stay in deep, restorative sleep.

Nightmares and Insomnia

Nightmares aren’t just unsettling dreams — for many people, they become a frequent sleep disruption that worsens insomnia. Nightmares may be related to stress, trauma, medication side effects, or other mental health conditions.

When nightmares are chronic, they can cause:

  • Frequent awakenings and poor-quality sleep
  • Avoidance of bedtime due to fear of dreaming
  • Increased anxiety, depression, or irritability during the day.

At Madix Clinic, we address nightmares as part of insomnia care by identifying underlying causes and using psychiatric treatment options to reduce their frequency and severity.

Symptoms of Insomnia

Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Waking up too early and being unable to fall back asleep
Feeling unrefreshed despite a full night in bed
Daytime fatigue, irritability, or difficulty concentrating
Worrying about sleep or dreading bedtime
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How we treat Insomnia

At the Madix Clinic, we tailor treatment plans to each individual's needs, which may include:​

Medication management - Short-term or long-term support to help you fall asleep, stay asleep, and wake feeling more refreshed.

Nightmare care - Identifying and treating nightmares that disrupt sleep, sometimes with targeted medications.

Support for co-occurring conditions - Managing anxiety, depression, or medical concerns that often worsen insomnia.

Sleep strategies - Practical guidance to reset disrupted sleep cycles and reduce nighttime worry.

Myths vs. Facts about Insomnia

Myth: Insomnia just means you need to “try harder” to relax.
Fact: Insomnia is a medical condition with real physical and psychological causes, not a matter of willpower.
Myth: Only people with high stress get insomnia.
Fact: While stress can trigger insomnia, medical conditions like sleep apnea, depression, and certain medications also play a major role.
Myth: You can “catch up” on sleep over the weekend.
Fact: Oversleeping on weekends often disrupts your sleep cycle further, making weekday insomnia worse.

Why treat with the Madix Clinic?

Evidence-based care

Treatments grounded in psychiatric research and brain science.

Telehealth first

Access care from wherever you feel most comfortable, without the added stress of travel.

Whole-person support

We address not just sleep, but also the mood, anxiety, or health conditions that impact it.

Personalized attention

Your treatment plan is tailored to your sleep patterns and lifestyle — no one-size-fits-all solutions.

Your Questions About Sleep

How is insomnia diagnosed?

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We diagnose insomnia through a detailed clinical interview, your health history, and a review of sleep patterns. If sleep apnea or another medical issue is suspected, we may recommend a referral for a sleep study.

Can medication really help with insomnia?

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Yes. While good sleep hygiene is important, medication can help regulate sleep, reduce nighttime anxiety, and make it easier to rest.

Can’t I just count sheep until it works?

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If only it were that simple! Insomnia is more than restlessness, it’s a medical condition. We can help calm the racing thoughts, nightmares, and sleepless nights so you can finally get the rest you deserve.

Will I need medication forever

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Not always. Some people use medication short-term to reset sleep cycles, while others benefit from longer-term management. We’ll work with you to find the safest and most effective plan for your needs.

Is online treatment effective for insomnia?

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Yes. Many people find telehealth more accessible and less stressful, which makes it easier to stay consistent with treatment.

Still not sure whether you need treatment?

Book a free consultation

Are you or someone you know in crisis?

The Madix Clinic is not setup to provide support in a crisis situation.
Please call 911 for Emergency or call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Hotline