Insomnia

A patient successfully treated for insomnia sleeping peacefully in LA

  • We all experience difficulty falling asleep from time to time but when this becomes an everyday occurrence, it can leave us feeling exhausted, emotional and can affect how well we can carry out everyday activities.

    Insomnia can be difficulty falling asleep or difficulty staying asleep, waking in the middle of the night and being unable to fall back asleep.

    There are many reasons for sleep disturbance and it is important to work with an experienced clinician to identify the cause of insomnia and to make the most effective plan for treatment.

  • Working with a doctor who has experience and expertise in treating anxiety is the best start.

    There are many medical causes for these symptoms and it is important to see a doctor who can complete a medical evaluation to rule out another medical condition, which can be treated. When other causes have been excluded, an experienced psychiatrist can help work with you to make a personalized, focused treatment plan to address these debilitating symptoms and help you to move forward with life.

    If other causes have been excluded, treatment for insomnia may involve medication, psychotherapy or both. We know from extensive research that the best treatment plan is one that is tailored to each patient’s unique symptoms and circumstances. As well as an in depth psychiatric evaluation, Dr. Kennedy will use a number of scientifically validated tools to measure the severity of your symptoms and to track your progress through the course of treatment.

    CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) is a form of CBT specifically focused on treating insomnia. The VA has a free app that integrates many of these techniques and resources. It is available for free here:

    Click to access the CBT-I page on the VA website.

    Dr. Kennedy is not responsible for the content of external websites.

  • Absolutely.

    Depression that is more severe or that does not respond to common treatments, is classified as treatment-resistant depression. There are a number of treatments that have been shown to benefit patients with these symptoms, where previous treatments have not been successful. These may include brain stimulation treatments, specialist medication management and novel therapeutics such as ketamine therapy.

    Contact Dr. Kennedy today to schedule and appointment and discuss how treatment may benefit you.

    If these symptoms are impacting you and your life, or if you would like to learn more, schedule an appointment with Dr Kennedy today. Click here to schedule and take the first step in treatment.

  • The National Institute of Mental Health has provided a patient information guide to sleep disorders.

    Click here to access the NIMH insomnia resources.

    (Dr. Nigel I. Kennedy MD PhD is not responsible for the content of external websites)

As a specialist psychiatrist, Dr. Kennedy has extensive clinical experience in treating sleep disorders. Treatment commonly involves medication management to treat the symptoms of anxiety and psychotherapy to identify and treat any underlying psychological issues that may be contributing to symptoms. The first session is an extensive evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and to explore options for treatment. Click here to arrange a brief courtesy call or to schedule an appointment.