Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to get to sleep or stay asleep. Some people may experience waking early in the morning and have difficulty falling asleep again. People with insomnia often feel tired during the day and struggle to do day-to-day activities, as sleep deprivation impacts brain functioning and physical wellness. It can cause you to feel irritable, increase blood pressure, exacerbate chronic pain, and increase anxiety or depression.

It varies depending on which substances you use. Drinking alcohol can cause difficulties in both falling asleep and staying asleep, and withdrawal from alcohol can also cause insomnia. Cocaine and other stimulants (including caffeine) disturb your circadian rhythms, making it harder to fall asleep. Opioids may be sedating at first, but over time they disrupt sleep quality, and insomnia can linger even after you stop taking them. Cannabis use is associated with less time spent in REM sleep. All of these substances affect brain chemistry and impact your sleep patterns.

First, you will be given an assessment to help your provider understand the nature and severity of your sleep problem. Then your care team may recommend finding a provider that offers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which may include sleep hygiene education, relaxation therapy, stimulus control therapy, and sleep restriction therapy. They may also prescribe non-habit-forming sleep medicine when appropriate.

No. We recognize that many doctors do prescribe benzodiazepines for insomnia. Because they have a high risk of physical dependence and of dangerous interaction with Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone), Workit Health’s policy is not to prescribe benzos.