Experience Restful Sleep and Renewed Energy
Restoring Sleep, Restoring Health.
Comprehensive Sleep Evaluations
Sleep is foundational to mental and physical wellbeing.
Insomnia Impact
When insomnia becomes persistent—difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking too early—it affects mood, concentration, energy, relationships, and overall quality of life.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Support
At Arizona Mental Wellness, our psychiatry team provides compassionate, evidence-based sleep care, helping you understand the root causes of insomnia and develop personalized, sustainable treatment strategies
Understanding Insomnia From a Psychiatric Perspective
Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation
Insomnia is rarely “just trouble sleeping.”
It is often connected to biological, psychological, and behavioral factors.
During your evaluation, we explore common contributors such as:
- Mood disorders (including depression and bipolar disorder)
- Anxiety disorders (especially nighttime worry or panic)
- ADHD and neurodivergent sleep rhythms
- Trauma, hyperarousal, and intrusive thoughts
- Substance use or withdrawal patterns
- Medical conditions like thyroid changes, chronic pain, or apnea
- Medications that may disrupt sleep
Integrated Behavioral and Lifestyle Approaches
Sleep and mental health are deeply intertwined:
Trauma → vigilance, nightmares, fragmented sleep
Anxiety → racing thoughts late at night
Depression → circadian rhythm disruption
ADHD → delayed sleep phase
Bipolar → insomnia during mania, hypersomnia during depression
Our goal is to understand both what keeps you awake and why, so treatment can actually restore healthy sleep—not just sedate you temporarily.
Comprehensive Insomnia Care
Explore personalized psychiatric evaluation and treatment strategies designed to improve sleep quality and overall wellness.
Comprehensive Psychiatric Evaluation
Your psychiatrist will take time to thoroughly explore your sleep concerns, daily patterns, and overall health.
Assessment includes:
- Current sleep schedule & symptoms
- Evening routines, stimulants, screens, and sleep environment
- Stress load, mental health symptoms, and thought patterns
- Medical contributors and medication interactions
- Co-occurring conditions like anxiety, ADHD, or bipolar symptoms
- Circadian rhythms and behavioral patterns
This evaluation guides a care plan tailored specifically to your sleep needs.
Behavioral & Lifestyle Strategies
Medication works best when paired with sleep-supportive habits (similar to CBT-I principles).
We may recommend:
- Consistent sleep/wake times
- Reduced screen exposure before bed
- Calming pre-sleep rituals
- Stress and anxiety regulation
- Optimized room environment (light, noise, temperature)
- Avoiding caffeine/alcohol late in the day
These strategies promote long-term sleep stability—even after medication ends.
Integrated Care With Psychiatry & Wellness
Since insomnia is strongly influenced by mood, stress, and physiology, many patients benefit from combining psychiatry with wellness-based strategies.
We tailor care to support both the body and the mind.
When to Seek Psychiatric Help for Insomnia
You may benefit from psychiatric support if:
- Sleep disruptions last more than 2–3 weeks
- You wake unrefreshed despite enough hours in bed
- You experience nighttime anxiety or racing thoughts
- You have nightmares or trauma-related sleep issues
- You suspect a condition such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, or anxiety
- Sleep hygiene alone hasn’t worked
Insomnia is a treatable medical condition, not a personal failure.
Medication Options for Insomnia
Medications can be helpful for persistent or severe insomnia, especially when related to anxiety, depression, ADHD, or trauma.
Your psychiatrist will discuss benefits, risks, and alternatives.
Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotics
(Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata)
✔ Helpful for falling/staying asleep
✔ Low dependency risk compared to older sedatives
Melatonin Receptor Agonists
(Rozerem, melatonin)
Ideal for circadian rhythm issues or neurodivergent sleep cycles.
Sedating Antidepressants
(Trazodone, Mirtazapine, Doxepin)
Useful when insomnia co-occurs with depression, anxiety, or stress-related patterns.
Adjunctive Sleep-Supportive Medications
(Hydroxyzine, Gabapentin)
Helpful for nighttime anxiety, pain, or hyperarousal.
Benzodiazepines (used sparingly)
(Temazepam, Lorazepam)
Short-term only due to dependency and tolerance risk.
Medication is just one tool—we aim to combine it with behavioral strategies for long-lasting improvement.
Discover Better Sleep Solutions
Take the first step toward restful nights with personalized care and expert guidance.
A: A psychiatric provider evaluates the underlying causes of insomnia—including anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, medication effects, or medical contributors. Treatment may include sleep-focused medications, circadian rhythm support, or strategies targeting co-occurring mental health conditions.
A: Not always. Many people improve with behavioral changes, circadian rhythm alignment, anxiety treatment, or lifestyle modifications. Medication may be recommended when symptoms are severe, persistent, or connected to another mental-health condition.
A: Depending on your symptoms, your psychiatrist may recommend melatonin agonists, short-term sleep aids, sedating antidepressants, or off-label medications that support relaxation and sleep continuity
A: Yes. Insomnia often occurs alongside anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, or trauma. Treating the underlying condition frequently improves sleep without long-term sleep medication.
A: Both can be helpful. Psychiatry supports sleep through evaluation and medication management, while wellness strategies—such as sleep hygiene and stress reduction—help improve long-term sleep quality. Many patients benefit from a combined approach.