It’s 2 a.m. and you’re wide awake again, counting the hours until the alarm. Maybe you fall asleep fine but wake at 4 and stay up, or sleep all night and still feel unrested. By afternoon you’re running on caffeine, and by evening you’re already dreading bedtime.
Common experiences
- Lying awake for a long time before falling asleep
- Waking in the night and struggling to drift back off
- Waking up much earlier than you planned
- Feeling unrefreshed after a full night in bed
- Daytime fatigue, irritability, or brain fog
- Worrying about sleep itself as bedtime gets closer
- Relying on alcohol, sleep aids, or screens to wind down
- Sleep trouble that has lasted for weeks or months
Poor sleep is rarely just about sleep.
Insomnia often has company. Anxiety, depression, pain, stress, shift work, medications, caffeine, and habits that build up over time can all keep your brain in daytime mode at night. Once poor sleep sets in, worry about sleep can keep the cycle going.
It isn’t a sign that you’re doing something wrong or not trying hard enough to relax. Trying harder to sleep usually backfires. What helps is finding what’s driving the problem and addressing it directly.
Your first visit: finding what’s keeping you up
Your first appointment is a 60-minute psychiatric evaluation focused on your sleep and everything that affects it.
What the evaluation covers
- Your sleep pattern: bedtime, wake time, night waking, naps, and how long this has been going on
- Medical and psychiatric history, including anxiety, depression, pain, and signs of other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea
- Medications and sleep aids you’ve tried, including over-the-counter ones
- Caffeine, alcohol, screens, your work schedule, and how you feel during the day
- Your personal context, including stress and what’s happening in your life
Your treatment plan may include
- Medication management when clinically appropriate, chosen with care for safety and how you feel the next morning
- Education about sleep and practical changes that support it
- Referral to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), a well-studied approach, when it fits
- Coordination with your primary care provider or a sleep specialist if another sleep disorder may be involved
- Follow-up visits to track progress and adjust
Medication is one tool, used with a clear purpose. The goal is sleep that leaves you rested and clear-headed, not just more hours in bed.
How care works at Mode Psychiatry
Good psychiatric care takes time, teamwork, and honest explanations. Here is what that looks like for you.
Time to tell the whole story
Your first visit is a full 60 minutes, so we understand your history and what matters to you before recommending anything.
Decisions made together
You set the pace. We talk through the options, and nothing changes in your plan without your input.
Clear answers in plain language
You’ll know what your diagnosis means, why a treatment is suggested, and what to watch for. Ask anything, at any visit.
Care from home, anywhere in Florida.
Every visit happens by secure video, so getting care fits into your life instead of taking it over.
- Secure, HIPAA-compliant video visits from your phone or computer
- Available anywhere in Florida; you just need to be in the state during each visit
- No commute, no waiting room, no time off just to travel
- Consistent 30-minute follow-ups with a provider who knows your history
Frequently asked questions
Will you just prescribe a sleeping pill?
Not automatically. Medication can help some people, but it works best as part of a plan that addresses what’s keeping you up. We’ll talk through options, including approaches that don’t involve medication.
Could my insomnia be connected to anxiety or depression?
Often, yes. Sleep problems and mood or anxiety symptoms tend to feed each other. The evaluation looks at both, so your plan can address the whole picture.
What if I snore or stop breathing at night?
Loud snoring, gasping, or pauses in breathing can point to sleep apnea, which needs its own testing. If that comes up, we’ll coordinate with your primary care provider or a sleep specialist.
What happens at the first appointment?
It’s a 60-minute video visit. We’ll go over your symptoms, medical and psychiatric history, past medications, sleep, and daily life, and talk about what you’d like to be different. Medication may come up, but no decision is forced or rushed. You’ll leave with clear next steps and a follow-up date.
Do you take insurance?
Yes. We’re in network with Aetna, Cigna, Oscar, and UnitedHealthcare through Headway, and self-pay is available ($250 for the 60-minute evaluation, $125 for 30-minute follow-ups). We’ll verify your coverage before your first visit, so you know what to expect.
Is care available in Russian?
Yes. The entire process, from the first evaluation to follow-up visits, can be done in Russian, in English, or switching between the two.
Restful nights are worth working toward.
You don’t have to keep bargaining with the clock. Booking takes a few minutes, and we’ll take it from there.
Written by Nick Dolin, PMHNP-BC. This page is general information, not medical advice.