Preparing for an Insomnia Doctor Appointment
Insomnia is often dismissed as stress or something you should "just fix" with lifestyle changes — but chronic insomnia significantly impacts health and quality of life and deserves proper assessment. Your GP needs to understand your sleep pattern, any contributing factors, and impact on daytime functioning to recommend appropriate treatment, whether that is cognitive behavioural therapy, medication, or both.
Reviewed by the Brief My Doctor editorial team · Last updated June 2026
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What to tell your doctor
- 1When insomnia started and whether it was sudden or gradual
- 2Whether you have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both
- 3How long it takes to fall asleep once you are in bed
- 4How many times per night you wake and how long awake
- 5Wake time and whether it is early morning awakening
- 6Sleep quality: whether sleep feels restful
- 7Daytime impact: fatigue, cognitive fog, mood, motivation
- 8Triggers: stress, life events, travel, stimulant use
- 9What helps: any techniques or habits that improve sleep
- 10Previous treatments tried: medications, therapy, supplements
Questions to ask your doctor
- Q1.Could medical conditions or medications be contributing?
- Q2.Do you recommend cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I)?
- Q3.What are medication options and side effects?
- Q4.Should I try any sleep supplements?
- Q5.What is the role of sleep hygiene changes?
- Q6.Should I keep a sleep diary? If so, for how long?
- Q7.Should I see a sleep specialist?
- Q8.How long until I should expect improvement?
Don't forget to bring
- ✓Sleep diary covering at least one week with sleep times, wake times, sleep quality
- ✓List of current medications and supplements, including caffeine and alcohol use
- ✓Daytime symptoms and impact documentation
- ✓Any triggers you have identified
- ✓Information about stress or life events coinciding with insomnia onset
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