Trouble sleeping: when does it need help?
Insomnia disorder means trouble falling or staying asleep, or waking too early, three nights a week or more for three months or longer, with tiredness and poor concentration by day. See a doctor sooner if poor sleep comes with low mood or anxiety.
Last updated 2 November 2026
Signs
- difficulty falling asleep
- waking in the night or too early
- unrefreshing sleep
- daytime tiredness and irritability
- poor concentration
What a psychiatrist looks at
A psychiatrist asks about your sleep pattern, caffeine, alcohol, screens, shift work and mood. They also check for anxiety, depression, sleep apnoea and pain, which can sit behind poor sleep.
What helps
- Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the first-line treatment, and its benefits last after treatment ends.
- Regular sleep and wake times and a wind-down routine.
- Care for anxiety or low mood if they are driving the sleeplessness.
When to get help soon
Seek help if poor sleep comes with low mood, panic or thoughts of harming yourself. Call Tele-MANAS on 14416 or 112.
What to do next
To read more, see insomnia and sleep disorders. If poor sleep has lasted for weeks, you can talk to a psychiatrist online. Mindly sees people online in every Indian city, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad. See online psychiatrist in India.
How to start
- Call or message us. Reach us on +91 90352 54779 or WhatsApp. Tell us your language and a convenient time.
- Free pre-consultation call. Our team takes your history and prepares a report for your clinician, so you do not repeat yourself.
- Video session. You meet your allotted clinician online, from home or wherever you feel comfortable.
- Your plan. The clinician explains what they find and the next steps. You decide together.
Book your free pre-consultation call
Your privacy and confidentiality. What you share with Mindly Health stays between you and your care team. Your conversations, reports and messages are treated as confidential and shared only with the team members involved in your care, apart from the limited cases where the law requires it or someone's safety is at serious risk. Read our Privacy Policy and your rights under the Mental Healthcare Act.
Common questions
When should I see a doctor about sleep?
If poor sleep has lasted several weeks, affects your day, or comes with low mood or anxiety.
Is CBT-I better than waiting it out?
Insomnia that lasts months rarely clears by itself. CBT-I targets the habits and worries that keep it going.
Related
- Insomnia disorder
- Hypersomnia
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Baby blues or postpartum depression?
- Is online psychiatry legal in India?
- Your rights under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
Sources
Mindly Health is not an emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital. For free support at any hour, call Tele-MANAS on 14416.