Mind Link · Neurology
Insomnia & Sleep Disorder Treatment in Florida
Sleep that doesn't depend on getting lucky.
Medically reviewed by Victor Diaz-Cotrina, MD — Neurologist & Vascular Neurologist
Chronic insomnia is trouble falling or staying asleep at least three nights a week for three months or more, with real consequences during the day. It's rarely just one thing — untreated sleep apnea, restless legs, circadian rhythm shifts, mood, and pain all feed into it. Treating the sleep problem means finding which of those is actually driving it.
Neurology at Mind Link is delivered by secure video visit anywhere in Florida — an added service alongside our in-person psychiatric care in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Signs & symptoms
- Lying awake for long stretches at the start of the night
- Waking repeatedly, or far earlier than intended
- Daytime fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating
- Dreading bedtime, or anxiety about sleep itself
- Relying on alcohol or over-the-counter aids to fall asleep
What the evaluation covers
- Screening for sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome
- Reviewing sleep timing, schedule, and habits in detail
- Cognitive behavioral approaches for insomnia (CBT-I), the first-line treatment
- Reviewing medications and substances that fragment sleep
- Careful, time-limited use of sleep medication when it's warranted
Insomnia & Sleep Disorders Q&A
What counts as chronic insomnia?
Difficulty falling or staying asleep at least three nights a week, for three months or more, with real consequences during the day — fatigue, irritability, or trouble concentrating. The daytime part matters: sleeping fewer hours than average isn't a disorder if you feel fine. A stretch of bad nights during a stressful period is common and usually passes on its own.
What causes insomnia?
Frequently something other than sleep itself. Untreated sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, pain, reflux, anxiety and depression, shift work, alcohol, and certain medications all fragment sleep. Insomnia also becomes self-sustaining: after enough difficult nights, the bed itself starts to trigger alertness, and effort to sleep makes it worse. Finding which of these is actually driving it is most of the work.
What is CBT-I, and why is it recommended first?
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is a short, structured program that resets sleep timing, breaks the association between bed and wakefulness, and addresses the anxiety that builds around sleeping. It is the recommended first-line treatment for chronic insomnia — it outperforms medication over the long run, and the benefit persists after the program ends rather than fading when you stop.
Are sleep medications ever appropriate?
Yes, used deliberately and for a defined period — during an acute crisis, or alongside CBT-I while it takes hold. What's worth avoiding is drifting into indefinite nightly use, where tolerance builds and stopping produces a rebound that looks like proof the medication was necessary. Some over-the-counter sleep aids also carry real long-term risks, particularly for older adults.
How we approach insomnia and sleep care
Neurological evaluation
A full history and review of prior imaging, testing, and records before anything is decided — so the diagnosis is the right starting point.
Medication management
Choosing, adjusting, and monitoring treatment over time, with prescriptions sent electronically to your Florida pharmacy.
Coordinated care
Working alongside your primary care physician, therapists, and any specialists already involved, rather than in parallel with them.
What to expect
- 1
Request a visit
Tell us what's been happening and we'll schedule a video appointment, usually within days.
- 2
Send your records
Prior imaging, test results, and notes are reviewed before your visit so the time is spent on you, not on catching up.
- 3
Your video consultation
A full neurological consultation by secure video — history, discussion of findings, and a clear explanation of what's going on.
- 4
Plan and follow-up
You leave with a written plan, any prescriptions or referrals needed, and a scheduled point to check back in.
Related neurology services
Talk to a neurologist
Video visits with a board-certified neurologist, available anywhere in Florida.
Contact Mind Link