Sleep Medicine vs. Psychiatry: Where to Go for Sleep Anxiety or Nightmares?
If you can't sleep, you're not the only one who suffers from this. Many people deal with sleep anxiety, frequent nightmares, or wake up feeling worse than when they went to bed. The hard part? Knowing who to ask for help. Should you see a sleep doctor or a psychiatrist? Here’s how to figure it out. What is sleep medicine? Sleep medicine focuses on the science of sleep. Doctors in this field treat sleep problems like insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs, or unusual sleep behaviors like sleepwalking. These issues are often linked to how your brain and body function during sleep. If you snore loudly, stop breathing at night, or wake up gasping, a sleep doctor is the right person. If you can’t fall asleep or stay asleep without any clear reason, they can also help. Sleep medicine specialists often use tools like sleep studies or home sleep tests. They might suggest CPAP therapy, lifestyle changes, or even light therapy. They treat sleep as a physical and neurological proces...