A medical device for initiating onset of sleep through controlled delivery of bilateral stimulation to a patient, the device comprising: a first and second stimulation module for providing bilateral stimulation to at least two bilateral positions on opposite lateral sides of the patient's body such that one position is stimulated in one period of time and a second position is stimulated in another period of time; one or more physiological sensors configured to be positioned on the patient to provide feedback for modifying the bilateral stimulation to the patient; and a controller, which is in communication with the stimulation modules and physiological sensors to optimize bilateral stimulation to the patient for initiation of the onset of sleep in response to the physiological feedback from the sensors, wherein the feedback from the physiological sensors together with the modification to the stimulation modules is configured to maintain a state of sleep in the patient after the onset of sleep, characterized in that the bilateral stimulation is a repeating pattern of stimulation configured to be alternately applied to opposite lateral sides of the patient's body and controlled in response to the physiological feedback from the sensors, said pattern comprising: a first period of time during which the first stimulation module is activated; a second period of time when no stimulation module is activated; a third period of time during which the second stimulation module is activated; a fourth period of time when no stimulation module is activated. a first and second stimulation module for providing bilateral stimulation to at least two bilateral positions on opposite lateral sides of the patient's body such that one position is stimulated in one period of time and a second position is stimulated in another period of time; one or more physiological sensors configured to be positioned on the patient to provide feedback for modifying the bilateral stimulation to the patient; and a controller, which is in communication with the stimulation modules and physiological sensors to optimize bilateral stimulation to the patient for initiation of the onset of sleep in response to the physiological feedback from the sensors, wherein the feedback from the physiological sensors together with the modification to the stimulation modules is configured to maintain a state of sleep in the patient after the onset of sleep, characterized in that the bilateral stimulation is a repeating pattern of stimulation configured to be alternately applied to opposite lateral sides of the patient's body and controlled in response to the physiological feedback from the sensors, said pattern comprising: a first period of time during which the first stimulation module is activated; a second period of time when no stimulation module is activated; a third period of time during which the second stimulation module is activated; a fourth period of time when no stimulation module is activated. a first period of time during which the first stimulation module is activated; a second period of time when no stimulation module is activated; a third period of time during which the second stimulation module is activated; a fourth period of time when no stimulation module is activated.