Can't Sleep, Won't Sleep? Hypnotherapy For Insomnia
I am turning my attention this month to a health issue that has had a lot of coverage recently - Insomnia, the inability to get off or stay asleep.
The nights are drawing in and as nights get longer, those of us who find it hard to sleep can feel more desperate than ever at this time of year, tossing and turning or just not getting enough of the restful sleep we need to be healthy and alert. Sleep is increasingly linked to many aspects of overall health and well-being, and it seems that more and more of us are finding it hard to get a good night’s sleep.
Factors including stress and busy lives are well documented, but the environment we live in, including use of computers in the evening, light from e-readers, phones in the bedroom, all seem to add to the problem. It feels like every newspaper or magazine is filled with ‘helpful’ suggestions or products that aim to solve the problem; to help people get off to sleep and get that magical eight hours of good quality rest. Whatever the reason, there is increasing evidence that we are affected adversely in a number of ways.
It has been found that people suffering from severe Insomnia have a poor quality of life similar to those who have chronic health problems, such as heart disease. If you are suffering from Insomnia, in addition to just not feeling sharp, it can affect dietary choices which in itself can affect health and sleep patterns. You may find it hard to concentrate, have memory disturbance, not to mention irritability, and you may well find yourself making more mistakes at work and school. It can also have a very negative impact on relationships at home and work.
How soon does lack of sleep impact on our lives? An Australian study reported that 17 hours of sleep deprivation causes impaired performance levels comparable to those found in people who have blood alcohol levels indicating intoxication.
So if lack of sleep is causing issues for you, you may well be actively hunting for different sources of help. Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy that is being increasingly accepted as helpful for people experiencing symptoms related to lack of sleep. An increasing number of my clients are presenting with issues directly or indirectly related to lack of sleep. A key component of therapy is helping in the process of restoring sleep patterns to as normal a level as possible and relevant for the client.
Too much pressure can lead to stress and a range of physical and mental health problems, including the inability to sleep. Sleep and well-being are inter-related and affect the way you think, feel and behave, impacting every area of your life at any age. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy offers powerful techniques and strategies to enable you to deal with issues that can result in, or be as a result of, sleep and rest deprivation. It can help you to think and behave in a more positive way that has many health benefits, including an ability to 'switch off' and rest at night.
In the initial consultation I explain how the brain works in relation to stress and sleep. It’s really important that my clients understand this as it’s a very important component of this approach. As a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist I encourage clients to focus on how they want things to be. Problem talk is avoided and instead I help my clients to visualise their 'preferred future'. By encouraging my clients to think and express themselves positively, it can help to improve their responses to life’s stressors that enable them to sufficiently relax and sleep. It’s a very effective form of therapy for Insomnia, it’s relaxing and people enjoy it too!