Hypnosis & Hypnotherapy For Insomnia

Insomnia is the perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep because of one or more of the following:

• unrefreshing sleep
• difficulty falling asleep
• waking up frequently during the night with difficulty returning to sleep
• waking up too early in the morning

The following behaviors have been shown to perpetuate insomnia in some people:

• expecting to have difficulty sleeping and worrying about it
• ingesting excessive amounts of caffeine
• drinking alcohol before bedtime
• smoking cigarettes before bedtime
• excessive napping in the afternoon or evening
• irregular or continually disrupted sleep/wake schedules

These behaviors may prolong existing insomnia, and they can also be responsible for causing the sleeping problem in the first place. Stopping these behaviors may eliminate the insomnia altogether.

Chronic insomnia is more complex and often results from a combination of factors, including underlying physical or mental disorders. One of the most common causes of chronic insomnia is depression. Other underlying causes include arthritis, kidney disease, heart failure, asthma, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs syndrome, Parkinson's disease, and hyperthyroidism. However, chronic insomnia may also be due to behavioral factors, including the misuse of caffeine, alcohol, or other substances; disrupted sleep/wake cycles as may occur with shift work or other nighttime activity schedules and chronic stress.

Treatment of insomnia involves several aspects. First, if your insomnia is severe, have your physician diagnose and treat underlying medical or psychological problems. If no pathological or psychological disorder is found, hypnosis can be considered to help you get to sleep.

During hypnosis you will identify behaviors that may worsen insomnia and stop or reducing them. Behavioral techniques to improve sleep, such as relaxation therapy, sleep restriction therapy, and reconditioning will also be taught as well as self-hypnosis

You will need to evaluate your pre-sleeping habits and be ready to exchange some of those habits for new ones. You will also need to practice self-hypnosis regularly and frequently. These combined efforts will allow you to sleep regularly, deeply and soundly.