At some time or other in our lives, nearly everybody will experience difficulties with their sleep. The causes can vary greatly from a physical problem, such as toothache or a bad back, or nervous anticipation about an approaching event, such as giving a presentation, or going on a trip. Or it may just be something out of your control such as a noisy neighbour.
Insomnia may take different forms. Some people will get a solid 8 hours sleep but still awake feeling tired and restless. Others may not be able to fall asleep for many hours and just lie there tossing and turning trying to fall asleep and making their insomnia worse. And others will fall asleep quickly and wake up an hour or two later and be unable to drop off again. The variations in the types of insomnia are huge and are often unique to the particular individual.
Everybody has a natural ability to have a regular, deep, long and healthy sleep. Frequently sleep problems are caused by a disruption to this natural cycle, and the establishment of a new disrupted pattern.
We do not all need the same amount of sleep, in fact it varies greatly from individual to individual. Some people may need only five or six hours, where as others may need eight or nine. The important thing is not the length of time asleep, but the quality of the sleep you are getting. If you awake completely refreshed and rejuvenated then you are getting enough sleep.
Sleeping pills and medications can help you get through a temporary sleeping difficulty, but prescription drugs can sometimes exacerbate your insomnia. Also sleeping pills do not always allow the deep quality of sleep that your body, and mind, requires. Drugs can inhibit your REM sleep. REM is short for ‘rapid eye movement’ and it is during REM sleep that we are dreaming. A reduction in rapid eye movement sleep has been associated with anxiety, irritability and short tempers.
If you are having difficulties with your sleep then it is a problem with your programming, the habits that your mind has slipped into. Your mind is like a computer and when your learn how to do something, any new skill, it is stored in your unconscious. This is a habit, and problems with insomnia are due to a bad habit you have formed.
Therefore the secret to curing your insomnia is to form a new, natural and healthy sleeping habit. And this is where hypnotherapy can help. Hypnosis bypasses your conscious mind and enables you (you, not the hypnotherapist) to re-programme your subconscious.
Also as hypnosis is based on relaxing the body and the mind, learning this skill alone can help many people overcome their sleep problems. As you learn and practise self-hypnosis gradually your sleep pattern will return to a healthy and natural state and your health and mood will improve!
Mark Boardman BSc dip.hyp is an experienced Hypnotherapist and highly qualified EFT and TAT practitioner. PLease visit these links for more information.
Insomniac
Hypnotherapy
