About hypnosis

Millions of people suffer from insomnia, and hypnosis can be an effective treatment for it. Getting a good’s night sleep is essential for us to function well throughout the day. It is also crucial for maintaining good health. When you struggle with insomnia, it can have significant impact on how you feel as well as how you function. Chronic insomnia can be detrimental to every aspect of your life. Your relationships can suffer because you are tired and irritable. Your work can suffer because it is difficult to focus and get your work done efficiently and effectively. And your health suffers because your body is simply not getting the rest it needs to keep your cells and organs healthy and revitalized. 

There are various types of insomnia. For some people, the primary problem is falling asleep at night. You can probably think of many times when you have gone to bed and your mind was busy with worrisome or anxious thoughts, processing a conflict that occurred, or thinking about everything you need to do the next day. It is very hard to relax and go to sleep when your brain won’t shut off.  Other people go to sleep but wake up during the night, often several times, and eventually go back to sleep. Yet others will fall asleep and sleep for a few hours, only to find themselves waking unusually early and not fully rested, and unable to go back to sleep. 

If you struggle with insomnia you may want to try hypnosis. While there are medications which can help you sleep, the quality of your sleep is often compromised when you take them.  Also, most sleep medications are either addictive and can be used only short term, or they become ineffective as you build up a tolerance to them. So hypnosis can be a much more effective, not to mention safer, alternative.

While you may want to see a professional hypnotherapist regarding your insomnia, you could also benefit from listening to hypnosis CDs which are designed specifically for sleep issues.  But you can also improve your sleep by using some self-hypnosis techniques.  You can use these regularly for as long as needed, and again periodically if indicated. 

To hypnotize yourself, the first thing you need to do is make sure you are very comfortable and that there are no distractions. The initial goal is to achieve a state of deep relaxation. It is often helpful to close your eyes and focus on taking slow, deep breaths for a few minutes. Then start suggesting to yourself that you are feeling very relaxed and sleepy. If it is difficult to relax your body, you may start with your toes and feet, tensing then relaxing them a few times. From your feet work upwards through the various muscle groups in your body, ending with your neck and facial muscles.  This is referred to as progressive relaxation. 

As you begin to feel more and more relaxed, you begin visualizing yourself in a very peaceful, tranquil place such as a mountain meadow filled with wildflowers or a quiet tropical beach.  It is important that you keep your thoughts focused on this mental image. Continue breathing in a deep and slow manner. 

You may choose to make affirming statements to yourself which align with your goal of sleeping. For example you could say, “I fall asleep easily and sleep well throughout the night.  I wake up refreshed and energized every morning.” These statements are suggestions for your unconscious mind, which will help bring about the desired changes in your sleep. Continue to say these a few times to yourself, all the while maintaining the peaceful image in your mind. 

In addition to attaining a level of relaxation necessary for good sleep, you are also learning to control your thoughts. You will get better at this with practice. If you do find yourself waking up at some point in the night, you can do this same process again until you find yourself falling back to sleep. Self-hypnosis can be a powerful technique when done correctly. In time, you may find that your insomnia is no longer an issue.