Sleeplessness / Insomnia

In today’s busy world many people suffer from not being able to sleep properly which is known as insomnia.  It is stated that more than half of the UK’s adult population do not get a good night’s sleep and suffer from insomnia symptoms.  The importance of sleep cannot be underestimated as natural restorative sleep is essential in order for us to function at our optimal level.  You are likely to have insomnia if you regularly experience some of the following:-

• Find it difficult to drift off to sleep.
• Awake during the night.
• Lie awake at night.
• Awake earlier than needed and then can’t go back to sleep.
• Still feel tired after waking up.
• Feel tired and irritable during the day.
• Find it hard to nap during the day even though you’re tired.
• Find concentration difficult because you’re tired.

Symptoms can be present for just a few nights, to several months, or sometimes even years.  It is recommended that adults have 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.  If you’re constantly tired during the day you probably don’t get enough sleep.

The most common causes of insomnia includes:

• Stress, anxiety and depression.
• Noise
• A room that is too hot or cold.
• Uncomfortable beds.
• Too much alcohol, caffeine or nicotine.
• Recreational drugs like Cocaine or Ecstasy.
• Jet lag or shift work.

Some things that you can do to help yourself includes:

• Go to bed when you feel tired.
• Go to bed and waking up at the same time every day.
• Relax for at least 1 hour before bed e.g. take a bath or read a book.
• Ensure your bedroom is dark and quiet – e.g. use thick curtains or black-out blinds, an eye mask and ear plugs.
• Be active during the day and don’t exercise 4 hours before going to bed.
• Ensure your mattress and pillows are comfortable.
• Don’t smoke, drink alcohol, tea or coffee at least 6 hours before going to bed.
• Don’t eat a big meal late at night.
• Don’t watch television or other devices up until going to bed – the bright light makes you more awake.
• Don’t nap during the day.
• Don’t drive when you feel sleepy.
• Don’t sleep in after a bad night’s sleep – stick to your regular sleeping hours instead.

Some people decide to get sleeping tablets from their GP to help with insomnia. However, whilst it may help in the short term it does not address the underlying problem and people often experience negative side effects from the medication.

How can hypnotherapy help with insomnia?

Difficulty in sleeping can have several causes and using hypnotherapy is an effective way to identify the causes, address them and re-programme the mind to get back into a healthier sleeping pattern in order that you can start to recharge your batteries in the most natural way.

The number of sessions required varies as every client is unique but most insomnia clients only need four to six sessions (usually weekly).