Zofie, our Clinical Hypnotherapist writes:

As a practicing Clinical Hypnotherapist I have worked with many clients presenting with sleep problems. These have ranged from clients not being able to get to sleep, to some individuals who have the ability to fall asleep but then wake during the night as well those suffering from terrifying nightmares. A number of clients presenting with such problems have suffered in this way for many years and arrive with little hope that I can help. As such it is often quite difficult to persuade people that insomnia and poor sleep patterns can be helped in a matter of days or weeks.

In my role as a therapist I firstly ask all sorts of questions relating to the sufferer’s lifestyle and daily schedule as well as probing into their stress levels and what stressors are present in their life. In every case in my experience, what the client is unwittingly doing on a day to day basis to keep the problem going has become apparent very quickly.
Sometimes a particular event can act as a trigger for the sleep problem and although the event is subsequently dealt with, unfortunately by this time the sufferer has got into the habit of not sleeping or not sleeping well. When facing this challenge alone, the habit can be incredibly hard to shift. For others there doesn’t appear to be a particular trigger although sometimes it is set off by progressively rising stress levels.

In either event, through obtaining help in managing stress levels, which is then backed up by suggestion work and guidance to help you break old habits, longstanding problems can be shifted quickly. For many individuals coping with a lack of sleep they are stuck in a difficult vicious cycle which can seem almost impossible to break without help; the fear of not sleeping ultimately leads to certain rituals or habits being formed which further serve to strengthen the fear and as a consequence, the problem.

Many sufferers will relate to the idea of the law of revered effect which states: “the harder you try the harder it becomes” and this is especially true for sleep! But it can be incredibly hard to stop trying when it has become habitual which is where intense relaxation and confidence building can help.

Hypnotherapy can help you to bridge the gap between the fear of not sleeping and breaking the mould thereby creating new and healthy sleep habits. If you would like help and advice on how to deal with a sleep disorder or anything similar please get in touch. I can be contacted on 0117 922 1542 and 07966 094 979.
Zofie
Clinical Hypnotherapist
DHP.HPD.MAPHP.MNCH
CBT Trained