Working with clients who are suffering with sleep problems is one of the most rewarding parts of being a hypnotherapist – not because of any sadistic pleasure taken in seeing the genuine misery that sleep deprivation causes, but because of the opportunity, through hypnotherapy, to make a very significant difference to the quality of life of the sufferer. And often in a surprisingly short period of time.
Sleep issues can take many forms, perhaps presenting as either difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, or waking too early each morning. In some instances you may find yourself struggling to sleep at the proper time, only to fall into a deep sleep that is difficult to wake up from just before the alarm goes off. These patterns are often the mind’s way of signalling to you that there’s something in your daily life that needs addressing.
Problems with sleep can have their roots in many different causes, often related to or exacerbated by issues such as anxiety, stress or depression (any medical concerns should always be checked out with your GP). Most of us can cope if sleep loss is for just a few night but if left unchecked it rapidly becomes debilitating and has a significant knock-on effect in all areas of everyday life causing, amongst other, things low energy, poor concentration and irritability.
The cycle can be difficult to break – poor sleep leads to worrying and worrying can make good quality sleep even more elusive. Unhealthy sleep patterns can quickly become established and because you start to “expect” poor sleep this becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
It is important to address sleep issues, not only because of the obvious impact on daily life, but also because of the longer term health issues, some of which can become serious and even life threatening. Links between healthy sleep patterns and mental health are well documented but did you know that sleep deprivation has also been linked to a number of physical health issues, including a weakened immune system, obesity, type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart conditions?
If you are suffering as a result of poor sleep, one of the options you could consider is hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy addresses the subconscious part of your brain, helping to reset unhealthy patterns and address underlying issues of stress, anxiety or depression – a positive step towards making healthy and restful sleep a reality again.