Hypnosis for Sleep

I work with many clients for sleep issues.  Some clients want to reduce their dependence on sleep medications, others want to be able to easily drift to sleep and turn off the rambling in their heads, and some want help with staying asleep throughout the night.  If you suffer from any of these sleep issues, you are not alone. 

We all know how we feel when we fail to sleep well; we can feel cranky, we don’t think as clearly and find it hard to focus after just a few nights of poor sleep.  Sleep deprivation can cause your brain to function inefficiently. You may find yourself having trouble making decisions or solving problems.  When you are sleep deficient, your emotions may feel out of control; you are more likely to get angry or feel impulsive and experience mood swings.

Losing sleep can increase your overall stress levels and your reaction to stress. While a certain amount of stress is a normal part of everyday life, being sleep deprived makes those normal stressors seem much worse. This can begin a vicious cycle, where you lose sleep due to stress, which increases your stress, which keeps you from sleeping.

Lack of sleep has also been linked to many chronic health conditions, including heart and kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. It can also increase the risk of stroke. Your body requires sleep to repair the wear and tear on your heart and blood vessels as well as the rest of your body.

If you are sleep deprived, it can also interfere with insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar. Less sleep can equal higher blood sugar, which increases the risk of diabetes.   Insomnia and lack of sleep has also been linked weight gain. Sleep helps keep your hormones in balance. When you are sleep deprived, your body ends up producing more Ghrelin (which makes you hungry) and less Leptin (which makes you feel full).

 Getting good, restful sleep is vital, both for your body and your mind to function properly.  So how can we improve our ability to sleep well naturally?  The first step is to practice good sleep habits, or hygiene.  Below are some sleep habits that can help:
 

• Set a regular bedtime and wake up at the same time each day.  

Go to bed at the same time every night, even on weekends, when it may be tempting to stay up late.  Just as with your bedtime, wake up at the same time each day.

• Exercise.  

Exercise has been shown to boost the effect of natural sleep hormones such as melatonin.  Just be sure not to exercise vigorously right before bedtime.  Morning exercise is ideal.

•   A comfortable bedroom used for sleep and sex only.
  

Make sure your bedroom is comfortable, cool and dark, without light from television or computer screens, and a place for sleep and sex only.  Do not be answering texts and emails, making phone calls or watching stimulating programs on TV.  The bedroom should represent a reprieve from all the activity of the day.

• Watch what you consume.

Nicotine, caffeine and sugar are stimulants that can keep you awake at night. Alcohol may make you feel tired at first, but can ultimately disrupt your sleep. Limiting your intake of any of these will make you healthier overall and allow you to have better quality sleep.

• Create a sleep ritual.

Sleep rituals help prepare the body and mind for sleep.  Drink a cup of chamomile tea, take a bubble bath or listen to calming music to unwind before bed.

• Get an evaluation.

Loud snoring, urges to move your legs, burning in your stomach, chest or throat can be symptoms of an underlying medical condition.  You will want to rule out or be treated for obstructive sleep apnea or other disorders by your physician.

• Hypnosis for sleep.

If your insomnia is not a health problem and you've tried the other steps to improve your sleep without complete success, hypnosis can help you enjoy restful, high quality sleep once again. With hypnosis you can turn off the high volume of thoughts in your head, or adjust any subconscious beliefs keeping you from the rejuvenating sleep you need.

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