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Hypnosis for Sleep Problems

Hypnosis can aid in the treatment of certain sleep disorders, especially bed-wetting and insomnia. Although some may be skeptical of the effectiveness of hypnosis to treat sleep disorders, it has been used as a treatment for sleep disorders since the 1930s. Through hypnosis, people can explore the underlying emotional issues that may be disrupting their sleep.

The Practice of Hypnosis Therapies

When a person is hypnotized, he enters a trance-like state in which the mind is open to suggestion within a narrow focus. A therapist addresses the identified stresses or triggers during this stage to help induce a healthful rest at home. A receptive patient can gain greater control over sleep disorders with vocal encouragement that addresses memories, images and emotions.

In clinical situations, an individual and therapist agree on what will happen in the suggestive state. A therapist may keep the individual in a hypnotic state to reinforce positive behaviors for later implementation. These would include the ability to reach a relaxed plateau at any time and strategies that reduce anxiety.

Keep in mind that a hypnotic sleep is different from a normal night's cycle of deep sleep. Under hypnosis, therapists and practitioners can influence the mind and the body. They can alter disorders and reach toward creating effective sleep patterns. Hypnosis is an effective way to re-train the mind to release the day's worries and concentrate on a full night of rest. Whether a troubled sleeper sees a therapist or practices self-hypnosis, this technique helps people achieve a relaxed state of mind to reach deeper levels of sleep.

Treating Sleep Disorders with Hypnosis

Individuals suffer from nighttime issues in one of two ways: they experience trouble falling asleep and/or are subject to repeated wakening throughout the night. The following sleep disorders respond well to hypnosis therapies:

Bed wetting, a serious issue for many ages, can occur as young as five and may taper off in the teens. Hypnosis been proven to identify and resolve behaviors that cause bed wetting.
Insomnia may be mild or critical, temporary or long-standing. Depression, emotional disturbances, exercise and medication can induce this sleep disorder. Insomnia responds well to hypnotic-induced treatment.
Nightmares area sleep problem that responds to hypnosis. In the hypnotic state, therapists calm the anxiety or stress that may cause terrifying dreams.
Sleep walking, also known as somnambulism, can occur at any age. It only occurs during deep sleep, rather than the final stage known as REM (rapid eye movement) when the brain is most active.

While doctors may prescribe hypnosis alone, this treatment is generally used in conjunction with other treatments, such as medication, therapy and/or sleep diaries.

Self-Hypnotization

Although self-hypnotization can help individuals who experience minor sleep difficulties, a professional should diagnose and treat short- or long-term disorders. They may suggest after testing and some preliminary work that you implement self-hypnosis preceded by appropriate instruction.

Here are the steps to reaching a state of relaxation through self-hypnosis:

Settle on your back and close your eyes.
Let your arms align naturally at each side without touching across your abdomen.
Begin taking deep breaths, drawn from the diaphragm.
Work your muscles, beginning at the toes. Flex and release while you concentrate on the various, sequential muscle groups, working toward your shoulders and down to your fingers.
Concentrate on relaxing. If your mind starts to wander, identify the thought, put it out of your mind and begin focusing on relaxing.
Begin a countdown and imagine yourself descending gracefully from a high point to a lower one. Set levels, such as 10-9-8, etc. As you reach each level, mentally envision a deeper state of relaxation.
When you reach the count of "one," let your mind drift.

You should be completely relaxed, if not asleep, at this point. You may want to increase the backward count starting at 20 or even higher. In time, you'll learn to reach relaxation with very little effort.

Make a tape or have a friend with a soft vocal tone create a recording of each step. Work each level and pause in between instructions. When relaxing the body, create an instruction for each muscle group. You can have music playing in the background as well.

The Environment for Self-Hypnotization

Using your sleep or rest environment will help deeply relax as you hypnotize yourself. You can make this area more peaceful by eliminating all stimuli, such as bright lights and disturbing sounds. Often, soft music assists self-hypnosis. Experts also recommend self-hypnosis in garden areas with running water, as they tend to be soothing, relaxing places as well.

Resources

Athealth.com (nd). Understanding Clinical Hypnotherapy. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from the Athealth Web site: http://www.athealth.com/Consumer/farticles/Pearson.htm.

Hypnotherapyfaqs.com (nd). Is there any difference between normal sleep and "hypnotic sleep"? Hypnotherapy FAQs. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from the Hypnotherapyfaqs Web site: www.hypnotherapyfaqs.com/hypnosis_sleep.htm.

Sleepdisordersguide.com (2006-2007). Facts about Hypnotherapy for Sleeping Disorders Treatment. Retrieved January 14, 2007, from the Sleepdisordersguide Web site: http://www.sleepdisordersguide.com/blog/sleepdisorders/
facts-about-hypnotherapy-for-sleeping-disorders-treatment/.

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