Tossing and turning in bed unable to fall asleep is my personal idea of hell. Years of poor sleep brought me to the point at which I knew I had to do something about it. Over time I experimented with different options, got to know myself and my body’s rhythms better and chose to work with the problem rather than against it. I’m not saying that what works for me will work for anyone else, but it just might help and if you’re suffering from insomnia then you’ll probably try anything. Unfortunately, regular good quality sleep evades many people. In fact, as many as one in three people in the UK suffer from poor sleep, so this is a common problem. Lack of sleep is often associated with poor mental health, impaired mental functioning and memory consolidation as well as having adverse effects upon various physiological processes. Whilst deep sleep is essential for our health, it is during light sleep, the rapid eye movement stage (REM sleep), when we are dreaming, that our brain can turn emotional events into a narrative (a story). This helps us to process difficult events or emotions and wake up feeling refreshed and restored. However, if our sleep is poor, disturbed or a person is suffering from insomnia then this interferes with the brain’s ability to deal with stress, regulate our emotions and function well in the world. There is some research that indicates that deep relaxation during hypnosis replicates the beneficial effects of REM sleep. This helps to reduce stress, calm, and refresh the mind. Often my clients find that hypnosis leaves them feeling deeply relaxed and positive. There are many factors that can have an adverse effect upon our sleep. Stress, worries, anxiety and overthinking are the common problems that clients experience when they discuss their sleep difficulties. Unfortunately, it is only too easy to become stuck in a vicious cycle which only makes matters worse. For example, if we are feeling stressed, lack of sleep will only lead to us feeling more easily stressed, becoming less emotionally resilient and that in turn will exacerbate the sleep problem. To get out of this vicious cycle we need to reduce the activity of what is known as the sympathetic nervous system which prepares the body for dealing with a threat, real or perceived, and activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system to enable rest and digestion to occur. The following are some Do’s and “Don’ts” that may be helpful: Help with sleepless nights For a good night's sleep:
To induce a good sleep, do not:
Finally, be aware that many people experience sleep problems at some point in their lives. Medical problems and some medicines can affect a person’s sleep as well as a range of emotional factors. It can be helpful to experiment with different solutions to sleep problems to find what works for you. Hypnotherapy and mindfulness are well established complementary therapies that help people with sleep problems. Both therapies may enable a person to reach a state of inner calm and reduce the symptoms of stress, worry and anxiety. As a qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Mindfulness teacher, I teach my clients how to use a range of techniques for improved sleep and well-being. None of the information in this article replaces medical advice. If you have a persistent sleep problem or are suffering from severe insomnia, then seek medical advice from your G.P. © Copyright Tracy Daniels 2024 | All Rights Reserved
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