I came across an interesting story about the clinical hypnotherapist Milton Erickson, who once treated a patient struggling with sleep. Instead of lying awake tossing and turning for hours, Erickson advised the patient to get up and polish his kitchen floor until he was exhausted. Surprisingly, after a couple of nights of this unusual routine, the patient could quickly reprogram himself to fall asleep to avoid another night of cleaning.

Insomnia can manifest differently for each individual. Some people struggle to fall asleep initially, while others wake up too early and can’t drift back off. Some may sleep for many hours but still wake up feeling exhausted despite getting what seems like enough rest.

There are several practical points to consider when working with someone who has trouble sleeping.

Firstly, is the patient exercising enough? Regular exercise is a healthy way to burn off any excess if the body is overly energised or full of adrenaline.

Adrenaline can also be produced by stress, so what is causing the patient stress? Is it something at work, or perhaps a problematic relationship? They might be worrying about money, their health, or even their inability to sleep. Ironically, worrying about not sleeping can create a vicious cycle, further disrupting their sleep patterns.

Do they have a bedtime routine? This idea may be better suited to children, but the body thrives on repetition. Going to bed and waking up at similar times each day helps regulate your internal clock. If you’ve ever experienced jet lag, you’ll know how much your body and sleep routine suffer from a sudden change in time zones.

Are there any chemical factors at play? For example, is the patient taking any medication, drinking alcohol, or consuming stimulants like coffee?

Several subtle changes can be made to combat insomnia and address the abovementioned issues. Additionally, mastering relaxation techniques can be incredibly beneficial (many people don’t realise they don’t know how to relax properly!). Relaxation helps to ease tension in both the mind and body. When someone is stressed, their mind is racing with thoughts, and their muscles are tightly wound. In such a state, falling asleep becomes difficult, if not impossible. Learning hypnosis or meditation is a simple and effective way to achieve deep relaxation for the mind and body. Moreover, while in a hypnotic state, it’s possible to provide suggestions for deep, easy, and quick relaxation, which are more readily accepted by the subconscious mind compared to when in a normal waking state.

By Gemma Bailey
www.hypnotherapyandnlp.co.uk