Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep. The word comes from the Latin word 'insomnia" - a want of sleep. Most people heard about it, not many are aware what a nightmare it can be!
The patient who came to see me was a woman in her early 60's who was unable to sleep due to excessive worrying. Her typical pattern of sleeping would be falling asleep just before dusk for a couple of hours. She would fall asleep during the day to compensate for a lack of sleep. She would take sleeping pills.
With my further investigation I learnt that she would drink some tea late in the evening and sometimes a glass of red wine. She also told me that she liked to leave the lights on at night and the curtains open. I also had to check if she was not depressed and whether she was trying to loose weight (some pills taken for weight loss can be very strong stimulants). I recommended to her to have her melatonin level checked with GP.
The other questions I asked included the medications that she was taking, any chronic medical conditions, personal life and questions about her sleeping arrangements and more questions on her sleeping routine.
Due to the privacy reasons this is as much as I can reveal about this particular case.
The initial talk is very important - it allows me to learn more about my patients and gather as much information as required for the next stage.
During the hypnotherapy session I guided my client through her favourite places filled with her favourite colours, smells and noises till she was completely relaxed. I then injected some positive affirmations and thoughts into her subconscious. She was fully conscious during the whole session. When we finished she told me she didn't feel that relaxed for a long time.
Her sleeping pattern improved a lot just after one session and in her case no more sessions was needed. The same week she stopped sleeping during the day and changed some of her bad habits. She would read a book instead of watching TV before going to bed. She also gave up drinking teas in the evening. She told me that every time she felt anxious or worried she would think of place I took her to during the hypnosis. She would focus on the affirmations and positive thoughts that she heard during the hypnosis session.
It's been 2 years now and she is able to enjoy her sleep more than ever before.