Everyone has a rough night every now and again but failing to get deep restorative sleep over an extended period of time can be devastating to our physical and mental health. There are many possible reasons for difficulty sleeping. Some are medical. Sleep apnea, alcohol use, diet, restless leg syndrome and side effects of medications are common causes of difficulty sleeping. The effectiveness of hypnosis is determined
Another common reason for insomnia can be an unstable schedule. Our bodies naturally settle in what is called our circadian rhythm, generally a 24 hour cycle our mind/body follows. It can be affected by the availability of sunlight and the general habits of a person’s life. Some people are morning people; others are night owls but we all have our rhythm.
When we change our schedule, our system tries to adjust just like getting over jetlag and that can take some time. The amount of time required varies from person to person and often is easier for the younger folks. But if our schedule constantly changes, (frequent long-distance travel or working alternating shifts) our internal clocks have no real opportunity to reset. A disrupted circadian rhythm can make it very difficult and sometimes impossible to sleep when we need to. Hypnosis can’t reset your circadian rhythm but can provide means for coping emotionally, psychologically and physically with a difficult schedule. It can also provide tools and mechanisms to improve your ability to sleep when the time is right.
The most common reasons for difficulty sleeping are stress and anxiety. If you find your mind racing so much that you can’t fall asleep, most likely, current stress levels are a bit overwhelming. If you lay awake and your mind seems blank, it is possible that accumulated stress and anxiety have you so wound up, your mind wants to keep you alert.
There are only two ways of dealing with the things that cause us stress and anxiety. We can either eliminate the thing causing the stress or we can change the way we think, feel or react to it. Coaching can help us set priorities and make rational decisions about what can and cannot be changed. Hypnosis is an ideal way to manage the way we react to situations and circumstances so that they cause less stress.
I have to mention the power of trauma in disturbing and interrupting sleep. Trauma is a shock to our mind-body system. When it happens, our minds and bodies are forced to accommodate it. The severity of trauma isn’t determined by the nature of the trauma but by our reaction to it. Trauma causes a disruption and a kind of mental/emotional scar to what we accept as “normal.” It increases our potential for reactivity, keeping us in a constant state of alertness. Hypnosis is an excellent means of processing the trauma and learning to compartmentalize and adjust our reaction to trauma directly and indirectly will benefit sleep patterns.
If you suffer from frequent or chronic insomnia, consider consulting a clinical hypnosis practitioner for a better night’s sleep. Joseph Onesta is a board-certified clinical hypnosis practitioner in Pittsburgh, PA. You can contact him through his website, Mind Power Pittsburgh.com. If you’d like to speak with Joseph Onesta, simply schedule a free 20-minute phone call on his website. Free 20-minute hypnosis strategy session.