Hypnosis and Insomnia  

When we are awake, our brains are in Beta state. When we fall asleep, our brain waves change from a Beta wave into an Alpha state. The Alpha state is where your body and mind becomes relaxed enough to enter into Delta, which is sleep – and then the Theta state – deep sleep.   

The state of hypnosis, or “trance” produces Alpha brain waves. In this state, we are more open to positive suggestions. When you see a hypnotist regarding sleep difficulties, they will use this state to make helpful suggestions to you regarding your problem – whether it be the inability to “shut-down” at the end of the day, or helping you to resolve difficulties that are directly contributing to your inability to fall asleep. Further to this, the physical changes that occur when you enter hypnosis – the change in brain wave function etc – helps you to be more easily able to enter the Alpha state when you get in bed at the end of your day. Sometimes people get into a pattern of sleeplessness, and their bodies and minds seem to ‘forget’ how to get to sleep. Hypnotherapy can be used as re-training in this regard, helping you to take control and re-educate your mind into relaxing easily into sleep.  

To support this, an hypnotherapist will often give their clients a CD or tape to listen to when they get into bed. This reinforces and facilitates the work that you did with your therapist in the session.