When people come to me about sleep, they are usually exhausted in more ways than one. They have tried the sleep apps, the herbal teas and the advice to put their phone away. They can fall asleep on the sofa at nine, but the moment their head hits the pillow, their mind switches on.
The short answer
Hypnotherapy can help with sleep, particularly when what is keeping you awake is a busy, anxious mind. It works on the part of you that stays on alert at night, rather than on your sleep routine. It is not a quick fix for every sleep problem, and some need a GP first, but for many people it helps them settle again.
Why anxiety and sleep are so closely linked
Most of the people I see with sleep problems are not really struggling with sleep. They are struggling with anxiety, and sleep is where it shows up most clearly. When your mind is on alert, your body treats bedtime as the one quiet moment it finally has to go over everything.
- Lying awake replaying the day or planning tomorrow.
- Waking at 3am with your heart racing and your thoughts already running.
- Dreading bedtime because you expect another bad night.
- Feeling tired all day but wide awake the moment you lie down.
If that sounds familiar, you might also find Intrusive Thoughts and Anxiety: Why They Happen and What Helps useful.
How hypnotherapy helps with sleep
Hypnotherapy works with the automatic response that keeps you awake, rather than trying to argue with it. In a session we look at what is driving the poor sleep, then use hypnosis to help your mind and body learn what it feels like to properly let go.
- Calming the alert system. Teaching your body a different response to bedtime, so lying down stops being the signal to start worrying.
- Breaking the cycle. Once you expect a bad night, the worry about not sleeping becomes part of the problem. We work on that directly.
- Something to use at home. I give you a simple way to settle yourself at night, so you are not relying on me.
- Looking at the cause. If stress, trauma or something in your life is behind it, we work on that too, not just the symptom.
What the research says
I want to be honest here. The NHS recommends a specific type of talking therapy, called CBT for insomnia, as the main treatment for long term insomnia. Research into hypnotherapy for sleep is more limited. Some studies have found it helps, but many were small, so the evidence is not as strong as I would like it to be.
What I can tell you is what I see in the therapy room: when anxiety is what is keeping someone awake, working on that anxiety often brings their sleep back. If you want to know more about the evidence for anxiety specifically, I have looked at it in Does Hypnotherapy Work for Anxiety? An Honest Answer.
When to see your GP first
Some sleep problems need a doctor before anything else. Please speak to your GP if poor sleep has lasted for more than three months, if you snore heavily or someone has noticed you stop breathing in your sleep, or if you are relying on alcohol or medication to sleep.
If you are feeling very low or having thoughts of harming yourself, please contact your GP, call NHS 24 on 111, or call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time of day or night.
What working with me looks like
Sessions start from £70 and last around an hour, at Orchard Park in Carmyle or online over Zoom. Most people come for between two and four sessions. Before you book anything there is a free 20 minute consultation, so we can both check that hypnotherapy is the right fit. You can read more about what happens in your first hypnotherapy session and what hypnotherapy costs in Glasgow.
Common questions
Can hypnotherapy cure insomnia?
I would never promise a cure. What hypnotherapy can do is help calm the anxiety and racing thoughts that often keep people awake, and help your body relearn what it feels like to settle. For many people that makes a real difference.
How many sessions will I need for sleep problems?
Most people I work with come for between two and four sessions. We talk honestly at the end of each one about whether another is needed.
Is online hypnotherapy for sleep as effective?
For most people, yes. We do the same work over Zoom, and some people find it easier to relax in their own home.
Should I see my GP first?
If poor sleep has gone on for more than a few months, if you snore heavily or stop breathing in your sleep, or if you are feeling very low, speak to your GP first. Some sleep problems have a physical cause that needs checking.
Book a free consultation
If sleep has been a struggle for a while, the consultation is an easy first step. You can tell me what has been happening, ask me anything, and decide afterwards. You can also find out more about anxiety therapy and hypnotherapy in Glasgow, or call 0141 340 9870.