What is Insomnia
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder. People who have insomnia have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. As a result, they may get too little sleep or have poor quality sleep. They may not feel refreshed when they wake up.
There are two types of insomnia: primary insomnia and secondary insomnia.
- Primary insomnia: Primary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems that are not directly associated with any other health condition or problem.
- Secondary insomnia: Secondary insomnia means that a person is having sleep problems because of something else, such as a health condition (like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, or heartburn); pain; medication they are taking; or a substance they are using (like alcohol).
Insomnia can be acute (short-term) or chronic (ongoing). Acute insomnia lasts for days or weeks. Chronic insomnia lasts for a month or longer.
Some of the Symptoms of Insomnia Include:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
- Waking up too early in the morning
- Feeling tired upon waking
Insomnia can cause daytime sleepiness and a lack of energy. It also can make you feel anxious, depressed, or irritable. You may have trouble focusing on tasks, paying attention, learning, and remembering. These problems can prevent you from doing your best at work or school.
Insomnia also can cause other serious problems. For example, you may feel drowsy while driving, which could lead to an accident.
Cause of Insomnia
Causes of acute insomnia can include:
- Significant life stress (job loss or change, death of a loved one, divorce, moving)
- Illness
- Emotional or physical discomfort
- Environmental factors like noise, light, or extreme temperatures (hot or cold) that interfere with sleep
- Some medications (for example those used to treat colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure, and asthma) may interfere with sleep
- Interferences in normal sleep schedule (jet lag or switching from a day to night shift, for example)
Causes of chronic insomnia include:
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Chronic stress
- Pain or discomfort at night
How Can Simply Natural Therapies Help?
Hypnosis is often an effective treatment for those suffering from insomnia. Hypnotherapy can help an individual to relax, both mentally and physically, using varying relaxation techniques. Hypnotherapy can also help an individual to understand some of the causes of insomnia and sleeping problems.
Many people suffering from insomnia believe they are not going to be able to sleep, which often means they don’t. Hypnotherapy can help to re-educate an individuals mind to expect a good night’s sleep.
A regular massage can directly influence the body’s production of serotonin which is a precursor to melatonin. Because serotonin plays a role in sleep in multiple areas of the brain, it is logical to seek ways to increase serotonin levels for people that are sleep deprived. In addition, serotonin is needed for our bodies to produce melatonin. As melatonin influences the sleep stage of our circadian rhythm, a natural way of boosting serotonin is a positive sleep inducing option.
A great place to start is with Sleep Hygiene. Download this handout to get started.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Most people benefit from somewhere between 3 and 8 sessions depending on the issues underlying your insomnia. Using a hypnosis CD regularly between appointments will often enhance your progress.
What Is Involved In The Sessions?
Your therapist will ask you to sit comfortably in a chair and close your eyes. They will then simply talk you into a very relaxed state. Your therapist will check that you are actually in trance and ensure that you are comfortable with the experience. Hypnosis is a pleasant, day-dreamy state. It’s a little like the feeling you have when you are gazing at an open fire place or a beautiful waterfall. Your body will probably be very relaxed but you will be more focused and aware than you normally are. You are always in control and you will normally remember what happens during the session although it may feel a little like a dream.
You can purchase our Insomnia Cure MP3 by Alison Burton HERE
How Much Does It Cost?
Hypnotherapy Consultations – $160/60 Minutes
Relaxation Massage Consultations – $95/60 Minutes
*Please note sessions with Alison Burton are $250/60mins
