Help for Sleep Issues

 
 
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HOW COMMON ARE SLEEP ISSUES?

Approximately 16 million adults in the UK suffer from some kind of sleep issue, and we average at just 6.8 hours of sleep per night. The recommended number of hours to sleep per night is between 7 and 9 and anything less can affect our cognitive function in the following days.

During sleep our bodies go through a process of healing, the hormone levels are rebalanced, the mind is refreshed and the body repairs cells and tissues. Because of this, if we regularly get too little sleep it can cause long term effects such as obesity, high blood pressure, low immune system, heart disease and diabetes.

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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP?

  • Improved memory and problem-solving skills

  • The ability to stay motivated, alert and engaged

  • Uplifted mood

  • Improved immune system

  • The ability to maintain a healthy body weight


WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON SLEEP DISORDERS?

  • Insomnia - this is when we struggle to get to sleep or stay asleep. It can be very detrimental to our quality of life and cause high levels of stress, anxiety and depression.

  • Sleep Apnea (Apnoea) - a condition that causes breathing to stop and start while we are sleeping. It can result in mood swings, excessive tiredness and headaches.

  • Restless Leg Syndrome - the overwhelming urge to move our legs which wakes us up from sleep. The causes are linked to how our bodies handle a chemical called dopamine.  

  • REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder - a condition that means we physically act out our dreams in our sleep. This can involve walking, sleep talking, shouting, hitting or punching as well as many other activities. It can be dangerous for us as well as our sleeping partners.

  • Narcolepsy - a condition that causes us to uncontrollably fall asleep at inappropriate times. Although it doesn’t have any long term physical effects, it can be detrimental to our daily lives and be difficult to deal with emotionally.

  • Sleepwalking - when we walk or carry out complex activities while we are sleeping. Episodes of sleepwalking can be triggered by stress or anxiety and can cause accidents like trips, falls and burns.

  • Sleep Terrors - most common in children, sleep terrors involve episodes of panic, screaming and intense fear occurring during sleep. We often aren’t aware of what is happening and have no recollection of the terror when we wake up.

  • Bruxism - grinding teeth in our sleep. Often caused by stress, excessive teeth grinding can cause jaw pain, headaches and teeth sensitivity from where they are being worn down.  

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“Sleep is the best meditation.”

Dalai Lama

HOW DOES HYPNOSIS HELP WITH SLEEP ISSUES?

Your therapist will support you in identifying the underlying cause of your sleep issue (if relevant) and work with you to resolve it. They will also provide you with sleep hypnosis to follow at home to achieve physical and mental relaxation. Once you enter a relaxed and focused state, you’re given suggestions that can help your mind drift off to sleep. With lower levels of stress and anxiety, the probability of a good night’s sleep is greatly improved.