If you suffer from insomnia, then you know how at some point each night it gets really desperate, turning and tossing in efforts to fall asleep.
Hypnosis, according to the National Sleep Foundation helps those suffering from insomnia to relax their mind and body making falling asleep faster and easier.
Hypnotherapists utilize diverse approaches designed to induce relaxation. These may include symptom control, focused attention, and guided imagery.
The sleep hypnosis technique involves guided thinking that leads a person into a calming state of relaxation. This relaxed state, in turn, makes one fall asleep more easily.
How does it Work?
Although hypnosis has been in use for over 2 centuries, many of the mechanisms through which it works remain mysterious. In fact, the working of hypnosis may border on the realm of the supernatural, some even calling it fake.
But the key to how it works lies in the brain. Perhaps you have heard of “You are now getting sleepy” technique of hypnosis.
The majority of decisions made in the course of the day are most likely made by your unconscious mind, though it is your conscious mind that gets the credit.
The discussion about any supposed benefits of sleep hypnosis largely centers on whether the technique truly addresses the behavioral and psychological factors at the foundation of sleep problems.
Although sleep hypnotism isn’t a fake thing, it’s also not a magic genie. It’s a method of manipulating the mind that is technically accessible to everyone.
It all depends if you are ready to embrace the method. Getting quality sleep during the night is not just vital for your health but also for your mental restoration.
Hypnosis Affects the Mind/Brain
Hypnosis isn’t really something others do to you. On the contrary, it’s a technique that triggers a process within your mind. You have, in all probability, experienced hypnosis without realizing it.
For instance, you’ve probably been driving and then it dawns on you that you can’t remember the last 5 kilometers. Usually, that happens when your brain enters a hypnotic state.
Sleep hypnosis largely works by affecting three parts of your mind and brain that affect sleep:
- Decreased Dorsal Anterior Cingulate activity
- More Insula and Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex connections
- Less Posterior Cingulate Cortex/Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex/Medial Prefrontal connections
Hypnosis helps in managing nightmares, sleep terrors in kids, and insomnia. It is also good for combating some other unusual sleep disorders like sleepwalking.
Usually, those who use this technique to solve sleep problems see results after only a couple of sessions, so it’s not something that requires a big commitment.
Bottom-line
Despite hypnosis-based techniques being used widely for a range of disorders, researchers point out that sleep hypnosis may be more effective when it is used in conjunction with other cognitive-behavioral approaches.
It is not a stand-alone cure, but rather an additional tool to try. Sleep hypnosis may bring better results for some people compared to others. It will largely depend on how “suggestible” the individual is and how eager the person is to believe it will indeed be effective.