Do you have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep? Are you afraid that you can’t sleep? Have you been grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw and feeling pain in the morning? Are you taking medication to help you sleep?
Jaw clenching and teeth grinding are a result of unresolved stress. You can release the underlying issues that are causing the problem and learn to sleep with your jaw slightly parted. I recently saw a client who has gone through several expensive mouth guards because she clenched so hard that they break under the pressure. After her first session she reported sleeping well without any clenching. She had been suffering with anxious feelings for years and when they were resolved with hypnosis, her sleep improved! Resolving doesn’t mean the issues go away, it only means you don’t worry or stress over them anymore.
I see many clients with a variety of problems or fears around sleep. It is one of the most misunderstood things we all do every night. Everyone sleeps. It’s as simple as that. Why then, is it that so many people struggle with it?
I met a woman who told me that she doesn’t sleep. I said to her, “That is really cool! How long have you been awake?” She said, “Well, I sleep every night, but… you know what I mean.” I told her no, I don’t know what she means and asked her how long has she been telling herself that? First of all, it’s a lie! She sleeps every night, just not as long or as well as she would like. Sleep patterns are like habits that can be changed. Changing a habit requires a desire and a belief that you can change.
People come to me to get off of the drugs their doctor prescribed to help them sleep. There are drugs to help you fall asleep, stay asleep and to relax you enough to sleep. These drugs can be addictive as they promote a fear that you cannot sleep without them. Remember, a belief is nothing more than a thought that you repeat over and over again. It’s not necessarily true, but it’s your belief. If you believe you can’t sleep…you can’t!
You already know that fears and beliefs are in your mind and can be changed or replaced with a new belief…a new reality. Hypnosis is the fastest, most effective way to change a habit or belief that is no longer working for you.
All hypnosis is self- hypnosis and when you tell yourself you can’t sleep, the unconscious mind, the part of your mind that cannot distinguish between reality and fantasy, accepts the belief and keeps you awake. When you begin to tell yourself something different…that becomes the new truth. Hypnosis helps to make that happen. It doesn’t always happen in one session but when you learn self-hypnosis, you CAN sleep without medication permanently!
Here are some tips to improve sleep:
1. Instead of telling yourself you can’t sleep, say, “I can’t stay awake” and repeat it over and over. You will fall asleep.
2. Keep a pad and paper next to your bed and write down anything you want to remember for tomorrow.
3. Imagine your mind as a white board and when you are in bed and ready to sleep, erase it!
4. Begin a ritual of winding down before bed, imagining and thinking about sleeping soundly as though you expect it.
5. Take 3 long slow deep breaths when you get into bed to relax. Breathe in for the count of 5, hold for 5 and release for the count of 10.
6. If you wake up, erase again repeat above steps.
Sleep is natural and everyone sleeps. Eliminate the mystery and fear and feel confident that you can do it. Learn self -hypnosis to make the change permanent!
