Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy for Insomnia

Insomnia is a common problem and affects one in three people in the UK.

How it works

If you have difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed in the morning you probably are suffering from insomnia.

Lady sleepy

Occasional episodes of insomnia may come and go without causing any serious problems, but if it lasts for months or even years at a time you should seek help as soon as possible.

Persistent insomnia can have a significant impact on your quality of life. It may affect your mood and lead to relationship problems with your family and friends and influence your health.

If you have insomnia, you may:

  • not feel refreshed when you get up
  • find it difficult to fall asleep
  • lie awake for long periods at night
  • wake up several times during the night
  • wake up early in the morning and not be able to get back to sleep
  • feel tired and irritable during the day and have difficulty concentrating

How much sleep do I need?

According to recent studies an adult needs 7 hours of sleep every day. However, some people may need 8 or 9 hours and children and babies may sleep for much longer that this, whereas older adults may sleep less than 7 hours and feel rested.

What causes insomnia?

Insomnia is often associated with:

  • stress, anxiety or depression
  • certain medicines – such as some antidepressants
  • a poor sleeping environment – such as an uncomfortable bed, or a bedroom that is too light, noisy, moist, hot or cold
  • lifestyle factors – shift work, drinking alcohol or caffeine before going to bed
  • physical health conditions – such as heart problems and long-term pain

It is highly recommended that you seek help as soon as you notice that your sleep has been defective for a quite long time. Please do not take antidepressants straight away as they have side effects. The best thing to do is to visit a therapist, he/she can help you identify what causes insomnia and treat the cause. There are some natural medicines, ask your GP, however, by taking medicines you are not really treating your insomnia you are just putting it to sleep.