What are sleep problems and insomnia?
Sleep is the unsung hero of your health, vital yet often taken for granted. When you sleep well, your body repairs itself, your mind sharpens, and your mood lifts. It’s during these restful hours that muscles heal, hormones balance and your immune system strengthens. Sleep even improves your emotional wellbeing, helping you manage stress and maintain healthy relationships.
But when sleep is disrupted—whether by insomnia, restless legs syndrome, or other sleep disorders—it affects much more than just your energy levels. You may find yourself struggling with focus, feeling irritable, or having difficulty managing daily tasks. Over time, poor sleep can also impact your physical health, contributing to conditions like heart disease and a weakened immune system. Mentally, it can worsen anxiety and depression, making it harder to cope with life’s challenges.
Sleep and mental health are deeply connected. Good sleep helps you feel more emotionally balanced, while poor sleep can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and stress. Addressing sleep issues isn’t just about feeling rested; it’s about enhancing your overall quality of life.
Insomnia is more likely to occur with older age, lower socioeconomic status, and anxiety or depression
75% of depressed people struggle to fall or stay asleep
Sleep needs vary: adults need 7-9 hours, children 9-13 hours, infants 12-17 hours
66% of adolescents cite poor sleep as negatively impacting their mental health
What causes sleep problems and insomnia?
Sleep problems can arise for various reasons, including:
- Stress and Anxiety: Worries about work, finances, or personal matters can make it difficult to relax and fall asleep.
- Health Conditions: Issues such as chronic pain, breathing difficulties, or frequent trips to the bathroom can disrupt your sleep.
- Lifestyle Factors: Irregular schedules, like shift work or jet lag, can throw off your sleep cycle.
Hormonal changes, especially in women, can also lead to sleep disturbances. Menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause can make restful sleep harder to achieve. Higher levels of stress or anxiety often add to these challenges, making it important to find a solution tailored to your unique needs.
The impact of living with sleep problems or insomnia
Living with sleep problems can leave you feeling worn out, both physically and emotionally. Sleep deprivation doesn’t just make you tired; it can contribute to:
- Physical Health Issues: Increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and weakened immunity, leaving you more vulnerable to illness.
- Mental Strain: Difficulty managing stress, heightened anxiety, and a low mood, which can make daily tasks feel overwhelming.
- Relationship Tensions: Irritability and mood swings that can strain your relationships with family, friends, or colleagues.
At work, sleep deprivation can sap your concentration and creativity, leading to lower productivity and increased frustration. Addressing your sleep problems can help restore your energy, focus, and overall sense of balance.
How can they be managed?
Improving sleep often begins with small, manageable changes to your daily routine. Consider the following strategies:
- Establish a Routine: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to help regulate your internal clock.
- Optimise Your Sleep Environment: Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool. Blackout curtains and white noise machines can help if external factors disturb your sleep.
- Wind Down Before Bed: Engage in calming activities, such as reading, light stretching, or listening to soft music, to signal to your body that it’s time to sleep.
- Mind What You Consume: Reduce caffeine and alcohol intake in the hours leading up to bedtime. Opt for herbal tea or a light snack instead.
If anxiety or stress is keeping you awake, relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or journaling may help calm your mind. Should sleep problems persist, a healthcare provider can offer tailored advice or treatment options.
How can hypnotherapy help?
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) offers a gentle, forward-looking approach to managing sleep problems. Instead of focusing on past issues, it helps you build on your strengths to encourage positive change.
During hypnotherapy, you’ll enter a deeply relaxed state, allowing your mind to become more receptive to positive suggestions. These sessions can help you let go of the restlessness that keeps you awake, gradually improving your sleep patterns.
The benefits extend beyond better sleep. Hypnotherapy equips you with relaxation techniques that not only help at night but also reduce stress and anxiety during the day. As your sleep improves, you may find that you feel more refreshed, energised, and able to handle life’s challenges with greater ease.
Each session is tailored to your needs, and while some people notice changes quickly, others may need a little more time to fully shift their sleep habits. If you’re curious about how hypnotherapy could help you get better sleep, we’re here to explore this journey with you.
Our Sleep Specialists
Benn Baker-Pollard
Sittingbourne
Carmen Harrington
Market Harborough
Caroline Prout
Thrapston
Chris Johannes
Spalding
Claire Noyelle
Maidstone East
Dawn Ibbetson
Chelmsford
Gary Johannes
Peterborough
Jill Whitehouse
Newcastle upon Tyne
Keeley Smith
Southend-on-Sea
Kerry Seymour
Weston-super-Mare
Peter Ely
Islington
Victoria Anderson
Sunderland
Why Choose Inspired To Change
Our solution focused hypnotherapists empower you to better understand your brain, helping to guide you towards solutions and achieve the outcomes you want. We have a team of fully trained hypnotherapists, giving you the choice of who to work with and how you want to work with them. Solution focused hypnotherapy is just as effective in-person or online in the comfort of your own home, so you can find the ideal therapist to help you reach your goals.
Every one of our hypnotherapists is recognised by governing bodies like the National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit hypnotherapy professional association. They have all trained with Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training, one of the leading hypnotherapy schools in the UK.
