Testimonial letter and article
Dear Mike,
Just to let you know my progress since seeing you re the sleeping problem
at the end of June. I've been fine, so thanks for the help!! I've continued
to do the self hypnosis on a regular basis, and then vividly imagining myself
asleep in bed until morning when the clock shows 6.30. I've also been making
use of the books you pointed me towards. I think self
hypnosis is very useful, and will be of use as I continue to apply it to
gain more confidence in terms of my work.
I'm pleased I came to see you. I'll recommend you if I know of anyone else
in need.
best wishes
Alan
Sleeping problems such as apnea have an actual physical source. When this is not the case the source of the problem is always in the person's waking life. Often the person with the sleeping problem is the last person to make a specific link although it may be obvious to an observer like the hypnotherapist. It is possible that the source may be in something unresolved in past experience but generally there is some conflict within the person to do with a present situation, perhaps in work or to do with a relationship or both with other factors also involved.
If this difficulty with sleeping is allowed to establish itself it can become a habitual response.What was previously a purely natural process which we never even thought about is now fraught with fear and anxiety - "will I be able to sleep tonight or not?" -"I don't want to be exhausted in work tomorrow." This only serves to increase the difficulty. Eventually the whole process of going to bed, the bedroom itself - the bed are all triggering anxiety about something that is as natural as breathing.
In effect, by this point, we have programmed ourselves to experience sleep as a problem. This is where hypnotherapy can be a very powerful aid. In trance, we can revamp this program. We can rehearse the whole process substituting very powerful feelings of calm and relaxation for the anxiety and fear and reinforce the person's confidence in their ability to just drift into sleep. This is consolidated in a follow up session or sessions, so the connection with positively sleep-inducing feelings and thoughts at bed time is made very strong and the connection with sleep-inhibiting feelings and thoughts is made very weak.
At the same time we can identify the external issue or issues which may be the ongoing source of the whole problem. This may involve allowing you to get a more calm and detached view of the situation in question; where you become more able to appreciate the way your own behaviour is influencing things and where you begin to become aware of alternative and better ways of dealing with them. Perhaps this is an issue of self-confidence in some area of work or adjusting to a major change in your life. Again in trance we can begin to create powerful stimulation for your own creativity to release the qualities that you need to bring to this area. It can be a big surprise to people just how ready this creativity is to respond.