Sleep hypnosis is the use of hypnotherapy to address sleeping problems. The goal of sleep hypnosis is not to make a person fall asleep during the hypnosis itself. Instead, it works to change negative thoughts or habits related to sleep so that a person can sleep better once hypnotherapy is complete.
How Can Sleep Hypnosis Be Done?
Sleep hypnosis follows the same steps as hypnotherapy and involves therapeutic suggestions targeted to sleep. For example, hypnotherapy may encourage a person to feel less anxious about falling asleep or to follow a more consistent sleep schedule.
Experts recommend that sleep hypnotherapy be conducted under the guidance of a trained health professional. A person with extensive training can most effectively lead a person through each stage of the process and customize suggestions to meet their needs.
While most studies have focused on in-person hypnosis, there is some evidence that self hypnosis may be possible using audio recordings, videos, or smartphone apps. A study of cancer survivors found that most people were able to follow audio recordings for at-home hypnosis, and many perceived some benefits.
For some people, a recording, video, or app may be more practical than going to a doctor or counselor’s office. However, studies of at-home hypnosis tools, such as apps, have found that many lack scientific credentials or evidence of their effectiveness.
In some cases, a person may be able to conduct an initial session of hypnosis with a trained provider who can then recommend follow-up exercises to perform at home to reinforce the benefits of hypnotherapy.
Until further research is conducted about the effectiveness of self-guided hypnosis alone, patients should talk with their doctor or counselor before beginning to use any hypnosis recording, video, or app.
What Are the Risks of Sleep Hypnosis?
Hypnotherapy is generally considered to be safe when conducted by a trained professional, but rare adverse reactions have been described. It is important to talk with a health professional before starting hypnosis. A doctor or counselor can discuss any risks in a person’s specific situation. For example, people with mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be advised to use caution and only receive hypnotherapy from a highly experienced counselor.
Making the Most of Sleep Hypnotherapy
You are most likely to benefit from sleep hypnosis if you talk with your doctor first. Addressing sleep symptoms with a doctor can help make sure that they aren’t being caused by an underlying health condition or sleep disorder.
Working with a professional trained in hypnotherapy can help ensure that you get high-quality care that is integrated into your specific treatment plan.
Helpful Tips if You Find Hypnosis Effective
If you’ve started sleep hypnosis and find it helpful, there are a few tips that may allow you to further improve your sleep:
- Ask for follow-up resources: Talk with the person who guided your hypnotherapy and ask about techniques for building upon your success. This may include hypnosis activities, including recordings or apps, that you can do at home. It could also be strategies for relaxation such as listening to calming music.
- Develop dependable routines: Habits have a major influence on behavior. If you’ve noticed a positive change in your sleep routine, make a point of sticking with it for an extended period so that the habit can become nearly automatic.
- Schedule a follow-up: Try to monitor your nightly sleep and daytime energy, and if you notice problems arising, schedule a follow up with your doctor to see if hypnotherapy or another approach can help get you back on track.
What Other Approaches Can Help With Sleep?
Like any medical therapy, sleep hypnosis isn’t always effective. For people who are resistant to hypnosis or who simply don’t find it useful for sleep, there are other ways to promote better sleep.
Many sleeping problems can be addressed by upgrading your sleep hygiene. Examples of sleep hygiene improvements include:
- Following the same sleep schedule every day, including on weekends.
- Avoiding excess mental stimulation, including from electronic devices, in the lead-up to bedtime.
- Reducing or eliminating intake of caffeine and alcohol in the afternoon and evening.
- Making your bedroom conducive to sleep by limiting excess light and sound. For example, dark curtains can keep your bedroom dark, and white noise can help drown out external noises.
Sleep Hypnosis may be combined with other types of treatment. For example, it can be used alongside cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), a form of counseling that reframes negative thinking about sleep. Sleep hypnosis may also promote sleep hygiene improvements to develop healthier sleep-related routines.
Sleep Hypnosis Michael Sealey… what is this?
Michael Sealey is one of the more popular guided meditation artists on YouTube, and for good reason. The recordings are high quality and use a good balance of the different elements to achieve the desired effect. This guided meditation uses soft music and guided imagery to promote inner healing while you sleep.
Listen and relax as you program your subconscious mind for new wealth, with this powerful sleep hypnosis to let go of poor thinking, as you develop a deeper gratitude for a more affluent, more prosperous, more empowering, positive life.
This wealth and gratitude focused hypnosis experience is a form of guided sleep meditation, with spoken hypnotic suggestions to address all subconscious core beliefs and automatic thinking habits related to developing a better relationship with money, wealth and finances.
This sleep hypnosis will also help you finally clear out, release, and permanently let go of all poor thinking habits of an unhelpful, poverty mindset – which may have previously limited you from enjoying your richest, most appreciative, more balanced, life of energetic abundance.
This bedtime sleep session combines aspects of self hypnosis, guided meditation, mind and body relaxation, and guided visualization for encouraging a wealth mindset, before encouraging a deep and restful sleep at conclusion.
