Insomnia and a healthy interest in hypnosys

[maddyn]

I have been diagnised with insomnia for the past 10 years, using medication for the past 7 years to assist sleep.

When i look back to the start of this (when i did not consider it to be a problem), i was reading about lucid dreaming, and hypnosys. I worked hard to achieve a lucid dream, and managed a few times, but had difficulty in maintaining the dream. I just wanted to fly.

When i try to sleep now without medication, i get a similar lucid dream feeling, but one where i find it difficult to awake from. I have my own marker to know i am dreaming, where i gently bite my lip, to see if it feels 'distant'. That suffices to tell me that i am not awake, but i find that, sometimes, when i do wake up i can find (for example) that the postman has posted letterd through the letterbox on the first floor (bite the lip, still asleep).

This also happens if i have woken in the night (completely, such as a baby crying) then return to sleep. I am at the sstage where this is expected behaviour, which is probably the main cause now.

Now i am not putting any blame on hypnosys for this, but rather feel that this is a potential cure for the situation. The problem i hit when i listen to hypnosys tapes designed to help my insomnia, is that i have not managed to enjoy the induction, but find myself questioning and trying to learn and understand the methods employed to bring on the relaxed 'induced' state.

Does this really matter? am i the preverbial 'self fulfilling prophecy', where by taking the induction to bits conciously to learn, i believe i am not benefiting from the experience anyway?

I would also like some recommendations for self help hypnisys books or CD's

Any advice or comments will be appriciated. By hearing advice from others, i may be able to change this 'Belief'

Maddyn

[Jack]

Hello Maddyn,

If you are an analytical person then you will examine the hypnotic induction; it's quite natural for you to do so. This should not affect your ability to go into trance if the tape or CD is structured correctly.

However...

Tapes and CDs are not the best way to experience hypnosis simply because they are designed to suit as many people as possible, but not everyone. Unfortunately, there are many 'get rich quick' products out there and most of them are nearly totally useless for therapy purposes. Tapes and CDs are certainly not the best way to deal with a problem like insomnia.

I would suggest that you visit a professional, qualified hypnotherapist for a single session. The session will be tailored to you and your problem and at the end of it you should get a tape or CD for use at home. If the hypnotherapist is good, then you will be able to go into trance easily and quickly during the session and later at home, and your insomnia problem should become a distant memory.

In the UK, the NCH (National Council for Hypnotherapy) and in the USA the NGH (National Guild of Hypnotists)are both reputable organisations from which you can find an hypnotherapist. Hope that helps.

Jack

[Expatriot]

I agree with Jack entirely. I can relate, I am a very analytical person as well, however it must be understood that everyone can go into a trance. A professional would be far more effective than tapes and CD's for several reasons, the main reason being CD's aren't human, and cannot observe, therefore cannot determine what course of action to take if you aren't going as deeply into a trance as you would like to.

I've beaten insomnia using hypnosis, so be optimistic :)


-Ex

[maddyn]

Many thanks for all your advice. it does make sense that only by giving appropriate feedback to a subject you can see is the best way to ensure a smooth transition into trance. I will check out the NCH to see if i can find a local hypnotherapist.

Thanks again

Maddyn