If you have difficulties sleeping or suffer from insomnia, you may want to consider hypnosis for sleep. We'll answer the question of whether hypnosis works for sleep, what to do for sleep and anxiety issues, and what research says about using hypnosis for insomnia. We'll also share some tips for self-hypnosis along with some YouTube videos to help guide you should you decide hypnotherapy is right for you.
Table of Contents
Does it Work?
Hypnosis and Sleep
Hypnosis and Insomnia
Self-hypnosis for Sleep
Sleep Hypnosis Videos
Does it Work?
Everyone wants to know if hypnosis will work for sleep and insomnia. Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of hypnotic suggestions to improve the quality and duration of sleep. One methodology seems to be that hypnosis increases the amount and duration of slow wave sleep (SWS). Meta-analyses found hypnotherapy significantly shortened sleep latency.
Hypnotherapy may improve sleep issues including:
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Nightmares
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Nocturnal epilepsies
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Obstructive sleep apneas
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Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder
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Sleep terrors
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Sleep waking
Hypnosis and Sleep
Many studies have found hypnosis beneficial for sleep. Some studies have focused on improving the quality and duration of sleep, while others have sought to reduce the number of parasomnia events, such as sleep walking or nightmares. Another approach is to address issues related to anxiety and sleep.
Hypnotherapy treatment will vary depending on your particular needs and the therapist you see. An example of hypnosis for sleep may consist of imagining seeing yourself in a movie which shows you having a good night of sleep. You might visualize yourself going to bed, closing your eyes, entering a light sleep, and then a deeper sleep, with no issues. Your hypnotherapist may make suggestions, which may include that you are safe now or that you no longer experience any sleep issues.
| Hypnotherapy Study for Sleep | ||
| Patients: | % | Changes over Time: |
| 5 | 28% | Much improved |
| 4 | 22% | Much improved but little improvement on later follow-ups |
| 3 | 17% | No improvement initially but improved on later follow-ups |
| 6 | 33% | Little or no improvement on any of the 3 follow-ups |
Hypnosis and Insomnia
Based on a meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials on hypnosis and seven on autogenic training or guided imagery, research has concluded that hypnosis is effective for insomnia. However, generalizing these results is difficult because of the small sample sizes of the studies.
Hypnosis can also help with anxiety, another issue commonly faced by people suffering from insomnia.
7-step Self-hypnosis for Sleep
Here's a step-by-step guide for using self-hypnosis to help you sleep.
Step 1. Prepare your sleeping area and environment.
Step 2. Lay down and relax.
Step 3. Close your eyes.
Step 4. Focus on your breathing.
Step 5. Imagine yourself in a relaxing place, including sight, smell, sound, and touch.
Step 6. Make suggestions to yourself for a good night's rest free from problems.
Step 7. Practice.
Sleep Hypnosis YouTube Videos
Here are some assorted hypnosis videos on YouTube to help you with sleep, motivation, anxiety, lucid dreaming, procrastination, insomnia, weight loss and more.
2-hour
8-hour
Anxiety
Depression
Lucid Dreaming
Motivation
Procrastination
Quit Smoking
Self-Confidence
Weight Loss
References
Cordi MJ, Schlarb AA, Rasch B. Deepening sleep by hypnotic suggestion. Sleep. 2014;37(6):1143-52, 1152A-1152F. Published 2014 Jun 1. doi:10.5665/sleep.3778
Hauri PJ, Silber MH, Boeve BF. The treatment of parasomnias with hypnosis: a 5-year follow-up study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2007;3(4):369-73.
Yeung, Wing-Fai, et al. "Hypnotherapy for Insomnia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials". Complementary Therapies in Medicine, vol. 23, no. 5, Oct. 205AD, pp. 719-732., doi:10.5353/th_b4357215.
