What is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterised by sleeping issues such as difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep. There are two labels associated with the medical term insomnia. The first being “Primary Insomnia“, which is a sleeping difficulty that has no direct association with any health problem. The other is “Secondary Insomnia“, which is caused by a certain health condition, such as depression, asthma, pregnancy, heartburn, or pain; or by taking medications that may cause this problem.
Insomnia can be caused by many different factors. It could be due to stress, illness, or physical discomfort. It may also be caused by environmental factors, such as light, noise, or extreme temperature changes. Emotional distress may also cause insomnia, as well as certain medications like antihypertensive drugs, antidepressants, or even simple cold and flu medication.
Symptoms of Insomnia
- Insomnia is characterised by the following symptoms:
- Finding it difficult to fall asleep
- Waking up in the middle of the night with trouble of getting back to sleep
- Tiredness upon waking and throughout the day
- Irritability
- Concentration issues
Treatment
While acute insomnia does not require immediate treatment, chronic insomnia is typically dealt with over-the-counter and even with prescription sleeping aids. Nonetheless, it is widely-known that sleeping pills can be addictive and can result in various withdrawal symptoms that can affect your health. Moreover, insomniacs can have the tendency to develop a dependency on sleeping medication, which can result in a heap of other short and long term issues.
Hypnosis as a Form of Treatment for Insomnia
Studies
Several articles linking hypnosis and insomnia have been published. BMC Pediatrics concluding that hypnosis can be an effective treatment for insomnia in school-age children as an example. The study was performed among 84 children and adolescents that suffered from sleeping issues. Among the 84 participants, 87% reported improvement following their hypnosis sessions.
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References
“Insomnia (Chronic and Acute Insomnia) Causes and Symptoms.” WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/insomnia-symptoms-and-causes>.
“Insomnia.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 May 2014. Web. 30 May 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insomnia>.
Anbar, Ran D., and Molly P. Slothower. “Hypnosis for Treatment of Insomnia in School-age Children: A Retrospective Chart Review.” BMC Pediatrics. N.p., 16 Aug. 2006. Web. 31 May 2014. <http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/6/23>
Stanton, Harry E., Ph.D. Hypnotic Relaxation and Insomnia: A Simple Solution? (n.d.): n. pag. Http://www.hypnosishouse.biz. Web. <http://www.hypnosishouse.biz/uploads/2/5/0/6/25064124/article_-_insominia___hypnosis.pdf>.
Stanton, Harry E., Ph.D. Hypnotic Relaxation and Insomnia: A Simple Solution? (n.d.): n. pag. Http://www.hypnosishouse.biz. Web. <http://www.hypnosishouse.biz/uploads/2/5/0/6/25064124/article_-_insominia___hypnosis.pdf>.
References
“Migraine.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 25 May 2014. Web. 31 May 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migraine>.
Conrad Stoppler, Melissa, MD. “Migraine Headache.” MedicineNet. N.p., 4 Dec. 2002. Web. <www.onhealth.com/migraine_headache>.
“Migraine.” MayoClinic. N.p., 4 June 2013. Web. <http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/basics/definition/con-20026358>.
“Hypnosis for the Relief and Control of Pain.” American Psychological Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014. <http://www.apa.org/research/action/hypnosis.aspx>.
Anderson, J.A., Basker, M.A, Dalton, R. (1975). “Migraine and Hypnotherapy.” International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 23, 48-58.(2)
Hammond C. (2000) The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis; Volume 55, Number 2 – April 2000