How does hypnotherapy actually help reduce anxiety and promote better sleep?
- Lilly@bodymindcare
- Oct 27
- 2 min read
How would you explain that?
Hypnotherapy is, in simple terms, about going back to the programs we've created in our minds and rewriting the ones we no longer need.
For example, we might have created a program in the past that triggers stress or anxiety. Anxiety is often based on fear—specifically, the fear of anticipating the future. But that anticipation is rooted in past experiences that scared us. So we're essentially fearing the past while imagining worst-case scenarios for the future.
Through hypnotherapy, we can go back to that original program—the first experience that created it—and rewrite it. We do this using techniques like suggestions or, in my case, the Simpson Protocol. Research supports this approach: a comprehensive review published in Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics found that self-hypnosis training represents a rapid, cost-effective, nonaddictive, and safe alternative to medication for treating anxiety-related conditions.
When we're stressed or anxious, our sleep naturally suffers because our minds become overstimulated and caught in overthinking. We struggle to shut down those racing thoughts, making it hard to fall asleep. Or sometimes we fall asleep quickly, only to wake up in the middle of the night with our minds racing again—and it's even harder to quiet them the second time around.
But when we address the core issue—the origin of the anxiety—we can help create a new template for sleep. This happens because stress and anxiety impact our nervous system.
Once the nervous system returns to a more harmonious, balanced state, our thoughts become less sticky and less heavy. Our minds feel lighter, our bodies feel lighter, and we feel calmer overall.
And because we feel calmer, we send different hormonal responses throughout our body. Everything—at the chemical, emotional, and energetic levels—begins to return to normal. As a result, sleep naturally improves.
Research papers:
Hypnosis for Anxiety and Stress-Related Disorders (Your Featured Paper):
Spiegel (2013) - "Hypnosis in the Treatment of Anxiety- and Stress-Related Disorders" (PubMed Central)
Ready to Experience the Calm for Yourself?
If stress, overthinking, or restless nights have been holding you back, hypnotherapy can help you reset your mind and find peace again.
Ms. Lilly McKenzie, holistic hypnotherapist and founder of Body Mind Care in Alexandra, NZ, offers transformative sessions using the Simpson Protocol — a gentle yet powerful approach that helps you release old subconscious patterns, restore balance to your nervous system, and finally enjoy deep, restorative sleep.
Book your Hypnotherapy Session today or learn more about her Holistic Hypnotherapy Programs at www.bodymindcare.org
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