Why Your Poor Sleep Is Damaging Your Health
When was the last time you consistently slept all night? The government advise that we should be getting around 8-9 hours of sleep each night, but most of us fall far short of this.
Over time, it can result in a lot of problems.
Here’s how sleep deprivation can affect your mind and body:
It Can Lead to Health Problems
Chronic sleep deprivation increases your chances of developing health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
In one study, getting less sleep increased the risk of premature death.
You can also have lower immunity and be more prone to getting sick since your immune system finds it harder to protect you.
It Affects Your Focus and Decision-Making
After a bad night’s sleep, you’ve probably noticed that your focus and attention isn’t as sharp.
Research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General found that sleep deprivation has a significant impact on placekeeping (how well you can complete a series of steps without having to repeat any of them, even if your attention is interrupted) — which is very likely!
Any activity that involves having to go through several steps can be a lot harder to complete.
All of this adds up to a much bigger chance of making mistakes — sometimes, incredibly costly ones.
It’s one of the first studies to indicate the extent to which you can be affected by poor sleep.
It Affects Your Food Choices
After a poor night’s sleep, you’re more likely to reach for unhealthy snacks — especially sugary and fatty ones. It’s partly to do with energy but is also linked to changes in hormones.
When your sleep is adversely affected, your levels of ghrelin and leptin are altered. Ghrelin increases your appetite, while leptin tells your brain when you’re full. Poor sleep increases ghrelin and decreases leptin, paving the way for overeating and weight gain.
Hypnotherapy to Help You Sleep
My solution-focused approach to hypnotherapy addresses the underlying causes of sleep deprivation.
It helps to retrain your mind for better sleep through tools such as positive suggestions. If you’ve been struggling to sleep properly for some time, it’s likely that your mind has “learnt” that this is the norm — until you start teaching it otherwise, of course!
Relaxation is a key part of this, along with mental relaxation.
Insomnia Hypnotherapy in Aberdeen
Here in Aberdeen, I’ve worked with plenty of clients who found it impossible to get a good night’s sleep. The effects of sleep deprivation were taking a toll on their health and wellbeing and nothing had helped to change the situation.
Using specific tools, my solution-focused approach to hypnotherapy can help to improve sleep patterns and re-establish a healthy relationship with sleep. This was the case even for clients who had struggled with sleep for years.
Contact me today to talk about hypnotherapy for insomnia, and how we can work together to improve your sleep habits.
Along with my main location on Northcote Hill in Aberdeen, I also do hypnotherapy sessions at the Kippie Lodge Sports and Country Club (also in Aberdeen).
