Hypnotic insomnia

Treatment for the relief of insomnia depends largely on post-hypnotic suggestion: "You will be very tired when you go to bed—while undressing you will become very sleepy—the moment your head touches the pillow your eyelids will be heavy—your arms and legs will be heavy—you will breathe deeply—you will immediately fall sound asleep and enjoy restful sleep throughout the night."

It should also be impressed upon the patient that sleep must be effortless. As soon as he tries to go to sleep, his efforts tend to tense him, and thus prevent the relaxation essential to sleep. This should be stressed, after the suggestive treatment, before the patient leaves your office. Explain this fact to him and then assure him, in a tone of absolute confidence, that he will go right to sleep to-night—you have given him the hypnotic suggestions which will put him to sleep immediately, when he goes to bed.

You should follow up your treatment with some hints about the technique of self-hypnosis outlined in Chapter Ten, so that the patient can learn to "do the trick" for himself night after night, when you are not there to help him.

Hypnotic insomnia