“Debs was brilliant. She has a very sympathetic ear, and explains the reasons behind my sleeping issues very well. Thanks to her, my sleep pattern has greatly improved and I now feel 'human' again, and I know she is only an email or call away, should I need her again.
Hilary has a busy office job and has always considered herself capable and committed to her job. But when she first came to me for hypnotherapy, she described being “in a bad place.” Everything felt overwhelming, and poor sleep had become a constant struggle. There wasn’t a single crisis or triggering event that pushed her to seek support; it was the accumulation of anxiety, exhaustion, and a sense that she was no longer coping in the way she used to.
At the time, Hilary felt anxious almost constantly. Even the smallest problems could quickly spiral into major concerns. Her mind felt busy and unhappy, particularly at night, and she found it increasingly difficult to switch off. Sleep, which should have been restorative, had become another source of stress from lying awake too many nights.
Before hypnotherapy, Hilary’s sleep was severely disrupted. She struggled to fall asleep, woke several times during the night, and then found it hard to get back to sleep once she was awake. On a good night, she might manage three to four hours of broken rest. This ongoing lack of sleep left her feeling permanently tired and unable to focus.
The impact of sleep deprivation spilled into every area of her life. Her energy levels were low, and emotionally she described herself as tearful and not in a happy place. Although she loved her job, she began to feel unable to show up as her best self and achieve the work her boss needed. Her stress levels crept up, as her ability to cope with her family’s phone calls and everyday chores diminished.
Hilary noticed anxiety creeping in, where she woke up thinking about things she hadn’t done or felt she could have done better, replaying events and conversations in her mind. These racing thoughts made it even harder to rest and reinforced the cycle of broken sleep, affecting her motivation to do anything fun outside of work.
Before coming to hypnotherapy, she experimented with over-the-counter sleep medications, which helped briefly but stopped being effective over time. Despite her efforts, nothing seemed to provide lasting relief.
When Hilary first began hypnotherapy, she admitted she was sceptical. She had never had any previous experience with hypnotherapy and wasn’t sure what to expect. However, she found the process reassuring and easy to understand. Having a clear explanation of what was happening in her brain helped remove fear and uncertainty.
Learning how different parts of the brain respond to stress was a turning point. Once it was shown visually, Hilary could see why her thoughts and sleep patterns had become so disrupted — and, crucially, how they could be changed. Understanding that her reactions were not personal failings but natural responses helped her stop blaming herself and start engaging with the shifts she needed more compassionately.
Between sessions, Hilary used the personalised relaxation recording I provided. She listened to it during sessions and continued to use it at night whenever she struggled to sleep. She also adopted a simple but effective routine known as “3-2-1”: eating three hours before bed, stopping drinking two hours before bed, and putting her phone away one hour before bedtime. Avoiding phone use at night was difficult at first, but after a while, it became part of her normal routine and made a noticeable difference.
As the weeks progressed, Hilary began to notice real changes. She started falling asleep much more quickly, and when she did wake during the night, she found it far easier to drift back to sleep. On nights when sleep felt more unsettled, she used the relaxation recording and was usually asleep again before it finished.
Where she had once been lucky to get three or four hours of broken sleep, Hilary now averages around seven hours a night, sometimes even eight. Although she still wakes briefly on occasion, sleep no longer feels like a battle.
Improved sleep had a profound effect on her overall wellbeing. Her stress levels dropped, and she found it easier to deal with problems as they arose. Her mood lifted noticeably; she described feeling happier and calmer most of the time. Her confidence improved and even though she still experiences occasional self-doubt, it no longer dominates her thinking.
Hilary also noticed that making everyday decisions became easier. With better sleep and a calmer mind, she felt more able to make choices about how to spend her days off, and stick to her plans, rather than second-guessing herself or feeling overwhelmed.
Looking back, Hilary describes her experience of hypnotherapy as life-changing. She feels she has found a happier, less stressful version of herself — someone who can cope better with what life throws her way. Just as importantly, she knows she has tools she can return to if sleep or anxiety begins to wobble again, and that support is available if she needs it.
Hilary’s story is a powerful example of how improving sleep can transform your nights, having a positive effect on the daytimes too. With the right understanding, simple routines, and consistent support, it is possible to move out of exhaustion and into a calmer, more balanced way of living.