Hypnosis: an alternate approach to insomnia.

Insomnia, the feeling of inability to go to sleep or to stay asleep, is a pervasive clinical problem. This paper examines the relationship and similarities between sleep and hypnosis. Research on the study of EEG patterns during hypnosis shows that many authors feel hypnosis is a waking phenomenon. Why hypnosis allows for the induction of sleep is not clear.Primary and secondary sleep disorders are classified. Primary disorders have an autonomous function in the central nervous system while secondary disorders can result from depression, pain, anxiety, lifestyle change, etc. Secondary disorders are most likely to be improved by hypnotherapeutic techniques, which include progressive relaxation and ego-strengthening.