Fear of sleep (hypnophobia)

A fear of sleep can show up at bedtime, when you are tired but dread switching off. Nightmares, sleep paralysis or a worry about not waking up are common reasons. It can be helped.

What it feels like

• Putting off bedtime and fighting tiredness
• Dreading nightmares or sleep paralysis
• Worrying about losing control while asleep

Please note: If you have been struggling to sleep for a long time, please speak to your GP to rule out any physical cause.

Common questions

Is a fear of sleep the same as insomnia?

No. With insomnia you want to sleep but cannot. With a fear of sleep you may be able to, but you are frightened of what will happen. The two can feed each other, though, so both are worth looking at.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices