MamaBearTeacher Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 I have posted before about my oldest son (age 16), about how he is not sleeping all night and then sleeping all day and he can go several nights in a row not going to bed until 6 am. Yesterday he slept from sometime in the morning until 8 pm though his sleep was disrupted. Then he stayed up all night and he is still awake and will be up all day and might not sleep until 3 am. He has severe special needs and needs supervision when he is awake and most of the time he refuses to lay in bed. Needless to say this has caused severe problems for the whole family and has been very disruptive. I am thinking of having him see a hypnotist for the sleep problem. The problem is that he cannot do breathing exercises or muscle relaxation exercises. Can he be hypnotized without doing these things? Any advice in what to look for? Any experiences with hypnosis for your child teen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 (edited) I don't think hypnosis used for these sorts of purposes has a good track record for effectiveness. It's sometimes used effectively to help someone explore and talk about traumatic experiences and that sort of thing, but for changing behaviors? Not sure there is much evidence that works. I was going to say try relaxation techniques to fall asleep, but if he can't do that, then obviously no that won't work. FWIW, my 16 year old has similar problems. I finally got him on board with exercising more. He just started with that though so we'll see if that helps. Edited March 12, 2018 by SparklyUnicorn 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBearTeacher Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 A lot of hypnotist a do work on insomnia, smoking cessation, weight loss, etc. My son seems to have a paradoxical response to exercise and fresh air. It seems to make him not sleep. It has always been this way. ?????!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 My SIL does hypnotherapy work and told me it wouldn't work for my dd (similar issues). She just offered up the information, like she was thinking about it, but i hadn't asked. DD struggles with self calming so I can't imagine she would be able to access the part of her mind to allow external suggestions to impact her daily life. I don't know you son's diagnosis, but I do know that sleep meds are one of the first medications that doctors use to help those with Autism/aspergers. Sleep disorders are extremely common with these diagnoses. My daughter uses a combination of 3 to get her to sleep and stay asleep every night. we did 3 sleep studies to try to find the cause and treat it, but it is just her brain and her lack of control over the overstimulation that keeps her awake. For her, medication is the only way to keep her on a normal routine. If you haven't tried it yet, OTC melatonin is often the first thing they try. It will take a bit of time to reset patterns, so make sure to try it for a couple of weeks before you determine it isn't working. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 I don’t know about hypnosis, but I’m guessing you’ve tried a sleep specialist? We are heading that direction for DS, as the pediatrician and the allergist are out of ideas, and the sleep study was not helpful. I’m disheartened. And can only imagine that you are, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 A lot of hypnotist a do work on insomnia, smoking cessation, weight loss, etc. My son seems to have a paradoxical response to exercise and fresh air. It seems to make him not sleep. It has always been this way. ?????!!!! Well, my mother tried hypnosis to quit smoking and for weight loss. It didn't work in either case. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 I am thinking of having him see a hypnotist for the sleep problem. The problem is that he cannot do breathing exercises or muscle relaxation exercises. Can he be hypnotized without doing these things? Any advice in what to look for? Any experiences with hypnosis for your child teen? I don't know if this would be an option for him, but I wonder how he would do with acupuncture? My daughter has autism, and she has had acupuncture treatments in the past but not for insomnia. I wasn't sure how it would go, but I decided to give it a try and if she resisted we'd stop immediately. She was able to lie on the table during the treatment with no problem...she even skipped down the hall when we left. And she was willing to return for several more appointments. Your son would have to be able to lie still on the table for a few minutes after the needles are placed in several areas. My daughter and I have seen different practitioners and both did an initial interview/exam. As part of this, they want to look at your tongue...but he wouldn't have to do any breathing or relaxation exercises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBearTeacher Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 Did the acupuncture help her in any way? There is a slight chance my son would put up with it. I don't know if this would be an option for him, but I wonder how he would do with acupuncture? My daughter has autism, and she has had acupuncture treatments in the past but not for insomnia. I wasn't sure how it would go, but I decided to give it a try and if she resisted we'd stop immediately. She was able to lie on the table during the treatment with no problem...she even skipped down the hall when we left. And she was willing to return for several more appointments. Your son would have to be able to lie still on the table for a few minutes after the needles are placed in several areas. My daughter and I have seen different practitioners and both did an initial interview/exam. As part of this, they want to look at your tongue...but he wouldn't have to do any breathing or relaxation exercises. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Did the acupuncture help her in any way? There is a slight chance my son would put up with it. It seemed to. But she had a tic, and those wax and wane on their own so it's hard to say for certain. For me, it did help with jaw pain (TMJ). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Well my mother had a quack friend of hers try to hyptonize me when I was 6-7 because I keep having nightmares every Sunday night (huh, wonder what that might mean!?!). I was soooo embarrassed for the poor woman (she was studying to be a therapist) but I knew my mother would be angry with me if it didn't "work" so I played along. A few years ago I mentioned the incident, and just as I knew would happen 40 years ago, she accused me of lying and got angry at me. LOL. So predictable. Sorry, I'm just not a believer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 It seemed to. But she had a tic, and those wax and wane on their own so it's hard to say for certain. For me, it did help with jaw pain (TMJ). That’s cool. Acupuncture did not help me at all with endometriosis pain, back in the day. But I’ve had it suggested recently for another issue. Trying to overcome my aversion, due to poor results in the past. That was a Big Issue, only resolved by hysterectomy, so I can see it might work for other issues. Hopeful, anyway. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Well my mother had a quack friend of hers try to hyptonize me when I was 6-7 because I keep having nightmares every Sunday night (huh, wonder what that might mean!?!). I was soooo embarrassed for the poor woman (she was studying to be a therapist) but I knew my mother would be angry with me if it didn't "work" so I played along. A few years ago I mentioned the incident, and just as I knew would happen 40 years ago, she accused me of lying and got angry at me. LOL. So predictable. Sorry, I'm just not a believer. Well on the plus side it did work for your mother (for a time). :closedeyes: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 Well on the plus side it did work for your mother (for a time). :closedeyes: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Even if I believed in it, I don't think any amount of hypnosis could cure what goes on in her head... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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