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Welcome to our Health and Wellness Blog!
Here you’ll find helpful insights, gentle guidance, and easy-to-follow tips on managing stress, improving sleep, building confidence, and maintaining balance in everyday life.
Our posts cover a wide range of topics—from mindfulness and relaxation to personal development and emotional well-being—all designed to help you feel calmer, more focused, and in control.
New articles are added regularly, so do check back for fresh ideas and inspiration.
New Year Weight Goals: How to Reset Your Mindset for Lasting Change
Every January, people tell me the same thing: “This year, I want to lose weight and keep it off.” After more than 25 years as a clinical hypnotherapist, I’ve seen the same pattern again and again—people don’t fail because they’re weak or lazy. They struggle because they try to change their eating habits without first changing the way their mind reacts to stress, routine, and old patterns. The New Year can feel exciting and hopeful, but it also brings pressure. Many suddenly
Sharon Shinwell
6 days ago3 min read
Insomnia Help: Best Natural Sleep Aids, Meditation & Hypnosis
I’m Sharon Shinwell , a UK clinical hypnotherapist with more than 25 years of experience helping people overcome sleepless nights, racing thoughts, and the exhausting cycle of insomnia. Over the years I’ve worked with countless clients who felt stuck, frustrated, and unsure what to try next. This post brings together the most common questions people ask about sleep problems—along with gentle, practical suggestions that can help you reclaim calmer nights. You’ll also find info
Sharon Shinwell
7 days ago4 min read
Understanding Depression and Finding Gentle Ways Forward
Depression can settle in quietly or arrive with force, leaving life feeling heavy and colourless. If you’ve been living with low mood, loss of interest, or a sense that you’ve somehow “lost yourself,” please know that you’re not weak and you’re certainly not alone. As someone who has worked as a hypnotherapist, counsellor, and clinical supervisor for over 25 years, I’ve seen how depression can affect even the strongest people—and I’ve also seen how it can shift, slowly and s
Sharon Shinwell
Nov 217 min read
Erectile Dysfunction and Stress: A Gentle Guide for Men
Erectile dysfunction is something many men face at least once in their lives, yet very few speak openly about it. It often arrives suddenly, without warning, and leaves a man questioning his confidence, his relationships, and even his sense of identity. If you’re here because you’ve been struggling—whether it’s been a recent difficulty or something that’s been building for a while—please know that you’re not alone, and nothing about this makes you weak or less of a man. I’m S
Sharon Shinwell
Nov 176 min read
Travel Sleep Tips for Families: How to Help Your Child Rest on the Go
Travelling with children can be exciting, but it often brings unsettled nights. New places, busy days, and unfamiliar rooms can make it harder for little ones to switch off.The good news is that with a few gentle adjustments, you can make travel sleep much smoother. Here are practical, parent-friendly tips to help your child rest well wherever your journey takes you. Why Travel Disrupts a Child’s Sleep When children are away from home, everything feels different—the sounds, t
Alan Shinwell
Nov 142 min read
Tips for Creating a Bedtime Routine That Actually Works
A smooth bedtime can make the whole evening feel easier, but many parents find it hard to create a routine that sticks. Children often have bursts of energy at night, worries can pop up out of nowhere, and the whole process can start to feel like a battle. The good news is that a simple, steady bedtime routine can guide your child into a calmer state and help sleep come more naturally. Here are gentle, parent-friendly tips to help you build a routine that really makes a diffe
Alan Shinwell
Nov 143 min read
Why Storytelling Helps Kids Relax at Bedtime
There’s something special about the way a gentle story can quieten a child at the end of the day. Even when they’re restless or full of energy, the right tale can help their breathing slow, their thoughts settle, and their body ease into nighttime mode. If you’ve ever seen your child calm the moment a story begins, there’s a reason it works so well. How Bedtime Stories Help Children Slow Down and Relax Children often carry a lot of thoughts into the night—school, friends, exc
Alan Shinwell
Nov 142 min read
How to Calm a Child Before Bed: Simple Ways to Bring Peace to Your Evenings
Bedtime can be one of the most challenging moments of the day. Even when your child is tired, their mind can still be racing, their energy suddenly returns, or their worries start to show up just as the lights go out.If this sounds familiar, you’re definitely not alone. The good news is that a few gentle changes can make nights smoother and help your child settle more easily. Why Children Struggle to Wind Down at Night Many children find it hard to switch off after a busy day
Alan Shinwell
Nov 143 min read
Social Anxiety, Shyness & Phobia | Confidence Techniques
Social anxiety and shyness affect far more people than most realise. In my work as a clinical hypnotherapist, I often meet individuals who describe a similar pattern: they want to engage, connect, and participate, yet something inside holds them back. Their thoughts speed up, their chest tightens, and even simple interactions become harder than they should be. Social anxiety is not simply “being shy.” It can shape daily experiences, the choices people make, and even the oppor
Sharon Shinwell
Nov 114 min read
Hypnosis & Self Hypnosis: Guide by a UK Clinical Hypnotherapist
After more than two decades in clinical practice, I’ve seen how hypnosis can help people make steady, lasting changes. This post gives a clear outline of the main areas people often ask about, and you’ll find links throughout to more detailed articles on each subject if you want to explore them further. What Hypnosis Involves and How It Works Hypnosis is a calm, focused state where the mind becomes more receptive to helpful suggestions. You remain aware, comfortable, and full
Sharon Shinwell
Nov 103 min read
How to Overcome Obesity and Emotional Eating
Understanding Obesity: A Kinder, More Compassionate Way Forward Before I begin, I want to share something important: this post is not intended to replace medical or psychological advice . My aim is to offer support, insights, and gentle guidance based on decades of working with people who have found themselves locked in battles with food and their bodies. If you’re reading this because you’re struggling, please know this: you are not alone, you are not broken, and you are not
Sharon Shinwell
Nov 76 min read
How Self-Hypnosis Can Help with Pain Management
Living with ongoing pain can be exhausting, both physically and emotionally. While medication can play a part, it doesn’t always address the mental strain that comes with discomfort. This is where self-hypnosis can make a real difference, helping you calm your body and mind so you can regain a sense of control. How Can Self-Hypnosis Help with Pain? Self-hypnosis is a simple yet powerful way to guide your focus away from pain and towards comfort and relaxation. During hypnosis
Alan Shinwell
Nov 32 min read
How Self-Hypnosis Can Boost Confidence and Self-Esteem
What Causes Low Confidence and Self-Esteem Low confidence and self-esteem often come from experiences that shape how we see ourselves. Critical comments, past setbacks, or unhelpful comparisons can settle into the subconscious as limiting beliefs — quiet thoughts that whisper “I can’t” or “I’m not good enough.” Over time, those beliefs affect how we think, feel, and behave, even when the conscious mind knows better. How Self-Hypnosis Strengthens Self-Belief and Self-Esteem
Sharon Shinwell
Nov 31 min read
How Self-Hypnosis Can Improve Sleep Quality
Why We Struggle with Restless Sleep and Overthinking Many people find that when it’s time to rest, their minds refuse to switch off. Thoughts replay, worries resurface, and the body stays tense. This mental activity prevents the deep relaxation needed for restful sleep. Over time, poor sleep can affect mood, focus, and overall well-being—creating a cycle that’s hard to break. How Self-Hypnosis Helps the Mind Prepare for Sleep Self-hypnosis creates the calm mental space needed
Sharon Shinwell
Nov 31 min read
What Happens During a Self-Hypnosis Session
Understanding the Self-Hypnosis Process Self-hypnosis is a simple yet powerful way to create positive change by working with your subconscious mind. Unlike stage hypnosis, it’s a calm, guided process that helps you reach a deeply relaxed state while staying fully aware and in control. In this state, your mind becomes more open to helpful ideas and positive suggestions that support your goals. How Self-Hypnosis Helps the Subconscious Mind During a self-hypnosis session, the co
Sharon Shinwell
Nov 31 min read
How Self-Hypnosis Can Help You Break Habits and Addictions
Understanding Habits and Addictions in the Subconscious Mind Habits and addictions often live in the subconscious—where automatic thoughts, feelings, and responses are stored. Sometimes that storehouse holds unhelpful “rules,” so your reactions become habitual rather than considered. Even when you know a behaviour isn’t serving you, the subconscious can still trigger the same old pattern. How Self-Hypnosis Changes Subconscious Patterns Self-hypnosis helps you relax the consc
Alan Shinwell
Nov 22 min read
How Self Hypnosis Can Help You Overcome Fears and Phobias
Understanding the Root of Fears and Phobias Many fears and phobias begin after a distressing experience. When something triggers that memory, your unconscious mind can instantly bring back the same feelings of anxiety or panic—even when you know you’re safe. Over time, this automatic reaction can make everyday situations feel overwhelming, from driving or flying to facing certain social situations. How Hypnotherapy Works for Fears and Phobias Hypnotherapy helps by calming the
Alan Shinwell
Nov 21 min read
About Sharon Shinwell: UK Hypnotherapist and Creator of Self-Hypnosis Recordings
For more than twenty-five years, I’ve worked with people who give a lot—nurses, teachers, carers, and professionals in many caring roles. I saw firsthand how constant responsibility and emotional giving can slowly drain energy and peace of mind. That realisation led me to create Self Hypnosis UK , a space where anyone can experience calm, professional guidance through downloadable self-hypnosis and guided meditation recordings. My aim has always been to make genuine, therapeu
Sharon Shinwell
Oct 303 min read
How to Fall Asleep Faster and Calm a Busy Mind
If you’ve ever stared at the ceiling at 2am, wishing your mind would just switch off, you’ll know how exhausting insomnia can be. The harder you try to relax, the more alert you feel—and by morning, you’re drained before the day even begins.
Sharon Shinwell
Oct 303 min read
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