Why You Can’t Switch Off – And How Sleep, Stress, and Hypnotherapy May Support Your Brain to Reset
Hi - My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I’m a Clinical Solution-Focused Hypnotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire and also work online nationally.
“My Mind Won’t Stop Racing” – Sound Familiar?
Many people I support in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and online across the UK say the same thing:
“I can’t switch off — even when I’m exhausted.”
“I know I’m overthinking but I don’t know how to stop.”
“I’m stuck in my head and can’t relax.”
If that sounds like you, you’re not alone — and you’re not failing. You may simply be carrying too much in your stress bucket, and your brain may be stuck in protective mode.
This blog explains how your brain responds to stress, how sleep plays a critical role in resetting emotional balance, and how Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy may support that process.
What Is the Stress Bucket?
A Simple but Powerful Metaphor
In neuroscience-informed therapy approaches, the stress bucket is a metaphor for how we carry emotional load. Throughout the day, every frustration, anxious thought, responsibility, or emotional demand adds water to the bucket.
When the bucket is low, we feel calm, rational and able to cope. But when it fills too high — and we don’t get good quality sleep — it overflows.
What Happens When the Bucket Overflows?
A full stress bucket can lead to:
Racing thoughts or rumination
Increased emotional sensitivity
Trouble sleeping or winding down
Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
Feeling disconnected or stuck
This happens because the primitive part of the brain (the limbic system) takes over, and the prefrontal cortex (responsible for rational thought and perspective) becomes harder to access.
Sleep Is the Brain’s Emotional Reset Button
Why REM Sleep Matters
During REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the brain sorts and processes emotional material from the day (Walker, 2017). This phase of sleep:
Helps regulate mood
Supports memory and learning
Empties the stress bucket
Strengthens helpful emotional and cognitive pathways
If your sleep is disrupted, your brain has fewer chances to restore emotional balance — which can lead to a repeating cycle of stress and mental exhaustion.
Neuroplasticity – How the Brain Changes Over Time
What Is Neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt, form new connections, and rewire unhelpful patterns (Kolb & Gibb, 2011). With the right conditions, this allows us to:
Respond more calmly to challenges
Break old patterns
Build emotional resilience
Access logic and perspective again
But for these changes to happen, the brain needs:
An emptier stress bucket
Consistent sleep, especially REM
Repetition of helpful thoughts and behaviours
How Solution Focused Hypnotherapy May Support This Process
A Brain-Based, Future-Focused Approach
Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy draws on neuroscience, positive psychology, and guided relaxation to support emotional wellbeing.
Sessions are designed to:
Reduce stress levels through deep relaxation (trance)
Activate the prefrontal cortex by focusing on your preferred future
Improve sleep quality by calming the nervous system
Encourage mental rehearsal, which strengthens new, healthier neural pathways
The trance element of each session mimics REM sleep — helping to process emotional load and calm the mind. When combined with sleep improvements and structured, positive focus, many clients find it easier to create real-life shifts.
Common Issues Clients Want Support With:
Stress and overwhelm
Difficulty switching off
Anxiety or low self-confidence
Poor sleep or disrupted patterns
Work–life balance and emotional fatigue
Overthinking, perfectionism, and mental overload
Sessions are always tailored to you and focus on building a more balanced future, one small step at a time.
Hypnotherapy in Bicester, Oxfordshire – and Online Across the UK
I offer Solution Focused Hypnotherapy online, and from my garden therapy room in Heyford Park, near Bicester, Oxfordshire.
Sessions are available for adults and young people aged 16+, and every journey starts with a 60-Minute Initial Consultation / Discovery Session to explore whether this approach is a good fit.
If you’re ready to feel calmer, sleep better, and get out of your head and back into your life, I’d love to hear from you.
Darwall-Smith, H. (2023) The Science of Sleep. London: Welbeck Publishing.
Kolb, B. and Gibb, R. (2011) ‘Brain plasticity and behaviour in the developing brain’, Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(4), pp. 265–276.
Walker, M. (2017) Why We Sleep: The New Science of Sleep and Dreams. London: Penguin Books.
This blog is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy that supports emotional wellbeing and mental health but is not a substitute for medical or psychological care. If you are experiencing severe anxiety, mental health difficulties, or are in crisis, please consult your GP or a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek appropriate medical advice before making changes to your healthcare routine. Hypnotherapy outcomes can vary and no specific results are guaranteed.
Find Out How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Support You.
Book your 60-minute Initial Consultation today and start your journey towards better well-being
In-person at my Oxfordshire Therapy Room (Upper Heyford, near Bicester or Online via Zoom).
My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I am a fully qualified Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy®, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire.
I assist people in regaining control of their lives by retraining their brains to overcome limiting thought patterns, master their emotions, and cultivate resilient behaviours for a brighter and more positive future.. I know… It’s awesome!
a nutshell, I ‘get you out of your own way’. Because, let’s face it, a lot of us are.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy taps into the power of your subconscious mind so you can move forward towards the life you’ve always wanted to live. It’s a quick, practical way to address thought patterns, emotions and behaviours that are holding you back in life.
I’m a registered and accredited member of the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH) and National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH).
I service the main towns and cities around Upper Heyford, including Bicester, Banbury, Oxford, Kidlington, Witney, Brackley, Charlbury, Northampton, Buckingham, Chipping Norton, Thame, Didcot, Abingdon, Henley-on-Thames, and Aylesbury, along with other local areas.
I also work nationally and offer remote hypnotherapy services online, so no matter where you're based, support is just a click away!