Birmingham Life Coaching & NLP Training

15/10/2025

Insomnia, Sleep Issues , Misophonia
Client referral posted today ,
" Great, and effective hypnotherapist. Stuarts techniques really work and will change you're life for the better.
Hi my name is Neil. I came across Stuart Downing when I found myself seeking out hypnotherapy to treat problems I was having with my sleep due to living next door to previous neighbours who were very noisy and whom had kept me awake. Thankfully, after a couple of months, the neighbours had moved on, but unfortunately as a result, I developed an anxiety about getting to sleep, which in turn lead to me developing an insomnia which was caused by the anxiety. I had also developed Misophonia as a result, and had become hypersensitive to certain noises, such as any bangs or thuds. Even though the neighbours had left, my anxiety still persisted, which only caused me even more anxiety as I couldnt understand why I just couldnt relax as I knew the neighbours were no longer there. It got too the point where the anxiety around my sleep was so bad, that it really started to have a profound effect on my life. I felt I couldnt enjoy life anymore, I just wasnt happy. I had felt like I had lost the ability to relax, as a result it really started to effect my relationships with my family as I just wasnt me anymore, so to speak. Thats when I knew I had to do something as I felt it was destroying my life. I researched hypnotherapy. I was curious as to how it worked, and researched whether or not it would be beneficial for the issues that I was going through. I sought out a few hypnotherapists, thats when I came across Stuart Downing. I did my research on him, and discovered that he could treat issues around sleep/anxiety. I read his reviews, which were all positive. I booked a consultation with Stuart, who was very friendly and reassuring and explained how hypnotherapy worked and the methods he was going to deploy in helping to heal me. In the consultation, Stuart told me that I would only require three to four sessions at the most, which I was surprised about to be honest, as I felt so afflicted by my issues. What can I say? Well, after just one session, I already noticed a vast improvement in my sleep quality. I was sleeping longer and deeper, and waking up totally refreshed. Over the last few weeks of the sessions , my sleep and anxiety has just got better and better. I feel much less anxious, and lot more relaxed, like a weight has been lifted. I am so glad that I decided to invest in the sessions with Stuart, and would recommend it to anyone who is considering hypnotherapy. Stuart helped me learn that a lot of fear is irrational and totally unnessacary, and that I can rationalise with myself that I do not need to feel that fear. I have also learnt extremely effective relaxation techniques, which have really helped me. I f I ever experience any difficulties in the future, I will be sure to utilise these techniques. So, if you have any issue that is effecting you to the point where it is having a profound effect on you're life, then I would highly recommend that you book yourself a consultation with Stuart Downing, it can and will change you're life!
Neil 14/10/25

If you need help with sleep issues , contact Stuart 07825 599340
stuart@hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk
https://hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk/hypnotherapy-services/hypnotherapy-for-sleep-disorders-Sleep Disorders and Insomnia Therapy Birmingham
https://hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk/reviews

Stuart Downing is a trusted hypnotherapist helping clients overcome their issues across the UK and worldwide. Read his reviews here.

08/10/2025

10/02/2025

Insomnia and Sleep Issues
Lying awake at night, staring at the ceiling, feeling wired but exhausted?
If that sounds familiar , there’s a good chance your cortisol levels are out of control.
And here’s the deal: high cortisol is more than just a bad night’s sleep—it’s a serious roadblock to your health, energy, and your ability to hit the flow state.
Cortisol is your body’s built-in alarm system.
It’s meant to help you handle stress, but when it sticks around too long—especially at night—it can wreak havoc on your sleep.
Studies show that elevated evening cortisol is one of the biggest culprits behind tossing and turning, disrupted sleep cycles, and that feeling of being “tired but wired”.
When your cortisol levels are too high in the evening, your body stays in a state of alertness, making it nearly impossible to relax and fall asleep.
And poor sleep doesn’t just affect your mood—it drags down your entire health, energy, and performance.
The Cost of High Cortisol:
1. Disrupted Sleep
High cortisol messes with your body’s natural circadian rhythm, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. You wake up feeling drained, no matter how long you’ve been in bed.
2. Increased Stress and Anxiety
Cortisol is linked to heightened stress responses. If your cortisol stays high, your body is constantly in “fight-or-flight” mode, which leads to more stress, anxiety, and mental fog during the day.
3. Blocked Flow State
Cortisol doesn’t just affect your sleep—it blocks your ability to enter the flow state. The flow state is where you’re fully focused and performing at your best, but high cortisol keeps your brain stuck in overdrive, making it impossible to focus deeply or think creatively.
Now, imagine what happens when you cut evening cortisol by 25%.
You’re not just lowering your stress—you’re giving your body the green light to relax, sleep deeply, and wake up energized.
Lowering cortisol improves your sleep quality, reduces anxiety, and opens the door for you to finally access the flow state.
When cortisol comes down:
1. Deep, Restorative Sleep
Lower cortisol allows your body to enter its natural rest-and-recover mode, improving sleep quality and helping you wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day.
2. Reduced Anxiety, More Clarity
When your cortisol levels are balanced, you’ll notice less anxiety, better mental clarity, and an increased sense of calm. This sets you up for a more productive, focused day.
3. More Consistent Flow State
With cortisol in check, your mind and body can work together, making it easier to slip into the flow state—where creativity, focus, and high performance come effortlessly.
You don’t have to spend another night staring at the ceiling, trapped in a cycle of poor sleep and high stress.
Lowering your evening cortisol naturally is possible, and it’s the key to better sleep, more energy, and consistent access to the flow state.
Call Stuart - 07825 599340 to discuss your insomnia issue in more detail
Email - stuart .co.uk
https://hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk/.../hypnotherapy-for...
Client reviews - https://hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk/reviews

Stuart Downing is a trusted hypnotherapist helping clients overcome their issues across the UK and worldwide. Read his reviews here.

03/06/2024

186.8K likes, 2855 comments. “How to know if it is the right person for you:”

11/11/2023

I know it hurts.

It’s a very strange feeling how someone can be in your life for months or even years and then one day ... all of a sudden not be there anymore.

Maybe the relationship ended on good terms.... or maybe it was completely catastrophic.

Either way .... it’s so bizarre how relationships can change so vast and rapidly.

And you know what .... you may not be at peace with what happened between the two of you ... and thats perfectly fine.

Sometimes the end of a relationship can literally be one of the hardest things we go through in life.

I want you to know it’s okay that your heart still hurts because of what happened.

You have made alot of memories with this person.

And these memories that you have made is something you can’t erase no matter how hard you try.

Whether you like it or not, they are a part of your story.

I know looking on these memories can be hard, and you may wish you could forget them.

But instead of forgetting, maybe we should try to focus on what came from the relationship.

You two joined paths for a particular reason.

Maybe you walked through some of the hardest times together.

Maybe you understood each other in a way no one else ever did.

Maybe you encouraged one another to be strong or to embrace who you genuinely were as a person.

Or maybe your relationship with them opened your eyes to what you truly needed in your life.

Regardless of what the reasoning was, it’s okay to acknowledge that .... that person meant a lot to you.

And it's okay if they still do.

It’s also okay that they aren’t in your life anymore.

What alot of people dont understand is, not every relationship we encounter will last a lifetime.

You shouldn't be lingering in the past questioning why everything happened the way it did.

What you need to do .... is to take what you've learned from that relationship and move forward in your life.

Knowing there are other relationships that will give you exactly what you've always dreamed of and more.

I need you to know that you're not going to feel this way forever.

You will continue to move forward and you will continue to grow with everyday that passes.

Take my advice and remember ....

Sometimes the people you wanted as part of your story, are only meant to be a chapter.

~ Cody Bret

05/04/2023

Hypnotherapy successfully treating IBS symptoms
Online appointments available
www.hypnotherapy4freedom.co.uk
Call Stuart - 07825 599340
Email stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk

Hypnotherapist Antonios explains what IBS is and how hypnotherapy can help.

05/06/2022

Amidst the hustle and bustle of our lives, it’s easy to get caught up in the struggle to achieve perfection. Perfectionism is often perceived as a 'nice-to-have' flaw, as it may describe a 'Type A' individual with big ambitions and an overwhelming desire to do everything at peak performance.
How can coaching help you beat perfectionism?
However, perfectionism is a highly destructive and maladaptive trait. It’s like having a critical person following you around all day, having something negative to say about everything you do. Except you can’t get a restraining order on this person because it lives in your head. Perfectionism is a tricky beast to tame, but it’s possible with the right mindset and perhaps a little bit of help from a qualified life coach.

Let’s see how coaching can help you overcome perfectionism for good:

Coaching can help you focus on the bigger picture
When we’re thinking of our goals, we tend to focus on the result—the perfect picture of how we want things to turn out. Then we do what we can to make that picture happen.

But if perfectionism is part of the equation, our view of that goal is so far from where we currently are that we don’t have much motivation to move forward because there’s still so much work left to be done. That’s when procrastination sets in, and we find ourselves stuck in quicksand, unable to move forward and unsure how to get out again.

Coaching can help you unlearn this pattern and break the cycle by shifting your mindset from sweating over every tiny detail to seeing the impact on the bigger picture. Do you truly need to spend three extra hours polishing every slideshow of your presentation, or would it be better to focus on the message you aim to convey?

Coaching can help you set realistic standards
The problem with perfectionism is that it sets a standard that can’t be reached. You might think that the way to get your goals is to try and improve constantly, but in reality, when you are striving for perfection, you are never actually done. There will always be another tweak, another change, another iteration before something is considered finished. The more time and energy we spend on the small details of our work, the less time we have for significant things.

If this sounds like you, coaching can help. Coaches help you set realistic standards and give you the tools to get there.

Coaching can help you lower the pressure you put on yourself
You can struggle with perfectionism in many areas of life. In the office, it may mean that you work long hours on every project and still can’t seem to finish everything on your to-do list. Your kitchen may look spotless at home, but you still picture the counters covered in dirty dishes and the floor strewn with toys. Perfectionists tend to feel guilty about the small things they’ve left undone, even if they spend time relaxing with their family or watching TV at night.

Looking for ways to escape from this never-ending cycle of guilt and discontent? Luckily, there are many things you can do—some fast, some slow—to battle perfectionism and get a handle on your future self. A qualified and devoted life coach can help you practice self-acceptance instead of constantly beating yourself up over small things.

The bottom line
In the end, we hope that you have gained some insight into how coaching can help you with your perfectionism. If you feel like you have room to grow in this area, don’t be afraid to take the first step towards a healthier approach to life. Reach out to a qualified life coach and get your questions answered.
Zoom online Coaching appointments
Call Stuart - 07825 599340 to discuss in confidence ,how coaching can address perfectionism issues in your life
stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk
https://stuartdowning.co.uk/services/life-coaching

What our clients say - https://stuartdowning.co.uk/client-reviews

11/05/2022

Assertiveness
Being assertive can compliment all areas of your life , business ,social and personal
Call Stuart - 07825 599340 to discuss how coaching can improve your assertiveness.
stuart .co.uk
Zoom online coaching appointments available
What our clients say - https://www.stuartdowning.co.uk/client-reviews

11/05/2022

Fear of Failure
Fear can hold us back , not allowing us to reach for our desires ,dreams and goals .
Zoom online coaching appointments available
Call Stuart -07825 599340 to discuss how coaching can address your fear of failure
stuart@stuartdowning.co.uk
See what our clients say - https://www.stuartdowning.co.uk/client-reviews