Hypnosis for Bedwetting

Bedwetting can blight a child's childhood, preventing him or her from going to sleep-overs and disturbing their sleep (and that of their parents). It also has a negative effect on self-esteem. It's estimated that bedwetting (also known as nocturnal enuresis) affects about 10% of five-year-olds, 4% of eight-year-olds and 1% of 14-year-olds. Hypnotherapy uses self-hypnosis, dissociative techniques, direct suggestions and Ericksonian metaphorical approaches along with behavioural techniques (such as reward systems and bladder-control exercises) to help children gradually increase the number of 'dry beds' they have each week.

THE EVIDENCE?
In an article in The Times in January 2005, Dr Nick Baylis says that '[f]or young children [self-hypnosis] can develop the focusing of attention, and be a means of dealing with bad dreams, bed-wetting, and fear of school.'

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