SOLVE A SYMPTOM OF INSOMNIA

An example of the therapeutic use of an avoidance-avoidance bind to resolve a symptom of insomnia was the case of a meticulous elderly gentleman who took pride in doing all his own housework - except that he hated to wax floors. After an appraisal of his personality, the senior author told the gentleman that there was an obvious solution to the insomnia problem, but he might not like it. The gentleman politely insisted that he would do whatever was necessary to be able to sleep. The senior author continued to demur, while permitting the gentleman to commit himself further by giving a number of examples of how persistent he was in dealing with difficult problems once he determined he would. He insisted that his word was his bond, and he was used to dealing with unpleasant matters. This clearly confirmed that this man of admirable character was, indeed, well practiced in working through avoidance- avoidance conflicts. His determination in the face of such conflicts was utilized in structuring a therapeutic avoidance-avoidance bind. He was told that if he was not asleep within fifteen minutes of going to bed, he had to get up and wax floors until he felt he could sleep. If he was still not asleep within fifteen minutes, he had to get up again and so continue this procedure until he was asleep. The gentleman later reported that he had well-waxed floors and slept remarkably well.
 
Taken from, Milton H. Erickson & Ernest L. Rossi. Hypnotherapy – An exploratory casebook; pag. 51, Irvington Publishers Inc.