
333: How to sleep better with Lorna MacDonald
From The Scummy Mummies Podcast by Ellie Gibson and Helen Thorn
April 7, 2026 · 56 min
About this episode
Lorna MacDonald discusses sleep issues, particularly in middle-aged women, and offers practical advice for improvement.
What's going on in our brains when we can't sleep? What if you find it easy to drop off, but wake up a few hours later? How does the perimenopause play a part? Joining us to answer all these questions is the brilliant Lorna MacDonald. Lorna is a neuroscience-based hypnotherapist and coach who's been helping Ellie get a bit more shut-eye. She explains why so many middle-aged women struggle with sleep, and gives us lots of practical ideas for improving things. We talk about the stress bucket, and the difference between slutty and classy dopamine. There's some chat about alcohol and hormonal change. Lorna tells us the story of how she came back from burnout, and we talk about what it is, how to recognise the first signs, and what we can do to manage it. Plus: why it's OK to be selfish, and how it can actually make you happier. For more from Lorna, including how to get in touch with her and pricing, thehypnotherapynook.com or follow her on Instagram @thehypnotherapynook . Helen's book "How to Face Big Change and Come Back Stronger" is now out and all about how women rebuild their lives after big shitty life things, it is uplifting, funny…
People in this episode
Hosts: Ellie Gibson, Helen Thorn
Guest: Lorna MacDonald
Topics covered
- sleep improvement
- neuroscience
- perimenopause
- burnout
- self-care
- parenting
Keywords
- sleep
- neuroscience
- hypnotherapy
- burnout
- selfishness
- parenting
- perimenopause
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: thehypnotherapynook.com
Books & works: How to Face Big Change and Come Back Stronger
More episodes of The Scummy Mummies Podcast
- 337: Rachel Bright on writing, air hostessing, verrucas and hats · June 3, 2026 · 58 min
- 336: Raising siblings and coping with estrangement, with Catherine Carr · May 11, 2026 · 59 min
- 335: Dame Mama G on panto, BGT and Bungle from Rainbow · May 6, 2026 · 49 min
- 334: People pleasing, sex, and Giles Brandreth, with Bryony Gordon · April 21, 2026 · 55 min
- 332: Just the Two of Us - Helen's New Book! · March 24, 2026 · 44 min
- 331: Cariad Lloyd on grief, writing, and problematic face painting · March 10, 2026 · 46 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Scummy Mummies Podcast podcast page.