Hypnosis to Stop Smoking
SMOKING is still one of the biggest causes of ill health, even though there are now only half as many smokers as 30 years ago. Smoking is also expensive, offensive to other people, and a bad example to your children. There are many good reasons to stop and no good reasons to continue smoking.
NICOTINE ADDICTION is the main reason why many people have difficulty stopping smoking. Scientists recognise nicotine as one of the most addictive substances in common use. Withdrawal symptoms include restlessness and irritability.
HABIT is another factor. Smokers associate smoking with other activities such as taking a break from work or talking on the telephone. These activities then automatically suggest the idea of smoking.
STRESS is another factor. When people smoke they generally breathe out slowly, which helps them to relax (Nicotine itself does not relax them since it is actually a nerve stimulant).
PEER PRESSURE is another problem, because smokers often sabotage other smokers’ attempts to quit, by offering them cigarettes, especially when they appear stressed.
HYPNOSIS helps firstly by enabling you to control your emotional reactions, calming the restlessness and irritability of the withdrawal period. Hypnotherapy also enables you to see the future benefits of quitting more vividly, which counteracts any temporary discomfort.
AN ACTION PLAN needs to agreed, covering issues like “what will you be doing at times when you would have gone out for a cigarette?” and “how will you resist sabotage by other smokers?” Every smoker is different, and needs a personalised approach.
UNDERLYING PROBLEMS such as anxiety or depression will need to be addressed if they exist.
SOME HYPNOTHERAPISTS have a different fee structure for stop smoking hypnotherapy, charging a large fee for one session. Personally I treat smoking the same as any other problem, £35 per session for however many sessions are required- although in fact one session is often sufficient.
CANNABIS smoking also responds to hypnotherapy. If you really want to quit tobacco you need to quit cannabis as well. Also, it is a bad idea to smoke cigars after you quit smoking cigarettes, as this will feed your nicotine addiction, keeping it alive.