Stop Smoking – Hypnosis
For most smokers, the physical act of smoking is a conditioned response, a habit which is deep-seated in their mind. When they get trapped in a certain frame of mind; they habitually light up a cigarette. Smoking allows them to think and act to go to the next step. To stop smoking it is necessary to break this cycle.
A smoker’s physical craving for nicotine can be overcome. As long as the conditioned response exists, he/she will find it difficult to give up smoking altogether. This is where hypnotherapy plays an important part. Using hypnosis, a hypnotherapist breaks and erases this conditioned response from the mind of the smoker and will help him stop smoking. Hypnosis, when used for de-addiction has a lasting effect compared to other physical methods used to stop smoking.
Stop Smoking – Hypnosis
Hypnosis is aimed at curtailing and then removing the unconscious associations which lead to craving for cigarettes. This is the first step in breaking the conditioned response. Once the ritual is broken, the physical depravation symptoms associated with withdrawal can be overcome by slowly training the body to adapt to the absence of nicotine. Smokers may be averse to quitting smoking as they are afraid of suffering the symptoms of withdrawal. The fear of pain can force many smokers off the path of de-addiction. Hypnotherapy can help such smokers overcome their fears and stick to their decisions.
How it is actually done through hypnotherapy
During the therapy sessions the hypnotherapist motivates the smoker to combat the urge to smoke. To help the smoker combat the extreme situation which arises during withdrawal, he/she is taught relaxation techniques. These techniques will help the smoker combat the stress which he/she experiences during the de-addiction process. By strengthening the resolve of the smoker the therapist encourages him/her, not succumb to the provocations or the temptations to smoke. The smoker is encouraged to wait out the period of withdrawal and experience the changes which occur in the body once the nicotine is flushed out of the system. He/she is then encouraged to relish this new feeling and stick to it.
Quitting smoking can be a difficult and agonizing process for many. But with the help of hypnotherapy this can be made easy. A hypnotherapist through his/her sessions passes on a message highlighting the benefits of a smoke free life to the subconscious mind of the smoker. Since the smoker yields to his/her temptations that are related in part to his/her subconscious mind, the message counters this thought process and subdues it. This way the smoker is freed from his/her subconscious temptations and he/she recovers from this damaging habit. This process is smoother than relying purely on physical control.
An advance version of psychotherapy treatment used Neuro-Linguistic Programming to remind the subconscious mind about the dangers of smoking and the benefits that the smoker will achieve by quitting smoking. By training or rather programming the subconscious mind the psychotherapist weans the smoker away and help him/her stop smoking.
Hypnosis can thus be a very effective tool in helping smokers quit smoking.
Hey,
What a fantastic article, I have just tried hypnosis and it’s scaring me at how effective it is.
I am 23 and have just started to quit smoking. One technique which is helping me massively is BLOGGING about my experience. This not only helps keep me motivated, but I am getting a lot of support which is great. It’s also actually very fun, and helps keep my mind off smoking.
Jess
Thank you Jess for your encouraging comment. And my congratulations to you for starting on the path to recovery. Smoking is an addiction that youngsters fall victims to, early in their life. You are lucky that you found a way out of this. Let’s hope that your words encourage other youngsters like you into kicking this habit.
Good luck for a rewarding future.