You Can Stop Smoking with Hypnosis

For most people, the use of willpower alone, is the worst way to deal with a smoking habit because willpower fluctuates. One day it is strong but the next may be a down day and it fades. Generally the use of willpower is neither consistent nor effective. There are numerous methods to stop smoking - gum, pills, substitute products, self-help tapes etc. Many of these are designed to help build up the personal power to resist the urge to smoke. Hypnotherapy does not work at achieving the strength to resist. It is designed to eliminate the desire. Instead of giving up something that a person enjoys, the individual's goal is be rid of something that isn't wanted--a much more agreeable position psychologically.

Reasons for Smoking

There are two reasons most people smoke: Identification, and Replacement. Identification is the situation in which the smoker indulges in the habit because others whom he admires do so--parents, peers, etc. Identification smoking is the most common and the easiest to eliminate. Replacement smoking occurs when smoking is used to replace some deficit in life--lack of companionship, love, acceptance, self-esteem, security, independence, etc.-- or to replace some pre-existing habit such as overeating, reaction to anxiety or boredom, etc. Replacement smokers often derive sensual gratification from smoking.

The Nature of Smoking

Since smoking is both physical and mental, success in a stop- smoking effort must change not only the mental attitude, but the physical reaction. Through hypnosis it is possible to change the taste of a cigarette from pleasurable to unpleasurable.

In some cases a gradual reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked proves successful. Of many procedures available the hypnotherapist will select the most appropriate for the individual client. In some cases, effective cessation of smoking can be achieved in a single session. In other cases three, four or five sessions may be required. Individual sessions have the advantage of being adjustable to deal with the causes of the habit, the gratifications provided, the characteristics of the the clients and similar matters not fitting group work. It is important to determine just what personal need is satisfied by smoking. Some smokers seek to fill a need to nurture themselves--lessen loneliness. Others feel smoking will relieve stress or provide moments of relaxation. Others feel more at ease in social situations.

Visualization

One of the most powerful attributes of the human psyche is the visualization ability. Many hypnotherapists, working with many types of problems, program clients to accept the belief that, "What the mind can conceive, you can achieve." The concept is common in fields of meditation, positive thinking, spiritual faith and others.

Hypnotherapy can help develop and focus the powers of visualization and since this is frequently undeveloped in clients, it can be learned through hypnosis. In stop- smoking programs, the ability to visualize one's self as a non-smoker, free from past effects of the habit, filled with new health, energy and vitality, is a major asset. Through visualization, a smoker can perceive himself/herself as looking healthier, more active, in better physical condition, with easier breathing etc.

Once a smoker has achieved success in a stop-smoking program, it is necessary to reinforce the programming that led to the cessation of the habits. Smoking habits are acquired over a long period of time and even though the smoker may have ceased smoking, reinforcement is recommended for permanent results. Sometimes personal tapes are provided.

The above information was researched by the educational facility of the National Guild of Hypnotists and is distributed by its members.