The True Relationship Between Hypnosis and Smoking Cessation When a person discovers the fascinating world of hypnosis and the possibility of using it to “magically” help them stop smoking, they find the entire prospect very enticing. Who wouldn’t want to stop smoking cold turkey, save a ton of money, rebuild their health, and all without having to struggle with the addiction aspect of it all? If only it was that simple.
The Consumer Short-Cut Products
There are plenty of business folks, charlatans, and snake-oil salesmen who would love for you to continue believing it’s that simple. All you have to do is purchase their e-books, mp3 downloads, and other programs that will have you self-hypnotizing yourself in no time at all. The problem is that these programs essentially don’t work in the fashion intended. Self-affirmations can work but take as long as a year and don’t remove you from having to struggle.
There are also those armchair hypnotists who will invite you to their home and charge you an hourly rate to dangle a pocket watch in front of your face. These guys have transitioned out of show business and into the service business. They don’t provide the results you’d expect either.
The Tried and True Hypnosis Methods
Reading the above statements might make you feel despair, but there is a tried and true methodology to ceasing cigarette use through hypnosis. These have been developed through rigorous experimentation
by professionals with doctorate degrees in psychology, psychiatry, and more.
The way it works is that the hypnotist will place you into what is referred to as a “trance state.” This is a state of deep relaxation that drops psychological barriers that would cause you to resist suggestions. Your motivations for stopping smoking will be discovered and suggested to your subconscious mind in a very convincing manner. Some common motivations are saving money, reducing risk of lung cancer, removing the smell of tobacco from your clothing and surroundings, and not having to take smoke breaks constantly.
On average, about four sessions of hypnotism is suggested, with more and more time inserted between these reinforcements. More may be used through telephone contact to further reinforce the hypnotic suggestions and increase the chances of complete cessation. The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis reported on this method developed by Nuland and Field. This active and personalized method was successful in helping 60% of patients, who still had not returned to smoking after 6 full months since hypnosis ended.
Conclusion
So is it possible to use hypnosis to help you stop smoking? Yes, it most definitely is, but these overthe-counter and inexpensive CD and DVD programs are not the answer. A personalized and guided process with a professional psychologist following established procedures is the true answer. Don’t fall prey to cheap “solutions” by money-hungry salesmen. Expect to pay premium prices for a professional service. And remember, you don’t want just anyone hacking into your mind, and the price you pay will be well worth it with a lifetime of savings from not buying cigarettes.