Hypnosis Used To Quit Smoking- Does This Really Work?
You know you want to quit smoking, and you also know it
will be tough. Perhaps you have already tried everything: you have gone
cold turkey, only to hightail it to the corner store in the middle of
the night when your nerves were shot and your could not sleep for the
third night in a row. Perhaps if you have tried the nicotine replacement
products, such as the gum, patch or spray, and while your arm was all
patched up, you were still lighting up. Maybe you tried the herbal
supplements only to have a queasy stomach and a craving to smoke that
was unabashed. Possibly you have tried acupuncture only to find the
results too short-lived to even be worth a continued effort. On the flip side, maybe you have been smoke-free for a while but the temptation
to relapse has become frighteningly strong and you are looking for some
way to combat the urge to simply give in, throw caution to the wind, and
once again fill your lungs with the poisons of the smoke. There is,
however, one method you have not yet attempted: hypnosis. Of course,
much has been said and written about this method and you wonder if
hypnosis to quit smoking really does work.
Hypnosis has forever become associated with the slapstick routines of
old, the sideshow, or the carnival. People were made to act like
chickens or dogs ? much to the amusement of the on-looking audience. In
reality, hypnosis is a recognized psychotherapy tool that uses a form of
directed relaxation in addition to a directed suggestion to your
subconscious mind. Have you ever driven your car and suddenly jerked
yourself out of an apparent lull? This may very well have been a very
rudimentary method of self-hypnosis. You are still functioning on a
conscious level, but your subconscious mind has wandered to something
else and your body has relaxed. In a therapeutic setting, a hypnotist
will seek to aid you in reaching this state of relaxation. Many who have
gone to a hypnotist to quit smoking will swear by this method. Of
course, there are always some who will continue on smoking and for whom
this method will not work. It is important to remember that each person
is an individual and as such has individual needs, problems, and habits
to overcome. Each method will not work for each individual, but if you
have tried multiple methods, there really is no harm in also attempting
hypnosis.
If you do decide to give hypnosis a try, it is
important to keep a few things in mind:
If you choose to check
out hypnotherapies, make sure that the therapist is actually certified
in her or his chosen field. Anyone can hang up a shingle and call
themselves a hypnotherapist, but the certifying authorities, such as the
National Board for Certified Hypnotherapists, are quite picky in their
requirements. These requirements are educational as well as
experiential. Many times a psychologist or psychiatrist will also be
experienced in hypnotherapy, and are quit possibly able to help you.
Find
out about the hypnosis. Does the hypnotherapist only recommend one
session, or will she or he provide a number of sessions? What will be
accomplished in these sessions? Usually it will take more than one
session to affect a behavior modification on a permanent basis.
Remember: hypnosis is not a cure-all; it simply helps you to accomplish
your goal.
There are many products on the market now that seek to
train eager soon to be non-smokers to self-hypnotize. While some folks
may most certainly have a knack for learning how to do this at home, it
is not as easy as it sounds. In addition to the foregoing, if you are
fighting to overcome your cravings, this may not be a good time to
attempt to learn how to do this, but instead a professional will be able
to offer much input and guidance.
Hypnotherapy is only one
method. The most effective road to a smoke-free life encompasses a
variety of methods as well as realistic and lasting behavior
modifications. You will still need to avoid tempting situations and deal
with your physical cravings while you are weaning yourself away from
your addiction.