Hypnosis to quit smoking

Most smokers know that by stopping they will save several thousand dollars a year and are aware that they could add years to their life.

by Michelina Harding — 

While most of us understand the risks and dangers associated with smoking, we don’t all understand the reason most people continue to smoke.

Most smokers know that by stopping they will save several thousand dollars a year and are aware that they could add years to their life. Most also realize that if they stopped smoking right now, they could save their health before it’s too late.

So why do people continue to smoke? The answer comes down to one thing — fear.

• Fear of having to give up their crutch or pleasure
• Fear of being unable to enjoy life or handle stress
• Fear of putting on weight
• Fear of having to experience trauma to break free
• Fear of never becoming completely free of the craving

All these fears are just alternate expressions of one overriding fear. The simple reason that a person has not stopped smoking is because of the fear that it will be too painful and too difficult.

Hypnosis makes it easy

When smokers try to stop with most methods, they suffer misery and depression due to feelings of deprivation of their pleasure or crutch. The beauty of hypnosis and its particular application is that it removes this feeling of deprivation. It removes the need, and the desire, to smoke. All a person needs to do with hypnosis is sit back in a nice comfortable chair, and relax. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Since the American Medical Association and the British Medical Association approved the use of clinical hypnosis in the 1950s, thousands of people have found it to be an effective way to quit smoking, lose weight and otherwise improve their lives. Of course, there are varying degrees of success with hypnosis, as much depends upon the skill, experience, and general competence of the individual hypnotherapist — as well as the techniques they employ.

When traditional hypnotherapy techniques are combined with the newer science of Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), hypnosis is elevated to an even greater level of effectiveness.

The reason why it is neither painful nor difficult to stop smoking with hypnosis is that the pleasure derived from smoking is transferred to a healthier habit, such as exercise, relaxation or the consumption of more water. This is why with hypnosis, there is no unwanted weight gain or other problems associated with standard methods of kicking the habit. Rather, the side-effects are positive, with an increase in health, wealth and freedom.

Will hypnosis work for me?

Our minds work on two levels — the conscious and the unconscious. We make decisions, think, and act with our conscious mind. The unconscious mind controls our habits. In the relaxed state known as hypnosis, we can communicate directly with the unconscious mind. As a result, it is quick and easy to change lifelong habits with hypnosis.

Generally speaking, every person is hypnotizable. Only fear and discomfort hold them back, which is why it is important to understand the process of hypnosis.

Most people cannot tell the difference between the hypnotized and the waking states. Some people feel relaxed and lethargic, while others feel a sensation of lightness. One thing people do commonly notice is an inexplicable change in their daily behaviors.

Hypnosis is completely safe. Clients are aware and in control at every moment, and can terminate the session at any time. A person under hypnosis is not asleep, nor can a person get stuck in a state of hypnosis. No one can be made to do something against their will. Hypnosis is a safe, relaxing and enjoyable experience.

Michelina Harding is a life coach, hypnotherapist and Reiki Master. She conducts private sessions, workshops and seminars to help individuals overcome their limitations. Michelina@AzAwareness.com or 480-218-1347.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 26, Number 2, April/May 2007.