How To Stop Smoking with Hypnosis
Many people use hypnosis to help them stop smoking. For anyone who is unfamiliar with hypnosis, hypnosis is a state of focused concentration during which a person becomes less aware of his or her surroundings. Hypnotherapy is the use of hypnosis to treat people who want to stop smoking.
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What happens when they hypnotize you?
During the hypnotic state, which is called the trance, a person may be more likely to accept suggestions that can help person stop smoking. The hypnotherapist can teach the smoker to hypnotize him or herself. This technique is called self-hypnosis. You can also learn self-hypnosis from books.
The hypnotherapist’s goal is not to control a person or give the person answers but rather to help the person to stop smoking. Some people are more comfortable with self-hypnosis because they are alone throughout the exercise and are in control of all suggestions made during the hypnotic trance.
Hypnosis is not for everyone
Hypnosis does not work for everyone. You must be willing to focus your attention and follow the suggestions of the therapist while she is trying to get you to stop smoking. Contrary to what people think, you cannot be hypnotized unwillingly. In addition, when you are hypnotized, you will not follow directions against your wishes.
How hypnosis works
Experts do not know how hypnosis works, but it seems to put the body in deep relaxation. Some people believe hypnosis causes the brain to release natural substances that affect the way you perceive pain and other symptoms. Others believe hypnosis acts on the unconscious mind and allow you to control body reactions that you cannot normally control, such as blood pressure, heartbeat, and hunger.
If you think of hypnosis as someone swinging a pendulum and telling you that your eyes are getting heavy, think again. Hypnosis is a way to give you subliminal suggestions. You will not feel anything but a state of total relaxation.
Quit smoking with hypnosis
Hypnosis has helped many people to stop smoking. Many people feel that it works well to eliminate both the mental and physical addiction to nicotine. Cigarette smoking is the most addictive substance there is. It is no wonder that people find it difficult to stop smoking – it is more addictive than heroin. When you do stop smoking, you can celebrate each day, as it is a milestone.
Benefits of hypnosis for smoking
- Reduced stress and/or learning techniques for controlling stress
- Effecting change in attitudes, beliefs, and associations towards smoking, thus enabling the elimination of the smoking habit.
Can you do it? Of course, you can. You just have to have the will to stop smoking and a little bit of help. This is where hypnosis comes in. Hypnosis gives you the mind power to stop smoking and allows you to rid yourself of the uncomfortable cravings for a cigarette. Once you are smoke-free, you will wonder why you ever smoked in the first place.
How to find a hypnotherapist
If you want to try hypnosis to help you quit smoking, ask your healthcare provider to recommend a good hypnotherapist.
Here are some tips when looking for a qualified hypnotherapist:
- Make sure they are licensed, trained, and credentialed. Hypnosis for smoking cessation and other medical or behavioral reasons should only be done by someone who has a current license in a healthcare field, such as medicine, psychiatry, psychology, or nursing.
- Ask some tough questions. Ask about their professional training. The American Society for Clinical Hypnosis also suggests asking: “Can this practitioner help me without using hypnosis?” If the answer is no, you should look elsewhere.
- Beware of too-good-to-be-true claims or guarantees. Hypnosis does not work for everyone.
Remember, it’s never too late to quit smoking. Doing so has immediate health benefits. And, if you quit smoking before you turn 50, you’ll cut the risk of dying in the next 15 years in half, compared to those who keep lighting up.
