Can Hypnotherapy Help me Quit Smoking?

Hypnosis is a powerful tool for shifting a person perception into becoming a non-smoker.

For some clients, the results are miraculous. They emerge from their hypnosis session permanently convinced in body, mind and emotions that they will never light up a cigarette again.
However there is a catch: you have to be fully ready and willing to become a non-smoker.

Sometimes a prospective client may ask, “Can you get me to quit smoking?”
My reply is, “No, sorry. I can’t. But…if you’ve already made the decision to stop, what hypnosis can do is reinforce that choice, and make it much easier and more comfortable for you.”
A hypnotist has no special power of coercion. The client is always fully in control, No one can be hypnotized to do something that goes against their will or belief system.

Habits reside largely in the subconscious. Willpower alone can’t reach the subconscious. hypnosis can. Hypnosis is highly effective because it addresses the subconscious. The results can be felt immediately.
Hypnosis strengthens motivation and reinforces the positive goal of being a non-smoker.

Hypnosis as an aid to becoming a non-smoker is a powerful, safe and effective tool. It has no side effects beyond putting the money you used to spend on cigarettes back in your pocket, restoring health to your body, and allowing you to feel absolutely terrific!

I found this illustration very symbolic of the work we do as Therapist and client. Working together to help solve a problem and growing together through painful times.

Pain is something we all experience in our lives whether it’s physical or emotional; it is part of our human defence system indicating that something is wrong. The actual definition of pain is “An unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage.” (The international Association for the study of pain). In the most primitive state the subconscious mind is about protection, keeping us alive and alerting us when in danger like the fight or flight response.

Our bodies are pretty amazing at being self sufficient and can defeat some illnesses; they also create a very effective pain relief called endorphins (meaning morphine from within) and encephalin. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers and can create a high when we exercise intensely.

Hypnosis can not only help at relieving pain but can help the client gain more control with the symptoms of their illness, help them to gain an acceptance of the illness and help the client to stay as positive as possible.
We know that in the past hypnotherapy was associated with witch doctors, medicine men and healers, and after the advancement in the subject area through research and understanding, many therapists have demonstrated that hypnosis can be effective within areas of pain relief and health problems. James Esdaile (1957) was one therapist who demonstrated that hypnosis could remove the acute pain in areas of major surgery, reliably delivering effectiveness comparable to chemical anaesthesia. Through hypnosis experiments have frequently shown that client can control their own pain, and have the ability to actually diminish pain to a more tolerable level or turn the pain off completely at will.

Hypnosis has been proven to be efficient when it comes to pain relief in people. There are so many advantages to using hypnotherapy as a pain control tool; firstly it allows the patient to take control of the illness, secondly it can improve tolerance levels of pain so with time the client may be able to reduce or take less medication, therefore limiting undesirable side effects. (However this must be firstly agreed with the client’s doctor, droppings medication altogether is not advised.) Thirdly clients can help themselves with taught self hypnosis to deal with their own organic pain. I believe hypnosis can prove to be an important part of the total support structure for any client suffering from a chronic illness

Diversion
The main way to conquer anxiety is diversion, not giving into it, facing the fear and stopping the cycle. It’s about not letting it win, you may feel weak, however the human body is very resilient and your a lot stronger than you think!

Your conscious mind, through your actions, is diverting your subconscious mind by giving it something much more interesting and comfortable to concentrate on. This takes the emphasis off your anxiety enough for your symptoms to subside and for normal sensations, thoughts and behaviours to come through.

The brain runs on “auto pilot” your subconscious takes over and the conscious mind refrains from creating symptoms, in the case of anxiety, from presenting themselves….it makes so much sense.

You can teach yourself to use diversion tactics to divert your conscious mind which, in turn, distracts the subconscious mind. If you can master the art of preventing you conscious mind from giving these symptoms credence, by diverting your mind and consciously “persuading” your mind that they are irrelevant and can be ignored your brain will relearn to create totally appropriate responses, creating new, permanent non anxious neural pathways. All you have to do is practice your new behaviour which, although it may feel unnatural or scary at first, will become normal, natural and anxiety free…..FACT

Diet
You’ve heard the saying you are what you eat, well this is very true. Diet can effect our levels of anxiety, especially foods with high sugar content, caffeine and alcohol these food and drinks give us a quick boost and a high. The sugar is used up very quickly, causing the blood sugar levels to shoot up and then plummet very quickly.

Chamomile tea
Well what can I say about chamomile tea? The main point to make here is that it was and still is the best way of taking the edge of anxiety. Back in the good old days when women often came down with an attack of the “vapors” or anxiety as it’s now called, a cup of chamomile tea was administered. It has been my saving grace! Chamomile contains active ingredients that act as a mild sedative and can be drunk anytime, it’s especially good first thing in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Drink 3 or 4 cups a day and you’ll notice the difference.

Relaxation
This is an obvious one, but the mind and body can not remain anxious when it is relaxed. Practicing deep breathing can also help to control anxiety attacks from starting. Meditation, Thai chi and yoga are all extremely good ways of using relaxation. Massage and Acupuncture are very good from relieving tension build up by anxiety.

Mantra
A mantra is a word or phase that you repeat again and again in your mind. Such as saying over and over again relax, relax. Using these with diversion tactics is a really powerful way to stop the anxiety from building.

Affirmations
Affirmations are a really good tool, saying affirmations everyday out loud or even in the mind can altar the negative thought process, said often enough and the subconscious starts to believe the statement is true.
Say to your self- I am in complete control, what I’m feeling are only sensations, they are not life threatening, I will cope and I am in complete control.

Pillars to wellness
1. Stop visiting every practitioner you can find- You have anxiety and don’t need the constant doctors reassurance it’s not required. We need to break the cycle concentrating on the anxiety and symptoms only perpetuates the anxiety.
2. Stop researching your condition- By researching your condition you are constantly reminding the subconscious that you have an anxiety condition you are also learning about new symptoms you may not ever have.
3. Stop talking about your condition- Again entering into dialogue with other people confesses the subconscious mind and allows your bad habits to thrive. You have to try and bury that negative anxious habit, dis-empowering it.
4. Stop leaning on other people- Relying on others only provides a temporary crutch and you need to face the situation head on. Others can help and guide you, you have to change the behaviour though. You have ALWAYS had to cope with it alone, no matter who has been stood next to you; you have ridden the storm and come out the other end unscathed.
5. Don’t hold on to memories of your condition-Stave your anxiety of all conscious thoughts and it WILL retreat!
6. Divert your mind-make it your new habit-ALWAYS!- Diversion of the conscious mind is the key to success, hypnotherapy can help with this!
7. Stop accommodating your anxiety- Stop arranging your normal daily routines and activities around your condition. Do not avoid situations to accommodate your anxiety. BE IN CHARGE!!!! DON’T LET IT CONTROL YOU!!!!

If you restrict your life because of your anxiety, you will be limiting your enjoyment in life…for what sensations nothing more!!!!

Spent 2 weeks in Goa, before the madness of Christmas came. Goa was such a beautiful place and the people were so genuine and friendly. What an uplifting country, the elephant wash in the jungle and the spice plantations were the highlights for me! There was a certain calm and peace among st the bustle of the crowds, vibrant markets and cows everywhere. There beliefs and spiritually was enchanting. What a wonderful place!

Slogan tea towel, this would make you happy whilst doing the dishes!!!!