Smoking Cessation
If you really want to stop smoking one session of hypnotherapy with me could be all that you need, so read on........
You already know how your life will improve when you quit the habit of smoking:
- you will live longer
- enjoy far better health
breathe more easily - more energy
- improved sense of taste and smell
- skin will look and feel fresher, healthier and younger
No longer will you suffer the restrictions which are imposed on smokers. Altogether you will enjoy greater freedom. All of these benefits could be yours after just two sessions of clinical hypnotherapy.
Comparative research studies of hypnotherapy has shown that on average smokers are over 5 times more likely to break the habit with hypnotherapy than by willpower alone.
Having worked with many clients who wish to give up the smoking habit, I do understand and appreciate how difficult it can be to break the it. However, over a period of many years hypnotherapy has been found to be a most effective way of assisting people to stop smoking. I use the TWO STEP 'Easy Quit Smoking Programme' which was awarded the Hypnotherapy Society's award for clinical excellence. There are many reasons why you should give up smoking. An important one is because YOU want to! When making changes in your life, for it to be successful, you must be making the changes for you, not because someone associated with you, be it a wife, husband, partner, or children say you must.
Why Give Up?
If you weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of being a smoker or non-smoker, you will always come to the same conclusion – only an idiot would actually choose to be a smoker. This is something that all smokers know, even if they continually protest about free choice and the like. The trick is to always remember this fact when you are a non-smoker. You are not making some sort of sacrifice, because smoking does absolutely nothing for you at all – other than destroy your health, empty your pocket, make you smell and considerably shorten your life. You are already aware of the benefits to be gained from quitting the habit, otherwise you would not have thought of doing so in the first place; the trick is never to have any doubt about how much you want to give up, otherwise you will make yourself feel thoroughly miserable, wishing you could have a cigarette. And even more miserable if you DO have one!
Following your therapy session you don’t need to avoid smokers or rooms or situations where people smoke – instead you will just look at them and be quietly pleased that you have achieved something they have not. You don’t need substitutes and you don’t need to keep a packet of cigarettes in a drawer somewhere “just in case”; either of these two ‘protections’ will only serve to convince your subconscious that stopping is difficult – and it isn’t! And dismiss any feelings that you are being deprived of something – you are actually gaining something, not losing it; you’re gaining extra energy, extra health, extra life.
Even with the benefit of hypnosis to help you stop easily, you might possibly experience some sensation of craving or need during the first few days….that feeling of “I wouldn’t mind a cigarette”. If it exists at all, it will be far less than if you were trying to quit by willpower alone and will last for only a few seconds if you really want to stop. This is because the body can only maintain any sensation if it is constantly stimulated; instead of saying to yourself: “I’d really love to have just one cigarette”, say: “Thank goodness I’ve stopped smoking.” If you really want to stop, you will find this easy, and any feeling of craving will simply disappear like magic.
Don’t try not to think about cigarettes, its impossible, because in order to try not to think about something, you have got to think of it in the first place to know what it is you’re trying not to think about! You might think about cigarettes – and you might not. If you find yourself not knowing what to do with your hands, take a pen and a piece of paper and write “I do not smoke” several times, to occupy yourself. Its also worth remembering that you can get rid of any craving feeling in the mouth by simply rinsing out with iced water…and within 14 days, the urges to smoke will have disappeared and you will be well on your way to being happier, richer and living longer!
The most important thing of all to remember: You’re not sacrificing anything or being deprived of anything, because cigarettes or tobacco do nothing at all to improve your life. So there is no reason to envy those who still smoke; they’re still “hooked” and still destroying cells in every part of the body at an accelerated pace. They are literally still killing themselves.
Many people have found that Vitamin C and Vitamin B are a great help in quitting. 1000mg controlled release Vitamin C tablets are what many use. You can take 3 or 4 a day of these; they are water-based and you will simply excrete any excess. Also, a Vitamin B complex might help you to deal with any stress – and smokers tend to have depleted levels which take a little time to build up from the diet. The Vitamin C not only helps to make quitting easier, it also bolsters your immune system, which might well have been damaged by smoking. For this reason, many people take it on a daily basis.
Alternatives to Hypnotherapy - Some people try using patches or drugs such as Zyban or Champix. Zyban has a success rate of up to 20%, Nicotine patches of up to 13%, Nicotine gum of up to 11% - these all needwillpower and they each have unpleasant side effects.
Zyban Side Effects (the following is a quote of the most common from Wellcome "Zyban" Patient Information leaflet):
- Fever, dry mouth, constipation, tummy discomfort or upset, nausea (feeling of sickness) and vomitting.
- Skin rash or itching, including allergy reactions like nettle rash.
- Insomnia, agitation, tremor and sweating.
- Difficulty concentrating, headache, dizziness, feelings of depression, anxiety.
- Changes in the taste of food or drink while you are taking Zyban.
- These are just theCOMMONside effects. The same leaflet gives the following POSSIBLE side effects, such as:
- Sudden wheezing and tightness in the chest.
- Swelling of the eyelids, face, lips and tongue or other parts of the body.
- Skin lumps, blistering of the skin, skin rash, itchiness or fever.
- Pain in muscles or joints.
- Collapse! There is much more - ask your GP orPharmacist for a leaflet.
Champix Side Effects -Side effects that have been reported to date include the following:
- Vomiting and nausea
- Headaches
- Sleep disturbances and atypical dreams
- Gas (wind)
- Changes in the way food tastes (Dysgeusia)
- Constipation
- Suicidal thoughts (see update below)
Of the above side effects, the most commonly reported one is nausea. If you are using Champix and get any other side effects that you think may be attributable to it, let your doctor know straightaway. The less common side effects are detailed on the leaflet in the tablet packet. It is not yet known whether it is safe to use Champix alongside nicotine replacement products such as chewing gum and patches.
With hypnotherapy there are NO side effects plus there is a very good success rate!
