It’s almost another year gone by, and you still haven’t quit smoking. How long has that topped your New Year’s resolution list? You probably want to quit, and every year, you declare you’ll finally be a nonsmoker. What happens? A few days or months down the road, and you find yourself lighting up again. Was it stress? The new job? Cravings? Nicotine is very addictive, and it’s not easy to find a program that works easily and permanently. Most smokers report that they’ve tried to quit several times, but they pick it up again. Don’t despair if that describes you – you can quit. Hypnosis can help you do it easily and quickly.
There are several smoking cessation programs available. Some require doctor’s visits for medication. Another popular choice is nicotine replacement patches, which still provides your body with nicotine to help curb the cravings. While it’s great to take the steps to quit, these programs have a downside. They take time, some lasting up to a year before you finally say you’re a nonsmoker. They can be costly, and they have warnings about potential side effects.
One of the most effective and natural program is stopping through hypnosis. It’s also one of the quickest and least expensive. Since you’re not relying on chemicals (either topically or internally), you’ll find no side effects like those associated with the other programs. Hypnosis is a natural state, where your therapist guides you into a concentrated state of complete relaxation.
Before you schedule your session, you’ll want to ask a few questions. How many sessions will it take? How successful is the therapist’s program? What’s the cost? What does the program entail (is it strictly hypnosis)?
The therapist will also ask you for initial information, such as the years you’ve smoked, any health problems, other programs you’ve tried in the past, and your level of motivation to quit. Your answers will help the therapist decide on the best way to help you. Your commitment is one of the biggest indicators of your success. If you wish someone would make you stop, then hypnosis isn’t going to work. It’s not magic, where you suddenly become a nonsmoker. You must be open to the program and dedicated to taking the steps to make it work.
This article was originally published on Natural Therapy Pages by hypnotherapist Christine Ford.