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Hypnosis Works For Smoking Cessation
ELIMINATING THE DESIRE FOR TOBACCO
For most people, the absolute worst way to attempt to deal with a smoking habit is through the use of willpower. Like moods and emotions, willpower fluctuates. One day it is strong. The next day may be a down day, and willpower fades. It is usually neither consistent nor effective.
Among stop-smoking procedures there are countless methods, programs, substitute products, pills, chewing gums, self-help tapes and books, etc. Many are designed to help build up the personal power to resist or overcome the addiction. Hypnotherapy works by eliminating the desire for tobacco. Instead of giving up something that a person enjoys (a sacrifice), the individual’s goal is to be rid of something that isn’t wanted - a much more agreeable position psychologically.
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REASONS FOR SMOKING
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There are two principle reasons for smoking: Identification is the situation in which the smoker indulges in the habit because others whom he admires do so—parents, peers, entertainment or sports figures, etc. Identification smoking is the most common and the easiest eliminate.
Replacement smoking occurs when smoking is used to replace some deficit in life such as, lack of companionship, love, acceptance, self-esteem, security, independence, etc.—or to replace some pre-existing habit such as overeating, reaction to anxiety or boredom, etc. Replacement smokers often derive sensual gratification from smoking—they enjoy touching or feeling the cigarettes, tapping the pack, seeing the flame of a lighter or the curling of rising smoke, or the smell of the burning tobacco. Often the lighting of the cigarette (or cigar or pipe) in itself becomes a ritual. Replacement smoking is quite often a true and severe addiction. |
THE NATURE OF SMOKING
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Since smoking is both physical and mental, success in a stop-smoking effort must change not only the mental attitude, but the physical reaction. Through hypnosis it is possible to change the taste of a cigarette from pleasurable to unpleasurable. When this is accomplished problems often related to the cessation of smoking tend to be avoided. Castor oil (or other bad tasting medicine) may serve as an example. When a person gives up the ingestion of castor oil there are no withdrawal symptoms, and there is no need to compensate for the lack of the medicine through overeating, sucking hard candies, etc.
In some cases a gradual reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked proves successful. Of many procedures available the hypnotherapist will select that which is most appropriate for the individual client. In some cases, effective cessation of smoking can be achieved in a single session. In other cases three, four or five sessions may be required. Individual sessions have the advantage of being adjusted to deal with the causes of the habit, the gratifications provided, the characteristics of the clients and similar matters not fitting group work.
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It is important to determine just what personal need is satisfied by smoking. Some smokers seek to fill a need to nurture themselves lessons loneliness or get a “pick-up” at the start of or during the day.
Others feel smoking will relieve stress or provide moments of relaxation. Still more feel cigarette smoking makes social contacts more comfortable. The problem is that a habit adopted to meet a special need often proves destructive, eliminating the need by destroying the smoker.
The risks entailed in smoking have been stressed and analyzed for years. The aversion techniques of psychotherapy when utilized in hypnotherapeutic applications can produce dramatic results. Data on why, when and where smoking is indulged can reveal information helpful in planning stop-smoking therapy.
Once a smoker has achieved success in a stop-smoking program it is necessary to reinforce the programming that led to the cessation of the practice. Smoking habits are acquired over a long period of time. Even though the smoker may have ceased smoking, the habit is likely to still be active. But like most activities, if not used, it tends to fade and disappear. The hypnotherapist will take measures to reinforce the programming during this period.
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