Hypnotherapy to Stop Smoking

Hypnotherapy can be effective in helping you to stop smoking. Smoking is a risk factor for various illnesses such as lung cancer and heart disease, notwithstanding of course the financial burden it imposes. A 2019 research review showed that smoking was one of the highest causes of death in the world.

Quitting smoking can greatly improve your health and lifestyle, but it can be a challenge to stop. Studies have shown that hypnotherapy can be effective in helping you to stop smoking.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness, which has two components of suggestion and absorption (or trance). The primary focus in hypnosis is for the person to relax. Once relaxed, it opens a pathway to the unconscious mind. Once opened, the unconscious mind is able to respond to suggestions that are going to help the person. On the basis that nicotine addiction is deeply rooted in the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy can help a smoker access the subconscious and begin to untangle the addiction.

Why hypnotherapy is effective for smoking cessation?

Nicotine addiction is a mental weakness, which is why nicotine replacement therapy is not as ineffective as that only helps the physical element. All raw sensory information is carried to the brain to create a conscious imprint thus allowing the brain to deliver a response. The subconscious mind influences this triggering an outburst, which is why smoking is a difficult habit to kick. In order to break this cycle, the smoker has to gain back control eliminating the automatic outburst. This is why hypnotherapy is effective.

How does hypnotherapy work for smoking cessation?

Quitting smoking is not easy because it is an addiction. Commitment and perseverance is therefore important to break the habit. The therapist will obtain a background about your smoking habits and your desired outcome. For instance, if you are a heavy smoker, it may not be a good idea to stop smoking altogether and rather a gradual process may be better. Going “cold turkey” is probably the worst way to stop smoking.

Under trance and based on the background given, the therapist will provide tailored suggestions and verbal cues to stop smoking, perhaps setting out how smoking is a poison, you need your body to live, and the importance of respecting your body and protecting it.

The only way any suggestion will stick is if you ‘want’ the result. It will not work if you are giving up for someone else or because they feel you should give up smoking, but do not want to.

Giving up smoking has to be a selfish act. You have to do it for yourself.

You can find further information about hypnotherapy solutions at Inner Resolve here.