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Hypnosis Works and It Lasts

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 does not work at achieving the strength to resist. It is designed to eliminate the desire. 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.

REASONS FOR SMOKING

There are two principle reasons for smoking: Identification, and Replacement. 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 to eliminate.

Replacement smoking occurs when smoking is used to replace some deficit in life¬ 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

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 hypnotist 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.

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