Hypnosis to quit smoking

Secret1234

Hi

I'm desperate to quit smoking, other methods have always failed as its always just too easy to go and buy some cigarettes and the craving just takes over :mad: . I'm really keen to try out hypnosis but i can't seem to find any reviews other than the obviously biased one on the hypnotherists website.

Can anyone provide me with their reviews, has anyone tried it, did it work etc..

Any info will be greatly appreciated xx

elle45

I tried hypnosis for a phobia problem years ago and yes it worked!!:j Tried hypnosis for smoking and no it didn't work!! Just got the impression it was more of a relaxation therapy!! It is a personal thing but the main thing with hypnosis is that you really believe in it!! I have tried everything to stop smoking and the one and only thing that is working for me is Allen Carrs Easyway!!!It gets rid of all the brainwashing over the years. You can smoke whilst reading the book so you rid of the brainwashing before you stop!! I am now on my 4th day of no smoking and I am so so happy. Yes, I feel an emptyness but it will go with time!! I get very sad that I have wasted 31 years on a drug addiction (thats what smoking is) and now I feel free of slavery!!! :j :j :j Whats right for one maybe not right for another, but its worth a try!! Good luck!!!:hello:

gladysrocker

Also worth mentioning is the new drug Champix. It completley takes away the cravings. I smoked over 20 a day for 25 years and was terrified of giving up, but if I'd known how painless it was gonna be I'd have done it years ago. Just starting my fourth month as a non smoker. If its the cravings that get you, give it a go.

ollyk

ok folks I tried it all when giving up. I use to smoke upto 40 rollups a day (with filter) and I was physically hooked.

The answer for me was a rubber band

ollyk

ok so maybe I should divulge before being accused of being odd

Get a rubber band and put it on your wrist. When ever you think of anything to do with smoking, flick against the back of your wrist real hard so it stings!

There is a reason this works - it associates smoking with pain so you are effectively retraining your brain to believe that smoking actually causes pain.
I do not believe in alternative therapies etc but when I herd about this I realised it was good old psychology so gave it a go - I can't see this method failing on people unless they are not prepared to do it through fear of looking like a self-harmer

I rarely get cravings anymore, have not smoked for three years despite still being able to roll cigs for my other half - and I am still better at it than her LOL!

Terrylw1

Ollyk, so you went for aversion therapy then. Ouch!

Hypnosis attempts to do the same which is why it works so well with phobias and obsession behaviours.

I think it would be best to try a few things rather than rely on one. The Champix sounds good.

ollyk

Terrylw1 wrote: »

Ollyk, so you went for aversion therapy then. Ouch!

Hypnosis attempts to do the same which is why it works so well with phobias and obsession behaviours.

I think it would be best to try a few things rather than rely on one. The Champix sounds good.

Ah so that's what it's called then! Oh well it worked very well for me and was completely free! I sometimes consider using it to stop biting my nails (I have done this much longer than I ever smoked!) but wonder if it could become a habit in itself

I would be interested to know how the OP is doing...

cw18

gladysrocker wrote: »

Also worth mentioning is the new drug Champix. It completley takes away the cravings. I smoked over 20 a day for 25 years and was terrified of giving up, but if I'd known how painless it was gonna be I'd have done it years ago. Just starting my fourth month as a non smoker. If its the cravings that get you, give it a go.

Another ex-smoker here (up to 15/day for the best part of 25 years) who can highly recommend Champix

I had tried patches (several times), nasal spray, nicotabs and the gum over the last 3 years -- with no success at all !! The spray and tabs made me physically sick, and as I chew normal gum quite a bit anyway I was incapable of tucking that into my cheek as directed.

In January my hubby was diagnosed with cancer, including tumours in his lungs -- he's a heavier smoker than me, and for much longer -- and I've been off work with back problems for most of the last 15 months. Money became a major issue, and I calculated giving up the fags would make £90 a month available for important bills. Once again patches and other NRT failed.

Went to see my GP late July. I'd been warned by other people I was unlikely to get anywhere as GPs recommend NOT giving up during a stressful time, and a lot will only give Champix if you're also attending a group (which I couldn't due to never knowing when hubby would be well enough to be left or when my back would be good enough to travel to one). However my GP was very sympathetic, as she accepts a lot of the stress is coming from money worries, and she prescribed it there and then.

You are supposed to carry on smoking for the first week, and stop sometime during week 2. I found from day 1 that I was smoking much less, and by day 4 I was actually struggling to smoke. I had my very last puff on 1st August, and don't even itch for one when passing smokers in the street any more. I can even stand and talk to friends while they're puffing away without a problem -- which I think is amazing considering how recently I became an ex-smoker



There are a few health conditions which mean it's too risky to take, but I would certainly recommend anyone who has tried and failed to stop using NRT find out about and consider this scheme

Terrylw1

ollyk wrote: »

Ah so that's what it's called then! Oh well it worked very well for me and was completely free! I sometimes consider using it to stop biting my nails (I have done this much longer than I ever smoked!) but wonder if it could become a habit in itself

I would be interested to know how the OP is doing...

Yes, I've seen it somewhere before.

I've often wondered whether it can be applied to external annoyances e.g. flicking other people who annoy me at work!!!

I've heard it's an old way to get rid of certain obsessions. Basically, in hypnosis they do the same by getting you to associate something unpleasant with your obsession so that you come to loathe it. Seen Paul McKenna do it on his programs and it's supposed to be good.

CW18 - Really sorry to hear about your husband. I hope he gets well. Glad your GP helped you. To be honest given your situation you could have easily ended up suffering from depression (and who could blame you with all this going on) so in a way he/she probably thought that helping you give up smoking would also make you feel better about yourself and steer you away from that possibly happening.

superscaper

My mum does hypnotherapy and I think it has worked for most people who use it to stop smoking. Only usually takes one or two sessions. I think she got phoned the other day by someone wanting to thank her because it had worked and they hadn't had a single cigarette since the session. It really is down to the individual and it obviously isn't guaranteed to work but then what is? Also can vary greatly on the hypnotherapist, some set themselves up as professionals after having done a single afternoon course. Always best to check their credentials.

Secret1234

Hi there, thanks for all your responses i lost the thread

I'm still smoking and moaning about it! I've emailed lots of hypnotists in the area to get an idea of price and i'm really interested in the champix thing! My doctors are terrible though, i usualy diagnose my self and tell them whats wrong so i'm not sure if they'd prescribe it to me, i'm gonna give it a bash first though. I just wish i could go back in time and not put that first cigarette in my mouth grrrrr!!