'Yuck -- I Can't Believe I Ever Smoked'

~ Hypnosis to Stop Smoking ~

By Amber Greviskes

Blogger's Note: Reprinted totally without permission from AOL Health ~

Rebekah Phelps, a 47-year-old former smoker from Reston, Va., who had smoked a pack a day for more than 30 years, tried quitting cold turkey, gradually tapering off, leaning on friends and going it alone, before she stopped smoking altogether with the help of hypnosis. After finding a reputable hypnotist through a recommendation, Phelps booked an appointment.

Despite fears that this was a spooky, new age and perhaps dangerous and invasive treatment, she found a quiet office. The hypnotist walked her through several activities, including a visualization activity in which she pictured herself at a particular moment during her day when she usually smoked. She was supposed to visualize herself peacefully not smoking and being repulsed by those around her who were smoking. She was told to wake up, feeling more refreshed than she had in a long time, and to begin her life as a nonsmoker. She did both.

Phelps has been smoke free for about five years and hasn't yet craved a cigarette.

"Of course, I think about it sometimes, but I usually think, 'Yuck, I can't believe I ever smoked,'" she said. "It almost seems like 'that' period was another person or another lifetime ago."

It's not unusual for people to experience success when they choose to quit smoking using hypnosis. According to The Hypnosis Network, multiple-session hypnosis has a 66 percent success rate, higher than any other smoking cessation method available. That's important information for the 70 percent of adult smokers who would like to quit smoking. Ninety-five percent of those who attempt to quit smoking without using a program or supportive aid will fail.

Hypnotism, however, isn't usually one of the first stop-smoking methods that people choose. There are simply too many myths behind the practice, such as only the weak-minded can be hypnotized, the hypnotist has complete control over the hypnotized or that the hypnotist can make a person do things they wouldn't normally do.

However, a typical hypnosis session is nothing like a scene from the movies, in which you stare at a watch swinging back and forth. Although hypnotists can perform their services in different ways, most will begin a session by explaining the process and answering any questions. Some hypnotists will then let you have your final cigarette, instruct you to toss out remaining cigarettes and guide you into a state of hypnotic relaxation. The hypnotist will describe situations in which you might be tempted to smoke but instead turn down the cigarettes. After you emerge from hypnosis, you will spend time talking about your experience. You will also receive mantras to recite if you are tempted to smoke in the future, so you can perform self-hypnosis.

Seth-Deborah Roth, who has been a hypnotist for 10 years, said that hypnosis is successful because it allows the hypnotist to deal with the emotional part of quitting by convincing the smoker that her worst fears about quitting won't come true. The hypnotist will also give the smoker positive suggestions like, "I am a non-smoker," "I am proud of being a nonsmoker" or "Nothing feels better than being a nonsmoker" that she can turn to whenever cravings hit.

Hypnosis can give those who are trying to quit a boost in confidence, motivation and strength. It also helps explore solutions for dealing with nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
"People won't accept suggestions that they're not opened to," Roth said. "Usually they want to quit but are afraid they can't. Later, they're amazed when they don't want cigarettes, but hypnosis lets you deal with the reasons that you're smoking."

Although hypnotism works best with people who are determined to quit, even those who are hesitant can find success. Linda Castellani didn't want to quit smoking. She liked the way the first hit of a newly lit cigarette tasted. The smoke screen and the sword-like cigarettes were her protection from people, and she smoked constantly.
"If I was awake, I was smoking," Castellani said. "I smoked at my desk, in my car, at restaurants, even if other diners protested."

And despite the pressure from her co-workers, who were alarmed by her coughing, and her parents, who offered her $5,000 to quit, she couldn't stop -- until she tried hypnosis.

"I don't know why I tried hypnosis," Castellani, an Almeda, Calif., resident said. "I had my doubts about how well it would work, so I figured that if I didn't stop, I could point to my attempt, chalk hypnosis up as a failure and wait until the next thing."

Instead, she smoked her last cigarette on her way into the hypnotist's office and, after 10 years, finally quit her habit. Both women were able to find credible hypnotists who were able to help them quit, but other consumers are not as lucky. Finding a credible hypnotist can be a challenge. There's no hypnosis governing body and no single licensing procedure. One can become certified in a weekend-long course or in a certification program that requires at least 100 hours, during which the future hypnotist attends lectures, shadows a certified hypnotists and practices various techniques.

Roth recommends looking for someone who works as a full-time hypnotist and has experience working with smokers. Several organizations offer directories of hypnotists in various areas including American Hypnosis, the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists and Hypnosis Today.

Additional Blogger's Note: I used Hypnosis to quit nearly 13 months ago. I can't say I NEVER have cravings but so far I have had success! You can click on my Hypnotists web page in the left margin of this blog.