What Is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is defined as an altered state of awareness in which you appear to be asleep or in a trance. Clinical hypnosis may be used to treat certain physical or psychological problems. For instance, it is frequently used to help patients control pain. It is also used in a wide range of other conditions such as weight issues, speech disorders, and addiction problems.
There is debate about how hypnosis works. Some people believe that when you are hypnotised, you relax and concentrate more, and are more willing to listen to suggestions — such as giving up smoking, for example.
Even though you appear to be in a trance during hypnosis, you are not unconscious. You are still aware of your surroundings, and — despite what many stage performers may claim during an entertaining show — you cannot be made to do anything against your will. In fact, brain tests performed on patients during hypnotism sessions have shown a high level of neurological activity.
Smoking Cessation Using Hypnotherapy
During hypnosis for smoking cessation, a patient is often asked to imagine unpleasant outcomes from smoking. For example, the hypnotherapist might suggest that cigarette smoke smells like truck exhaust, or that smoking will leave the patient’s mouth feeling extremely parched.
Spiegel’s method is one popular smoking cessation hypnosis technique that focuses on three main ideas:
- Smoking poisons the body
- You need your body to live
- You should respect your body and protect it (to the extent you’d like to live)
The hypnotherapist teaches the smoker self-hypnosis, and then asks them to repeat these affirmations anytime the desire to smoke occurs.
The more you put into your quitting, the more hypnotherapy will have a chance of working.
Potential benefits of hypnosis for smoking
Hypnosis alone may not be enough to help you quit smoking for good. But it may help:
- weaken your desire to smoke
- strengthen the desire to quit
- help you focus on your smoking cessation plan
Hypnosis may help reinforce other things you’re doing to quit.
A 2017 research review summarising advances in hypnosis research noted that hypnosis, combined with other treatments, can enhance effectiveness of those treatments.
The review above also cited limited evidence that hypnotherapy may be effective for a variety of conditions, including smoking.
But a 2019 research review suggested that when it comes to hypnosis and smoking cessation:
- hypnotists may exaggerate their rates of success
- positive results in uncontrolled studies may not reflect lasting success
- there’s not enough evidence to say if hypnotherapy is more effective than other types of counselling or quitting on your own
Are there any risks to smoking cessation hypnosis?
There’s no evidence that hypnotherapy has adverse effects or is in any way dangerous. You may be disappointed, though, if you pin all your hopes on it.
If you want to quit smoking and are interested in hypnotherapy, you may want to consider making it part of a bigger strategy. Speak with a doctor for help with quitting smoking.
What hypnosis for smoking cessation looks like
Quitting smoking is difficult and a few hypnotic suggestions won’t change that. Go into hypnotherapy knowing that it takes:
- an open mind
- patience
- determination
At your first visit, you’ll talk about your smoking habits and your desire to change. Also up for discussion should be what you’ve tried so far and what methods you’ll continue to work on along with hypnosis.
Hypnotherapy methods may vary a bit from one practitioner to another, so ask potential therapists how they’ll go about it.
Sessions can last from 30 to 90 minutes. How many it will take depends on how well you respond to hypnosis and how much reinforcement you feel you need.
I will use verbal cues and mental imagery to guide you to a relaxed, meditative state. Once you’re in this altered state of awareness, you’ll get suggestions like:
- smoking is poisonous
- smoking is unpleasant
- you don’t feel well when you smoke
- you should protect your body from smoke
- you should control smoking and not let smoking control you
- you’ll enjoy many advantages as a non-smoker
- reminders of healthy alternative behaviours when the urge to smoke hits
- And also image based cues
The goal is to have these thoughts surface when you get the urge to smoke. Remember, you’ll be fully aware of what’s happening. You will not lose control over your behaviour during the session or later on.
To reinforce what you’ve taken in, I may also:
- recommend apps you can use on your own
- teach you the basics of self-hypnosis
Want to know more about Hypnotherapy?
Please get in touch today if you would like to know more.
Read more on Hypnotherapy Techniques.
…and please share my news 🙂
