Stop smoking hypnosis sessions involve suggestions, positive affirmations and hypnotherapy techniques to help you give up smoking. They deal with the problem as a psychological issue, and not as a physical craving for nicotine.
The smoker who visits a hypnotherapist is advised to look into the future – into a situation where there is no cigarette is his hand. The smoker is encouraged to think positively. He is made to believe that he can give up smoking.
The smoker is repeatedly told of the benefits that result when the cigarette is stubbed out, till the smoker’s mind gets conditioned to the idea. Once this happens, the smoker’s subconscious mind spurns the idea of smoking whenever the urge arises.
The positive thoughts are burnt into the smoker’s mind during the session that the smoker has with the hypnotherapist. This session may be followed by a few more sessions later on, depending on the progress achieved by the smoker. The smoker is also given a CD that carries stop smoking messages. The entire idea is to reinforce the value of giving up smoking.
The hypnotherapists argue that withdrawal symptoms are caused mainly by conditioned responses. The smoker does not make an honest attempt to give up smoking because he consciously believes that it is very difficult to give up smoking. That is why there is no guilt involved when a smoker fails in his attempt. His mind tells him that it was a difficult proposition, and pats him for at least trying.
The hypnotherapist tries to break this mindset by generating new conditioned responses that are positive, and give the smoker the confidence to give up smoking.
A conditioned response may be as simple as pressing the finger with the thumb and holding them together for about half a minute. The smokers are also told to take three deep breaths and drink a glass of water whenever there is an urge to smoke. Invariably, they dilute the smoker’s urge to light a new cigarette.
