Ads about how to stop smoking with hypnotherapy are sometimes viewed with skepticism and even fear. But, before you make a decision, you should know that recent scientific research concerning a stop smoking hypnotherapy program in Temple, TX showed that after 6 months 40% of the active participants had not returned to smoking. That’s an impressive figure, since most people tend to return to smoking within the first year of quitting.
When compared to Chantix, the recently released prescription medication for smoking cessation, hypnosis seems like a good option. Pfizer, the makers of Chantix, reports a 44% quit rate after 3 months.
In the hypnosis study, published by the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 40% had quit in two months and 60% had quit after 3 months. The figure dropped back down to 40% after 6 months.
After one year, researchers for Pfizer found that the quit rate dropped to 36.7%, but the participants in that study continued taking the drug for the full year. Currently the drug is only approved by the FDA for short-term use, not longer than 6 months.
Pfizer advises that Chantix should be taken for at least 3 months. People were able to stop smoking with hypnotherapy after only two months and only 8 sessions total.
The major side effects of Chantix include nausea, insomnia and abnormal dreams. 96% of study participants reported these or other side effects and 15% dropped out of the study because of the side effects. No negative side effects have been associated with the stop smoking hypnotherapy program.
Over the years, movies, books and TV shows have made many people think that hypnosis is unsafe, that the hypnotist is “in control of your mind”. The truth is that the hypnotist has no real power; he or she simply helps a person achieve a very relaxed state and makes “suggestions”.
If a person wants to stop smoking with hypnotherapy, the suggestions will only focus on not smoking. You will be aware of any suggestions that the therapist makes and you can stop a session at any time.
No one is completely sure how a stop smoking hypnotherapy program works. No one is completely sure how Chantix works or why people become addicted to nicotine. There are only theories.
One theory is that hypnosis allows a person to focus his or her attention more deeply on the “suggestion”, by reducing what is sometimes described as “brain noise”. In a two-sided conversation with a therapist, you may be thinking about what the therapist is saying, but you may also be looking at what is going on around the room, thinking about what’s for dinner or any number of other things.
Hypnosis allows us to concentrate more fully on the “important” idea that is being suggested, in this case “not smoking”.
If you would like to
stop smoking with hypnotherapy, but fear high fees for sessions or prefer privacy, there are effective self-hypnosis programs. These involve the use of recorded and written suggestions, as well as worksheets to help improve the chances of a successful “quit”.
To learn more about these and other options visit the
Stop Smoking Blog, a resource for those who wish to quit, written by those who have.
