| Smoking is a physical craving for nicotine - | | | | Once this happens, the smoker's subconscious |
| and to stop smoking means you need to deal | | | | mind spurns the idea of smoking whenever the |
| with the problem as a psychological issue. | | | | urge arises. This session may be followed by |
| Any hypnosis sessions to quit smoking involve | | | | a few more sessions later on, depending on |
| suggestions, positive affirmations, and | | | | the progress achieved by the smoker. The |
| hypnotherapy techniques to help you give up | | | | smoker is also given a CD that carries stop |
| smoking as they put you into an altered state | | | | smoking messages. The entire idea is to |
| where you are much more susceptible to | | | | reinforce the value of giving up smoking. |
| suggestions. | | | | |
| | | | The hypnotherapist argues that withdrawal |
| The positive thoughts are burnt into the | | | | symptoms are caused mainly by conditioned |
| smoker's mind during the session that the | | | | responses. The smoker does not make an |
| smoker has with the hypnotherapist. A sense | | | | honest attempt to give up smoking because he |
| of disconnection from your present | | | | consciously believes that it is very |
| surroundings is a hypnotic trance, if you | | | | difficult to give up smoking. That is why |
| feel that you are awake and alert. People | | | | there is no guilt involved when a smoker |
| are said to be in a sense of increased | | | | fails in his attempt. His mind tells him |
| attentiveness, and things can take root more | | | | that it was a difficult proposition, and pats |
| easily - such as the suggestions to stop | | | | him for at least trying. |
| smoking. | | | | |
| | | | The hypnotherapist tries to break this |
| A smoker who visits a hypnotherapist is | | | | mindset by generating new conditioned |
| advised to look into the future - into a | | | | responses that are positive, and gives the |
| situation where there is no cigarette is his | | | | smoker the confidence to give up smoking. A |
| hand. The smoker is encouraged to think | | | | conditioned response may be as simple as |
| positively and is made to believe that he can | | | | pressing the finger with the thumb and |
| give up smoking. He is repeatedly told of | | | | holding them together for about half a |
| the benefits that result when the cigarette | | | | minute. The smokers are also told to take |
| is stubbed out, until the smoker's mind | | | | three deep breaths and drink a glass of water |
| becomes conditioned to the idea of not | | | | whenever there is an urge to smoke. |
| smoking. | | | | Invariably, they dilute the smoker's urge to |
| | | | light a new cigarette. |