subject: Self-Hypnosis to Quit Smoking [print this page] Self-Hypnosis to Quit Smoking Self-Hypnosis to Quit Smoking
Whether you try to quit cold turkey, or choose another method, there is something that may make your withdrawal easier. Hypnosis is a state of complete relaxation which allows your unconscious mind to accept suggestions. You can hire someone to hypnotize you, or you can do it yourself.
The first thing that you do to hypnotize yourself is to relax each of your body parts individually. You start with your toes, and go through everything between them and your head. The more parts you concentrate on individually, the better the results. What you are trying to do is distract your conscious mind from its usual tensions and concerns, by doing a repetitive, relaxing act.
Imagine the number 100 on a chalk board. Pretend that you see it slowly being erased. As 100 disappears, the number 99 takes its place. You keep erasing numbers until you reach 0, or are as comfortable as you can be.
At this point, you can take several approaches. The main thing is to imagine yourself in a place you would most want to relax. That roller coaster ride you took with your grandson last summer probably won't help. What you need is a quiet setting, such as a meadow, beach, or even a room that is customized to your own specifications.
An example of this would be a mental trip to the beach. You are sitting in a comfortable chair, and you have no where you need to be. Your tummy is full, and you aren't thirsty. You don't owe anyone anything. Let your thoughts drift wherever they want to go. Don't force yourself to think anything in particular. Just relax because all of your problems are solved, or don't really exist.
Now, you have a cigarette. You see the smoke rising from it, and think that it wouldn't feel good to your lungs. You breathe deeply, and know the fresh sea air tastes wonderful. You don't want to interrupt the comfortable relaxed flow of your easy breathing. You let the cigarette float away. You know you can call it back if you want to, but right now, you just want to sit on the beach and enjoy the ocean.
The scenes you can invoke for your own meditations are endless. If you don't like the ocean, you can take a mental trip to the mountains. If that doesn't appeal to you, you can fly over the desert. There are no rules. You can even think of a relaxing trip to outer space. Your imagination is the limit.
At first, self hypnosis won't be easy. It is something new, and like any skill you want to acquire, it will take some time. The main thing is to be consistent. Do it the same time or times each day. Make sure you are in a quiet place, and that your friends and family know not to disturb you.
Read books about hypnosis to better your understanding. If you can, pay a qualified hypnotist to work with you. Eventually, you will have a routine that you can trust to get you to a state of relaxation, that will even feel better than cigarettes. Until then, sit in your recliner and let your mind take you anywhere you've always wanted to go, or to a place you want to see again.
There is a myth that you can put yourself into a hypnotic trance and never come out again. Don't worry. Your bladder will remind you that there is a real world. The worst thing that can happen is that you can fall asleep. Set your alarm for a few minutes after you want your session to end. We'll wait for you.
