The worst way to stop smoking ? or to deal with any other addiction or undesirable habit ? is to try and do it through will power. Because will power fluctuates. One day it is strong, another day it may be weak. Most stop-smoking programmes, including substitute products, pills, chewing gums, self-help books and tapes, etc, are designed to build-up your will power to resist or overcome the addiction.
They are designed to make you sacrifice something that you 'enjoy'. They seldom work. Even if they do, they leave you feeling somewhat deprived and unhappy. Hypnotherapy does not work at achieving the strength to resist. It is designed to eliminate the desire. Thus, you do not give up something desirable. Instead, you get rid of something that is not wanted. You do it willingly and happily. Hypnotherapy is highly effective in helping people overcome addictions and undesirable habits, such as smoking, alcoholism, over-eating, gambling, and so on.
In addition, hypnotherapy can help in:
weight loss
confidence building
pain control
self-esteem
sleep disorders
phobias and fear of height, enclosed spaces, etc
stress management including anxiety, nail-biting, stuttering, etc
improve performance in study, sports, etc
self-motivation.
Hypnosis is the Greek word for "sleep" chosen by scientist James Braid in 1840 to describe the very natural process of opening our subconscious minds for a period of time. Without realizing it, we open the subconscious , we enter a trance state, several times a day, such as when we day dream or stare into the blank.
In this relaxed moment, we can do two things:
1.) Remove old, unhealthy or unwanted values and patterns
2.) Replace them with new, healthy, desirable ones.
The subconscious mind is where we store all our beliefs and values ? which have been sent there by the conscious mind. When the conscious mind sends unhelpful or unproductive values to be stored in the subconscious, these become part of our habits. We repeat them over and over again.
When we consciously try to remove these habits, it is like cutting off weeds at the ground level. It does not produce lasting effects. Sooner or later, the habits will come back. With hypnosis, you work on the subconscious level. You are not only pulling out the weeds by their roots, but also planting flowers to take their place.
Hypnosis can be done by oneself, such as by listening to self-hypnosis tapes. However, especially in the beginning, it is best done under the guidance of a trained hypnotherapist. The hypnotherapist will know when you have reached a desired level of trance, and when is the appropriate time to remove your old, unwanted values and beliefs, and introduce new values and beliefs to replace them. When these new values and beliefs are reinforced for about a month, they become reality ? they become your new reality. Once you are accustomed to hypnosis, your hypnotherapist can teach you some self-hypnosis techniques that you can perform by yourself.
What is a hypnosis session like?
If you ever watch hypnosis entertainment shows, either on television or on stage, where people are made to do funny things, you can be assured that a hypnosis session is nothing like that. Your hypnotherapist is a healthcare professional. He or she will perform the task in a professional manner, and will treat you with the highest respect. Your hypnosis session will thus be fully confidential.
Because not many people understand hypnosis and because they usually get better results when they understand the hypnotherapist will begin by explaining what hypnosis is all about. The actual hypnosis session will begin only after all your questions about hypnosis have been answered to your full satisfaction. Hypnosis is a consensual process. No one can be hypnotized against his or her will. The client is always in control, and can emerge from the hypnosis process at any time.
Is hypnosis safe?
Modern hypnosis has been practiced for over 200 years and there has not been a single case of anyone being hurt or harmed by it. The American Medical Association sanctioned the use of hypnosis in 1958. Since then, millions of people have used hypnotherapy. Some medical doctors and psychologists regularly recommend their patients for hypnotherapy treatment.
How do I know if my hypnotherapist is qualified?
The National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), based in the United States, is the world's largest and oldest hypnosis organization. Most professional hypnotherapists would have been trained and certified by the NGH. The NGH currently has certified hypnotherapists in over 40 countries.
How many sessions will I need?
Depending on the issue that you are dealing with, you may need between 2 and 6 sessions. The average is 4 to 5 sessions. It is recommended that the sessions be spaced about a week apart.
