Quitting smoking with Hypnosis

If you’re reading this blog, you may be considering hypnosis to help you quit smoking. Perhaps a friend quit this way, or you’ve seen an ad in the paper. I’m sure you have a lot of questions, and understandably so.

Hypnosis has a history that is fraught with mystical connotations, Svengali like masters controlling their helpless victims, or helpless victims on stage making fools of themselves as they quack like a duck or bark like a dog.

What is hypnosis?

You were probably in a hypnotic type state, if you’ve ever been engrossed in a book or movie and didn’t notice things going on around you. In hypnotherapy, the therapist will guide the client into a similar but more focused state, and use suggestions to help them with their problem. These suggestions are made while the subconscious mind is susceptible to them.

The jury is out as to what hypnosis actually is, aside from some agreement that it is an altered state of consciousness. However, recent studies have examined certain areas of the brain with persons under hypnosis using MRI’s. They show definite activation and deactivation in areas of the brain while under hypnosis. As we learn more about the brain under hypnosis hopefully well come to understand it more.

What is hypnosis like?

As stated above, in hypnosis a person is in a focused state of awareness, usually attending to inner feelings and experiences while being influenced less by external stimuli. People are completely aware of what is happening and in complete control.

A person will not do anything in hypnosis that they would not do in their everyday state of awareness. If they need to, they will come out of it to attend to emergencies, for instance a car alarm or needing to use the restroom. When used for smoking cessation most people describe it as a pleasant and relaxing experience.

Does it work?

Some research has shown hypnosis to be very effective for smoking. be very effective.

The handbook of Hypnotic Suggestions and Metaphors, edited by Corydon Hammond, PH.D. of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis cities a number of studies performed in the 1970’s. They report single session approaches averaging from 17% to 45% success rate depending on what study you look at. The same text reports a dramatic increase in success rates with a 4-5 session approach, from 64% - 67% at a six month follow up.

A more recent study in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis in 2006 found success with 60% at 12 weeks and 40% at 26 weeks in twenty subjects, confirmed by measuring levels of carbon monoxide in the blood. These patients were given fairly intensive hypnotherapy over a number of sessions.

And some therapists report success rates from 60% - 80%. The fact is many persons find hypnosis very helpful. The one factor that is most important to success is the person’s motivation to quit.

How does it work?

Scientist are not yet sure why, but in hypnosis one is more open to suggestions and can examine problems from a different perspective. Also, that part of the mind that is subconscious and does things automatically is more open to change.

Smoking, believe it or not, is considered an empty habit for most, meaning a person initially does it to relieve some kind of stress or need. It works, so they continue to do it and it becomes a habit. Then, all kinds of triggers are attached to the habit, be it a cup of coffee, competing dinner, or simply waking up in the morning.

Hypnosis can help a person manage the stress or need that can trigger an urge to smoke, and help to break any automatic conditioning around the habit. For every person it’s different, so individualizing hypnotic suggestions to their unique motivations, concerns, and personality appears strongly related to success.

Also, psychotherapy using clinical hypnosis as a tool can help address any hidden motivations that may be perpetuating the habit, for instance the need for control or self destructive tendencies.

How does one choose a hypnotherapist?

In most states hypnosis is not regulated in any way. An individual can be a used car salesman one day, go to a weekend training or worse take an on-line course, and the next day hang out a shingle. In New York State, a person can not use the word therapist in their title unless licensed as a mental health professional. So if a person is using the title “hypnotist,” they most likely have certification from a lay organization.

The only way to be sure that your receiving services from a person who is subject to regulation is to find a professional who is licensed in a health and human services field. They’re typically a psychologist, social worker, counselor, nurse practitioner or doctor trained in the use of hypnosis. Such a person has a variety of skills and tools, hypnosis being one of them.

And be wary of persons charging exorbitant prices and making unrealistic claims. Like any therapy, hypnosis is not a magic solution. Avoid persons claiming to have the ability to access past lives, channel spirits and perform “energy” healing. Most professionals trained in hypnosis use methods that are based on science and sound clinical judgment.

Hopefully, this article provides information for those who wish to make an informed decision when considering hypnosis to quit smoking. Hypnosis is a tool that when used in a professional way, can be very effective. Many individuals will testify that it has helped them to quit smoking when other methods have failed. It can have results that are not magical, not mystical, but very effective.