Can Hypnosis Help You Quit Smoking?

When traditional methods don't work, many people turn to hypnosis as an aid for giving up smoking for good. It's a unique approach that can be extremely effective for many people, provided you're open to the possibility and acknowledge the fact that you will still need to exercise some willpower (especially in the early days). But will this approach work for everyone? And how does it work anyway?

Not Everyone Can Be Hypnotized

Perhaps you've heard that not everybody can actually be hypnotized. This is in fact true, although scientists don't quite know why. When you're considering using hypnosis to quit smoking, it's unwise to commit to the full program until you've had an introductory session, since you need to be sure that you're able to be hypnotized. You need to go to the first session with a willing attitude and the intention of being hypnotized, but if you're simply unable to be coaxed into the necessary trance-like state for the method to work, then unfortunately hypnosis isn't for you.

A Negative Association

However, hypnosis is possible for the majority of people. But even though you can be hypnotized, how does the process stop you from smoking? It's really about creating a negative association with the experiences associated with your habit. While you're in the required trance and are appropriately susceptible, you might be asked to make these associations yourself. You could be asked about the most unpleasant smell and taste you can imagine, with the hypnotist then creating an association between these sensations and your smoking. So while you might ordinarily taste tobacco, (along with nicotine and the actual smoke), hypnosis can cause this taste to become extremely unpleasant, reminding you of other tastes that you find to be rather horrible.

As Time Goes By

Over time, these associations will become more natural. You may begin to dislike the smell of smoke or the taste of a cigarette. Likewise, the non-smokers you know probably complain about the smell of your habit. Eventually, as more time goes by, you will rather naturally begin to find the smell and taste of cigarettes to be extremely undesirable.  

For some people, hypnosis is an efficient means of giving up for good, although it still needs to be utilized alongside willpower and a genuine desire to give up those cigarettes. For more information about using hypnosis to quit smoking, contact a local hypnosis professional.