Hypnosis to stop smoking?

I am wondering if this would work? Anyone here had any success? I just clicked on the hypnosis link at the bottom of the page here on PC, and I see that they do have a stop smoking CD. I gotta stop, and am a slave to this addiction. Wearing a patch right now, and it does help, but have had bad reactions to the patch in the past, and can't wear them for more than a couple of days without extreme anxiety kicking in, as well as wild dreams and sleeplessness.
Too weak for "cold turkey!"
Patty

Your patch dose is too high if you start getting anxiety-or you've taken in caffiene or you've smoked a cigarette while the patch was on.
I had horrible experiences with the patch. I prefer the gum although it tastes awful, it does help without the heart palpatations and dizziness.
I don't know about the hypnosis. I saw something on the news about this one doc in particular-oh, no, that was accupuncture-anyway, it cost $500.
If it's not too much money, I guess it wouldn't hurt, if you're not afraid of being hypnotised. I get wigged out when I think of somebody hypnotising me,though.

The hypnosis self-improvement site linked here on PC looks great. You can download MP3 for just $16.96, or the CD mailed to you for $25.95. They have oodles of subjects...I don't have an MP3 player, but may get one!
Patty

my son did the hypnosis thing and it didn't work. he walked out of there got in his car and lit up. I did the patches along with wellbutrin and it works good..I was down to 1 a day then stress hit before I was totally off them. one more day and I would have been stopped! waaaaaaaaa

Seeker, save your money. It sounds like a rip off. Buy the nicotine gum instead.
But do buy the mp3 player!! I just got an ipod nano about a month ago and I LOVE it!!! It can get expensive, though, with downloading the songs.

LOL...that's why Ihaven't bought MP3 player, Jax! I know I'd spend money!
I have other self-hypnosis CD's from the Monroe Institute, where they use unique sound waves, for relaxation, and I can zone out with the best of them! I'm a good subject for hypnosis, and not scared of it!
After I get a cheap MP3 player, I'll probably order the program, just $16.95. I'm thinking positively here!
Patty

I did hypnosis, wellbutrin, as well as gum (nicorette - 20 years ago when it first came out). The gum helped and I'm buying some more today. I'm expecting two grandchildren. I HAVE to quit.

My hubby and I were both hypnotized. It worked for him AND he didn't gain a pound. She sent tapes hope for us to listen to as well. He didn't even listen to them. I didn't smoke for 5 months, but it was pure hell on earth. The hypnosis didn't help...it was all me...cold turkey. After gaining 35 pounds in 5 months and not feeling any better after all that time, I went back to smoking. I wasn't ready...was doing it for hubby.

I'm ready now, but more addicted than I was then.

The gum helped greatly because I controlled how many cigs to wean down to and how much gum to chew in between. I never followed through but really didn't experience any type of adverse reactions at all. Everyone around me continued to smoke back then, so I couldn't quit.

I was on wellbutrin...nothing (cigarette or otherwise) did it help with.

So, as I plan to taper off, then quit (I've talked to the smoke helpline and that's what they suggest - also getting a straw or take guts out of pen to continue to go thru the motions for that part of the psychological addiction), I'm going back to the gum and taper down weekly.

My goal is not to quit at this point, but to get down to five per day. If I set my goal to quit completely, I know me, I'll fail. Right now I'm setting myself up to WIN, not fail so five is the current goal.

In fact, NOW is the time.

I'm going to the store for the gum.

I wish us all success it whatever way it looks like to each one of us individually.

KD

Kimmy,
Thanks for sharing your experience. I've tried everything to stop! The gum was so bad-tasting and I noticed a drastic receding of my gums after using it for a while, and that is why I haven't resorted to it this time. The patch does take away my physical cravings, but the actual HABIT of the act of smoking just requires mental awareness and behavior modification! If I could afford to go away to a smokers' rehab retreat for a couple of weeks, it would help! Just being in my house alone triggers my urge to smoke. This morning, by not smoking, OMG!!!, I've gotten so much work done!
I've been a slave to this addiction and am thinking of starting a blog, just on this journey to quit. I also found an excellent forum with live voice discussions. They are great, but I am reluctant to go back there since I failed this last time.
I'll let y'all know if the hypnosis CD or MP3 is helpful!
Good luck to you also, KD!
Thanks
Patty

<a href="http://psychcentral.com/news/2007/03/20/smokers-cravings-explored/
" target="_blank">http://psychcentral.com/news/2007/03...ings-explored/
</a>

Good wishes to all!

I could really go for a cigarette. The funny thing is though, when I do smoke now, it tastes really bad and I end up not enjoying it at all. You realize how much they stink after you've quit for awhile. Man, they smell bad!

I quit smoking six years ago and just reading this thread makes me want to light up a Marlboro. Ugh.

I believe it works. You can find a psychologist who is also a certified hypnotherapist that can do it. It's used for self-improvement and it works because it accesses the unconscious directly, where the desire to smoke or to return to smoking is. The conscious says "Of course I shouldn't smoke" and knows all the health risks, costs, etc. But the unconscious doesn't care what the conscious knows and it overrides. Hypnosis can also help with anxiety. Smoking is an anti-anxiety behavior and the desire to return to it is strong because it's a way we self-"treat" our anxiety. A better 'treat' though is to be smoke free..!!

I wish you great success.

Hey, I just gave myself a teeth whitening treatment! Boy...one treatment and I can see a difference.
Thanks all of you for the positive feedback and insights.
I know life without smoking will look and feel totally different!
Patty

It feels sooo good to be a non-smoker!

That was how I viewed it.. not as giving up smoking, something I liked, but as becoming a non-smoker.

Drink lots of water too. Even if you already drink a lot of water, drink extra. It helps flush everything out.

Carry a book for those 10-minute periods where you might have thought "time enough for a smoke".

Carry gum to keep your breath fresh as a reminder that you want fresh breath that comes with being a non-smoker.

Sometimes a bit of chocolate or a small amount of caffeine will help with a nic-fit. Keep it very small though as too much will do the opposite.

Walk every day. Especialy at times when you normally smoked: on work breaks/lunch, after eating, etc.

Time your nic-fits: you'll find they abate shortly and will learn that you only need to put up with 'this' for about 10 or 15 minutes.

Do the HALT: don't let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Great, super advice, Echoes!!!!
Worthy of memorizing!!! Really!
Yes, just whitening my teeth was a little incentive of self-encouragement. And my mouth already tastes better!
I will remember what you said about the nic fits also, as I know they come and go and one must bite the bullet and let them pass, and they do!
Thanks again!
Patty

Good Luck and keep us posted on your success!

Seeker,

How did you mp3 work out for you?

Rick

Hi Rick, since you are the expert in this area…can you suggest a CD that might work for not smoking? Or am I just too old fashion and have to buy and MP3 player?

DePressMe,

CD or mp3 are the same thing for the most part. Even if you downloaded a mp3 you can burn it onto a CD if it is more convenient for you.

I have CD's available for my clients, but I do not see them without working with the client in my office. The way my CD is designed it is only a reinforcement CD not a Quit Smoking CD. So I do all the work in the office and then they listen to the CD to reinforce the changes.

So, I sorry but I can't give you any suggestions for a stop smoking CD. My suggestion would be to contact www.NGH.net and find out who your local certified hypnotherapist is and go visit them. It will be much much more successful, and you may even decide to work on other issues with them.

Rick

Thanks for the suggestions, I will check into some local help...

My husband used a little pocket computer that tells you when to smoke and when not to, like these (but many years ago): http://www.quitsmoking.com/electroniccomputer.htm

That worked okay for him but then his work got way more stressful and he started smoking again.

We had a friend that did the hypnosis and liked it, said it worked. He'd tried the gum and didn't like that, made his jaw ache so bad because he had to chew so much of it and wasn't a regular gum chewer, LOL. So, think about that, whether your jaw muscles are in shape :-)

DePressMe,

The National Guild of Hypnotists is the largest and oldest organization of it's kind. They have members all over the world. At last count I think they had over 10,000 members. They will get you in contact with the right people.

Rick

Petunia said:

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
I quit smoking six years ago and just reading this thread makes me want to light up a Marlboro. Ugh.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

<font color="green"> Jan passes out at the very thought of Petunia ever smoking!</font>