Are you quitting smoking this month?
Stoptober has begun! Have you made it your goal to quit smoking with many others too? How are you getting on?
My passion and coaching vision is all about empowering people to feel a sense of purpose, reach fulfillment and be truly happy. Ultimately to live the life of their dreams - which many people still don't believe is a possibility for them. And it is my job to smash these old beliefs and I'm determined to make people realise that we all have a choice and can create the life that we really want.
And so, a big part of that is letting go of the old habits that hold us back from being the person we want to be. This being one of them - it's such a strong addiction to overcome, because it becomes a 'friend' a person feels they can turn to in stressful situations, as a release or to ground themselves. But all this is a trick of the mind - because ultimately turning to this as a stress-relief only creates more stress in the body.
When I found out in my hypnotherapy training that the tobacco companies employ specialist scientists and psychologists who's job it is to make tobacco and smoking more addictive in order to increase sales it made me so mad!
Did you know that they actually add a chemical to trick the brain into thinking that smoking re-hydrates the body. When actually it does the opposite. Which creates the yearning and craving to have it more and more. Pure tobacco doesn't do this - it is a certain chemical that has been added to manipulate people. And the government are a key factor and very aware of this - and allow it, because of course - they make money from it.
If you watch TV you might have noticed a new round of grim ads aimed to turn you off smoking and bring more awareness to the damage that cigarettes do. Stoptober is a health initiative run by the NHS, encouraging people to quit smoking for good to feel healthier, save money and protect loved ones from second-hand smoke.
Over the years, there’s been a huge an attitude shift in the general public that makes quitting smoking seem more appealing and possible than ever before, but the messages that are put out there about how to go about it can make it confusing. It can be so hard to know which method is best. And so deflating when you can't keep up the change, and circle back into turning towards this old habit in challenging times.
Public Health England released a statement urging smokers not to try and quit cold turkey because relying on willpower alone isn’t as effective as using a range of aids.
The National Council for Hypnotherapy states that hypnotherapy for smoking is common and has high levels of success.
“The reason why hypnotherapy works so rapidly with bad habits and behaviours is because it works directly with your subconscious, bypassing the critical mind and getting to the root of the issue so that changes can be made that support your goals quickly and efficiently.”
Nicotine addiction by itself is reasonably easy to overcome. Within a matter of days your dependency is completely gone, however our thoughts and habits keep the nicotine addiction going. The mind triggers the urge for a cigarette after dinner, or when you get behind the wheel. It’s the subconscious mind that triggers a pang when you’re under stress, or you’ve poured a glass of wine.
This mental battle also explains why most smoking cessation aids like nicotine replacement therapy have such low success rates. This only eliminates the physical cravings – but those mental urges, those subconscious thoughts that tell us to reach for a cigarette, they’re still very much in place.
Successfully becoming a non-smoker, therefore, requires smokers to tackle the mental battle head on and that’s where hypnotherapy is so successful.
If you are ready to let go of this old habit that you know isn't serving you anymore, you can book in for a free 20 minute interest call to see how hypnotherapy can help you!
www.lisafearoncoaching.com
