STOP SMOKING

With the opposing media and social stigma views linked to smoking, we are all well aware of the many negative effects that tobacco products have on us both physically and mentally. The reality of these effects are further compounded by the fact that our smoking not only impacts us but those around us in the form of secondary smoke. Believe it or not, smoking truly is a plain and simple addiction, something that you started way back when – sounds innocent enough, right? Wrong. The subconscious is addicted to addiction itself and has now assumed the responsibility of your bad decision, leaving your conscious mind open and available to concentrate on something new; heaven forbid the alluring appeal of another addiction. 

Cigarette smoke contains tar. According to the World Health organisation, tar contains up to 4000 chemicals, 50 of which are known to cause cancer. Additional chemicals found in cigarette smoke are Cyanide, Benzene, Formaldehyde, Methane, acetylene and ammonia.

The nicotine in cigarette smoke is what causes the addiction, just like any other drug the culprit appears inconsequential. Nicotine affects the chemistry in the brain and central nervous system, which in turn affects the temperament and mood of the smoker too. 

Everyone is under the impression that they smoke to keep calm, that’s their excuse and they stick to it… well, I’ve got news for you!

The first few puffs of a cigarette speed up your heart rate, compromise the efficiency of your lungs and create chemical imbalances in your brain…. Still feel relaxed? 

Did that cigarette create enough calmness and peace to enable you to find the solution to the problem that made you light up in the beginning?

No it didn’t! All it did was take your mind off the matter temporarily whilst poisoning your body and the bodies of those around you!  

We all know that smoking is responsible for such health conditions as lung cancer, pulmonary disease, bronchitis and emphysema, but guess what… cigarette smoke is also a common cause of oral cancers, cancer of the larynx and esophagus, kidneys, bladder, pancreas and uterine cervix.  

There are many techniques on offer to help one quit smoking… 99% of them are money making schemes.

“Take this drug” they say – what about the side effects they don’t tell you about? “Take this additional drug, it will help with the side effects” is what they will tell you. Many medical health practitioners will then capitalise on your ignorance by prescribing you with more drugs, “to keep you calm”. All of this irresponsibility is disguised by the motivation and assurance that you’re doing the right thing, that in fact what you are doing is detoxing. In actual fact what they’re really doing is manipulating your vulnerability to make money for themselves and the medications they’re endorsed to sell.

If you allow yourself to be open to the idea of hypnosis, why not stop smoking by eliminating the stressors that made you smoke in the first place – use hypnosis as a natural coping tool to be able to face the stressors head on. When this approach is taken, one can’t justify their addictions with excuses like, “I smoke because I have a horrible boss”. What happens when you quit smoking and head back to work… the boss is still there. 

Another go-to favourite is, “I smoke because I have three children” – they too will be at home during and after you quit smoking.

I believe that through hypnosis one can learn coping skills that teach you how to live with the various stressors that make you believe that you need to smoke, to begin with. Therefore, when confidence levels are high and coping skills are embedded, it’s time to kick the habit. 

Now, let Hypnotherapy provide greater peace and comfort than the Cigarette did!