Hypnotherapy is the therapy of choice to help smokers break free of this dangerous and destructive habit. But not all hypnotherapists are trained in the latest and most effective technology for easy recovery from this stubborn addiction. So in this article I list seven of the most advanced methods currently in use by hypnotherapists.
The first of these is the addictive personality technique. This technique, which he developed in 1983, is based on the assumption that all addictive behavior is the result of the subconscious mind’s attempts to deal with some kind of deep physical or emotional pain. While the conscious mind may not be aware of the nature of this pain, or its source, the subconscious mind is well aware of the source of the pain and can easily access this information in a trance state. Using hypnosis, we can develop a specific inner meditation that addresses the source of this inner pain. Hypnotic suggestion is then used to train the client to access this healing meditation whenever the client craves this addictive behavior.
Much of smoking behavior is learned in the preteen and teen years. In this time of identity crisis, many teenagers find in cigarettes the opportunity to feel adult, in control and “cool” in front of their peers. Many teens also use smoking as a way to challenge parental authority, to be “independent.” Long after the smoker reaches adulthood, the inner adolescent may still be driving us to smoke if these feelings remain unresolved. Many of my clients are surprised to discover the power that these adolescent urges still hold within the subconscious mind. I find that the feelings and needs of the inner adolescent are easily accessed in hypnosis, and can also be easily treated. I use induction to get back to the teenager learning to smoke for the first time. So I ask that teenager “what is smoking going to do for you?” Maybe he says “I want to be a real man!” We then use rescue mission methods for the client’s adult self to reassure the teen that he is a real man, a good, worthwhile person, no matter what Mom says or Dad does.
I then use direct hypnotic suggestion to change the teen’s perspective on smoking. This is how I sign up the teen to say NO to cigarettes. I encourage the teen to understand that they have been duped by the rich tobacco companies and the lies of the wealthy ad executives on Madison Avenue. They promised romance and excitement. They deliver sickness and death. They promised manhood. They delivered impotence and addiction. They convinced millions of Americans to slowly commit suicide with these lies, knowing full well the evil consequences of their poisonous product. I suggest that every time the teenager craves a cigarette, he will make a fist with one hand and swear not to give another dime to those evil tycoons. “Because I’m a real man!” This style of suggestion is especially powerful for the adolescent, whose anti-establishment attitudes are well documented.
Another powerful method is a trip to the future smoker. The subject in a trance travels 10 to 30 years to his future self, who still smokes. Both client and therapist note pale skin, stooped posture, shortness of breath, cough, etc. of this future self. Then we listen to this person’s message. “Stop smoking now!” The subject then promises his future self, out loud if possible, that he is going to leave now and explains why. We then watch with delight as the future self transforms. Her cheeks turn rosy, her skin clear, her breathing suddenly easier. Then your future self thanks you for your help. In a trance, this technique is quite powerful.
A similar technique that I use from my NLP training is called “Say goodbye to your old cigarette friends.” This process may seem absurd to many. After all, how is a toxic habit like this a “friend”? But every true addict knows that sometimes you hold on to that cigarette during a crisis like a child holding on to his mother’s hand. As an ex-smoker, I remember sometimes having the weird feeling that cigarettes were my best friend. At least they were always there. Saying goodbye to an old friend like this can be painful. We then guide the client through polite communication out loud with this old friend. We remember and recognize the good times. We go through all the painful moments when cigarettes were there…and maybe no one else was. Then we explain to our old friend why we can’t be friends anymore. “Frankly, you’re killing me,” we say with real sadness.
Then I have the client listen to the response of the cigarette. Most of the time, the cigarette has nothing to say. The client is sometimes surprised or hurt by this silence. But I remind you of that old Bob Dylan lyric: “You never talked much anyway.” The familiar silence of his old friend often provides the client with a stronger incentive to quit. “Yeah, damn it, you never talked to me!” I complement this ritual by helping the client connect with a new friend. This new friend could be a spiritual guide, an inner mother, a guardian angel, or even a dear external friend who can be called upon when the client needs a little unconditional love. While it may take time for the client to learn to draw on that friendship, such a friend, I point out, is certainly a better friend to you than cigarettes, since it produces health rather than destroys it. And this new friend will talk to you and you can learn to listen to his wisdom and guidance. This, of course, is the essence of Alchemical Hypnotherapy.
Quitting smoking is complicated by the fact that most smokers crave cigarettes when their body needs oxygen. This is because most smokers only take a deep breath when inhaling a cigarette. And rapid inhalation through the mouth is especially effective at getting that oxygen into the body. Many smokers experience a rush of energy, relaxation, and mental clarity when they first inhale smoke, not realizing that the effects they experience are the result of oxygen entering their body. Try this now. Take several very deep breaths as you inhale through your mouth. Release each breath slowly and deliberately, as if you were smoking a cigarette. Now notice how you feel. Most subjects report feelings of energy, calm and relaxation, and increased mental acuity. Well, cigarettes didn’t do it, oxygen did.
Therefore, I encourage all my clients who have quit smoking to take several breaths like this every time they have the urge for a cigarette. Sometimes this triggers a coughing fit. I tell them this is a good thing as it shows that his lungs are beginning to clear. Cough but keep breathing. Not only does this extra breathing help curb cravings, it helps your lungs open up fully and recover more quickly. An important bonus here is requiring my clients to drink a glass of water each time they complete this breath. This gives the customer something else to do with their hands and mouth. And water helps cleanse the blood of nicotine and other toxins that cause these cravings. It also helps the lungs cleanse themselves. Since most smokers suffer from chronic dehydration as a result of their habit, water is a critical medicine for your body’s recovery. I will not work with any smoker unless they agree to these simple behaviors. And I reinforce these activities with hypnotic suggestion to make them even more convincing.
Relapse is a scary concept for anyone recovering from addiction. And it’s a serious problem that affects nearly every addict at one time or another. The smoker often feels that simply smoking a cigarette in a moment of weakness is proof of total failure. So, desperate, they buy another pack. There is a different way to experience relapse. Here it is: “And if by some accident, you find yourself smoking a cigarette…you notice that it tastes ugly and disgusting, because you’re not a smoker. It tastes disgusting, so you immediately put it out and wash it out.” put out your mouth with fresh, clean water because you don’t smoke anymore.” With a collection of this and similar phrases, you’ll learn that another smoked cigarette simply shows by its bitter taste that you don’t smoke after all. And it works because… well, let’s face it, the taste of a cigarette IS disgusting in the mouth of an ex-smoker.Remember how long it took you as a teenager to LIKE that stuff?
One of the most addictive things about cigarettes is the habit of taking out a cigarette or rolling it up, lighting it, and holding it. Do you remember the luxurious pleasure of watching smoke rise, maybe learning to blow smoke rings? All of these pleasurable sensations are what I call the “orodigital experience.” It was one of my greatest pleasures when I was a smoker, and I know I’m not alone. I discuss with my clients in the frankest terms how we can help them find a new orodigital ritual that can provide them with a similar experience of relaxing comfort. Options include: chewing gum, carrying carrots in a bag to work, or, my favorite, chewing on a pen.
While some of these garments border on the bizarre, I happily point out that none of them are as bizarre as poisoning yourself and everyone around you with deadly chemicals. If you’re ready to quit, think about what you can do with your hands and mouth that feels good and isn’t too awkward to do in public. Finding a new orodigital ritual is MUCH easier than abandoning your current ritual all at once, which could lead to anxiety, twitching, overeating (there’s a comfort ritual most of us DON’T need), or a relapse into smoking. Hypnotic suggestion can be used to increase the pleasure of this new ritual, helping us find even greater comfort than smoking provided. This is not particularly difficult, as nicotine is actually an anxiety-producing drug when consumed without the comforting rituals we are so familiar with.
I have provided you with some of the methods used by expert hypnotherapists to help their clients quit smoking. Are you a smoker who is ready to always be cigarette free? If so, I encourage you to try these techniques on your own. More importantly, I recommend that you find a hypnotherapist in your area who is trained in these modalities. Good luck!