Stop Smoking Hypnotherapists : Read reviews and compare prices at Ciao.co.uk

Author's product rating:

Value for Money	Good
Effectiveness	Good
Length of Use	short
Side effects	None

Advantages:	Healthier lifestyle, Save money, Lower Risks of Heart Disease etc
Disadvantages:	A lot of willpower is required, It is quite expensive but not as expensive as smoking in the long run

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I had been a smoker since I was 14 years old, (some 18 years), and during this time I had promised myself I would give up before I was 21, then before I had children, then when I was pregnant, then before my son was old enough to know what I was doing, and so the list goes on and on.....

I made one excuse after another - it is difficult to describe how I felt about smoking, part of me felt like I wanted to give up both for myself and my family but another part of me felt that maybe I didn't really want to give up for me but for other people - after all I enjoyed smoking, or at least I thought I did. I think my main worry was failure and because of that I found it hard to try - if I didn't try I couldn't fail.

The turning point for me came when one day I was chatting at work and making yet another excuse for not giving up, the excuse being that I felt I could only suceed with the aid of hypnosis and as I couldn't afford to go so I'd have to remain a smoker. It was during this conversation that my boss offered to lend me the money to go if I was serious and really wanted to try to quit. I was gobsmacked - whilst I liked the idea of giving up and was delighted to have been made such a generous offer I also began to panic - I suddenly had no excuse for not giving it a go.

I telephoned an independant hypnotist and decided that I would give hypnosis a try.

I had to attend three 30 minute sessions. At the first session I had lay down on the black reclining chair, the hypnotist put on some calming music and then began to talk to my sub conscious mind. It felt very strange, I did feel relaxed but at the same time I wasn't convinced that I was fully hynotised. I was told that I would not give up after the first session, the purpose of this session was to prepare the mind for the giving up process. I was given a recording of the session which I had to play at least once a day for the next week, until my next appointment. As I drove away I felt a slight sense of relieve that I could still have my cigerettes and before long, despite trying to hold back, I reached for my cigerettes. I felt slightly let down as I had expected to feel at least a little bit closer to giving up. Instead I felt relieved that I still had my ciggies and I was determined that the next 7 days were going to be fun and that I was going to enjoy every last cigerette.

The week seemed to pass very quickly and the thought of never smoking again sent a huge wave of panic over me - however I attended the second session. The second session involved more background music and soft taking to the sub conscious mind. At this session I was told a strange story about a man who had dreamed of buying this wonderful house for years - eventually he was able to buy it but when he moved in everything in the house went wrong and he became ill with worry. I suppose the purpose of this story was to explain to me in a round about way that despite feeling that I must have my cigerettes they were making my health suffer and that I was better off without them. At the end of this session I was again given the tape to take home and play daily. Then came the part I was dreading - I had to take each cigerette out of the packet, snap it in half and throw it away - at this point I cracked and began to cry - it seems silly really but I was so worried that I wouldn't cope without my cigerettes. I had to attend again four days later.

The following four days were hell - I hated myself and everybody around me. I could not sleep at night and woke up in a cold sweat. I was horrible to my husband and my son - both of who were being absolutely wonderful and were so supportive. I generally felt totally miserable, tearful and thoroughly fed up with life. I have to confess that I did have half a cigerette during that time and I felt much better for about 5 minutes then I felt like a failure and very guilty for letting myself and everybody else down. The negative feelings and misery lasted for about 3/4 weeks - but they got better as time passed. During this time I telephoned the QUITLINE the free helpline for people wishing to give up smoking - they were very supportive and helped calm me down when I was particulary upset one day.

Finally day four arrived and I attended my final hypnosis session. I confessed to failing, the hypnotist was very supportive and told me that I had still done well to manage with only half a cigerette instead of my normal 10-15 per day. He also explained that the final session was designed to set deeper into the sub conscious mind the fact that I was now a non smoker and that I would feel more positive after this session.

I had my final hypnosis session 18 months ago and have not smoked since. I wouldn't say that it was easy because I have found it incredibly hard.

I believe that the hypnosis helped me to give up smoking by giving me a shove in the right direction. However, knowing how I felt during those first few weeks I believe I would have found it easier to use a nicotine replacement therapy to help me cope better with the cravings.

GOOD LUCK TO ANYBODY TRYING TO GIVE UP.

If you are currently suffering from these withdrawal symptoms don't give up - it does get better I promise.

I now feel quite at ease around smokers and don't have any cravings at all.

I have now passed the two year stage as a non smoker and feel so much healthier for it and funnily enough I don't miss it at all - in fact I wonder why I ever smoked now.