Smoking used to be cool. It was a way to be independent, to be rebellious, to show your strength. But since the medical world has linked smoking to so many health issues, it has lost favor in society. More and more, smokers are being made aware that though they may be welcome in public places, their habit of smoking is not.



You used to be able to smoke on airplanes, in restaurants, even in some offices. But those days are gone, and many smokers are ready to quit, freeing themselves from a habit that costs them time, money and health.

There are many options to help smokers quit - nicotine patches and gum are sold at most every grocery store and drugstore, supposedly helping smokers wean themselves from the nicotine in the cigarettes. Do they work? According to the Shiffman "Real-world" study, only 3% of those using the Rx nicotine patch and 9.2% of those using the OTC patch were not smoking at six months. In the nicotine gum groups, only 7.7% of the Rx gum group and 8.4% in the OTC gum group were not smoking at six months. Sadly, the average for the four groups was just 7%.

Then there are the stop smoking pills that have become available...according to studies, they can be effective for a small percentage of people, but the side affects are a bit dramatic. People taking Chantrix, for example, can suffer from anxiety, nervousness, tension, depressed mood, unusual behaviors and thinking about or attempting suicide. I think I'd rather smoke.

Many studies have proven the effectiveness of counseling and hypnosis for smoking. In many study groups, counseling along with another treatment method boosted results noticeably, and counseling or therapy on it's own has been show to be effective with smokers trying to quit cold turkey.

Hypnosis has been proven very effective for smoking cessation, citing reports of 40% to more than 60% success, even after 6 months and beyond. Yes, there are side effects...let's see. Increased self esteem, improved health, sense of well being, decrease in anxiety and nervousness. That sounds a lot better than unusual behaviors and depression!

There are a few things you should know about hypnosis. It's easy, you're totally in control, and it can be a profound experience. Hypnosis is simply a relaxed, meditative-like state where you can access and change your inner beliefs - and habits, like smoking. Habits come from your inner, subconscious mind, so doesn't it make sense that you can change habits by visiting that part of your mind? Your hypnotist is simply your guide.

Many people think they can't be hypnotized, but they just don't understand what hypnosis really is. Most people go into a state of hypnosis every day, while reading a book, watching TV or even driving a car (ever heard of highway hypnosis?). It's simply a focused state of awareness where your subconscious mind is accessible.

A good hypnotist will spend time with you, helping you understand their program, which can range from one to more than twelve sessions. When you choose a hypnotist, you'll want to find one that does more than just read you a script. More seasoned hypnotists will help you find the reasons that you are compelled to smoke, and help you resolve them. They will have techniques to help desensitize you from smoking, and retrain your brain for success as a non-smoker.

To be successful in a hypnosis session, you'll want to find a hypnotist that makes you feel comfortable and at ease, and one with a structured stop smoking program. Find out how many sessions they usually recommend for smoking cessation, and whether they charge by the session or the program. One hypnotist may charge $200, and have a reputation for helping you quit in just one session, another may charge just $50 per session, but sell you a 12-session program. Either way, however, you win. Just consider how much money you'll be saving when you quit! You'll be doing your body, mind and wallet a favor.