Hi Angeliz -
It's brilliant you have realised you want to stop. That's half the bloody battle, isn't it?
When we were trying for ds I went to a hypnotherapist (just to be clear I was smoking buckets AND on nicotne gum, addicted - moi?). To be honest, during the session itself, I thought I had completely wasted my money. But when I came out I went to have a fag and found to my amazement that I didn't want one! I threw my tobacco and gum in the bin on the pavement outside the therapists office. It was unbelievable. Even better, I didn't even crave a fag after that AND I didn't put on any weight
At no point did I think I was out of control during the session (like I said I was convinced it wasn't working) - but I think what really helped was my having a really strong reason why I wanted to stop (we'd been ttc for nearly three years). The therapist focused on this and gave me some positive mental images to imagine when I wanted a cigarette. But I remember her spending ages tring to uncover why I smoked in the first place and I couldn't really answer her (because it makes you look cool behind the bike sheds doesn't really wash when you're 35 ) . Because I couldn't identify WHY I smoked she said I would probably need another session to kick it completely and she was right because after I had dh (conceived the next month) I started again Because all the suggestion stuff had been to do with having a baby, once I had one the suggestions weren't that useful.
I stopped again under my own steam when expecting dd but recently started again and am thoroughly pissed off at myself. I am definitely going back to try again though - for me it was the easiest way of stopping. I would be really interested to hear more about the Allen Carr hypnosis - I might try him this time.Countess Dracula - Is it really expensive? Is it a general session or do you have to speak to the therapist first to give them a focus point?
Anyway, I would really recommend it - even though I started again, I stopped for over a year which was a miracle. Just spend some time before you go really grilling yourself about why you smoke and why you want to stop. I know that if I go again and fess up to the pathetic adolescent reasons behind my smoking, then next time I have a really good chance of stopping for good. (she says, zipping up her parka to head out for a fag ...)