hypnotherapy for stopping smoking ,does it work?

[ratclare]

desperately need to stop and wondered about hypnotherapy ,anyone tried it or any other method successfully ?

It worked for me, I was really determined that iw would it cost £100 for 2 hour session. Previously I had been a very heavy smoker, but had been gradually cutting down. The difference from when I had given up before was huge. Not only have I managed over 5 years now, it was easy, no cravings

My dad had hypnotherapy years ago - he went from 80 a day to nothing and has never smoked since! Positive enough for you?

Allen Carr seminar worked for me (and no, I don't work for them!)

not sure i could afford allen carr seminar ,beleive they are quite pricey ,however will make enquiries re hynotherapists in my area ,thanks for your help

ratclare-charlie cat will help you along with other Mums giving up on say no to nick o teen thread.

I am on day 5 of giving up (Cold Turkey)

Whyquit.com is fantastic reading.
Sorry,no experience of hypnotherapy.I have lost count how many times i have stopped.The most important think is wanting to stop and WILL POWER

Yup - worked for me though I was really determined and had a good incentive (was trying to get pg). Having said that, I have slipped back again recently (the session was five years ago). Must make another appointment.

I put off the Allen Carr thing because of the expense too! Then I worked out that I would have smoked the same amount of money in about 6 weeks. Plus they do two free follow-ups if you need them, and failing all else, money back guarantee.

It has worked for me despite my scepticism. I sat there and wavered between "wow, this is great" and "what a load of codswallop, this will never work for me". But strangely enough, I came out and haven't smoked since. That's not to say that I haven't wanted a cigarette since then, I have but I just remind myself that it's not just about the ONE cigarette, because there never is just ONE cigarette. It's about everything that goes with it. Looking at whyquit.com is very helpful to and I printed out some bits from it before I went on holiday so that I could remind myself! But I have had no cravings which I had when I tried willpower alone - no irritability, no sleeplessness etc etc

Good luck!

I met a GP who specialised in hypnotherapy for smoking cessation, he was convinced that his patients had better outcomes, longterm, than any other method, but the govt is unwilling to put any money into researching it.

Mil tried it and she is still smoking. She could never get her head around it all iyswim.

Yes, Yes, Yes! I had hyphotherapy over 2 years ago (cost £180 for 2 x 2 hour sessions) and I can honestly say that I walked out of the door a non-smoker. I was smoking well over 20 a day & had been for at least 15 years.

I have not smoked since & have NEVER had any cravings - good eh! So it can & does work...... good luck if you decide to go for it.

have a look at whyquit it's really quite persuasive (thanks to charliecat)

HVDY, what is the secret to it?
Mil would love to know.

OrangeGiraffe - I don't know how it works for everybody but I think the trick is that they find a lever (in my case he twigged that I could not contemplate leaving my children as my mother had left me, and made me imagine that I had to explain to them that I was leaving i.e. dieing because I smoked and had not cared enough about them enough to stop IYSWIM) and they use that lever to convince your brain via hypnotherapy that you physically do not need fags, which is why I guess I have no cravings and that you are loveable etc. Phew - big lever & it worked for me, I honestly can say it is one of the best, most positive things I have ever done, although meeting my inner child was awful!

well i have taken the plunge and rung a nice man who does it nearby ,i am going to ring him this morning to book an appointment and hopefully in the near future i shall be smoke free !!! told husband who was very negative and said he knew loads of people who it hadnt worked for,he is generally negative about 90% of the time so i shant pay a blind bit of notice to him. He smokes and doesnt want to quit which is fine by me ,we smoke outside anyway .

I'm a hypnotherapist, and specialise in smoking cessation. Hypnotherapy is by far the most effective method of stopping smoking but you HAVE to want to do it! I would never take anyone on who was giving up for someone else...i.e the doctor, the partner, the kids etc...you have to want to do it for you. It works by replacing the benefits you gain by smoking (relaxation, calming etc) with bigger and better benefits, so that in fact you will feel much much better when you DON'T smoke. You can also incorporate personal incentives, as HVDY said...how proud you will feel when you see the kids faces light up etc...it all depends on what flicks your switch so to speak. If anyone wants to ask anything, feel free.

Sorry to put a damper on it. I had hypnotherapy about 6 years ago, didn't work at all for me.

Marmaladesun can I ask you a question?

DH went to have hypnotherapy for this (quite a few years ago) but left before it happened because the hypnotherapist said that she was going to suggest to him that he was dying of cancer and had to go home and tell his family! Understandably he didn't much fancy that and walked out. Is this a normal technique?

Countess Dracula...absolutely NOT!!! That is what's known as aversion therapy, and is a highly controversial technique. The method I use uses only positive suggestions, there is no emphasis on the health dangers at all...smokers already know that so there's no point labouring the point. Instead it focuses on how fantastic you will feel when you refuse a cigarette, and it works. I always incorporate into my sessions that whenever a client says no to a cigarette they will have a huge smile of pride on their faces, and I have had feedback from clients saying that people have noticed that they are much happier people as a result. I only ever do 'feel good' hypnotherapy.
Tawny...unfortunately it doesn't work for everyone; I only wish it did, but it does have a very high success rate. You were very unfortunate in being one of the minority it didn't work for. I always do a 30 minute consultation prior to the hypnosis, to check someone's suitability. and if there are indicators that it might not work for them (other factors in their lives such as bereavement, depression, etc where smoking might be a 'crutch' to them) I will not do the session. As much as I like the money, I work to a very strict code of ethics and don't believe in taking clients on regardless, even if it means I lose money. I will recommend that they deal with the other issues first, either with me or another therapist/doctor etc, and then come back when things are more settled.

ratclare - i feel for you. i wasnt planning on getting pg as quick as i did - thought i had loads of time to give up but no! i paid my £60 and had my hpnotherapy session 3 weeks ago. i was a cynic but my doc was useless ("you will just have to do it - think of a dead babay!!). my therapist was great - really reassuring and made me believe i could do it. she used a whole combo of techniques and interestingly she never linked it to my pg. she said that this was to be for the long term & not 9 mths and - if i had a mc - then i wouldnt go back to them. it has worked. i still have cravings but havent given in - not bad for a 40 a day.....