A Little Help Stopping Your Smoking or Tobacco Habit

Everyone that says they want to quit, will usually tell you they have tried everything! Cold turkey. Patches. Pills. Drops. Shots. The list goes on and on, but not many have tried hypnosis or hypnotherapy. When hypnotherapy or hypnosis is mentioned, people are often skeptical about its ability to aid them in quitting their smoking, vaping or tobacco habit, and I understand the skepticism. As a former tobacco user myself (Copenhagen 40+ years), it’s not easy to quit and the purpose of today’s blog is to help people understand the benefits of using hypnosis as an aid to quitting.

First and foremost, it’s important is to understand that smoking, dipping, chewing or even vaping are not always addictions. We read, see or hear about the obvious addictive potential of nicotine all the time, and don’t get me wrong, that is a big part of the habit, but not much is discussed about the psychological part of this addiction.

Cigarettes, cigars, chewing, vaping. Somehow, they always seem to find their way into the very fabric of everyday life, becoming a part of so many activities that we enjoy on a daily basis. Habits are formed, creating associative relationships to things like food and alcohol or even driving a car. Smokers and tobacco users also learn to identify themselves with their product of choice, and after a while, it seems to become a part of their character and personality. This might be having a cigarette with your friends to have fun or having a chew of tobacco when you’re a little stressed. Either way, the need is almost always psychologically driven. Now, you have to understand that psychological cravings are just as real as chemical ones, and they suck!

Cigarettes or other tobacco use become, for most people, a coping mechanism to try to deal with the emotional pressures of life, like stress, boredom, work or even weight loss. When a smoker becomes upset, he or she reaches for the cigarette to try and feel better. The same could be said for a dipper or vaper. The truth is that cigarettes, and tobacco in general, are not your friend at all. All they want to do is control the way you feel, and to be honest, there are much more positive ways to be calm and feel better without lighting up or putting tobacco in your mouth.

There are many articles and publications that tell us that our bodies eliminate the need for nicotine only a few days after we quit smoking or chewing. So, if it was purely a physical addiction, we’d be done with it after a few days off the tobacco. That being said, most tobacco users know, the cravings usually continue when they try to quit cold turkey, far after those first few days are over. This is because of the psychological needs that continue to drive the motivation to smoke, dip or vape.

This is where hypnotherapy helps. Hypnotherapy is an excellent tool for re-learning and by changing the subconscious motivations to smoke or use tobacco, you will change the habits and associations that drive much of this unwanted behavior. You can also learn new coping skills so that the tobacco is not needed during stressful or emotional times. With these new attitudes and tools, getting through the first couple of days of the chemical addiction is usually much easier. Dealing with both the chemical and the psychological addiction is the real key to long term success.

As you can imagine, with a smart plan, new tools, and new attitudes about smoking and tobacco, you can finally learn how to change the habits and healthfully deal with the emotional strains of life free from cigarettes, tobacco or vaping.

Hypnotherapy is not magic, but it is a powerful tool and if you really want to quit, and are willing to put in some effort and invest in yourself, you really can, quit for life.

It's never too late to be the person you want to be. When you're ready, let me help.

David Klaproth is a clinically trained and certified hypnotherapist, with a degree in mind-body psychology and honors graduate of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, College of Hypnotherapy, in Tarzana, California. He specialize in helping clients with stress, anxiety, panic attacks, smoking and tobacco, fears and phobias. David helps clients around the world via Zoom, become happier, healthier and more productive. He knows that it is never too late to make changes and be the person you know you can be and when you're ready, he can help. For more information about David or hypnotherapy, please visit http://www.klaprothhypnosis.com.