|
YOU
CAN STOP SMOKING
The
Nature of Smoking
Since
smoking is both physical and mental, success in a stop-smoking effort
must change not only the mental attitude, but the physical
reaction. Through hypnosis it is possible to change the taste of
cigarette from pleasurable to unpleasurable. When this is
accomplished problems often related to the cessation of smoking tend to
be avoided. Castor oil (or other bad tasting medicine) may serve
as an example. When a person gives up the ingestion of castor oil
there are no withdrawal symptoms; and there are no needs to compensate
for the lack of the medicine through overeating, sucking hard candies,
etc.
In
some cases a gradual reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked proves
successful. Of the many procedures available the hypnotherapist
will select that which is most appropriate for the individual
client. In some cases, effective cessation of smoking can be
achieved in a single session. In other cases, three, four, or five
sessions may be required. Individual sessions have the advantage
of being adjustable to deal with the causes of the habit, the
gratifications provided, the characteristics of the clients, and similar
matters not fitting group work.
It
is important to determine just what personal need is satisfied by
smoking. Some smokers seek to fill a need to nurture themselves -
lessen loneliness or get a "pick up" at the start of or during
the day. Others feel smoking will relieve stress or provide
moments of relaxation. Still more feel cigarette smoking makes
social contacts more comfortable. The problem is that a habit
adopted to meet a special need often proves destructive, eliminating the
need by destroying the smoker.
The
risks entailed in smoking have been stressed and analyzed for
years. The aversion techniques of psychotherapy when used in
hypnotherapeutic applications can provide dramatic results. Data
on why, when, and where smoking is indulged can reveal information
helpful in planning stop-smoking therapy.
|
