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Smoking Addiction Hypnotherapy
Quitting smoking can be a real challenge. But it's one of the best things you can do for your health. Smoking is a dangerous, even deadly habit. It's a leading cause of cancer. It also increases your risk for heart attacks, strokes, lung disease, and other health problems, including bone fractures and cataracts. If nicotine lozenges, patches, chewing gum, counseling, and other smoking cessation methods haven't helped you kick the habit, don't give up. Ask your doctor if hypnosis is an option for you. Some studies have shown that hypnosis may help certain people quit smoking.
Does Hypnosis Work?
Hypnosis, in general, does not work for everyone. About one in four people are not able to be hypnotized. When successful, the intensity of hypnosis can vary from person to person. How well hypnosis works to help people stop smoking depends on who you ask. Study results have been mixed. In 2010, a systematic review of published studies found that there wasn't enough evidence to support the use of hypnosis. Another review published in 2012 said that studies do support a possible benefit from the use of hypnosis. In discussing alternative methods for quitting smoking on its web site, the American Cancer Society says that while controlled studies have not supported the effectiveness of hypnosis, there is anecdotal evidence that some people have been helped. Despite some web sites and promotional materials that say otherwise, hypnosis is not an approved therapy by the American Medical Association (AMA). The organization does not have an official position on the use of hypnosis. A position statement regarding the use of the technique for medical and psychological purposes was rescinded by the AMA in 1987. Researchers who have studied hypnosis say more, well-conducted studies are needed to determine if hypnosis really helps smokers kick the habit for good, but add that hypnosis remains a hopeful approach and has many other benefits. However, the best way to quit may be to combine several techniques. Patients often require several different strategies along the way.
Benefits of trying hypnotherapy to quit smoking
If you’re interested in addressing your underlying motivations for smoking, or want to think about your addiction from a psychological perspective, then hypnotherapy may be a good option. There are many benefits of using hypnotherapy as a quit aid, such as: Hypnotherapy is exceptionally safe: A large review of 5 studies showed that hypnotherapy is a safe and effective practice for many clinical conditions. While hypnotherapy is very safe, it is not advised for people with psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations. Hypnotherapy is less expensive than alternative therapy sessions: hypnotherapy sessions are generally less expensive than counseling or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Additionally, at-home hypnotherapy sessions, accessed through apps on your phone, are less expensive than in-person hypnotherapy sessions. Hypnotherapy is less than nicotine replacement therapy (NRT): the average cost of a quit attempt with NRT is around $185. Research shows that people make around 30 attempts before giving up, meaning it can cost over $5500 to quit with NRT. Hypnotherapy generally costs between $150 to $250 per in-person session, with some people only needing one or two sessions to feel the effects. Hypnotherapy can be combined with other methods: Hypnotherapy can safely be combined with other methods of quitting, like nicotine replacement therapy (gums, patches, and inhalers) if you want to work on your behavior but wean yourself off the physical nicotine dependence.
The Wrap Up
Quitting smoking can be incredibly challenging. Though the many dangers of smoking are proven by science, cigarettes are very addictive, and many people will require more than willpower to break the habit. Hypnotherapy can help you to quit smoking as a stand-alone strategy or combined with other methods, such as nicotine replacement therapy. Hypnotherapy works by targeting the physiological triggers and getting people to imagine the many unpleasant outcomes associated with smoking. Breaking an addiction can be difficult, particularly if it is a lifelong habit, but hypnotherapy may help you quit cigarettes for good.