The subconscious battle 

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Perhaps you've previously made attempts to cease smoking. It's possible that you've experimented with nicotine patches, gum, inhalers, or even medication. You may have also sought counseling, participated in group programs, or tried quitting abruptly ("cold turkey"). 

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One of my most cherished authors, Mark Twain, once penned the words: "Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it countless times." The truth is, that eighty percent of smokers who try to quit without a proper cessation program will eventually relapse (Institute of Medicine of the National Academies). 

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As someone who used to smoke a pack a day, I was once part of that eighty percent. Initially, relying on willpower and quitting abruptly seemed effective, but I inevitably fell back into the same patterns time and time again. 

A part of your being recognizes the importance of quitting smoking for your well-being and continued existence. However, another aspect of yourself resists this notion. This resistant part is your subconscious mind, which influences your beliefs, motivations, and limitations. The challenge lies in the fact that you cannot force or willfully change these subconscious patterns. 

True transformation occurs at the subconscious level, and the encouraging news is that it can occur instantaneously. Once you have made the commitment to quit, you have already overcome the most difficult hurdle. Hypnotherapy serves as a tool to access the immense potential of your subconscious mind, aligning it with your conscious decision to quit smoking. 

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How and why hypnosis can help you quit smoking 

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Hypnosis has been discovered to be more than twice as effective as quitting smoking abruptly and over three times as effective as using nicotine replacement therapy. These findings were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians on October 22, 2007. A study conducted by the University of Washington School of Medicine found that hypnotherapy has a success rate of 90.6% in helping smokers quit. Additionally, the esteemed American Medical Association now acknowledges that incorporating hypnosis into counseling sessions is one of the most powerful tools for breaking nicotine addiction. 

The reason why quitting smoking with hypnosis is easier is because it allows us to shift the pleasure we derive from smoking to a healthier alternative habit. As a result, many people find that they do not experience unwanted weight gain or other issues typically associated with quitting smoking. Personally, the only side effects I encountered when I quit smoking with hypnosis were improved health and a sense of freedom. 

If you are contemplating using hypnosis as a means to quit smoking, the initial step is to ensure that you are making this decision for yourself. The effectiveness of hypnotherapy in smoking cessation is greatly enhanced when there is a genuine desire to quit. If you are pursuing it merely because you feel obligated or due to external pressure from a friend or family member, it is possible that the anticipated results may not be achieved. 

Your well-being is of utmost importance. Take the necessary steps to embark on a journey towards a smoke-free life. Through The Change Method's cessation program, you will acquire the skills to manage your thoughts related to smoking and gradually reduce the urge to indulge in another cigarette. If you belong to the majority of smokers who would quit if they knew how, you now have an effective and well-established approach that neutralizes the craving for smoking and liberates you from the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms.