Hypnosis to Stop Smoking

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites smoking as the leading cause of preventable death. Long-term smokers have a life expectancy of ten years less than non-smokers. While there are many smokers in Great Britain who want to quit smoking, only 2-3% of them succeed in the long term.

There are several reasons why people decide to quit smoking. The most common reason is related to health. Studies have shown that smoking can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Treatment for pre-existing conditions may also be complicated by smoking. Smokers are at a higher risk of suffering from anaesthesia and post-surgery complications compared to non-smokers.

Social pressure (smokers are viewed as smelly) and the cost of smoking are other reasons why some people decide to quit smoking.

Not everyone though who decides to quit succeeds. In a fact sheet published by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), more than a third of smokers make at least one attempt to quit smoking in a year but only 2-3% succeed in the long-term. It’s not clear why some attempts succeed and others don’t. The researchers have seen success in those who tried smoking a few cigarettes each day, avoided smoking the first thing in the morning, and those who kept themselves mentally healthy.

Factors That Can Affect Cigarette Smoking Success

There are different factors that can affect one’s success or failure in attempting to quit cigarette smoking. Some of these factors include the following:

Genetics

There are mixed results on studies that determine whether genes play an important role in quitting smoking. One study says that a certain gene can make a difference in one’s addiction to smoking and his/her ability to quit it. Researchers found out that those who carry a dopamine transporter gene are less likely to start smoking before the age of 16 and are more likely to be successful in quitting it.

Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy refers to belief in one’s ability to complete a specific task and achieve certain goals. People with high self-efficacy are more likely to succeed in cigarette smoking short to medium term. There are studies though that show that this factor isn’t as influential as other factors.

Severity of Withdrawal Symptoms

Cigarette smoking is addicting. This is one of the reasons why a lot of smokers find it hard to break this unhealthy habit.

Nicotine is the substance found in tobacco that makes it addicting. This substance produces different effects in the brain including boosting the mood, reducing irritability, and creating a sense of well-being.

It’s nicotine withdrawal that makes it more difficult for people to quit smoking. Some of the major components of nicotine withdrawal are urges to smoke and cravings. These play an important role in relapse.

Quitting Smoking and Preventing Relapse

When a person smokes, several changes take place in the brain and the body. Long-term use of tobacco smoking makes the body treat the substances found in tobacco as normal. Hence, when a person quits, the body has to adjust as it has been used to the substances, especially nicotine. Just a few hours after quitting, the body starts to experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms usually last 2-4 weeks, with the first week as the toughest.

Relapse is common even if a person quits smoking. This usually happens during a person’s first attempt in quitting.

Different factors can lead to relapse. These include stress, weight gain, and symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. There are also triggers that can lead one to get back to smoking. The most common relapse triggers include being with other smokers, stress, and alcohol consumption.

Hypnotherapy

Overcoming unwanted habits is difficult, as most people are resistant to change. Trying initially, they might succeed. But then return to the habit when tested. Hypnotherapy can be the solution to resolving these habits.

Online hypnosis is proving to be successful in banishing unwanted habits. Sessions are arranged at a time to suit you. And accessing help is easy, from the comfort of your own home.

Treatment involves finding the need the unwanted habit has in your life. After this, we replace old habits with positive coping strategies.

In conclusion, you can break unwanted habits during hypnotherapy sessions without a struggle. Furthermore, controlling thoughts and behaviours will feel a sense of well-being and positivity in your life.

Online Hypnotherapy can help to overcome unwanted habits with just three easy online sessions. So why not give it a try today?