1. Quit Smoking By Changing Your Thinking and Behavioural Patterns

    August 27, 2013

    how to quit smoking

    “I can’t do it, I have tried everything from the a–z of the quit smoking world and I can’t give up cigarettes”. How many of you have heard this sentence, or at least one very similar. See the thing is most people are looking for that easy fix, the one where they wear a patch for a few months and hey presto they are magically cured. If only it was that simple….

    NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) is promoted by many clinics and it can certainly work with some people. Yet, if you look into the statistics regarding smoking cessation with NRT you will see the success rate is very low, very low indeed. In order to really tackle smoking or more importantly the addiction to nicotine we must first have an understanding of our cognitive behaviours. Why do we smoke? What causes us to pick up a cigarette? And what stops us from wanting to quit?

    Before you decide to quit it is important that you have realistic expectations. Sure everyone wants to quit on their first attempt but in all honesty this will be very hard and may not happen. However it is wrong to look at a relapse and see it as a failure a priory. Read on these useful techniques that will help you quit smoking once and for all.

    Mind Distraction

    This is all about learning to behave differently when you are placed in an environment or situation which usually involves you smoking i.e. on a lunch break. There are certain techniques (incl. mindful meditation) that can be used to distract your mind from smoking related thoughts.

    Altering Your Thinking Patterns

    When your body is deprived of nicotine you can go through a series of mood changes. By learning how to change the way you think in certain situations you can help to make the withdrawal a lot less difficult. For example one of the most common reasons people light up a cigarette is due to stress. Instead of thinking “I really need a cigarette”, you can change your thought process to “I need to go for a walk and get some fresh air” or “I need to count to 10 and focus on my breathing”.

    Improve Your Understanding

    I am sure you have heard the saying “knowledge is power”. The more that you know and understand about your smoking addiction, how to tackle it and what to expect during this process the better place you will be in to combat your addiction.

    Understanding Social and Environmental Triggers

    If you know and understand what situations make you crave nicotine most you can then work out a way to avoid these. For example a lot of people who smoke find that when they drink alcohol they also feel the need to have a cigarette. The obvious solution for this is to instead of having that beer or glass of wine, have an orange juice instead.

    Know Your Motivational Cues

    If there are certain things that make you more motivated to quit then you should surround yourself with these.  When you find these places, people or actions that motivate you it’s a good idea to write a diary or list to help yourself remember. Positive psychology teaches us that having a set of motivational triggers really helps and essential in altering your way of thinking and acquiring positive outlook in life.

    Know Your Negative Triggers

    This again involves making a list of all the negative things that you associate with smoking. By putting this list in a spot that you will see few times a day it will help to change the way you think and feel about cigarettes. Generally speaking, knowing your negative triggers is essential for overcoming addiction, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and many other mental health condition. Many psychotherapy techniques including CBT, hypnosis, psychoanalysis, etc. aim at discovering these triggers as they are often hidden in your unconscious.

    Social Network

    Do you hang around with a lot of smokers? Surrounding yourself with people who are smoking can negatively affect your chances of quitting. It’s understandable that these people will most likely be your friends and family so you will not wish to avoid them, however by asking them to not smoke in front of you will make a massive difference.

    Weight issues

    For some people the fear of weight gain is what keeps them on the cigarettes. Before you decide to take your first step in giving up join a gym or make an exercise plan which will help you to lose weight or maintain your current weight when you quit smoking.

    What you have to remember is that although you may not be successful on your first attempt this is 100% normal. Some can quit first time around while others find it harder to break the addiction. If you are someone that has a relapse make sure to remember what worked for you the previous time around and try to include these more in your daily life.

    Image Credit: Mark Sebastian – http://www.flickr.com/photos/markjsebastian/2752162749


  2. 8 Reasons To Stop Smoking Through Hypnosis

    June 29, 2013

    you got to stop smoking

    Tobacco use started in the late 15th century as a harmless habit, but by the 20th century people realized just how dangerous the long-term effects of smoking are. Today, it is one of the leading causes for premature death in various countries. Vigorous advertisement campaigns and awareness programs have helped in many ways. Almost everyone knows the dangers of smoking, especially those who smoke. Yet, you still find them smoking cigarettes day after day. The reasons for not quitting may vary, but one of the most common reasons is the lack of will power.
    If you have tried different ways to quit smoking but come out unsuccessful every single time, you may want to give a chance to hypnotherapy. The biggest challenge of quitting the habit is leaving the smoking routine you followed. Hypnotherapists generally do this by reminding you of the benefits of quitting and dangers of smoking. Here are the top 8 ways in which hypnotherapists convince you to stop smoking while you are in a deep state of relaxation.

    1. A longer life

    Did you know that you can increase your life expectancy by 10 years if you quit smoking by the time you hit 30 years? Imagine what you could do with that decade and how many more years can be saved by quitting early. Even if you quit when you are 60 years old, you can still add a few more years to your life.

    2. Better quality of life

    Quitting the habit will not only prolong your life but also improve the quality of life you enjoy. You have fewer health problems and feel better too.

    3. Improved immunity

    When you quit smoking, your immune system is no longer affected. Smoking lowers the efficacy of the body’s immune system and makes it more susceptible to various diseases.

    4. More energy

    Moreover, quitting helps in increasing your energy because your lungs and muscles function better and you sleep more soundly without nicotine in your system.

    5. Reduced stress

    Smokers often start the habit to reduce their stress, and the immediate effect of nicotine after withdrawal does give a relaxed feeling, but the feeling is short-lived. In the long run, smoking actually increases stress levels.

    6. Better looking skin and healthier feeling

    Smoking ages the skin prematurely by causing it to dry and dull and making it more prone to wrinkles. This effect reverses when you stop smoking because the skin begins to receive the necessary nutrients.

    7. Protecting your loved ones

    When smokers think of the dangers of their habit, they often focus on the dangers of active smoking. However, passive smoking can be as dangerous as active smoking, if not more. Passive smokers are those who breathe the same smoke that is exhaled by the smoker. Your family members, friends, and even children could be passive smokers. Quitting the habit helps ensure that they do not run the risk of developing diseases related to smoking.

    8. Better smell and taste

    The chemicals present in cigarettes tend to dull the taste buds in your mouth, which in turn affects the way you smell. As a result, the food and drink you have lose their taste and smell. Quitting the habit reduces the dullness and improves your sense of taste and smell.

     

    Author Bio: Tom is the guest blogger who blogs on behalf of Balance For Life, interested in writing articles that creates awareness on stop smoking through hypnosis.

    Image Credit: Mark Sebastian