Can Hypnosis Really Help You Quit Smoking? [Part 2 of 5]
We continue our article from Monday's posting…
But what, exactly, are these hypnotherapists doing?
While there as many different hypnosis techniques as there are brands of cigarettes, a typical program will usually begin with a phone consultation, followed by an in-person session where the client is walked through breathing and visualization exercises and then "induced" into a "trance" — which is essentially a state of extreme relaxation. Once the patient is in the trance, and his "suggestibility" is maximized, the practitioner makes statements ("I am uninterested in cigarettes" or "I hate the smell of smoke on my clothing") that will hopefully take root and change the client's behavior. Then the client is "awakened," or brought out of the hypnotic state. In short, a hypnotherapist verbally guides a client to a hyper-responsive, hyper-attentive state in which the patient's subconscious mind (the part that tells them that smoking is cool and totally worth it) is in its most persuadable state, and then replaces the harmful or unwanted thoughts with positive, healthy ones.
Santa Monica, California-based clinical hypnotherapist Dr. John McGrail says, "The subconscious mind is similar in function to a computer hard drive. It takes information in, records it, and plays it back. Hypnosis creates a receptive mind where we can take out what's not working and put in new software."
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McGrail believes that the approach Margaret took should work for most people: "It uses the power of the mind to change the behavior, and it is the mind that creates the addiction to smoking 10, 20, or 30 cigarettes a day. In hypnosis, we're using that same power, much like a computer, to make those changes." McGrail finds out what he needs to know about the person's relationship with tobacco: history, triggers, and motivations for stopping. "The suggestions I give while I verbally guide them through their program make them start thinking about smoking as something they don't want — or have — to do," he explains. Instead, they can choose appropriate outlets for the energy they once devoted to smoking. For example, Jonathan, a 34-year-old database manager from Atlanta who'd smoked for 16 years when he decided to quit with the help of a $1.99 app on his iPhone, washed his clothes — even when they were clean — instead of lighting up. He also performed breathing exercises when he was tempted. A little silly, sure, but infinitely better for him than a pack of Parliaments.