Ways to stop smoking include nicotine replacement, hypnotherapy and will power. Which will you choose?
Deciding to stop smoking will be one of the best decisions you can make for your health and wellbeing. When I smoked I really didn't believe I would ever be a non-smoker, and if you are thinking of giving up smoking you may feel the same. But you can do it, it is absolutely possible when you find the techniques that are right for you.
I stopped smoking in 2007 after over 20 years and many many failed attempts, but I have to say I am still immensely proud of myself for finally becoming a non-smoker. I tried will power and nicotine replacement which didn't work for me, but despite my reservations it was hypnotherapy and EFT the tapping therapy that helped me stop smoking. When I began to understand that I could control the cravings and they no longer controlled me I knew I could do it.
I don't know which method will work for you, but if you have decided to stop smoking there is one exercise you could do to help.
Firstly spend some time listing all the benefits of not smoking. Write down the positives such as " I will smell of my beautiful perfume" rather than " I won't smell of smoke". Take time to write a long list, include every positive change you can think of regardless of how small they may seem. Try to include your feelings as well as practical items. When you have a long and personal list take a moment to rate out of ten how much you want to quit smoking. If it is ten out of ten then that's great, you are absolutely ready to stop smoking. If you find you are maybe eight out of ten then spend some time looking at what makes up the two out of ten; why do you want to smoke?
Once you have decided why you feel you need smoking it's time to use your imagination. Write down anything you could do at these times instead of smoking. These alternatives may seem ridiculous to begin with but the process will help you start to see that you could do things differently. Over the next week or so try out these alternatives, as long as they are safe and legal!! It doesn't matter if some of them don't work, but by making changes you can build your confidence and change your eight out of ten into a ten out of ten.
You may already have tried many methods to stop smoking, I know I did, but there are lots of methods of support available to you. You can find online advice from the BHF here and from the NHS here.
I found hypnotherapy helped me alot because it helped me to feel more relaxed and positive generally. I used smoking for stress relief and with the hypnotherapy I found that I was calmer and less anxious. I began to actually believe I could become a non-smoker. Once you understand why you smoke from the exercise above you can choose the techniques that suit you best.
