Hypnotherapy is an idea based upon hypnotism. While the terminology was largely founded in the late 19th century, the practice has been around since ancient times. The goal of hypnotherapy is to target subconscious desires and behaviors either to strengthen them or to weaken them.
In the case of cigarette smoking, hypnotherapists often focus on either decreasing the urges associated with desire to smoke, or strengthening your will to quit smoking. There are many ways they can do this, such as associating disgust with the act of inhaling tobacco smoke.
How Well does Hypnotherapy Work?
For those who have been unsucessful quitting ‘cold turkey’ style, hypnotherapy has provided mixed results. Many find it works effectively for a while, but then they relapse later on. Still others are able to attend only a session or two for complete success in quitting. And there are those who say it has almost no effect at all.
In comparison to other treatments, hypnotherapy does offer advantages.
Vs Cold Turkey – Hypnotherapy strengthens your already existing desire to quit and/or weakens your desire to smoke
Vs (any kind of) Medication – Hypnotherapy is almost certainly safer and often more effective at addressing your emotional factors.
Vs Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) – The same as above – hypnotherapy is safer and usually more effective because it addresses the emotional factors thoroughly.
Different methods of delivery for hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy can be delivered via different methods. The most common method is to visit a hypnotherapist several times and then listen to an audio recording at home when you go to sleep. This method has the advantage of reduced cost, but some find it less effective than simply attending a hypnotherapist until they quit. Other methods are entirely DIY (do it yourself), relying on a combination of audio and written material. These can be effective if you have strong willpower.
Like any other therapy, hypnotherapy depends a great deal on your desire to quit. If you don’t strongly feel like quitting, there will not be much emotion associated with quitting to strengthen. This often occurs in those people who see cigarettes as a coping mechanism. In those cases, it is better to figure out what you are trying to compensate for with smoking, and to find a better, healthier alternative to cigarettes (and yes – there definitely is one).