Using Hypnosis to Quit Smoking
All habits, inhibitions, and mental blocks are stored in
our subconscious mind. With each of these factors there are
associated feelings and sensations. Some time in the past
these emotional inputs - feelings and sensations - were experienced
repeatedly. The repetition reinforced those emotions and made
them more dominating than other emotions. The subconscious
mind tries to re-live the experience, creates situations so
that dominating emotions appear again and again and get further
reinforced. As a result the subconscious mind creates and
maintains self-made limitations.
To take an example, say a person has a habit of smoking.
There are physical and mental sensations connected with smoking.
The subconscious mind will try to experience those sensations
again. It will create a situation in which smoking will become
a "necessity". The data stored with the subconscious
will be confirmed and the subconscious mind will happily conclude
that smoking is a necessity.
To break any bad habit or limitations set up in the subconscious
it will be necessary to change the conviction held by it.
The stored emotions of bad habit will have to be replaced
with desirable emotions. Hypnotism is one of the methods for
changing the beliefs held by the subconscious mind.
There are two broad stages in the process of hypnotism.
1. Relaxation
2. Focus on the problem
In the relaxed condition the subconscious mind is more receptive.
You will need to have some perfection in achieving relaxation
by practicing stage 1 several times. This is a necessary precondition
for hypnosis. After you are sufficiently trained in relaxation
you can divert your attention to problem solving. By this
technique it is possible to solve virtually any personal problems.
Relaxation
Try to recall an event in which you felt totally relaxed.
It could be your recent vacation or meeting with old friends
or time you spent in reserve forest away from daily problems.
It could be any situation with which memory of your relaxation
is connected. If you cannot recall any event you can invent
one in your imagination. You can have a combination of real
life and imaginary situations.
After deciding the situation you will mentally go there.
Write down the steps for going there from your present position.
Your steps could be something like this.
1. I am sitting comfortably on my favorite chair.
2. Now I am shutting out my worries.
3. My nerves have calmed down and I am feeling more relaxed.
4. My breathing is becoming more rhythmic and relaxed.
5. I am breathing more deeply. (Concentrate on your breathing
for a minute or two.)
6. I am feeling that I have descended into Endcity Park. (Try
to remember the park in detail.)
7. I am enjoying the natural surroundings, the smell of fresh
air, all around there is feast for my eyes.
8. The atmosphere is so soothing and relaxing.
9. I feel totally relaxed.
10. I am totally relaxed.
After writing these steps, revise and remember them thoroughly
because once you start the process of relaxation you cannot
break to consult your notes.
In the entire process of relaxation you will be talking to
yourself. You can silently talk to yourself or record your
talk in your voice and play the recording when you want to
relax. While recording speak in slow and soothing voice. For
each step give sufficient time in your recording to experience
the feelings as if you are really there.
When you are ready to start the process, sit comfortably
in your favorite chair. Close your eyes, silently start talking
to yourself and go through the steps one by one. (Or play
the recording). Give sufficient time and stress to each step
to capture the emotions. After you reach equivalent of step
10 given in the example above you can retrace your steps and
return back to normalcy. You should practise these steps few
times so that you are able to relax quickly at will.
Now you are ready to focus on your attention on resolving
the problems. From step 10, or its equivalent, you can go
directly to the next stage.
Focus on Problem Solving
There are several methods of concentrating on the problems.
A method called 'pattern interrupting' works well for eliminating
habits like smoking. In this method you start with writing
the steps and feelings associated with execution of your bad
habit.
If you wish to quit smoking, make a list of all the steps
you take when you smoke. Following steps are only suggestive;
you can make your own steps:
1. I am totally relaxed (you will be continuing from the
relaxed position).
2. I have an urge to smoke.
3. I take out a cigarette. There goes my 50c (or whatever
the cost of one cigarette).
4. I take out my lighter.
5. I can already feel the excitement of smoking.
6. I light my cigarette.
7. I am now smoking (remember the taste and the sensation
of smoking).
8. My cigarette is over and I throw away the stub.
9. The evil act of smoking is over. At last!
10. Feeling of guilt.
11. Feeling of mischievous accomplishment because I finished
my cigarette before Anita could see me smoking.
12. Comforting feeling that I will not be smoking for some
time at least.
13. I am still relaxed.
14. What a great achievement it will be when I totally quit
smoking.
After writing down the steps, try to remember them.
Next time after you are in relaxed stage start with the steps
to focus on the problem. Try to re-live the experience. After
completing the steps again think of steps 2 to 12 but not
sequentially. Think of the steps in random order to break
the pattern. Try to think of each step randomly about 3 times.
Now think of desirable steps. For example, you can concentrate
on these steps:
1. I am totally relaxed.
2. It is good that my last cigarette is over.
3. It feels great just to think that I will not smoke again.
4. I am happy that I will not have to hide anything from Anita.
5. What a sense of achievement. I have finally quit smoking.
I have done it!
6. This is the victory of my will power over my useless habit.
7. I am still relaxed.
After repeating those desirable steps few times you can slowly
come back to your normal self.
Hypnotism has amazing power. When used properly it can bring
about tremendous benefits. It is a formidable tool and should
be used wisely.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Eric Choong
Please visit my website at: http://www.health-beauty-care.com
(You are granted the right to reprint this article but the
title
and content must remain unchanged and the authors name
and contact information must be included.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
