Stop smoking experts reveal top tips to help you quit
The Inspiraology training team today reveals their top tips to help smokers give up the habit. Stubbing out that final cigarette can feel daunting for anyone who’s looking to quit smoking.
Now, though, some of the country’s top hypnotherapists have revealed their top tips for anyone looking for help to quit.
Inspiraology is one of the country’s leading hypnotherapy training centres. They have schools dotted across the UK. The team says the right mindset is crucial to stopping.
‘Setting a date to quit on works for a lot of people,’ explains Matthew Cahill, Director of Inspiraology.
‘Mark that date on your calendar so you can mentally prepare for it and take practical steps to make that easy transition to being a non-smoker.’
‘Our second top tip is to let your friends and family know you’re quitting smoking and to ask them for their support. Joining a support group can be a great way to make sure you’re not doing this alone. Likewise, you might want to chat with a professional.’
The team says removing triggers that encourage you to smoke can really make a big impact for someone looking to stop.
In other words, do you find being around other smokers makes you reach for one? If so, what plan can you put in place to minimise their effect on you?
‘Our experience shows that former smokers who plan ahead and work out how to turn down offered cigarettes have a far greater chance of success than people who aren’t prepared for what to do if they’re offered one.’
Keeping a money jar: watch the savings add up!
‘Practicing that all-important ‘no, thank you’ makes it a lot easier for when you say it for real.’
‘Remembering how much money you save each day can be a very powerful swaying factor for people looking to stop. Keeping a money jar at home and seeing those savings add up means former smokers can quickly see the benefits.’
The team point to the different over the counter nicotine replacement therapies which you can use. They say chatting with a pharmacist or doctor can be useful.
‘Identifying coping strategies are crucial for success. We find clients experience the greatest levels of success when they find healthy ways to cope with stress and processing their emotions.’
‘This might mean they take up new hobbies or start to exercise bit more. Perhaps they engage in a bit of meditation. All are great ways to help reduce those cravings.’
‘Most importantly, a positive mental attitude is crucial for success. Quitting smoking is a process.’
‘Staying positive and focusing on the benefits of being smoke free is important so you can enjoy better health prospects and a better financial future.’
The team point out that everyone’s journey to successfully quit the smoking habit is completely unique.
They say it may take some time to find the right combination of strategies that work for you, but, crucially, it’s important to be patient and kind to yourself.
They add that celebrating each ‘small victory’ is important. They suggest the savings gained by stopping to treat yourself to something mentally positive. So, perhaps put aside some of that money to save up for that dream holiday?
Hypnotherapy: smoking cessation session is ‘highly effective’
Inspiraology says hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for smoking cessation. It is a type of therapy that uses hypnosis to help individuals quit smoking by addressing the psychological and emotional factors associated with smoking.
The team explain that a hypnotherapy session for smoking cessation allows the individual to be guided into a state of relaxation.
The therapist provides suggestions and visualisations to help the individual quit. The hypnosis session may include suggestions that the individual no longer enjoys smoking or feels repulsed by the smell of cigarette smoke.
Inspiraology says an analysis of 18 studies found that hypnosis was ‘highly effective.’ The team says it has a success rate of up to 45% (compared to 10% for other methods).
It is important to note that the success of hypnotherapy for smoking cessation can depend on a number of individual factors, such as the personal motivation of the client.
Discussing your individual needs and concerns with a qualified therapist or healthcare professional is always important. Additionally, while hypnotherapy may be an effective treatment for smoking cessation, it may not be appropriate or effective for everyone.
Hypnotherapy can also be used to help a range of issues such as anxiety, addiction, phobias, and pain management.
The Inspiraology team points to a review of 57 studies on the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for treating anxiety.
It says hypnotherapy was effective in reducing anxiety symptoms, with some studies indicating that it may be more effective than standard types of therapy.
