Remember my introduction "FEAR" (50 years old, 32 years of smoking 1 and a half packs a day, how nuts I became during my many quit attempts? Tried everything,patch, gum, accuponcture, The Schick Clinic.) I never made it until know. I understand differant things work for differant people but I read (and know) what a stuggle we have quitting so PLEASE, if nothing has worked before try this. I was refered to a hypnotherapy clinic in L.A. by my brother in law who smoked for 45 years 2 packs a day. He had more quit attempts than me and NEVER made it more than a few days. Since he went there he hasn't had a cigarette (It's been almost a year, and he doesn't really think about it a lot...) Knowing what an addict he was, I had to try it. I had always been very nervous about being hypnotized wondering what other suggestion they would put in my subconcience besides what I came there for, without me knowing about it. So, for any of you who might have considered this but have the same kind of fears--don't, because there are so many myths about it. They won't have you barking like a dog as you might have seen on TV and they won't make you do anything you are not willing to do. I could hear what she was saying the whole time. That's another myth, that unless you pass out into a deep sleep state then you aren't hypnotized. Most people never totally fall asleep. You are in a state of deep relaxation. Here is exactly what happened.
I spend 8 hours there. The first 7 were spend on learning information and even though I thought i knew everything there is to know about cigarettes, I was shoked on how much I didn't know. I want to share some of it in another discussion because it might also help those who aren't sure they really want to quit! Anyway, the 8th hour was the hypnotism part. Before it started I was told what to expect. They made me very confortable in one of those big chair/sofas things, you hear very relaxing and soothing music through noise cancelling headphones and your eyes are covered to shut out any light. There is something about the way they talk that does make you extremly sleepy and the first half hour they talk you through relaxing, picturing yourself on a beach (or wahtever place you would feel peaceful) After that they address the issue of not smoki
