Hypnosis is defined as a cooperative interaction in which the participant responds to the suggestions of a hypnotist, according to the American Psychological Association. In a hypnotic state, which is one of the four states the brain operates in, a doorway between the conscious and the subconscious is opened. In this state, people are highly responsive to suggestion. Hypnotherapy is useful in helping people quit smoking with a therapist's suggestion that they will have a strong dislike for cigarettes in the future.
Trained Hypnotherapist
Hypnotists can't control the person's mind and free will; they are there to teach him how to master his own state of awareness. A trained hypnotherapist monitors and evaluates a participant's progress over time. Most people require 4 to 10 hourlong sessions to see improvement. The National Board of Certified Hypnotherapists provides a list of providers for each state or region; many specialize in helping people stop smoking.
Self-Hypnosis
Hypnotherapists can also teach the basics of self-hypnosis and provide audiotapes to be used at home. This enables you to continue the sessions at home and on your own time. Downloads are available for home use if you're unable to find a hypnotherapist to assist you. Self-hypnosis can be recorded using your own voice, or you may buy prerecorded versions.
Misconceptions
There is a misunderstanding of the true nature of hypnosis, primarily due to stage hypnosis and portrayal by the entertainment industry. Clarifications for common misconceptions: You are never asleep or lose full sense of awareness; you remember everything after hypnosis; hypnotists have no real control over you; you have normal decision-making capabilities; and everyone has the ability to be hypnotized but must be willing to work with a hypnotist to accomplish therapeutic goals. If you don't want it to happen; it won't happen. People of above average intelligence who are capable of concentrating and who have a capacity for creativity and imagination usually make the best subjects.
Benefits
Hypnosis as a non-invasive treatment to quit smoking can be beneficial by itself or in conjunction with other approaches. Hypnosis teaches one to imagine a positive outcome and a positive future without smoking cigarettes. There are benefits such as self-empowerment, relaxation training, releasing negative emotions such as fear and denial, motivation to make lifestyle changes, and improved sleep. Hypnosis is accepted in the medical community as a viable way to help patients reach therapeutic goals and quit smoking.
Warnings
Before starting hypnotherapy with a hypnotist or self-hypnosis, consult your physician and agree on treatment with the hypnosis. Some physiological conditions, such as a phobia or anxiety, must first be evaluated by a psychiatrist to avoid symptoms being exacerbated by hypnotherapy. Although very rare, hypnotherapy can lead to the development of confabulations--which are "false memories" fabricated by the unconscious mind.
