National No Smoking Day can be a useful prompt if stopping has already been on your mind. It can also bring back the frustration of earlier attempts that did not last.
An earlier attempt is not wasted. It may tell you which situations were hardest, what support was useful and what you would prepare differently next time.
Smoking usually has more than one part
Nicotine dependence matters, and withdrawal can be difficult. Smoking can also become closely connected with routines such as driving, finishing a meal, taking a break, drinking alcohol or responding to stress.
A realistic plan considers both. A pharmacist, GP or stop-smoking adviser can explain nicotine replacement and stop-smoking medication. Practical planning can help you prepare for the moments in which reaching for a cigarette has become automatic.
Where hypnotherapy may fit
Hypnotherapy may help a motivated smoker give up. My stop-smoking appointment includes a detailed conversation about your smoking pattern, your reasons for stopping and the situations you expect to find difficult. The hypnosis part may use focused attention, imagery and mental rehearsal connected with the decision you have made.
I do not promise that one appointment will make stopping easy, prevent withdrawal or guarantee that you will never smoke again. Your motivation, preparation and actions afterwards remain important.
If you are considering stopping
You may find it useful to notice:
- which cigarettes feel most important
- which cigarettes happen almost without thought
- when you already go without smoking comfortably
- which people, places or routines are closely associated with smoking
- what support you would like around you
You do not have to make a dramatic public declaration. You do need a decision that belongs to you and a plan for what happens beyond the appointment.
You can read more on my Hypnotherapy Support to Stop Smoking page, or contact me if you would like to ask whether the appointment is suitable.