Pretend you or someone you know has a bad habit. A big bad monkey on your back. How did it get there? How did it start? Probably a combination of three things; emotions, authority figures, and repetition.

An example will help explain this.

Now, let’s pick a person for our example. How about you when you were 10-14 years old. And for this example, let’s use the habit of smoking.

So when you were around that age I think we can safely assume you were learning about life and how you fit into it. If you were like most kids, you weren’t as confident about yourself as you would be later in life.

Maybe you felt self-conscious, dependent on others, powerless, not good enough, or something like these. We’ll refer to this as feeling “bad”. Now, this does not necessarily mean you felt miserable, but did you feel as “good” as you wanted to feel? Did you feel as “good” as you believed other people felt?

Maybe, maybe not. If you sometimes felt “bad” you probably wanted to feel better, you wanted to feel “good”. What your mind would see as an answer to this problem would depend upon your experiences and life lessons up to that point. Right?

Experiences that teach you smoking is strong, capable, tough, independent, self-assured, unique, and feels “good”. Experiences that involve emotions, authority figures and repetition. Of course advertisements do this, so do parents and family members. Are these experiences repeated? Of course.

Your mind would develop a craving for the very thing it believes is in your best interest. The thing that will make you feel better. A craving that is a “feeling”, separate from a “knowing”.

Eventually you smoked your first cigarette, and DID feel better, sort of. You weren’t too good at smoking the first time. You had to practice to get good at it. And you did.

Life goes on and you continue practicing your smoking habit. Reinforcing the existing cravings and creating new ones. Like branches on the tree of the first craving.

A lot of people working to quit smoking have thought of these things. A lot have not. But, all of the people that have tried to quit smoking have used a lot of time thinking and analyzing their habit. Trying to argue themselves into quitting. But, you didn’t learn this habit by thinking and analyzing. Why would trying to quit smoking that way work?

It is a lot easier to quit smoking with the same methods you started smoking with. A “hypnotized” state of mind combined with emotions, authority figures and repetition. Often called modern hypnosis.

Technorati Tags: addiction, family, Fitness, health and wellness, hypnosis, quit smoking, smoking, tobacco

In my job, I’ve helped a lot of people quit smoking. And I’ve heard a lot of reasons why smoking is a good thing.

I’ve been told smoking sharpens your mind, relaxes you, calms you, keeps you from yelling at the kids (or spouse), tastes good with coffee, tastes better after a meal. In short, makes you feel “better”. (I always ask “better than what”?)

You don’t believe these reasons. Not really. If you did, you wouldn’t also want to quit smoking. Right? Actually you CAN have it both ways. You can believe your reasons to smoke at the same time you don’t believe them. It is the difference between ‘knowing’ something and ‘feeling’ something.

The obvious and overlooked part is you must have a strong reason to continue smoking or you would have already stopped. By the way, there is no law that says your reason to keep smoking has to make any logical sense. It rarely does.

You’ve probably already proven your reasons untrue. Smoking might taste better with coffee because the coffee taste on your tongue covers the bad taste of smoking???

And most of the time you’re AWARE it doesn’t make sense. That doesn’t change anything though, does it? Just one more log to toss on the fire of your motivation to quit. A fire that doesn’t have much chance against the ocean of your craving to smoke.

There are two important sides to this. The feeling that smoking will make you feel better and, the feeling you want to feel better than. That’s what needs to be changed.

If you’re thirsty you crave something to drink. If you’re hungry you crave food. If you feel bad (tired, stressed, overwhelmed, angry, lonely, whatever…) you want to feel good. And, whatever your mind has been taught feels good, you will crave.

This is simple explanation of a craving. Some smokers have more than one type of craving, the ‘first thing in the morning’ craving might feel different than the ‘on the phone’ craving.

So how to help this situation? I can spend a few articles explaining it (and I have, look for them) But, it comes down to changing the feelings, motivations and beliefs involved.

First, the bad feeling needs to be helped. If it’s about stress, get it managed, if it’s a difficult situation, do what you can to take care of it or get some help. If it’s a bad feeling you get that is beyond what the situation deserves, behavior modification might be what you need.

Second, the belief that smoking makes you feel good (it is often the mistaken, and understandable, belief that smoking equals being an adult, in control, strong, capable, etc…) The fact is, smoking is some plant leaf and chemicals wrapped in paper. The good feeling you’re looking for, and sometimes experience, is created by YOU. YOU make yourself feel better when you smoke. You can make yourself feel just as good when drinking a glass of water. If, your mind believes it.

And that’s the trick. Quit smoking is mainly about modifying behavior. That’s why the success rate of medication and nicotine replacement alone is so poor. The only current exception is Chantix and even Pfizer, the makers of Chantix, recommend behavior modification along with the medication.

Technorati Tags: addiction, family, Fitness, health and wellness, hypnosis, quit smoking, smoking, tobacco

Stress is a state of mind and the best way to combat stress and its effects on the mind is through relaxation. Stress can cause many problems such as concentration issues, lack of good judgment, negativity and lack of productivity as well as many health issues such as heart attacks and chronic headaches. The best way to combat these feelings and factors of stress is through relaxation. Relaxation takes as little as ten minutes a day and can be as simple as breathing exercises, or as challenging as a kick boxing class, the choice is yours.

Work, marriage and money are just a few things which can cause stress in peoples day to day lives. Often people get so busy and think they have no time to relax. They can also be fooled into thinking that they need to do something extreme or go someplace such as going on vacation to relax. These people are mistaken, relaxation can happen at home, in the office or while driving. The key is to train the mind to relax.

Finding the best method can be the hardest challenge on your road to relaxation. First you need to decide what sorts of things you enjoy. It could be a range of things such as surfing the web, reading, meditating or walking.

One of the best ways to relax is to escape to a different world, and since not all of us have passports, an easy way to do this is through music, reading and watching TV or movies. These visual stimulators offer a break from the boring day to day lives in which so many of us live. They each create an alternative world that is entirely your own.

Meditation can help you learn to control your body’s reaction to stress through reflection and deep breathing exercises. These techniques must be learned and practiced regularly to insure maximum results. You can achieve full relaxation through ten minutes of meditation, and most people have ten minutes to spare in their busy lives.

Other people prefer to hit the gym to relax. Some like to run, walk or lift weights. Others might prefer a cycling, kick boxing or tai chi class. Running and walking burn off excessive built up energy, however not everyone wants to run a marathon. For them there are other sorts of classes which sole purpose is relaxation such as yoga. Many people choose to skip the classes and gym all together and simply walk their dogs in the park.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to relaxation is practice. It is important to have patience! Listen to your mind and body, learn what is working for you and make note of what is not. Keep yourself motivated by remembering you are on your way to a happier and healthier lifestyle, also remember how good it feels to be doing something enjoyable.

Teaching your body something new is always a challenge, however once you get the hang of it, it is like riding a bike, your body won’t forget how. It is important to find an activity which you enjoy and know you will stick with, but you must make a conscious effort to remind and train your body to relax while performing this task. It may take time, but in the end the rewards will be fantastic for your mind, body and lifestyle.

Technorati Tags: addiction, family, Fitness, health fitness, health wellness, hypnosis, illness, quit smoking, stress, tobacco, treatments, weight-loss

Quitting smoking is a task which smokers fear, however they know by quitting they will be healthier. Not only does smoking have an adverse effect on the body it can also cause many serious health problems such as heart disease, cancer and COPD. Both the smoker and their doctors should put tobacco secession at the top of their lists. Not only do doctors fear for their patients’ health, they fear what will happen should their patient need surgery.

Certain protocols are in place to help insure the patient’s safety during surgery. Some of the more common protocols are no food or water twelve hours before and take a shower to minimize the risk of infection. For smokers there is another requirement, no smoking at least two weeks before and two weeks after. Some surgeons may even ask the patient for as long as four weeks before and after the surgery.

According to Anesthesiologyinfo.com, smoking has many seriously concerning risks which can occur during surgery. Smoking increases carbon monoxide which attaches itself to hemoglobin in the blood, decreasing the amount of oxygen getting through the body. The nicotine will make the body need more oxygen which will put stress on the heart, lungs and body which is already under distress from the anesthesia. The heart will not function properly because of the increased carbon monoxide causing the blood to no circulate as it should.

The lungs also prone to collapse because the small airways do not function as they should because of smoke and nicotine. Smoking causes more mucus production and the lungs are not able to clear it as quickly as they should, making the patient more prone to serious lung infections such as pneumonia and chronic coughing. Bronchospsams and other infections in the lungs can be fatal and should be taken seriously. Smoking has been linked to dozens of other side effects, ranging from heart attacks to poor wound healing by as many as six times more in smokers versus non smokers.

Doctors want their patients to lead a healthier life and have a successful surgery, so generally surgeons and physicians ask their patients to quit for two weeks before and two weeks after surgery. Many surgeons have asked for as many as four weeks before and after to insure their patients are fit for surgery. However, ideally physicians and surgeons want their patients to make smoking secession a top priority.

Quitting has become much easier over the years, mostly because of the availability of treatments. Some of the more common are over the counter, such as the nicotine patch and gum. Others choose to try homeopathic treatments such as herbal remedies, acupuncture and hypnosis. Prescription drugs such as Zyban and Wellbutrin have gained popularity as well. Often treatments are combined so the patient can be as successful as possible.

The most important thing to do is talk with your physician and discuss your options and find out which plan will suit you best. Since there are many choices and options available to help you quit, there can be no more excuses. Do not wait until you need major surgery before trying to quit, quit before you get there.

Technorati Tags: addiction, family, Fitness, health fitness, health wellness, hypnosis, illness, quit smoking, stress, tobacco, treatments

Giving up smoking is notoriously difficult to do, so many people use stop smoking aids to try to make it a little bit easier. Many of these aids are available, including nicotine patches, nicotine gum, nicotine inhalers, pills, and homeopathic remedies.

When most people think about stop smoking aids, they think about the patch. The nicotine patch is a popular and well known stop smoking aid. It is available in most drugstores and was made with the intention of helping smokers quit smoking by lessening the discomfort they experience from withdrawal symptoms.

Many smokers suffer from withdrawal symptoms when they are quitting smoking. These symptoms may include things like headaches, cravings, tiredness, short tempers, and increased anxiety. Using a patch can help alleviate these symptoms, especially in controlling cravings. Nicotine patches can be used to deliver nicotine doses to those trying to stop smoking. To be effective, they must be used every day for about ninety days. Approximately twenty percent of dedicated quitters can stop smoking with the aid of a nicotine patch. Nicotine patches can cause skin irritation and difficulty sleeping. It is recommended that those trying to stop smoking also start therapy along with a nicotine patch to improve their odds of success.

Buproprion, or Zyban, is one drug many people use to help them quit smoking. This pill is an antidepressant and is actually used for people who are clinically depressed. It has been proven, however, that this pill will help people trying to quit smoking, because it helps to suppress withdrawal symptoms from nicotine. In some clinical studies, Zyban was twice as effective at helping stop smoking as the nicotine patch. In addition, you cannot become addicted to it, and it is easy to use. Although side effects may include insomnia and dry mouth, Zyban is worth trying.

Stop smoking aids include nicotine gum and nicotine inhalers. Nicotine gum helps smokers quit smoking by giving their mouths something to do. Many smokers who quit smoking end up gaining weight because they tend to eat more food or snacks in order to compensate for the lack of a cigarette. Nicotine gum, in this case, is most useful for those individuals who are scared to quit because they fear gaining weight. Nicotine gum also helps people get over their cravings during their withdrawal period, as smokers chew nicotine gum instead of smoking. Nicotine gum is best used for three months.

Nicotine inhalers are stop smoking aids that allow smokers to take a nicotine dose whenever they feel it’s necessary. The inhaler imitates the nicotine effects of smoking, and helps make quitting smoking easier for those trying to stop smoking. Throat and mouth irritation are some of the side effects.

It is important to remember, however, that stop smoking aids can only work when individuals want them to work. That is, individuals must be fully dedicated to quitting smoking. This inner drive and motivation is the only way smokers will be able to quit smoking. Though stop smoking aids such as nicotine patches, nicotine pills, nicotine gum, and nicotine inhalers can help smokers quit, nothing can help them quit permanently except willpower.

Technorati Tags: addiction, aids, cigarettes, hypnosis, nicotine, remedies, stop-smoking, stress, tobacco, zyban

http://www.squidoo.com/quit-smoking-now-discovered

This video is a welcome to quit smoking now, today, right now. Come and Visit now. You can do it, effortlessly, no pain, no anxiety, never smoke again, simple and easy.

Duration : 0:3:33

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: addiction, advert, animation, artery, ashtrays, cancer, cigar, cigarette, cigarettes, commercial, dope, drugs, easy, fast, health, heart, How, hypnotherapy, hypnotism, hypnotist, lung, message, nicoderm, NLP, now, quit, sex, sexy, short, simple, smoke, smoking, steps, stop, suggestion, tips, to, Today

Stop Smoking in one hour, Whatever you are smoking, HELP FOR LIFE, with clinics in London & Manchester can help, more than 95% STOP in just one one hour session. We use a unique combination of ADVANCED Hypnosis techniques.

Duration : 0:5:12

Read the rest of this entry »

Technorati Tags: addiction, Canabis, cancer, Chest, fear, health, Lungs, quitting, smoking, stop

A hypnotic state can be obtained by simply watching TV or driving. It can also be obtained other ways but they require practice, training and time. It is very difficult to produce this state without those things on command. However it is not impossible to achieve this once you learn how to properly do it. There are many products online which offer to teach you hypnosis, however you may find it best to try a few private sessions before committing to buy expensive online programs.

Figuring out how your mind and body will react to hypnosis is critical and why an actual session is recommended first. Since we are all different, our bodies and mind will react differently than another. Some feel “tingly” or like they are floating while under hypnosis. The mind may feel numb or blank while you are under. Others might not feel these things what so ever. For first timers who have not been hypnotized, you might be unsure of what you are supposed to feel which can be intimidating.

Personal sessions also help you to experience how you work through your issues. Hypnosis can sometimes uncover issues which you were unaware you had and you may not know how to react to them. Not everyone reacts or has the same experiences which lead them to hypnosis. Some people may relive a tragic event in their past which lead them to gaining weight, while having a one on one session. This can be unnerving and scary if it happens at home and you are alone. If you have a one on one session, the hypnotist is able to help you work through the issue instead of dealing with it yourself.

Progress is the ultimate result we all want. A professional will provide a plan and a tracking method so you can see hypnosis is working. Not everyone is the same and the hypnotist can formulate a program and talk with the client about their progress and if need be, change the plan. Progressing in treatment is important, if you are not seeing progress, it becomes more difficult to stay with the program.

Online hypnosis products such as CD’s can be very valuable and helpful to clients it they are used together. The CD’s can help you to lean to put yourself in a hypnotic state fairly quickly while you are at home. They can help you understand and be comfortable with the physical and mental feelings of hypnosis so once you come to your one on one session you will not be nervous about being put under. You will already know what to expect. The time between sessions the CD’s help clients to continue practicing going under and maintain their progress.

Some might feel the private sessions are a waste of time and money since there are products online. While it may be true, online products are cheaper, however private sessions are invaluable for advancement and achieving results quickly. Private sessions are tailor made for each your individual progress and personality.

Try it out you have nothing to lose. Talk with your hypnotist about the CD’s or DVD’s you found online. Try a private session and see how you feel afterward. There are many different ways of being hypnotized and the best way all depends on you. So do your research but think about the importance of a personalized session before making the decision to not try it at all. The choice is yours, but don’t short yourself.

Technorati Tags: addiction, addictive behaviors, family, Fitness, health fitness, health wellness, hypnosis, quit smoking, self improvement, smoking, stress, tobacco, treatments

Before quitting smoking and deciding between stop smoking programs, quitters should first identify why they want to stop smoking. This helps them keep their goals in mind. Then, they should set a date at which they want to quit smoking. For example, smokers can stop smoking on the weekend if they are used to smoking during the week, or on a weekday if they are used to smoking during the weekend on their time off.

If you are trying to stop smoking, a crucial step should be to identify any stumbling blocks to achieving your goal. For example, if you are living with someone who smokes, it may be harder for you to stop. Another way to ensure success is to identify what things make you want to smoke. This way you are prepared to overcome the desire to smoke. Finally, enlist the aid of those around you. They can help you avoid temptation.

When someone makes the decision to quit smoking it would be beneficial for them to check out nicotine medication. Such medication gives smokers a way to gradually ease off nicotine that is much less concentrated than that found in cigarettes. Smoking cessation aids can be quite effective. In fact, nicotine medication is recommended by the American Lung Association as a treatment for kicking the habit. Usually, these types of medication require a prescription by a doctor. But people who want to quit smoking should consider all their options and do their research about nicotine gums and patches.

Most people will experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms once they are on stop smoking programs. With these withdrawals, they may experience problems such as headaches, nicotine cravings, anxiety, and jitteriness. These experiences are normal and most stop smoking programs take this into account.

Nicotine medication such as nicotine gum or nicotine patches should help with these problems. However, under no circumstances should a smoker attempting to quit smoking have even just one more cigarette. They should stay away from cigarettes, using their friends and family as moral support.

Many people who try to quit smoking make two or three attempts and if they are not successful tend to get discouraged. Though quitting smoking is not easy and may require more effort on your part, it doesn’t necessarily mean that if you can’t quit initially you can’t quit at all. One needs to be dedicated and focused towards quitting smoking. Trying different stop smoking programs each time is a good idea. For example, if you tried quitting the first time using nicotine gum, then the second time you should try the patch. Being dedicated to quitting and having a real desire to quit is the most important factor, though.

There are many stop smoking programs that can make it easier for you to quit smoking. The best programs are usually the ones involving nicotine gum, patches, or medication. But of course the most important thing to remember when trying to quit smoking is that you need to be dedicated toward your ultimate goal.

Technorati Tags: addiction, aids, cigarettes, hypnosis, nicotine, remedies, stop-smoking, stress, tobacco, zyban

A quit smoking program using hypnosis should e fairly involved, and I’ll tell you why. Smoking is a habit that generally gets involved in many parts of your life. So it only makes sense that you need hypnosis to address all the different behaviors involved. Hmm, maybe not an uplifting thought for this first paragraph, but consider this: good quit smoking programs are already made, ready for you to obtain and use. The easier the better

You’re the only one that knows what it’s like to experience and fight with your cravings. The cravings may very well feel like something nobody else can understand.

A modern hypnosis program addresses your problem areas directly. Using the knowledge of how they were formed in the first place. With a goal of removing the craving, urge, desire, whatever you call it. With the craving out of the way, you’re left with a simple decision to smoke or not. There is no mental arguement.

But, that’s not good enough. It can be made even easier for you by beginning actual cravings for water, exercise, and fresh air. Distractions to fill-in this hour of free time you suddenly have. Time you used to spend smoking, if you had a regular-old pack-a-day habit. That sounds pretty complete, doesn’t it? Makes things easier for you?

Stress that builds up might make your cravings stronger. Hypnosis helps with stress directly and indirectly.

Increasing your confidence would be nice to, right? A little hypnosis to build or re-build how you feel? In particular, building the confidence and belief that you CAN quit smoking this time, and feel great while you do it. (One of the ways we learn habits is repetition. I’m fairly certain this is not your first try to quit smoking. Did failing in previous attempts make a little doubt that it will work this time? Better use hypnosis with that also.)

Might as well use some hypnosis to strengthen healthy eating habits too. So you can rest easy that you’re not going to balloon while you stop smoking. Simply knowing you’ve covered this angle too should make you feel relaxed.

With all of that help in your corner, this time, to quit smoking will be a walk in the park. Which doesn’t sound so bad, does it?

Technorati Tags: addiction, addictive behaviors, Fitness, health fitness, health wellness, hypnosis, quit smoking, smoking, smoking | quit smoking, stop drinking and smoking, tobacco, treatments