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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Comfort food is something we crave when we are tired, sad, lonely, stressed or even happy. We all have our own favorite comfort food, for me it is Jack in the Box tacos. If you had this food as an adult for the first time, you would never eat it again, but still you are drawn to it. It is just not logical!

In reality the logic is simple, you have an emotional attachment to the food you are eating. I can justify eating my favorite tacos because I think it will make me feel happy, content or calm, I am guessing you feel the same way about your food. You know the food is not good for you, but subconsciously you think it will. After a while you begin to believe the food will make you feel better and because our mind believes this, you do feel better, but the effect is short lived.

As the taco is disappearing, a bite at a time, the guilt kicks in. You might have guessed this does not stop me from eating one taco, or even my second! I am sure you know this feeling, and it is very frustrating. I know I should not be eating the greasy and oddly textured taco, but I really feel like eating it. I have the same cravings, longing and urge to devour that taco, the same as you.

Annihilating the taco, is a habit and this habit was learned through different ways. For me, I remember being very young, seven or eight years old maybe. I was on the way to the beach in Southern California with my family. I remember my mom and aunt, talking about Jack in the Box tacos. They talked about how good and greasy they are. They would especially be perfect to buy and take to the beach to eat. We were all happy and having a good time. It was a warm, sunny day at the beach, and we were going to play and enjoy ourselves. We got the tacos and they were the most delicious tacos in the world. I remember some gritty sand getting onto some of my taco but it didn’t matter, we were having a fantastic day. Important memories which are vivid typically are more influential than the everyday mundane memories.

Even today, just the thought of getting a taco from Jack in the Box triggers good feelings which are associated with the memory. Sometimes the actual memory comes with it and sometimes it does not. It is important to understand how we relate feelings to different things in our lives, things like food, music or a voice.

I used to love Aerosmith. I would listen to their songs over and over again, and never get sick of them. All this changed in the 90’s when I took my then girlfriend to an Aerosmith concert. Things did not get well and since then I don’t care for their music, each song reminds me of her. This is just another example of how memories can influence simple things in our lives.

It’s SoCal, the 70’s, my family has a van with pin stripes, and the interior was tangerine orange with matching carpet. Yes it makes me laugh too! I was about six years old and encountered a large black widow spider in this van. My parents made me and my brothers’ get out of the van quickly. For years I had an embarrassing fear of spiders. I was able to link it to this memory. I am now able to kill spiders, but if I see a big one I still get nervous, but nothing like it use to be.

When I hear my wife yelling my name, I know it is time for me to hide in the garage or look busy fast! Sometimes a stern voice makes me feel like I did something wrong or I am in trouble. Most people like me, feel like a child, especially when someone uses my first, middle and last name. This is just one more way we associate feelings or emotions, and hold on to those attachments.

Enough about me. The point of all this is to show you common sense examples of learned behaviors. Emotions associated with memories trigger very powerful, behind the scenes reactions and decisions in our minds.

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What causes you stress? Your kids? Job? Money? Moving? Love or lack of it? Physical or emotional pain?

How much of your stress is from today, and how much is past experiences? You probably know what I mean by this, but the answer is not always easy figure out.

You know managing and reducing stress prevents many health problems. Problems like blood pressure, poor diet, potential addiction, and more. Stopping these problems before they start by managing your stress is a better use of time and money.

You know you would not choose to have trouble sleeping well or problems with your blood pressure. But, choosing to ignore your stress level is almost like that.

Many people with high stress look to avoid the discomfort by looking for things to make them feel “better”. If you’re hot, you want to be cool, if you’re cold, you want to be warm. When feeling stress, you might look for short term relief like watching TV, movies, prescription medications, cigarette smoking, eating, and other addictions.

People tend to believe traditional talk therapy and medications are the only alternatives, and try to avoid that. If you knew there was a reliable and medically tested method to relieve stress, would you consider it?

Yes, you would, if it really worked.

You’ve probably watched a movie or television to relax. Does it really help? Probably most of the time you’re watching it you feel relatively more relaxed. Something else to focus on and think about? But there really isn’t much “thinking” going on… it just helps you make a more relaxed state of mind.

Many people go through great lengths and complicated processes to achieve this state of mind. Creative visualization, meditation, yoga, deep prayer, etc…

All ways to create the mental state technically known as hypnosis. Very little practice will let anyone easily and quickly achieve this nice state of mind. The same state you sometimes get while reading a book or talking on the phone.

You are in a different states of hypnosis many times during a normal day. To hypnotize yourself on purpose, with the purpose of reducing stress, is easy and shown to be very effective.

There are medical clinical studies in the National Library of Medicine you can research on www.pubmed.gov.

Physical and mental stress reduction is possible in just a few short minutes.

Getting help from an appropriately trained hypnotist or using a quality self-hypnosis audio to reduce general stress are perfect alternatives. They have a higher rate of long-term success than medication and hypnosis has no potential for side-effects.

Note: Even though hypnosis has been an approved by the American Medical Association since 1958, it does not replace conventional medicine.

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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.

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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?

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It’s the first three days that people find the most difficult regardless of the smoking cessation method they’ve chosen. This is due to the fact that it is in those 72 hours when the nicotine leaving your body is felt the greatest. This can lead to feelings of irritabililty, fatigue, and a persistent headache - all perfectly normal symptoms of withdrawal.

The good news is that if you prepare mentally for your quit day, many of the symptoms will not make you feel like you have to lock yourself in a closet. Letting friends and family members know that today is your quit day (if you feel they would be a help and not a hindrance) would be a good idea and since it’s common knowledge about how people act when they stop smoking, you may just get the to house to yourself for the day.

What are the symptoms of withdrawal? What are you going to feel? By planning beforehand, you can alleviate a lot of these problems before they arise. Here are a few things you may want to include on your list:

Angry or agitated: I will find a task to take my mind off the fact that I can’t smoke.

Feeling overly emotional or sensitive: Find yourself some solitude and let the feelings out.

Feeling tired: I will allow myself to be able to rest and heal from my addiction.

Feeling nauseated: I will go outside and get some fresh air.

After a meal I will: get out and take a walk, or clear the table.

By drinking lots of fluids, and most especially water, your body’s stores of nicotine will be rapidly metabolized and flushed from your system. The downside is that you will have to go to the bathroom more often, but the upside is that the nicotine will clear itself from your system that much quicker and alleviate the physical withdrawal symptoms.

There are a lot of theories as to what makes withdrawal symptoms worse or better. Some say that you should also give up caffeine when you stop smoking and there are others who found that it makes no difference in their case. If drinking beverages with caffeine in them makes you suddenly crave a cigarette, it is probably better to not to have any, or at the very least cut back.

Sometimes giving up too many things at once can also open up another can of worms, so maybe just try cutting back on the caffeine. Water, fruit juices, and even ice cream shakes, can help clear out your system and get those withdrawal symptoms done with faster.

A very common side effect during the first few nights is finding it difficult to fall asleep and then to sleep soundly. Even though you might’ve been exhausted throughout the day, when it’s time for bed it seems like everything is racing through your mind and you can’t get comfortable.

To help alleviate this, I recommend a hot shower before heading off to bed to help you relax. Usually the sleep deprivation only lasts for a night or two. However if it persists, I would suggest a visit to the pharmacy to pick up a sleeping aid until the restlessness passes. It won’t last forever.

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Feelings of fatigue, irritibility and an extremely persistent headache are all side effects of nicotine withdrawal and are all perfectly normal. Why? Simply because it is in the first 72 hours which nicotine purges itself from your system - regardless of the smoking cessation method you have chosen to use.

Preparation is the key. By knowing what you are in for, you can make plans to deal with the feelings and symptoms and not have to hide away where you won’t bother anyone. However it is also a good idea to inform your family and friends (but only if they are supportive) of your goals. This also gives them the opportunity to stay clear if they think you might be a little bit cranky!

Also keep in mind that you will be going through these trying times and have plans to work through them, should they arise. It can really nip withdrawal symptoms in the bud. It is helpful to have made a list of what you feel you may experience for symptoms of withdrawal. Some of the things that you may want to include on your list are:

Feeling angry or agitated: I will take deep breaths and take a walk outside. I will leave the room or go take a shower.

Feeling overly emotional or sensitive: Find yourself some solitude and let the feelings out.

Feeling tired: Rest and healing are needed to allow myself to heal from my addiction.

Feeling nauseated: I will go outside and get some fresh air.

After I eat I will: Find something to do so I don’t crave the ‘after-dinner’ cigarette.

A really good way to help your body get rid of the nicotine within it is to drink lots of liquids. The more you drink, the faster your body will metabolize the stored nicotine within your system and the only side effect of this is a slouchy stomach and maybe a few more trips to the bathroom. The faster you can get the nicotine flushed out of your system, the sooner the withdrawal symptoms will be over, at least the physical ones.

Some theorize that drinking beverages with caffeine in them can cause your withdrawal symptoms to worsen. Others find that it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. Each individual’s situation is unique. If you find that caffeinated drinks are causing you to crave cigarettes, then it would be best to cut back or stop completely.

Sometimes giving up too many things at once can also open up another can of worms, so maybe just try cutting back on the caffeine. Water, fruit juices, and even ice cream shakes, can help clear out your system and get those withdrawal symptoms done with faster.

A very common side effect during the first few nights is finding it difficult to fall asleep and then to sleep soundly. Even though you might’ve been exhausted throughout the day, when it’s time for bed it seems like everything is racing through your mind and you can’t get comfortable.

A couple of tricks can help with your restlessness. The first is to take a hot bath or shower before heading off to bed and the second is to use an over-the-counter sleep aid until the symptoms pass. Keep in mind that your sleeplessness won’t last forever. Probably only a few days at most.

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