Slip up, started smoking again please help!

[A_son_unique]

I was wondering if anyone may be able to help me? I've been a non smoker for the last 3 months and have been very happy with that. I finished my patches a few days ago and very stupidly had a roll up which has now changed my mind frame back to that of a smoker once again and now my mind will do anything it can to get me back to smoking again.

I was doing so well but being without patches must have been having an effect on me because a slight craving still existed. Is it worth me booking an appointment to see a hypnotherapist so that I can try and get back on where I left off. I have a very weak mind unless I spend weeks or months building it to a strong enough point where I can give up again.

Can anyone help suggest a path for me to take? I've never been to a hypnotherepist before so I'm in the dark as to what they can do and if there might be a quick fix.

Many thanks

Alex

[Miss Jackson]

Hi Alex,

Sorry to hear about your smoking, it's very hard to give up and sometimes it can take a few attemts to get it in the end.

Hypnosis is very effective for smoking cessation and has the best success rate against other methods. The trouble with patches ect is that they are still feeding you nicotine which is a powerful drug/stimulant so when you came off the patches you were back to square one as your body was still missing the nicotine.

Hypnosis for stopping smoking is not a quick fix, you have to be ready to give up, it won't do the work for you. Once you are ready, it is quick as it only takes one session for you to finally become a non smoker. You say you have a weak mind, but it sounds like you know what you want to do as you are making the enquiry which is great.

Why not get in touch with some local hypnotherapists, I'm sure they can give you some more advice and be happy to see you when you're ready.

Good luck!

Shelly

[CarolineN]

Another method which can help sort this out is EFT. Choose a practitioner who is experienced in addictions like here, or here - and you can have treatment over the phone because you tap on yourself.

I realise it's not easy - what about going back to the patches again temporily and then tapering them off over a longer period?

All the best

[A_son_unique]

Hi Shelly thanks for your reply sorry I didn't get back sooner. I have a strong mind in some areas of my life but probably what I meant to say is that I don't take my inner voice very seriously and my devil side will find a way around something when it wants to and that's something I've not been able to tame, I will contradict myself readily. An example is I may buy a pouch of tobbacco and after 1 or 2 roll ups think that I really don't want to smoke so I'll say right that's it I'm giving up and I will be strong, the tobbacco will be thrown away and I'll be fine for the day but a few hours later or a sound sleep at night and in the evening/morning inner voice will be chipping away at me and it won't always take long until I've given in to it, that's why I call myself weak lol. Can hypnotherapy help me to become stronger in my own mind or is that something that I have to tackle on my own?

[Elaineoz]

You are not weak willed atall you are an addict. Smoking is pure and simply an addiction.
I smoked for over 30 years so do know how it feels.

The inner voice chipping away at you after a few hours or a day or 2 is the physical
side of nicotine withdrawal.After 2 days or so its the mental side of nicotine withdrawal.
Nothing to do with how strong you are etc... When you understand exactly what is causing these cravings then its easier to ignore them. You just need to completely cut the supply or nictotine to your body and eventually and the cravings will go (as long as you never even have a puff of a ciggy ever again).

All the best to you. You will do it I am sure )

Elaine

[Miss Jackson]

Hi Alex,

As previously said it is the nicotine withdrawal making you want to smoke again, this happens every time as a full time smoker, it's what makes you get up and light up again.

It takes about 72 hours for the nicotine to completely disappear from your body, so then you just have to get used the mental side of the addiction. I think eft would be a great therapy to try each time you wanted to smoke?

You will do it when the time is right for you.
Good luck,

Shelly