Want to stop smoking? Is fear holding you back?
In this article, you will learn about the five big fears that may be holding you back. I'll also tell you what you can do about them.
Fear is powerful. As humans we have a natural tendency to move away from fear or potential danger.
Like many of my stop smoking clients, you'll have likely been using smoking as a way to manage stress, anxiety, boredom or anger.
How exactly are you supposed to succeed?
Perhaps it's the worry of weight-gain, and everything that comes with it. Maybe it's depression, anxiety and or mental health issues, it can sometimes feel as if smoking is the only thing supporting you.
Get the Strategy Right
The biggest part of successful smoking cessation is having the right psychological strategies to help you.
You do not need to rely upon pure willpower either. Willpower is a limited resource, and clients in my stop smoking with hypnosis programme discover that it's not really needed.
The Spoilt Child Effect
Gather round, it's story time.
Imagine suddenly confiscating a child's potentially favourite toy without warning, hiding it somewhere and telling them they can never have it back.
We know children are smart, you can be sure that they will begin to try every way to convince you to give it back, they may kick, scream and trick you just so you give in.
The child does not understand why it's gone, all the fun times have been associated around that toy, and they don't know any better.
But what if you could explain to that child in a way that they really understand? That play habits change over time, and there are so many other activities available, and you come up with even ideas? What would happen to that child's response?
Maybe you can notice why I am telling this story.
The Big 5 Fears
1. Increased Anxiety, Stress, Anger and Depression
It can be easy to believe that anger, anxiety and depression are being helped by smoking, and it can certainly seem that way.
Smoking is doing nothing to improve stress levels, yet it can seem like it does,
The Reality:
It's one big mental trick. when you look at the ingredients of cigarettes: tar, lead, arsenic (rat poison), butane (lighter fluid), benzene (found in rubber cement and petrol), acetone (used in nail polish removed). Do any of these sound relaxing?
Expert tip: Discover my stop smoking programme which is designed to give you better ways to quit without the struggle.
2. I Need Nicotine
So much importance is placed on one of the thousands of chemicals in cigarettes. The seemingly magic ingredient, it must be the nicotine then surely?
Yet, nicotine is one of the most powerful stimulants around, there's nothing relaxing about it. In fact it increases your blood pressure, which will raise your stress levels.
3. Weight Gain
This is a big one, it prevents many smokers from ever letting go of the smoking habit and far too much importance is placed on it.
How can you quit smoking without putting on weight?
While research does show that nicotine acts as an appetite suppressant, so does clean refreshing water. Your body does not need nicotine to manage your weight.
In hypnosis, we can leverage the very fact that now you will pay even more attention to what you put in your mouth. Perhaps you will remember to drink more water, perhaps your activity levels will increase.
4. The Unknown
If you have been smoking for a long time, you might be wondering what life will be like as a non smoker.
Rather than fear the unknown, embrace it, become curious about it, allow it to be interesting. Allow the fact that you have been smoking for so long to be every reason to break the routine.
5. Failure
You've tried so many things, why would this time be any different?
You are worried about letting yourself or others down.
It's ok. Remember when you had to learn to ride a bike or drive a car, it took practice to get used to it, but eventually something clicks and it sticks.
Except here, there was already a time when you lived without cigarettes. You know how to do it.
Get Started
Put these strategies into action with my hypnosis programme which is custom built for you.
Take the opportunity to meet me before you decide to work with me. In this free 15-20 minute online call, we'll work out the right strategy for you to quit smoking good, and live the life you want.
We'll also discuss pricing, availability and I'll answer your questions.