22 June 2018

Still smoking? It’s all in the mind

| Rachel Ziv
Join the conversation
4
Quitting smoking - male hand crushing cigarette

Jarrod sounded stressed when he walked into Rebbecca Acharya’s Quit Easy clinic.

“I just have to stop smoking”, he told her. “I’ve tried everything, and this is my last resort!”

At a pack and a half a day, it wasn’t just Jarrod’s health that was under pressure. He’d worked out that he was spending $750 a month on cigarettes, which was costing his family almost $9,000 a year. With a wife who was suffering an illness and a son with a disability, Jarrod could no longer afford to support his habit of over 15 years.

Using a combination of hypnotherapy and NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming), Rebbecca changed Jarrod’s mind and within a single session, he became a non-smoker.

“Jarrod, like most of my other clients, really did want to stop,” says Rebbecca, who is a clinical hypnotherapist with qualifications in hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, the Rewind Technique (used to treat PTSD) and NLP.

“Once a client gets to that point, all they need is help treating the underlying emotions that trigger the urge to smoke, so that the need to reach for a cigarette fades away. Jarrod walked out my office that day a changed man – he was full of confidence and hasn’t smoked since. That was years ago.”

While some still perceive hypnosis as mumbo-jumbo, the practice is regarded as highly effective for treating a wide range of conditions, including ADD/ADHD, anger management, PTSD, fears, insomnia, allergies, nail biting, migraines, exam nerves, teeth grinding, anxiety, smoking, weight loss and more. It is also gaining traction in the medical, dental and sporting fields.

“Hynotherapy and NLP are simple yet powerful techniques that produce lasting results with no side effects,” says Rebbecca. “Unlike traditional therapies, they don’t work on the symptoms but on the causes – the emotions and trauma at the root of the neurological problems people experience. It’s non-invasive and inexpensive compared to traditional healing.”

Quit Easy works by using hypnosis to place you into a calm, relaxed state where your mind is open to suggestion. Rebbecca says the state is not unlike one we find ourselves in while watching TV, playing video games, studying, listening to music, and so on. In that state, the mind is open to suggestion and Rebbecca uses NLP to convince the mind to reject cigarettes and accept a new state of being: as a non-smoker.

“I liken smoking to a parasite that lives on your property for free, and then manipulates you into giving him your money, health, time, and youth. I work on the underlying emotional reasons for wanting to smoke, as well as your values and the perceptions you have about yourself.

With hypnotherapy, habits are easily broken and the results are long lasting. And that’s why hypnotherapy with NLP is so effective – it convinces the mind to work with you, rather than against you. If you’re open to the process, it’s all you need to stop.”

Rebbecca has a success rate of 95%, and though it usually takes one session, she offers free follow up sessions if needed.

RiotACT readers wanting to book with Quit Easy now can do it for just $297 (that’s $100 off the normal price). Simply mention this article.

Quit Easy is also giving away a free session to a lucky RiotACT reader. To enter, leave a comment below on all the techniques (from normal to weird and wacky) you have used to try to stop smoking.

A winner will be chosen on Friday 24th at 5pm and notified by email.

Quit Easy is located in Tuggeranong. For more information, visit Quit Easy or call 0422 664 573.

Update @ 6 PM 27 March 2017:
Congratulations to Nic Murch, winner of the free Quit Easy session.

While hypnotherapy can have many beneficial effects, it should not be seen as a substitute for medical treatment or psychotherapy. If concerned, please consult with your doctor.

This is a sponsored article, though all opinions are the author’s own. For more information on paid content, see our sponsored content policy.

Join the conversation

4
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

I have tried patches, lozenges and the mints. When none of that worked, I started placing all my butts in an empty soft drink bottle, and when it was half full I tried sniffing that whenever I had a craving. Unfortunately, I am still smoking

justvisiting9:18 am 22 Mar 17

I went cold turkey almost five years ago. My biggest thing was having a few while drinking, so I decided to cut out drinking as well. Now not only have I not had a smoke in almost five years, but I also haven’t been bothered with drinking in that time frame. Since giving up the smokes and the drink, my overall health has increase, both physically and mentally, and my whole life has turned around. Best decision I have ever made!

So i’ve not really tried any nicotine substitution yet as I really do think it’s all in the mind. I have chosen many days to stop and end up buying a packet before lunch the next day ! What is wrong with me ??

I’ve tried patches, and hypnosis, substitutes, gum, vamping and tying my ‘smoking fingers’ together… nothing seems to work!

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.