A couple of options for the number one New Year's resolution
With New Year's eve just around the corner, millions will make and break New Year's resolutions.
One of the most popular, possibly the number one resolution every year is to quit smoking. Nearly 26-percent of Americans use tobacco, and unfortunately of those who try to quit, over 60-percent relapse within the first month. Here are a couple of options for those of you who want to put the habit down this new year:
The two methods we'll look at are like apples and oranges. Both are similar in one regard, they both involve reprogramming the mind. First, we'll look at cessation classes which combine counseling and chemical treatments. Secondly, we'll look at hypnosis.
A bad habit like smoking, is alot like a file stored on a computer harddrive. Both of these methods really break down to this: simply put, to quit you must reprogram your mind or your harddrive. Hypnosis taps into the subconscious mind and attempts to overwrite the habits and erase smoking from your mind. Cessation classes use chemical treatments and counseling to help reprogram your stubborn harddrive and clear your mind of the desire to smoke.
Over time, smoking actually changes the chemical make up of your body. Quitting cold turkey does not usually work because of this. Your mind can't forgive the absence of smoking since it has become the norm. A habit is something done often enough that the mind considers it normal. It's very difficult to quit cold turkey without suffering from withdrawls or relapsing.
"there are some chemical changes that occur and we have to slowly ween the brain off of it with synthetic nicotine such as the patch, gum, or chemicals such as the pills out now", said Sharri Miller a Tobacco treatment specialist at the Harrington Cancer Center.
"Seek a physician and get something chemically, possibly medications that are out now, or seek counseling that can guide them to use over the counter products such as the patch, committ losenge or gum. Both chemicals and counseling are the most successful long term", said Miller.
"hypnosis provides a bypass of the critical factor of the mind, so that we get past the objections a person might have, tells them they really can't quite, we get past all that in the state of hypnosis", said Gerry Kelly a certified hypnotist from Hypnosis Works.
"we talk to the subconscious overwriting old beliefs and old behaviors and I can simply tell a person, you are now a non smoker. You do not desire to smoke and because we bypassed the critical factor of the mind they believe that and that becomes reality for them", said Kelly.
Hypnosis does currently boast an 85-percent success rate, according to Kelly's research and a study done by prevention magazine. And, Kelly said, "hypnosis is risk free from side effects".
Stress is the number one reason why people relapse, so the way people deal with stress will greatly affect their decisions on smoking. It takes seven seconds for the brain to calm down with a cigarette. The reprogramming that these options offer will help you deal with the stress better, so that a cigarette is not an option.
No matter what method you try, to quit smoking, you must look in the mirror and ask yourself how serious you are about quitting. Both experts say that you have to want to quit and have a desire to let the habit go.
For the Harrington Center's Cessation classes call (806) 463-QUIT (7848) to schedule an appointment.
Hypnosis Works is located on 45th street near Cornell on the access road. To contact Gerry for a hypnotising experience call (806)584-3610 or email askgerrykelly@gmail.com.
