Smoking Cessation
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Posted: February 27, 2014Read more »
Researchers from the Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction at the University of Zurich in Switzerland investigated the efficacy of a single-session of group hypnotherapy for smoking cessation, as compared to relaxation in a sample of 223 Swiss adult smokers.
This was a cluster-randomized, parallel-group, controlled trial. A single session of hypnosis or relaxation for smoking cessation was delivered to groups of smokers (median size = 11).
Participants were 223 smokers consuming at least 5 cigarettes per day, who were willing to quit and not using cessation aids (47.1% females, M = 37.5 years [SD = 11.8], 86.1% Swiss).
Nicotine withdrawal, smoking abstinence self-efficacy, and adverse reactions were assessed at a 2-week follow-up. -
Posted: January 05, 2014Read more »
We found this lovely note on our website from a very addicted ex-smoker. As an ex-smoker myself, who found it incredibly difficult to quit but finally did, I was especially gratified to read it. And it speaks well to the point of readiness – most of the time, you need to be ready psychologically and emotionally ready (or scared to death) in order to succeed at this.
“I truly believe the smoking imagery (Stop Smoking) made the difference for me. I have finally quit after years of addiction. I stopped and started, but this tape seemed to build my resolve in a gentle, respectful and non judgmental way, week after week, until finally I was less attracted to smoking and more attracted to health. How wonderful to be free at last from smoking!" -
Posted: October 21, 2013Read more »We just found this comment posted online – very inspiring. Now, it’s not usually this easy for people (myself included – I quit smoking 44 years ago and it was so difficult, I swore I’d never do it again!). But it does sometimes happen this way, and when it does, it’s pretty awesome. (Her decision to wait until she was on a break from her regular routine was very wise, by the way.)
Here it is, verbatim:I had a ten-year [smoking] habit I wanted to break, but no confidence I could do it in my regular routine. So I decided to quit on vacation. I smoked my last cigarette at the airport, listened to these [Stop Smoking] meditations on the plane - and that was it.It was almost as if I'd never smoked. I barely thought about smoking at all, although I listened to one or two of the meditations every day just in case.
Back at home, I listen to them every once in a while to keep my non-smoking energy up.
I can't say for sure that these meditations worked the miracle, but they certainly helped! Thank you! -
Posted: February 22, 2013Read more »
Researchers from McGill University and Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, carried out a random effect meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to determine the efficacy of alternative smoking cessation aids.
Investigators systematically searched the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, and PsycINFO databases through December 201, only including trials that reported cessation outcomes as point prevalence or continuous abstinence at 6 or 12 months.
Fourteen trials were identified; 6 investigated acupuncture (823 patients); 4 investigated hypnotherapy (273 patients); and 4 investigated aversive smoking (99 patients).
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Posted: April 06, 2012Read more »
Question:
Help! Hubby is 37 years old and has been a smoker for 20+ years. He has also had depression for the last ten plus years, as well as sleep problems. He was just diagnosed with PTSD this past week. Where to start???
Gena -
Posted: March 03, 2012Read more »
This great note arrived at the office last week:
“I just wanted to write and say how much impact Bella (sic) has had on my life even though I have never met her!
“Ten years ago I began my journey to quit cigarettes and started listening to her quitting cigarettes CD. I listened to it every single day, sometimes twice a day, for over one year. I swear, I knew the thing by heart.
“I tried to quit about five times previously. But the guided imagery tapes made the difference this time around. On April 3 of this year, I will be celebrating my 10 year anniversary.
“In addition, I lost my job last year and began applying for jobs and going on interviews in this crazy economy. It seemed like I always came in second. My self esteem started to slip as well as my confidence.
“I remembered that I had purchased Bella's confidence CD a few years prior and started listening to it every single day. Mostly, I just ended up falling asleep while it played but I know my subconscious picked up on the important issues.
“Long story short, I just got a new job as a manager!
“Again, thanks so much. I could not have had these successes without your input.
“Laura K.” -
Posted: March 27, 2011Read more »
A new, two-year study by Christine Wynd out of the University of Akron demonstrates the power of guided imagery (ours , in fact!) - to double the abstinence rate among people who quit smoking
Nursing Researcher Christine Wynd from the University of Akron’s College of Nursing studied the impact of guided imagery on smoking cessation and long-term abstinence in adult smokers.
Both groups received educational and counseling sessions in their homes. The intervention group was provided with additional instruction in the use of guided imagery and was encouraged to practice this imagery at least once per day with a 20-minute audiotaped exercise for reinforcement (The Health Journeys Stop Smoking audio program). The repeated measures included smoking rates (number of cigarettes per day) that were measured and confirmed through corroborating friends and family.
Wynd used a repeated measures design with 71 smokers who were recruited from a hospital outpatient clinic - 38 in the intervention group, and 33 in the control group. -
Posted: December 17, 2010Read more »
Question:
I have a young friend in the Army who has picked up the habit of dipping snuff. This is widespread in the Army, at least among warriors deployed in Afghanistan. He would like to break this habit, but is finding it very difficult. Would your smoking cessation CD be helpful to him? If not, do you have anything else you might recommend?
Please post this.
B.D.C. -
Posted: January 04, 2010Read more »
Melissa attests to the gentle, incremental but reliable impact a method like guided imagery had on breaking her years-long addiction to smoking. She writes:
“I truly believe this tape made the difference for me. I have finally quit after years of addiction. I stopped and started, but this tape seemed to build my resolve in a gentle, respectful and non judgmental way week after week, until finally I was less attracted to smoking and more attracted to health. How wonderful to be free at last from smoking!” -
Posted: November 24, 2008Read more »We found this lovely note on our website from a very addicted ex-smoker. As an ex-smoker myself, who found it incredibly difficult to quit but finally did, I was especially gratified to read it. And it speaks well to the point of readiness – most of the time, you need to be ready psychologically and emotionally ready (or scared to death) in order to succeed at this.
