Could hypnotism or patches help you give up smoking?
by Charlotte Harding, 06 January 2003, Daily Mail

Are you trying to give up cigarettes for good?

Hypnosis Tester's name: Liz Stout
Age: 30
Profession: Beauty writer
How long a smoker?: 15 years
How many cigarettes smoked a day?: 15 to 20
Why you want to give up: I had always promised myself I would stop by the time I was thirty, so had no choice!
Name of product: Hypnotism by Annie Whitaker
Cost: £110

What it claims to do: Claims to make you stop smoking for good in just one, one-and-a-half-hour session by updating your unconscious mind and changing old, unwanted habits.

What you have to do: Liz says: 'Annie likes to speak to people over the telephone before she arranges a session to find out a bit about them and make sure that they really do want to kick their smoking habit. There is little point going to see a hypnotist about smoking unless you really want to give up - it just won't work.

'I went to see Annie one evening after work for a session that lasted about an hour and a half. It started off with a really informal chat about the procedure and Annie explained that they key thing to do was to relax. She encouraged me to 'go with the flow' during the actual hypnosis and not to worry about how I was feeling.

'She pointed out that my mind might wander off to thinking about other things - like what I was going to have for dinner - but that I shouldn't worry. As long as I followed her instructions and relaxed, she would be able to access my sub-conscious mind. Spooky!'

How easy was it?: 'The hypnosis was an entirely pleasureable experience and I was conscious throughout. I simply laid back in my chair and let myself drift off until I felt completely relaxed and comfortable. During the session, Annie asked me to imagine that one of my hands felt tingly and it did, which was an amazing sensation. Afterwards, Annie pointed out that if my mind could make my hand feel tingly at will, it could definitely steer me away from the deadly fags.'

Did it work?: 'Yes! From the moment I said goodbye to Annie, I have never, at any point, craved a cigarette. Stopping has been easy, it's quite astonishing. I'd tried to give up so many times before this and it had been a torturous experience, ultimately followed by a visit to the newsagents for a packet of 20.

'I feel like I never smoked in the first place and although I don't mind other people smoking around me, sometimes feel I want to tell them how mad they are. I feel so much better - my skin is healthier and I have loads more energy. As part of the treatment, Annie also worked on my presumption that giving up would mean piling on the pounds. Since stopping five months ago, I have not gained any weight.'

Would you recommend it to others?: 'Definitely. It has changed my life! However, I think it's important to add that hypnotism doesn't work for everyone. I do have friends who haven't enjoyed the same success as me. But I think if you want to kick this horrible habit, anything is worth a try.'