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Stop Smoking

Hypnotherapy is three times more effective than nicotine replacement therapy in quitting the smoking habit for good, according to one of the largest ever scientific research studies involving nearly 72,000 people at the University of Iowa. *

First of all, congratulations!  The very fact that you have found yourself to this page suggests that you are ready to quit smoking.  And you are not alone.  A report by the Office for National Statistics, based on a survey of more than 13,000 people, found 63% of smokers in Britain wanted to stop smoking.

Why doesn’t everyone find it easy to give up?

Those who smoke are invariably well aware of the advantages of giving up smoking – increased health, fitness, reduced risk of life limiting illnesses not to mention the financial benefits.  What many don’t realise however is that research into smoking and stress reveals that far from relaxing you, smoking actually increases anxiety and tension over time, leaving smokers 80% more like to experience a significant anxiety or depression.

So given the fact that smokers know all of this, why do some find it so difficult to stop the habit, even when they no longer want to smoke?  There are three factors that contribute to maintaining the habit:

  • Automatic habit and subconscious programming, for example smoking without really thinking about it, even if you don’t actually need one.  If smoking for you was a conscious issue, then you’d already have decided to just stop and would be enjoying a healthier, smoke free life.
  • Psychological factors, for example the belief that it relieves stress.
  • Physical addiction, the symptom of which pass within a week and are the least of the three factors.  Physical cravings are at least in part determined by the rules smokers set for themselves.  After all, how many wake during the night and get up to smoke?

Many people come to Bon Accord Hypnotherapy in Banchory seeking help for anxiety and the wide range of symptoms associated with it. These can include:

  • Headaches
  • panic attacks
  • difficulties sleeping, concentrating and making decisions
  • physical ailments
  • Teeth grinding
  • nail biting
  • excessive worrying
  • Irritability and anger
  • Mood swings

The list goes on and on. For some it can mean an ongoing lack of confidence and self doubt, for others it can become overwhelming and debilitating.

The good news is that there is no evidence that anxiety is a life long condition. The latest research from neuroscience tells us clearly that the anxiety response is our brains way of protecting us. But our brain gets it wrong sometimes. It draws upon our primitive fight, flight or freeze responses designed for life threatening situations. It over generalises these responses though, appling them to more and more everyday experiences which in reality are not life threatening.   These responses are programmed at a subconscious level – we don’t have to think about reacting this way, it just happens. So our attempts to consciously think and talk our way into a calm response may not work.

time to stop sign

How can Solution Focused Hypnotherapy help?

At Bon Accord Hypnotherapy in Banchory, one session lasting up to 2 hours, combined with regular use of the hypnotherapy recording provided, can see you moving forward in your life as a non-smoker.  For good.  You can even receive the session remotely, with Skype sessions available and equally as effective as face to face session.


We work with you to fully explain the psychology behind the habit and how you can stop smoking for good.  You will discover why the brain fools you into thinking it is acceptable to smoke and will learn about the many myths surrounding quitting smoking.  Solution Focused Hypnotherapy will support you further by enabling you to use your imagination to paint your smoke free future, exploring your motivations and empowering you to achieve your goal.  You will then experience around 45 minutes of hypnosis during which time your subconscious mind effectively “rewires” itself to help your willpower and commitment to cease smoking. The hypnotherapy part is a key stage and a safe way to cementing the change.  It means that the brain really “gets the message” to completely stop the habit.


Information about hypnotherapy itself can be found by clicking HERE


The University of Iowa carried out a meta-analysis, using the results of more than 600 studies, with a total of nearly 72,000 people.  The results included 48 studies of hypnosis covering 6000 smokers, and were published in the Journal of Applied Psychology.  They clearly showed that hypnosis was three times more effective than nicotine replacement therapy. (New Scientist Volume 136)

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