» Make the change: Quit smoking
Wednesday 10 March is No Smoking Day. Zara Baker looks at ways to quit the habit
Last year’s No Smoking Day saw one in 12 women (an impressive 366,000) kick the habit from that day forward. This year it takes place on Wednesday 10 March with the aim of helping more people than ever break free.
Realising this is easier said than done, No Smoking Day is intended as a starting point. It may not happen straight away, but registering your intentions is the first step. With a variety of methods available to help people quit smoking, and with no end of support available, many people are choosing to give up smoking this month.
People want to quit for a number of reasons, as people strive to live a healthier and longer life. The NHS Stop Smoking ad campaign involves appeals from children who want their parents to quit, showing another key influence in stopping smoking – the family and loved ones it affects too.
There’s also the money side of things to consider. For someone who smokes on average 20 cigarettes a day, quitting can save a staggering £180 a month. Just thinking about what this money could go toward is a great incentive.
In terms of looks, smoking ages and dulls the skin quickly; nicotine stains the teeth, and hair can be lifeless and brittle as it’s starved of oxygen. Even your sex life can be affected by smoking, as it can lead to hormonal imbalances, affecting your libido. Whatever your reasons, finding the support to help you is best.
The options available are vast, and finding what suits your lifestyle and needs will ultimately help you to quit smoking for life. The NHS offer a number of services and support: Nicotine Replacement Therapy is one option, where gum and patches replace cigarettes.
The NHS Together Programme reflects what No Smoking Day is all about: not being alone. In this Programme, smokers and ex-smokers give free advice and encouragement to one another. This is through mail packs, emails, texts or phonecalls – whichever method is preferred.
The NHS Stop Smoking Service offers one-to-one talks and sharing of experiences, again providing a ‘buddy system’. The Quit Kit from the NHS is the place to start, offering support, advice and contacts.
Another option is hypnotherapy, which works by engaging the unconscious mind as well as the conscious one. Jonathan Conway is an established hypnotherapist in Brighton, and has helped people transform their lives through hypnosis. “By directing suggestions to the unconscious mind it is possible to bypass the usual conscious and rational responses,” he says. “It could be described as a more child-like pattern of response and it becomes possible to access resources that may not be in conscious awareness. It can be very useful in helping a person to become a non smoker, as well as becoming more confident in general.”
To stop smoking, two sessions are usually needed. In this time, Jonathan explores the individual’s background, their lifestyle, family and work. Through hypnosis, the person can visualise the healthy changes happening, meaning they can go on to succeed. As a symbol of change, cigarettes and lighters will be thrown away, and a new way of thinking – as a non-smoker – introduced.
Maximise your chances of quitting by using the professional support available and choosing the method that best suits your lifestyle to quit your nicotine dependence for life.
For more tips on quitting and to be a part of No Smoking Day 2010 visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk, www.smokefree.nhs.uk
Jonathan Conway, Hypnotherapist, NLP Master Practitioner & Coach: 01273 540425/07956 855027 www.jonathanconway.co.uk
