Smokers, have you finally decided to stop?

You already know smoking is bad for you so I don’t have to tell you that cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. And that each year, smoking causes approximately 400,000 deaths in the United States or that smoking causes more deaths each year than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined. And you may already know that according to the CDC and the National Cancer Institute, cigarette smoking increases your risk for developing and dying from several diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and lung diseases and that for every one person who dies from smoking, there are 20 people who have smoking-caused disease and disability.

OK, so smoking is bad because of all the tar and the 43 known carcinogens and all that other toxic stuff, but with the new e-cigarette, all you get is the nicotine, and that’s what you really want, right? So, what about nicotine?

Here’s a little quiz:

Which of the following poisons is the most deadly?

1. Arsenic
2. Strychnine
3. Nicotine

If you guessed # 3, you are correct. The lethal dosage for a 150 pound adult is 60 mg. The lethal dosage for # 2 is 75 mg and the lethal dosage for # 1 is 200 mg. In other words, nicotine is three times as toxic as arsenic and one and one half times as toxic as strychnine. (source: Poisoning/Toxicology, Third Edition, Jay M. Arena, B.S., M.D.)

Nicotine is a poisonous alkaloid and at high dosages has been used in everything from insecticides to darts designed to bring down elephants.

According to the PBS program NOVA, most cigarettes for sale in the U.S. today contain 10 milligrams or more of nicotine.

You probably already know all this. And you probably know that within 20 minutes after your last cigarette your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal. And in 8 hours the remaining nicotine in your bloodstream will have fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.25% reduction. After 12 hours your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal. And that 72 hours, just three days, after that last cigarette your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from your body via your urine.

So you know all this but did you know you can get 100% reimbursement for your Smoking Cessation Hypnotherapy Programs with an I.R.S. Tax Credit! Yes, that’s right because Tax laws passed for 2003 onwards mean you can get a tax credit that reimburses you 100% for money paid for smoking programs. Talk to your tax accountant for more details.

So, you might ask, “Can I really stop smoking, not just quit but really STOP?” Yes, you can, and very quickly. Enter Hypnosis, and NLP.  The American Medical Association in 1958 recognized hypnosis and hypnotherapy as a viable scientific modality, and a useful and powerful complimentary therapy.

And in 1962 the American Psychiatric Association recognized that hypnosis was a viable modality for effective change.
Most people who undergo hypnotherapy for smoking cessation will walk away smoke free, a totally tolerant non-smoker. It may take one session or it may take several depending on certain factors, the most important being that you want to stop and you’re doing it for yourself and not because someone else wants you to stop smoking. So, stop smoking, breathe deep and enjoy life.

Sleep, who needs it? You do.

Stress, economic woes, and personal issues can disrupt sleep patterns. But, you might ask, who needs good sleep and why is it so darned important?

Did you know sleep disorders affect millions of people?  According to a national survey, 54% of adults said they have experienced at least one symptom of insomnia. Good sleep is as important to good health as diet and exercise. Poor sleep can lead to depression, health problems — even accidents.

Andy Capp

Getting less than six and a half hours of sleep at night decreases our ability to fight stress says Dr. Daniel G. Amen M.D. in his book Making a Good Brain Great.  He goes on to say, “Lowered sleep has been associated with diabetes and obesity.  In our fast-paced society, we are often sleep deprived.  In 1910 adults got and average of nine hours of sleep each night; in 1975 it had decreased to seven and a half; and in 2000 it has decreased further, to seven hours.”

Dr. Neil B. Kavey, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City has this to say about quality sleep “…sleep is an anabolic, or building, process. And we think it restores the body’s energy supplies that have been depleted through the day’s activities. Sleep is also the time when the body does most of its repair work; muscle tissue is rebuilt and restored.”

One of the ways we have of understanding why we need to sleep so much is to look at what happens if we don’t get enough sleep. It affects our personalities and our sense of humor, try telling a good joke to someone that hasn’t slept in a couple of days. We may become irritable and less tolerant and more likely to make errors. What parent hasn’t noticed their little one crankier without that afternoon nap?

Sleep disruption is technically called insomnia — a term used broadly to define “difficulty with sleeping” — and can take many forms.

There are three basic types of insomnia:

  1. Transient insomnia lasts only a few nights. It is often caused by jet lag, temporary stress, excitement, illness, or a change in sleep schedule.
  2. Short-term insomnia lasts up to three weeks. It often results from more prolonged stress or worries, such as financial troubles, death of a loved one, job change, or divorce. If not addressed, short-term insomnia may escalate into a chronic problem.
  3. Chronic insomnia, also known as long-term insomnia, lasts more than a month. It can occur every night, most nights, or several nights each month. Chronic insomnia is often caused by a medical problem; treating the underlying problem may alleviate the insomnia. Chronic sleeplessness may also be caused by bad sleep habits.

One of the most effective ways to treat sleep disorders is through the use of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy.  The American Medical Association in 1958 recognized hypnosis and hypnotherapy as a viable scientific modality, and a useful and powerful complimentary therapy. And in 1962 the American Psychiatric Association recognized that hypnosis was a viable modality for effective change.

The basic technique used in hypnotherapy for sleep disorders is to teach and reprogram the unconscious mind (the body’s control center) about having a really relaxing night’s sleep and suggestions (the primary tool of hypnosis and hypnotherapy) are given to your body to wind down as you prepare for sleep.

Most people who undergo hypnotherapy for sleep disorders will experience improved sleeping patterns. The changes in mood, personality and energy you feel as you wake up will be highly improved and chances are you’ll enjoy that joke just a bit more.

Would you like to learn how to help people with insomnia and other health issues?  Become a certified hypnotist.  Visit www.oregonhypnosisschool.com and register today!