Hypnosis is widely misunderstood as a relaxation and self-help method, thanks in part to the prevalence of stage hypnosis and the obscurity of more practical forms of hypnosis. Stage hypnosis looks the way that it does because participants are pre-qualified so that ony the most uninhibited and suggestible subjects are made part of the act.

The second most common misconception is that many believe a hypnotist can bend their will to make them do odd things that would be out of character for them. The fact is that a hypnotist can’t make you do anything that you don’t want to do, or are incapable of doing. The subjects on stage performing outrageous acts are uninhibited and outgoing by nature, which is why they’re on stage in the first place.

Hypnosis is only a form of guided relaxation. That’s it. Even without the magic, hypnotherapy can work wonders for retraining your brain (e.g. to quit smoking or change a destructive habit). When your brain is open to suggestion, you are more likely to absorb positive affirmations, and the goal of hypnosis is to help you open yourself to suggestion.

Another way to look at hypnotherapy is that it’s positive self-talk or positive affirmations made when the mind is relaxed. So there should be nothing mysterious about hypnosis. Hypnosis is simply an approach to lead your body and mind into a relaxed state and clear your mind of distractions so that it can focus on the affirmations being said.

Some people are more suggestible than others and some people are naturally averse to hypnosis altogether. About one out of five people will likely be resistant to hypnosis, but others will be able to implant positive messages into their subconscious, relax, and put themselves to sleep.

Smoking in particular is a good candidate for hypnotherapy because much of the addiction is psychological, and that is an area the self-hypnosis can help you address. Considering the expense of cigarettes, and the expense of typical cessation programs like nicotine gum, the patch, shots, and the like, the modest investment in a simple hypnotherapy quit smoking audio that you can listen to in the comfort of your home is attractive.

At the very least, hypnosis will help you balance yourself, relax, and lower stress levels. If you are a smoker, a hypnosis smoking cessation program might be exactly what you need, and you can safely participate in one without worrying about clucking at odd hours of the day!