Quit Smoking Breakthrough Using Mindfulness

Aug. 22, 2012 - PRLog -- Mindfulness has undergone much scientific study and has been shown to be effective for quitting smoking. Psychology Today said this about mindfulness for stopping smoking (27 Nov 2012)

“Mindfulness can help us break free from even the most difficult habits... For smokers who had learned mindfulness, stress no longer automatically led to lighting up... Mindfulness reduced cravings…. Mindfulness didn't just reduce activity, it functionally disconnected the different regions of the brain that make up the "craving network"… Paying mindful attention to the trigger of the craving interrupted this complex brain response, and ultimately protected smokers from their own desire”

Most people struggle to quit smoking because the main quit smoking methods don’t address the mental habit. Even when nicotine patches are used, most people still want to smoke. Habits are formed through repetition and smoking is highly repetitive. The habit also gets linked to certain situations – after meals, stressful situations, with alcohol etc.

People struggle to quit because they don’t know how to deal with the automatic urges to smoke. Mindfulness skills enable smoking urges to come & go without needing to smoke. Mindfully observing urges ‘detaches’ us from the urge. Urges now have much less impact & influence on us and we can stay in charge of our actions rather than the urge influencing us. As the urges are now not being reinforced or ‘recharged’ by our actions, they can die away over time.

Mindfulness also helps us deal with any unhelpful thoughts that occur that would sabotage our success. Again, mindfulness enables us to be aware of these thought patterns and not let these influence our behaviour.

The other key to quitting smoking is upgrading any coping strategies where smoking is used. For example, some people smoke to try and cope with stress, boredom, to relax, take a break etc. People struggle to quit because they don’t have upgraded coping strategies. Mindfulness also doubles as an effective coping strategy as it also helps people to handle stress, to relax, and take a break.

We provide a program that includes the latest in stop smoking psychology, relapse prevention & mindfulness skills. This program is specifically designed for quitting smoking and is tailored to people’s individual smoking habit. Break free of smoking for good by addressing the real causes and regain your freedom back!

Find out more here
http://www.livingwellcoaching.com.au/mindfulness-quit-smo...