Article Contributed on: 3/13/2008 11:48:07 AM
I started smoking in 1958. I half-heartedly tried to stop in the late 60s, but wasn't serious about it. By the late 80s, I was up to three packs a day. I was a deputy sheriff and heard that the Department was going to restrict smoking. I swore that I would NEVER stop smoking.
I had recently met my future wife, who was also a deputy and a smoker, and we started talking about buying a house. I looked at the cost of cigarettes and decided that the smart thing to do would be to stop smoking and apply the money to a mortgage.
So, in Feb of 1989, I stopped cold turkey. It was great. I started feeling better and saw the money start to accumulate in my checking account. My soon to be wife continued to smoke, but she didn't smoke that much and it didn't bother me.
Then, in March, we were involved in a house to house search for Eugene Thompson, who had murdered, kidnapped and assaulted numerous people in Douglas County. He stole a car and crashed into a fence on Colorado Blvd just south of Arapahoe Road.
We were in training that day and we were called on to conduct the search. You wouldn't believe how many houses we found unlocked and we had to search each one.
After a short lunch break, the team we were on continued the search. As we crossed the street, my wife ask the other search team if they wanted to change sides of the street. They agreed.
Three houses later, they came under fire from Thompson. One was shot, one was sprayed by glass, and the third dragged the wounded deputy to safety.
After the incident ended with the suicide of Thompson, we started to wind down. I started to smoke again, initially to relax and then just continued as if I hadn't stopped at all. In no time at all, I was back to three packs a day.
After a few months, I decided to stop again. But, this time I just couldn't do it. I started smoking the raunchiest brands I could find, but to no avail.
Then I heard about a deputy at the department who used hypnosis to help people stop smoking. I made the appointment.
As I approached the building, I finished my last cigarette and went in. We talked about smoking and how hypnosis could help me.I underwent my first session and walked out feeling great.
There was no desire for a cigarette whatsoever. The next night, I went to dinner with my wife and another couple, both of whom smoked. We had to wait in the bar for a table. I took a sip of my drink and immediately thought, "A cigarette sure would taste good right now." Then I thought, "Nah, I don't do that any more."
I haven't had a cigarette since. That doesn't mean that I haven't had a desire for a cigarette. I sure have, but that urge lasted for only a few seconds and I continued on.
As time went by, I again began to feel better. So much so that I decided to learn Hypnosis so I could help others to stop smoking. Since then I have helped hundreds of people to become Non-Smokers, including my wife who is now smoke free.
Another by product is that my wife says that I look younger than when I was a smoker.
I have also learned a number of other techniques to improve the odds of success.
These techniques are so powerful that I have been helping people to overcome stress and other issues in their lives that have prevented them from achieving their goals.
In one instance, I helped an entire Real Estate Class to eliminate, or at least greatly ease, test anxiety. It was so successful that the entire class passed the test! The pass rate, in all of the Real Estate schools is in the mid 70s. Not too bad!
So, if you are in the 17% of Coloradans who still smoke and you want to stop, consider hypnosis. It is painless and doesn't require that you take nicotine or any other substance into your system.
If you have any questions, call me at 303-884-3566. Free consultation.
Good Luck.