Askme followup: answers helped poster to quit smoking (using hypnosis).

November 11, 2005 7:16 AM

AskMe Followup: [more inside, naturally]
posted by Jon-o to MetaFilter-Related at 7:16 AM (35 comments total)

Jon-o, don't let me down.
posted by safetyfork at 7:19 AM on November 11, 2005

So, I posted these two questions in AskMe. First of all, I'd like very much to thank the folks who contributed. Your advice was quite helpful and supportive.
Secondly, I'd like to confirm that the hypnosis DID WORK. I haven't had a smoke in over 3 weeks. I'm not generally the kind of person who'd buy into that hocus-pocus but what can I say? Here I am, not smoking.
Anyway, thanks again everyone.

By the way, according to this, in three weeks I've saved $175 and have not smoked 775 cigs. Eesh
posted by Jon-o at 7:20 AM on November 11, 2005

Congratulations and keep up the good work.
posted by safetyfork at 7:33 AM on November 11, 2005

hypnosis worked? wow.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 7:49 AM on November 11, 2005

Congrats, my sister hasn't had a smoke for 14 months and my father a little less than a year. You can do it!
posted by furtive at 7:50 AM on November 11, 2005

mathowie: "hypnosis worked? wow."

To be more accurate: hypnosis is working. Quitting smoking is a long, arduous process, not just like turning off a lightbulb. I know people who still have cravings after not smoking for decades, and that'll probably never go away. Good for you Jon-o. Even with hypnosis, quitting smoking is a very difficult thing to do.
posted by Plutor at 7:57 AM on November 11, 2005

I'm also stunned that hypnosis is working. Whatever it takes. Good luck staying the on the smoke free path. Have you found a replacement vice yet?
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 8:04 AM on November 11, 2005

It's not as though the hypnosis really did anything to reduce the cravings or the withdrawal. What it did do, mostly, was influence my mindset in such a way that I could get through the most difficult first few days. It helped proved a certain amount of willpower. Really, rather than hypnosis, it might be more accurately described as a voluntary light brainwashing. Nevertheless, it was more than just a little helpful. Convincing yourself to get through the first 72 hours is the hardest part of quitting and the hypnosis definately enables that. But, from what I've heard, it works differently for everyone. For some people, it works just like flipping a switch. For others, not at all.

As far as a replacement vice goes, I've been eating a whole lot of Altoids. I'm starting to get kind of sick of them.
posted by Jon-o at 8:18 AM on November 11, 2005

Good for you for quitting!
posted by vito90 at 8:27 AM on November 11, 2005

My parents were both hypnotised to give up smoking before they had me (oldest child) - worked permanently for my mum (though in the following few years she had three pregnancies as a motivator) and my dad relapsed for a bit but gave up again after not very long, and has never smoked since.
posted by altolinguistic at 8:28 AM on November 11, 2005

Just stare at the spiral. Yes, yes. Your eyelids are heavy. You are getting sleepy. Your eyes are closing. You are now asleep. When I snap my fingers, you will wake up and be overtaken by a desire to take a large loan out on your 401(k) to send to Brownpau... oh, and you are a chicken.

*SNAP*
posted by brownpau at 8:29 AM on November 11, 2005

So wait, who are you calling out?
posted by geoff. at 8:33 AM on November 11, 2005

cluck cluck where's my money?
posted by Jon-o at 8:40 AM on November 11, 2005

Might I recommend sunflower seeds as a replacement vice? They make a mess, too, just like cigarette butts!
posted by By The Grace of God at 8:49 AM on November 11, 2005

Excellent work. Keep it up. It's you, not the hypnosis.
posted by OmieWise at 9:00 AM on November 11, 2005

I blame dios.
posted by Falconetti at 9:06 AM on November 11, 2005

Congratulations on quitting, Jon-o!
posted by LeeJay at 9:11 AM on November 11, 2005

Congratulations. One of the best decisions of your life!
posted by five fresh fish at 9:42 AM on November 11, 2005

Congrats!
posted by Rothko at 10:36 AM on November 11, 2005

Nobody likes a quitter. Quitters never win.
posted by ColdChef at 11:07 AM on November 11, 2005

Congrats!

I cut down from 40 to 60 a day to about 60 a week recently, and am going to take the plunge into smokelessness next week. (Er, probably.)

It only took a recent lung collapse scare after five actual lung collapses to motivate me. Yes, yes, I am a complete idiot.
posted by jack_mo at 11:10 AM on November 11, 2005

Great stuff Jon-o! I think your description of what it feels like after you've been hypnotized is spot on.
posted by jasper411 at 12:39 PM on November 11, 2005

I %hearts; askme followups. This is very interesting, and may come in handy. Thanks!
posted by frykitty at 12:42 PM on November 11, 2005

Well, poop. You all know what I meant, right?
posted by frykitty at 12:43 PM on November 11, 2005

THERE"S A HEART SYMBOL? I WANT IT
posted by metaculpa at 1:18 PM on November 11, 2005

I ♥ unicode syntax errors.
posted by eddydamascene at 1:48 PM on November 11, 2005

♥ = & hearts; (no space between the & and hearts;).
posted by fishfucker at 1:48 PM on November 11, 2005

Congratulations on the quitting, Jon-o.

I've given packs of these delicious "chewing sticks" to a few friends who've quit, and every one of them has reported that the toothpicks have helped immensely with the post-quitting oral fixation / cig substitute.

I'm chewing one right now. It's delicious. (I've never smoked; I just like the things.)
They'll satisfy the oral fix, make your breath smell nice, clean yer teeth, and they won't leave your pearlies feeling all fuzzy like Altoids do.

I am not a paid celebrity endorser.
posted by Dr. Wu at 1:56 PM on November 11, 2005

I ♥ ♥

Also, sincere congratulations to you, Jon-o.
posted by jenovus at 2:24 PM on November 11, 2005

congratulations, Jon-o.

I'm almost five months smoke free and I still get cravings occasionally, I just take it day by day.
posted by obeetaybee at 4:48 PM on November 11, 2005

why is the unicode for heart plural I want answers *slams fist on desk*
posted by moift at 5:37 PM on November 11, 2005

♥ 's you guys. And my lungs.
posted by Jon-o at 7:57 PM on November 11, 2005

Huge congrats, Jon-O. Quitting smoking is a beeyotch, and I say, however you can go about doing it, more power to ya!
♥ to all!
posted by Lynsey at 10:05 PM on November 11, 2005

>>>--♥-->
posted by nthdegx at 10:03 AM on November 12, 2005

♥
posted by metaculpa at 6:20 PM on November 20, 2005