The frenzy surrounding the forthcoming smoking ban in England seems to be reaching fever pitch with the usual nonsense about smoking being spouted in certain articles so I thought I could clear up a couple of points about cigarette smoking.

1) Smoking tobacco is addictive.

No, it's not. Smoking is a habit. Ever been to someones house for a party and before you know it a couple of hours have passed and you haven't even thought of smoking? The habit of smoking in that particular person's house is not present in your mind. Now remember how you may reach for your fags and ashtray as soon as the phone rings or as soon as you get to a certain landmark on the way to work or as soon as you have a cup of tea or coffee in the morning? Smoking is a habit not an addiction. A repeated action becomes a habit.

2) Nicotine is more addictive than heroin or cocaine.

Again, complete nonsense. The chairman of one of the tobacco companies probably started that urban myth. If you have a cigarette every 30 minutes during the day, for example, and you go to bed at 11.00 pm, if smoking was addictive you would wake up at 11.30, have a fag and go back to sleep, wake up at midnight, have a fag and go back to sleep, wake up at half past midnight etc. etc. The withdrawal symptoms from smoking are so mild that they do not even wake you from your sleep.

Many people are launching their new "Stop Smoking" books to coincide with the ban. Some of them say that smoking is more addictive than heroin or cocaine. If they believe that, and if they expect people to stop smoking just by reading their £10 book, why don't they write a £10 book on how to stop using heroin or a £10 book on how to stop taking cocaine. Don't expect them on the shelves anytime soon.

If you would like further information on how I could help you stop smoking in possibly just one session please click here  http://www.exuberancehypno.co.uk/smoking.htm 

Be happy,

Dave.