At Home with Dr Christian Jessen - 89

WORDS: EMMA WILSON | ILLUSTRATIONS: GETTY IMAGES, SHUTTERSTOCK

| SMOKE FREE|

smoked to varying degrees for 17
years. I tried to give up a few times,
but I'd always crumble after a
couple of drinks. Towards the end,
I'd got it down to social smoking,
but I would still manage to get
through a full pack on a night out.
'Turning 40 made me reassess my
health. Someone told me that every
cigarette showed up on your face
and I was too vain to risk getting
wrinkly! Plus my gums had started
to recede, which my dentist told me
was partly because I smoked.
'I decided to try hypnotherapy
and during my sessions, the therapist
took me right back to the reasons
why I started smoking in the ﬁrst
place. She then took me forward to
where I could visualise myself with
my kids, doing things with them,
seeing them grow up... and then
to my deathbed where I was now
dying of lung cancer! It was fairly
shocking, but it was the shock I
needed to stop.
'I haven't craved a cigarette since,
even after a few drinks or when I am
around other smokers. That used to
be the time I gave in. I feel so much
healthier and have lots of energy.
I also have more money; no longer
reek of smoke; my gums are not
receding at a rapid rate and I look
young for my age. It's so nice
to no longer be dependent.'

'AC UP UN C TU R E
W OR KED F O R M E '
Kia Hansen, 41, used needles and
the ancient art of acupuncture to
help her kick the habit
'I decided to stop smoking when my
mum developed lung cancer. I only
really considered myself a social
smoker, but I had smoked since I was
13. Watching my mum get so ill, and
eventually die, really brought home
the seriousness of smoking. I was
determined not to go the same way.
'I knew cutting down wouldn't
work for me as I've always been an
all-or-nothing sort of person. Then

IF YOU'RE SERIOUS
ABOUT QUITTING,
SEEK OUT THE
METHOD THAT SUITS
YOUR LIFESTYLE

DR
CHRISTIAN
SAYS
'Smoking is often
a habit that you
associate with
certain times of
day, after meals
or with drinks
perhaps. By
changing your
routine, you can
rewire those
mental signals
and begin to
disassociate every
individual cigarette
with a feeling of
positive relief. It's
an honourable
decision to quit,
and you can do it!'

I read an article about
'WILLPOWER AND
acupuncture and thought
MY DAD'S ILLNESS
it was worth a try.
MADE ME GIVE UP'
'I went along to the clinic and
the therapist explained that the
Jonathon Bolt, 36, used good old
needles wouldn't hurt, but I might
willpower to support his father
feel some discomfort. I had needles
and electrical currents run
through certain areas in
'I started smoking when
my ear. After the
I was 16 - but I never
treatment, small pins
really considered
Live longer
were left in my ear,
myself a "serious
and I was told to
smoker" as I didn't
IF YOU QUIT AT
squeeze them
get through that
60, YOUR LIFE
if I had any
many a day. I
EXPECTANCY
cigarette cravings.
decided to stop
'After just one
when my dad
INCREASES BY THREE
session, I stopped
developed health
YEARS. AT 30, IT'S
smoking and didn't
problems associated
have any cravings!
with smoking and
10 YEARS
I think it helped that I
I wanted to set him
was so determined; I knew
a good example.
I really wanted to stop. I went
'I chose to do it with willpower.
back for another three sessions,
The most difﬁcult part was going
and each time, I felt better and
to the pub and drinking without
better. It wasn't long before I
smoking. The smoking ban has been
actually became a "wafter" when
beneﬁcial as it's now much less
I'd be annoyed if anyone was
socially acceptable.
smoking near me! I had lots
'It's now been ﬁve years since
more energy, started jogging,
I stopped and I feel healthier. I've
and completed a half marathon
become more physically active
two years later.
- I do a lot of running. But by
'Nine years on, I'm such an
far the best beneﬁt is feeling in
antismoker it's incredible to think
control of my body.
I ever smoked. Now I respect my
'I did relapse on holiday once,
body and look after it, rather than
but I haven't smoked since then
poison it with cigarettes.'
and I don't intend to.'
www.athomemagazine.co.uk MARCH 2015 | 089
http://www.athomemagazine.co.uk
At Home with Dr Christian Jessen

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