Customer Reviews

Stop Smoking and Chewing Tobacco for Life Changes

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Buy this book! ! ! You will want to stop smoking, or chewing tobacco and stay quit for total LIFE CHANGES! ! ! This work book program differs from other program in several ways. First, it includes examples and guidelines for most of the tobacco-cessation techniques available for self-instruction and includes a number of new ones. Second, it focuses on ALL tobacco products, not just smoking and not just cigarettes. Third, the authors provide us with over 100 different techniques and activities that can be learned and used in combination for cessation behavior. Finally, the authors provide us with strategies for using two powerful clinical techniques- aversion and hypnosis- for tobacco cessation behavior. The workbook, along with the model hypnosis tape program provides the user with core cessation tools, exercises and activities, with which to build his/her customized and creative tobacco-cessation and preventive maintenance plan for life.

Based on the premise that there is no one theory of human behavior that will sufficiently explain all tobacco use and cessation behavior, this program offers a powerful multi component approach. The program is founded on three principles. The first principle, and to this reviewer, the most compelling one is, THE TOBACCO IS THE PROBLEM, NOT YOURSELF ! Thus, the user can apply this principle and learn to turn negative emotions and thinking against tobacco, rather than becoming frustrated with self perceived shortcomings. The program contains a variety of types of aversion, relaxation, hypnosis, stress-reduction, problem solving, behavioral modification exercises and humorous and creative exercises to build and reinforce tobacco-cessation behavior and personal resources for life.

This program is highly recommended!!. It can be used by any individual with nicotine-repellent products; or with groups ; health care education programs, counseling and therapy programs, dental programs, community education programs, or university courses, as a text-workbook program. The program is structured so that each individual directs his/her program of activities and exercises that are best suited for him/her on the way to LIFE CHANGES.

In our modern-day addictive culture, it is no small wonder that the quick-fix approaches to stopping tobacco use are so often ineffective. Typically, these approaches are reflective of the instant gratification orientation of our society. People pay big money for patches, pills, programs and purges, while expecting an intractable addiction that may have taken a lifetime to develop to just suddenly go away. For those who have come to understand that ending tobacco addiction is not like having results served like fast-food, there is a powerful option that offers a high predictability of success.

Stop Smoking and Chewing Tobacco for LIFE CHANGES, by David L. Johnson, Ph.D., and Carole A. Johnson, ID, is the definitive manual for those who truly wish to recover from their tobacco addictions. Written with candor, erudition and wit, the book takes the smoker (chewer, or dipper) by the hand and authoritatively walks him or her through a comprehensive but doable process that not only fleeces the person of a life-threatening habit - but builds in life enhancement skills that surpass any rewards they may have perceived in their tobacco use.

The 206 page quality paperback pursues a step-by-step process that begins with an orientation to the program, including a convincing review of current knowledge pertaining to the health and economic consequences of tobacco use that should strip away every last vestige of motivation for tobacco use in any sane person. We then find preparations for stopping use which cover every aspect of an individual's lifestyle that supports use and that might undermine the stopping process. Here, and throughout the book, the Johnsons have included worksheets that facilitate insight, individualized understanding of the process, and personalized application of the program to ensure success. The comprehensiveness of their approach is also found in their explanation of every strategic option that can be included in a person's individualized program, including the responsible and effective integration of nicotine-replacement products like patches, gums, inhalers, and other cessation pharmaceuticals that are less effective when used alone.

Once understanding, confidence and a sense of competence have been established in the reader, the book moves into program strategies involving exercises that include powerful hypnotic imagery to undermine attraction for tobacco products and replace destructive behaviors with life-enhancing ones. Indeed, just reading the exercises - without taping and playing them in a relaxation/induction process - is enough to sicken the reader against the use of tobacco products for life! However, it is recommended that the reader individualize the exercises, as specified, and follow through with the authors' expert instructions. Incidentally, without going into detail regarding current research, the design of the exercises - including content and strategies - reveals a sophisticated understanding on the part of the authors with regard to subconscious learning processes and the power such processes can have on behavior change.

Finally, knowledge, process, and competence are blended into a creative integration that serves to develop a lifestyle that leaves no openings for a return to tobacco-using behavior. This leaving-no-stone-unturned approach to tobacco cessation impresses me as the most comprehensive and reliable option available.

Throughout, self-defeating thinking patterns are broken down and replaced with positive, life-enhancing ones in a process that makes this book a hallmark in the annals of stop-smoking strategies: it takes a total lifestyle approach to the problem. This total lifestyle approach demonstrates the Johnsons' understanding of what is necessary to tackling tobacco addiction in the way a surgeon understands the approach to cutting away a cancer - every part of the threatening tumor (thinking/feeling/behavior) must be removed or the life-threatening condition will spring anew and attack with a vengeance.

Unlike the less predictable, quick-fix, approaches to tobacco cessation, the Johnsons' Stop Smoking and Chewing Tobacco for LIFE CHANGES offers lifestyle-oriented strategies that address the unique needs of every user in a warm and readable format that offers the best of what's out there. Unlike other approaches that require a full commitment before purchase, this book has such powerful introductory content that I would recommend it to those who are only thinking of stopping their tobacco use. At a modest $19.95 retail (US), I cannot suggest a more economic, powerfully effective, approach to stopping nicotine addiction and saving lives.

Granville Angell, EdS, LPC, NCC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Author of The God-Shaped Hole

"I was very ready to quit smoking many times in my life. When I began to read Stop Smoking and Chewing Tobacco for LIFE CHANGES, I realized I was reading something very new and different! This book appeals to anyone who needs a fresh approach to "just quitting" Through the use of LIFE CHANGES, I was able to really look at my motives and emotional needs surrounding smoking. The program put me on a path filled with information and humor which I could understand and build upon, using my own creativity. I was amazed at how enjoyable it was to participate in the planning and management of my own program. You will find everything in this book you need to know to finally end this "awful" dependency!"

I have been studying tobacco addiction and helping patients quit for over 25 years...Cessation has every thing to do with packing the brain with reasons to quit and techniques to help accomplish the goal. Each person has to decide which reasons apply personally. LIFE CHANGES is packed full of reasons to quit and exercises to help you take control of your life back from tobacco. It exposes tobacco not as a friend that settles you down and keeps weight off, but an enemy that robs you of over a decade of what should be golden years. I like this book and whole-heartedly recommend it to my patients. Congratulations to David and Carole Johnson! Through their book they will save and touch more lives than they will ever know. This book helps develop tools that, if achieved, will be far more powerful forces to combat tobacco addiction than any patch or gum could be.

LIFE CHANGES is packed with useful techniques for tobacco-cessation and maintainance. Humor, behavior mod, affirmations, hypnosis, relaxation and much more. I find it highly informative, practical, easy-to-use, a wealth of useful material all in one package. There's even an audio tape available. Whatever stop-smoking program you're using, this book is a valuable addition and/or primary resource for you.

Buy this book! ! ! You will want to stop smoking, or chewing tobacco and stay quit for total LIFE CHANGES! ! ! This work book program differs from other program in several ways. First, it includes examples and guidelines for most of the tobacco-cessation techniques available for self-instruction and includes a number of new ones. Second, it focuses on ALL tobacco products, not just smoking and not just cigarettes. Third, the authors provide us with over 100 different techniques and activities that can be learned and used in combination for cessation behavior. Finally, the authors provide us with strategies for using two powerful clinical techniques- aversion and hypnosis- for tobacco cessation behavior. The workbook, along with the model hypnosis tape program provides the user with core cessation tools, exercises and activities, with which to build his/her customized and creative tobacco-cessation and preventive maintenance plan for life.

Based on the premise that there is no one theory of human behavior that will sufficiently explain all tobacco use and cessation behavior, this program offers a powerful multi component approach. The program is founded on three principles. The first principle, and to this reviewer, the most compelling one is, THE TOBACCO IS THE PROBLEM, NOT YOURSELF ! Thus, the user can apply this principle and learn to turn negative emotions and thinking against tobacco, rather than becoming frustrated with self perceived shortcomings. The program contains a variety of types of aversion, relaxation, hypnosis, stress-reduction, problem solving, behavioral modification exercises and humorous and creative exercises to build and reinforce tobacco-cessation behavior and personal resources for life.

This program is highly recommended!!. It can be used by any individual with nicotine-repellent products; or with groups ; health care education programs, counseling and therapy programs, dental programs, community education programs, or university courses, as a text-workbook program. The program is structured so that each individual directs his/her program of activities and exercises that are best suited for him/her on the way to LIFE CHANGES.

Stop Smoking and Chewing Tobacco for LIFE CHANGES
David L. Johnson, Ph.D. & Carole A. Johnson, I.D.
Infinity Publishing.com, Haverford, PA (Paperback)
Copyright December, 2000, 206 pages

LIFE CHANGES by David L. Johnson, Ph.D. & Carole A. Johnson is a book
anyone addicted to tobacco will wish they had found it years ago. As a motivational speaker that stresses results, I was happy to see that Life Changes had a similar orientation. The authors use a number of powerful techniques to help a person beat tobacco addiction. Techniques and strategies that have proven to help people make personal changes with affirmations, reasonable goals, daily plans to achieve them, visualization, relaxation, and appropriately stated aversive and positive suggestions.
All of the more than 120 techniques and strategies put together form a supportive, personal framework that empowers one to focus on short-term, then life-long results.
The key principles and skills provide more ways to use setbacks, when necessary,
to learn more about ourselves and enable us to use them to bounce back quickly
with less fear of relapse.

Life Changes uses a self-instructional, self-paced approach that anyone can use,
with an emphasis on taking personal responsibility to learn the skills you need.
You can start at any point in the book, and implement the steps in the order you
feel most confident with. I love how the book relies on the reader to be imaginative
and use their creativity to apply the program to daily life and adapt the skills to
their goal of beating tobacco for life.


Life Changes is a self-instructional, self-paced program that works in proportion
to the time and attention you give to learning how to use the program skills daily.
You may have tried to beat tobacco many times, but this time buy a book to use
that builds on what you know for life changes. I highly recommend it!

Edward W. Smith
Author, Sixty Seconds To Success
ISBN 0-9754164-0-5
www.brightmoment.com

Stop Smoking and Chewing Tobacco for Life Changes
By David & Carol Johnson
Reviewed by Billie A Williams
ISBN # 0-7414-0481-8
2001 (206 Pages)

Stop Smoking and Chewing Tobacco for Life Changes is more than just a healthy read. It is an activity book that will take you step by step through some very positive life style changes that can help you cease to use tobacco products.
With the Johnson's help you identify the problem situations where you would use tobacco. Then you develop specific plans for each situation so that you can visualize yourself dealing positively with the situation. By mentally rehearsing the plan, success is more likely. They stress that you should reward yourself when you do well, but also to not be afraid to modify your plans when necessary.
Dr Johnson addresses the principles you need to adapt to focus on your plan for action; these include Confidence, competence, commitment and creativity which he calls "4-Cing the future". Key principles in Life Changes makes it a book of crucial strategies that provide effective cessation tools with skill-based exercises, scripts, options and resources while also outlining specific activities that can you can use to target issues you define, and strategies you design to cope with the issues. Johnson then provides reinforcement of those actions through his scripts and scripts you record to personalize the program.
Dr Johnson inspires and re-enforces with his poetry and quotes from other sources. Stress relief through laughing, re-focusing, relaxation and affirmations provide a failsafe for those wishing to cease the habits of tobacco use. Johnson also touches on the use of hypnosis as an aid in his program. He defines the use of hypnosis by first defining the term as he sees it: hypnosis spontaneously occurs when we relax, focus attention, and engage in imaginative activity.
Then he walks the reader through some guided imagery that helps to focus attention on positive images. The imaginative/creativity exercises that follow involves exercises with word association, squiggles and shapes you turn into "stuff", headlines that are laughable, and other humorous one-liners.
The Johnson's never say they are the only or the best solution. They say *you* are the only solution; *you* are the best solution to cessation of tobacco use.
The back of the book is a veritable tome of resource places to further your education and find additional help. There are even worksheets to develop a maintenance program for yourself and one in the event that you slip.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a way to end the habit of tobacco use. Other uses of the program's strategies Could include weight control, stress management, and any one going through any life stresses, losses, or who has needs for more stability, resolve, and confidence.

"An effective, tobacco-cessation methodology must involve the ongoing identification, strengthening, understanding, and collaborative use of one's skills, purposes, meanings, and resources for life" and the skills are available in this workbook and tape program. Over 120 aversion, visualization, relaxation, hypnosis, affirmation, cognitive-behavioral exercises, worksheets, stress-reduction activities, and participant strategies are included. The basis of the program is to eliminate all behavioral involvement with tobacco for life and to stop the excuses for not quitting.

The book begins with the bare facts about tobacco use and its health risks. Most know the risks involved with tobacco but it helps to correct any misperceptions. A major misconception is the extent of physical withdrawal, which disappears in one to two weeks. It's the psychological withdrawal that can persist for life.

The option to use other cessation methods is given with the program. Several nicotine replacement devices are available --- patches and gum, available over the counter, nasal and oral inhalers, available only by prescription. Zyban, a pill that decreases addictive withdrawal is also available by prescription and contains no nicotine.

To start the program plan ahead to quit- the better the plan the better the results. Four skills will help quitting: Confidence. Commitment. Competence. Creativity. Confidence - believe you can succeed and that there will be problem areas. Plan for problem situations, use the plans and modify them when needed. Commitment - take an active, personal involvement in the program, learn to work through daily situations with the tools, and analyze the behavior of tobacco use. Competence - a minimal level of knowledge and skill is needed to work the program. Creativity - a behavior that exhibits imagination, originality and productivity; it will help you deal with difficult times when they arise.

Many tips describe needed steps for cessation. The all important, destroy all smoking products. Remember to be pleased with success and reward the self. Develop a personal action plan and use the life changes repeatedly.

The workbook contains unlimited techniques for success. Aversive techniques and mental refocusing exercises reinforce the harm of tobacco, when thoughts of using tobacco occur in pleasant situations, such as in enjoying a smoke after a relaxing feast. A full section of relaxation and self-hypnosis exercises are included. Many that can be read into a recorder for use or use the prepared tape. The creativity section was a personal favorite of mine with imagining different things to use ashtrays for (the stand-alone ashtray put to use as a bird feeder. The book finishes with reviewing exercises, relapse prevention and maintenance plans, and support resources with phone numbers and websites.

The keys to success are confined in this bible. As a health care professional, I have cared for many smokers, many of whom were serious about quitting. Using older methods, including tobacco replacement, they fell back into old habits. This book teaches how to avoid that pitfall by changing the habits. When you become serious, before you take the plunge, I suggest LIFE CHANGES because you want to change for life, not weeks, months or just years. If you practice these core routines, individualize the worksheets, and do the program one hundred percent you will win. Once you succeed, frame the Certificate of Achievement from the back of the book. You deserve it!

I plan to check the authors' book on weight loss, for if it is anywhere near as beneficial as this I'll lose those extra pounds I've been fighting for a lifetime. My daughter smokes even though she saw the harm to her father, and the difficulty he had quitting. I'll give her a copy of this book and hope she puts it to use. It will work, if you work it. "The body does not want to be used like a cheap, disposable ashtray, a `barfecue' pit, or end up like a dirty, disabled trash can!"

© 2001 All Rights Reserved