Chelsea Handler quit smoking with this popular Hollywood method
Chelsea Handler – who once paid $500 to have a pack of cigarettes delivered to her door – hasn't smoked a cigarette in years thanks to an unexpected quitting method.
Chelsea Handler — who once paid $500 to have a pack of cigarettes delivered to her door — hasn't smoked a cigarette in years — and she has hypnotism to thank for it.
The 43-year-old recently shared a Throwback Thursday photo on Instagram from "a time when I was young and thought smoking was cool." In the caption, Handler explains how she finally kicked the habit once and for all: "I finally quit when I got hypnotized by Kerry Gaynor. Haven't smoked one cigarette since. If you are trying to quit, look him up."
"It's so much cooler not to smell like smoke," the former "Chelsea" host adds. Preach!
Though you won't catch Handler smoking a cig these days (and, seriously, good for her!), in February Handler announced via an Instagram story she would be developing her own line of marijuana.
"I want everyone to know that I'm going to a weed farm today. Yep. I'm gonna go pick a grow," she said, according to Us Magazine. "I'm going to come out with my own line of weed, I decided. I want people to understand that you don't have to get blottoed. You can just get a little, nice buzz to take the edge off."
Handler's quitting story has a perfect ending, but can hypnotism really help people stop smoking? According to the American Cancer Society, research currently suggests hypnosis is not a method that works — but the ACS also acknowledges that there are people who say it has helped them. In fact, Gaynor has reportedly helped many other celebrities quit smoking cigarettes, including Heather Locklear, Martin Sheen and Aaron Eckhart.
So if you're interested in trying it out, ask your health care provider to recommend a licensed therapist who practices hypnotherapy. Worth a try, right?
Other strategies you can use to fight cigarette addiction include nicotine-replacement therapy, medication and reaching out for support from friends, family or Nicotine Anonymous.
You can also download LIVESTRONG.COM's MyQuit app, which allows you to track your progress day by day, providing a powerful and rewarding way to visualize your success. MyQuit also gives you access to a robust community of people who are also battling cigarette addiction.
While quitting can be difficult and often requires more than one attempt, it can be done. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are currently more former smokers in the U.S. than smokers. And that is truly awesome.
The bottom line? With quitting, the destination matters a lot more than the journey. If you come across an offbeat method that you think may work for you, don't be afraid to reach out to your health care provider to discuss safe options. You've got this!
Read more: The NBA has a new Zen approach to help players deal with stress
What Do YOU Think?
Have you ever battled cigarette addiction or are you currently trying to quit? If you or someone you know has successfully quit smoking, what method or methods worked? Share in the comments section.