Jerry O’Connell, the well-known actor, has opened up about the drastic measures he took to end his long-standing battle with nicotine addiction. In a recent interview on Sophia Bush’s podcast, “Work In Progress,” O’Connell revealed that a firm ultimatum from his wife, Rebecca Romijn, played a pivotal role in his decision to quit smoking.
### Ultimatum Leads to Change
O’Connell, 52, detailed the struggles he faced with cigarettes for decades. He stated, “I had to get hypnotized. I haven’t had a cigarette in like fourteen years.” The breaking point came when Romijn stated unambiguously that she would not engage with him physically until he quit smoking. At first, O’Connell thought it was a joke. However, the reality set in as weeks passed without any physical affection.
“After three weeks of no physical contact,” O’Connell explained, “I realized it was time to take action.” Faced with the seriousness of his wife’s ultimatum, he felt compelled to seek a solution to his addiction. He recounted his struggles to quit and emphasized the urgency of making a change.
### Unconventional Methods to Quit Smoking
After several failed attempts, O’Connell turned to unconventional methods for help in overcoming his addiction. He recalled speaking with a friend who had successfully quit smoking, who then referred him to a hypnotist. “I had to bring a photo of my children and my wife. I sat down, and she put headphones on me with spa music,” he said. During the session, he dozed off, and upon waking up, he felt skeptical about the effectiveness of the therapy, admitting, “I thought that was baloney.”
Despite his doubts, O’Connell experienced a significant turning point when he returned to his car after the session. He lit a cigarette but was unable to smoke it. “I couldn’t light it,” he said, indicating a profound change in his mindset about smoking.
O’Connell and Romijn’s relationship has flourished since their marriage in 2008, and they share twin daughters who are now 17 years old. Reflecting on their journey together, he acknowledged how their partnership has supported him through personal challenges, including his battle with smoking.
### Navigating Past Relationships
Amid his discussion about quitting smoking, O’Connell also touched on his wife’s former marriage to actor John Stamos. Earlier this year, Stamos made headlines for referring to Romijn as “the devil” in his memoir, sparking media inquiries towards O’Connell about the estranged marriage. He expressed that he did not want to exacerbate the situation, particularly for the sake of their teenage daughters.
“There are children involved who read everything on the internet,” O’Connell stated. “You don’t want to feed that fire.” He reiterated his focus on keeping family matters private to avoid unnecessary strain.
Recently, O’Connell and Stamos reconciled, publicly burying the hatchet during a birthday celebration for comedian Howie Mandel, where they posed together, indicating a mending of their past rift.
O’Connell’s candid revelations serve as a reminder of the complexities surrounding addiction and relationships, underscoring how personal life changes often necessitate difficult choices.
Source reference: Full report
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