How can you quit smoking? Millions of people around the world smoke, because it’s a relaxing, enjoyable habit, and ultimately very addictive. Unfortunately, regardless of how much people enjoy doing it, smoking is extremely unhealthy. Cigarettes are full of carcinogenic chemicals, and withdrawal from nicotine can make smokers jumpy, irritable, and insufferable for others to be around. The trouble is, the addictive nature of nicotine makes it extremely hard to get over.
Fortunately, there are some different methods of quitting smoking that people have used with some success.
Some people, but by no means all, stop smoking cold turkey. This is when a smoker just stops completely, and suddenly. They smoke their last cigarette, and don’t smoke again. Eventually, their cravings stop, the desire passes, and they are able to have a nicotine-free life again. Some people find that playing mental tricks, like keeping one cigarette around “just for emergencies” makes it easier for them to stop smoking cold turkey. Other people, though, will find that their nicotine cravings are unmanageable, and they go back to their habitual smoking.
Other people have good results using nicotine replacing products. These are objects that aren’t cigarettes, but still supply nicotine to the body. Unlike cigarettes, these allow users to gradually taper off their nicotine consumption until they no longer need them. Nicotine gum, trans-dermal patches, and electronic cigarettes are all different ways of tricking the body out of smoking by preventing tobacco cravings.
Sometimes, people use therapies like hypnosis, or even some new-age alternative treatments. While their effect on cigarette smoking doesn’t yet have a proven scientific basis, some people find that they work, either alone or in combination with other treatment methods. Even if these practices don’t have a scientific basis, they may work for some people because a lot of the components of cigarette addiction are mental. If these practices can convince people that they are over smoking, they may find themselves more easily able to deal with their nicotine cravings and overcome the habit.
Some people try aversion therapy. This is a practice by which they begin to associate cigarette smoking with something bad. For example, a smoker who’s trying to quit may wear a rubber band on their wrist, and snap it every time they crave a cigarette. This builds an association in the user’s mind with the pain from the snapping rubber band, and the nicotine craving. Since they don’t want to be in pain, the theory is that their desire to avoid the pain will be enough to reduce their desire for nicotine.
A few methods of stopping smoking work separately, while others work best in combination with other methods. No single method will work for absolutely everyone who tries it, since all bodies and all addictions are a little bit different. Regardless of what you choose to do to help reduce your dependence on nicotine, if you’re looking for the answer to “How can you quit smoking?” there are dozens of methods out there that can help you.
For a complete guide on how to stop smoking in about 38 minutes even if everything else you’ve tried has failed, click here:
