- Before attempting to quit smoking, have a talk with yourself. Make sure you know why you want to quit and be certain you are doing it because you want to. While there are no wrong reasons to want to quit, you must have the right reasons in your mind to successfully achieve your goal. Unless the desire is present, it is unlikely any method will be easy for you.
- Once you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that quitting is what you want to do, begin preparing yourself mentally. Talk to your family and ask them for their support. You should also discuss your plans with your health care provider and ask what quit-smoking methods he feels are best for you to explore. You can then set a quit date; doing this not only makes it real but helps you prepare mentally for the final puff.
- Don't read just any book, pick up a copy of "Easy Ways to Stop Smoking," by Allen Carr. A best-seller its first time around, the newest edition has already sold more than 4 million copies. It is rated five stars on Amazon.com by the 526 smokers who have bought, and successfully incorporated, the ideas Mr. Carr has written about. In fact the author himself once smoked 100 cigarettes a day. But he kicked the habit without any withdrawal symptoms or feelings of anxiety and so graciously shared his secret of success with the rest of the smoking community. In his book, he helps you discover the psychological reasons behind your addiction, teaches you how to resist the temptation, and discusses the main reasons for failure. More than 9 million people have successfully quit smoking, easily and effortlessly, just by reading this book. A link is included in the resource section for book purchase and reviews.
- Nicotine replacement therapy works by releasing small amounts of nicotine into your system throughout the day. Perhaps one of the best known products falling under this category is the nicotine patch. This is a step-down program based on the number of cigarettes you smoke on a daily basis. If you smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day, you will start by using the 21 milligram patch and remain on this for four weeks. You will then step down to the 14 milligram patch and remain on this for a period of two to four weeks. Finally you end with the 7 milligram patch, remaining on this for a period of two to four weeks. The goal is to lack desire for all cigarettes by the time you use your last patch.
Other forms of nicotine replacement products include nicotine gum, inhaler, and lozenges. Each may have a slightly different approach, however the goal is the same; to relieve your withdrawal symptoms while helping you quit smoking. - Hypnosis is a way of relaxing your mind enough to reach your subconscious while allowing you to remain focused on a specific problem or desired result. Your conscious mind guards the subconscious mind--the thoughts you think the most come from the conscious level. Hypnosis takes you past this to the subconscious, allowing you to reprogram the thoughts of your conscious mind.
There are two types of hypnosis that can be used to help you quit smoking: self-hypnosis and hypnotherapy (hypnosis with the help of a certified hypnotherapist). Self-hypnosis, though effective, takes time to learn and master. There are various techniques you can learn which help you relax as you guide yourself through images to help you quit smoking.
A hypnotherapist helps you relax through specialized techniques, using specific words and images to help you quit. Hypnosis has a 66 percent success rate for helping people quit smoking. - Joining a support group is a terrific way to stay on track and keep your goals and reasons for wanting to quit forefront in your mind. You will be surrounded by others who are trying to quit smoking as well, and not only will you be provided support if you are having a bad day, you may also learn new techniques to help you cope with your cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
next post