Quitting The Habit- How To Choose The Right Method?
- Details
- Parent Category: Quitting Techniques
- Category: Methods
- Created on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00
- Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00
- Written by Super User
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No matter which method you choose, it is important to
have the support and encouragement of family and friends. You can quit
smoking on your own but you are more likely to succeed if you have moral
support from the people around you.
For most
people, the desire to smoke comes in waves. One way to deal with those
waves is to pick up the phone and talk to someone who knows that you are
trying to quit. This has the dual benefit of offering some distraction
as well as getting encouragement in your battle against tobacco.
Ways
to quit-
a) Cold Turkey -
If you have a great deal of
willpower and a strong desire to quit smoking, you may be able to do it
cold turkey. Quitting cold turkey means that you simply stop -- no
intermediate steps, just going from your regular habit to no smoking at
all.
Certain individuals that metabolize nicotine relatively
slowly are more likely to succeed by quitting cold turkey. This is
because they are not as physically addicted to nicotine as other smokers
are. People with a higher dependence on nicotine may find they need to
use a nicotine substitute such as patches or gum.
b) Slowly
Cutting Down -
Rather than quitting cold turkey, some people
prefer to gradually reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke each day.
In order for this to work you need to have a plan to reduce your smoking
by a certain amount each day and a goal for the day when you want to be
completely smoke-free.
There are many strategies you can use. You
could smoke one less cigarette each day; you could delay smoking the
first cigarette of the day by a greater amount each day; or you could
limit your smoking to a certain number of cigarettes within a three hour
period.
c) Nicotine Substitutes -
Either of the above
methods could be supplemented with the use of a nicotine substitute like
gum, spray or patches. This helps reduce the craving for nicotine which
is behind the desire to smoke. The brain has become accustomed to
regular doses of nicotine so by supplying the nicotine by other means
quitting the habit becomes easier.
Before using a nicotine
substitute consult with your doctor concerning any health risks that may
be associated with it. Nicotine substitutes are available in the form of
chewing gum, nasal spray, lozenges, inhalators, or tablets that are kept
under the tongue. Patches can also be worn on the skin to provide a
constant supply of nicotine to the bloodstream throughout the day.
d)
Zyban -
Zyban is an antidepressant drug that has been proven
effective reducing nicotine withdrawal symptoms. It is available by
doctor's prescription.
e) Hypnosis -
Hypnosis has also
been used to help overcome nicotine cravings. It seems to be most
effective in those who have a strong desire to quit.
f)
Acupuncture -
As with hypnosis, acupuncture works best with
people who are committed to quitting smoking. Both acupuncture and
hypnosis may work by reinforcing the commitment to giving up smoking.
There is no evidence that they are any more effective than other methods.