The ways to quit smoking are very different. They have been tried by many people suffering from nicotine addiction. For some, the methods were successful, others were able to write a book "10 ways to quit smoking quickly", but still cannot part with a cigarette. Breaking bad habits is not easy. Here, the psychological attitude and the strong desire of the smoker to get rid of it are very important. It is worth starting with a psychological attitude.
Psychological motivation
Any effective means of quitting smoking will be useless if the person is not sufficiently motivated. Before you start fighting a bad habit, you need to figure out for yourself why you want to do it. The motivations can be the following:
- Fear of having cancer and other pathologies
- Desire to have a healthy baby
- Concern for loved ones suffering from passive smoking
- An unpleasant smell of tobacco that interferes with communication
- Money expenses
- Take care of your own beauty
- Public opinion.
Motivation may not be one, but many. It is worth choosing the most effective or arranging these points according to the force of the impact. For many, the motivation is so strong that it is enough to get rid of nicotine addiction on their own, without drug treatment or psychotherapy. If this is not enough for you, you can skip to the next paragraphs. Determine the circumstances in which you are most attracted to smoke. It might be:
- The habit of hanging out in the morning, immediately after sleep
- Waiting in traffic jams or at a transport stop
- stressful situations
- Breaks at work
- Fancy a cigarette in the company of smokers
- Holidays with alcohol
- Intense mental work
- Positive or negative emotions.
Each person who smokes can define these situations for themselves. If you want to smoke in the morning, you can replace the cigarette with something else. For example, a piece of apple, a cup of aromatic tea, have a pleasant time in the shower. It's even easier to cope with waiting in traffic jams, you have to walk more. During the break, it is better to go out and take a walk. Try to be less in the company of smokers, do not drink alcohol. You can just run away to the desert for a week, where there are no cigarettes or temptations. Some psychologists advise to dig deeper into the problem. After all, cravings can be a sign of depression or internal issues.
The author's methods
Many psychologists, psychotherapists and narcologists offer their own effective ways to quit smoking. The most famous of these is Alan Kara's book, The Easy Way to Quit Smoking. Based on the author's own experience, it helps people break the vicious cycle of psychological addiction. This method has proven itself, with its help about 25 million people quit smoking, many of them celebrities. The book is easy to find and download on the Internet. The main thing is to believe that you can give up cigarettes, as all other fans of the technique have done.
Another effective way to quit smoking is offered by a biophysicist. He organizes remote video trainings, uses correspondence and does it completely free of charge. The technique is based on finding the patient's true motive for cigarette addiction. If the cause is found, it is not so difficult to overcome it. Someone can benefit from another specialist's lectures, which are based on a detailed story about the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting.
The psychotherapist uses in his courses the methods of suggestion, NLP, self-hypnosis. He believes the human mind is "hardwired" for a bad habit. To get rid of this habit, you need to modify this program. The teacher's disciple has improved the current methods. He included relaxing music in psychotherapy sessions, his lectures are more about supporting a person's motivation.
Medical methods
Medical methods of quitting smoking can be divided into two groups. Some are based on the use of products containing small doses of nicotine. They reduce physical dependence, relieve withdrawal symptoms. Other drugs are substances whose action competes with that of nicotine. Medications containing nicotine include:
- Plasters.
- Pacifiers.
- Chewing gum.
- Inhalers.
- Electronic cigarette.
The patches are stuck to the skin and release small doses of nicotine. This allows you to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke or quit smoking altogether. Approximately the same effect in lollipops and chewing gum. The advantage of inhalers and electronic cigarettes is that they have the shape of the real thing. Thus, the smoker not only experiences physical discomfort, but also the psychological stress of quitting smoking. These methods have their supporters and their opponents. Many argue that this is far from the best way to quit smoking. It is only possible to reduce the number of cigarettes and not give up the bad habit forever.
The second group consists of relatively new drugs, the action of which is based on the pathogenesis of nicotine addiction.
The disadvantage of these drugs is a large number of contraindications and side effects. Only a doctor should prescribe them, choosing the best course and dosage for the patient. As an alternative, various dietary supplements, herbal preparations and homeopathic remedies are sometimes used. They too have been proven as ways to quit smoking. But the fact is that without the removal of psychological addiction, no medicine helps. Even after taking them, many people revert to the old habit.
Alternative methods
Many people love Eastern philosophy, alternative medicine and consider it quite effective. There are ways to quit smoking cigarettes forever, based on ancient Eastern healing methods. These include:
- Acupuncture.
- Breathing exercises.
- Meditation.
- Hypnosis.
Acupuncture is an ancestral healing technique based on the natural reflexes of the human body. There are nerve ending exit points on the skin. When exposed to it, you can effectively manage cigarette smoking and addiction. Similar techniques are used even in modern neurology, they are called reflexology. So they have a certain rational grain.
Breathing exercises are a set of exercises practiced by Indian yogis. It is closely linked to philosophy. With the help of altered breathing, you can tune your brain to the right thoughts and feelings. Some believe this is the most effective way to quit smoking permanently. But when using it, the attitude and belief that with the help of gymnastics you can part with a cigarette is very important. Meditation, one of the practices of Buddhist and Hindu monks, has a similar principle.
Hypnosis is not quite an Eastern practice, it has spread widely in the West in the last century. The suggestion method is based on the fact that a person goes into a trance. This state helps to reveal one's secret subconscious problems, to inspire certain thoughts and attitudes. Not everyone lends itself to hypnosis, for this you need to have a certain state of mind, sensitivity to someone else's suggestion. The percentage of such people among the total number is not so large.
Folk methods
It's important to remember that any quick way to quit smoking is no guarantee that you won't start again. The most realistic and reliable method is to set yourself a clear goal, identify the reasons why you smoke and strictly follow the chosen method. Without motivation and deep introspection, the fight against smoking will not be on your side.
There are various popular ways to quit smoking. Most of them are based on the consumption of various herbs and decoctions of them. There is also such a popular method as a conspiracy, removing the evil eye and damage, but it's not for everyone. Let's dwell on some recipes for herbal tea, which reduces the craving for smoking and is easy to prepare at home. They are quite simple, do not require much time.
Oregano tea
This tea includes oregano, marshmallow root and coltsfoot leaves. Herbs are taken in the following proportions:
- Chopped marshmallow root - 2 parts.
- Mother and stepmother - 2 parts.
- Oregano - 1 part.
Everything is mixed, taken from the total mass of 3 tablespoons, poured with half a liter of boiling water, steamed in a thermos for 1-2 hours. They drink three times a day, or when the hand reaches for a cigarette.
Valerian Calming Herbs
This tea calms nerves, irritability, relieves manifestations of withdrawal symptoms when quitting smoking. It includes the following components:
- Chopped valerian root - 4 parts.
- Cumin seeds - 2 parts.
- Chamomile officinalis - 2 parts.
- Hop cones - 2 parts.
Pour 2 tablespoons of this mixture with half a liter of boiling water, leave for an hour or two. You have to drink before bed, one glass each. A similar effect has tea of the following composition:
- Chopped valerian root - 5 parts.
- Watch - 2, 5 pieces.
- Peppermint - 2 parts.
The tea is prepared in the same way as the previous one, only instead of two spoons from the collection they take three. Pour boiling water over it and drink a glass before going to bed.
Mouthwashes
The infusion of yarrow suppresses the urge to drag out a cigarette. After rinsing the mouth with this collection, the taste of tobacco becomes very unpleasant. Tea consists of the following components:
- Absinthe - 5 parts.
- Licorice root - 2. 5 parts.
- Yarrow - 2, 5 parts.
A tablespoon is poured with a glass of boiling water, insisted for 2 hours. You do not need to drink such tea, it is intended to rinse your mouth. A similar effect has black currant leaf tea. For its preparation take:
- Currant leaves - 2 parts.
- Oregano - 4 parts.
- Peppermint - 4 parts.
Three tablespoons of table collection pour 0. 5 liters of boiling water, insist an hour. After rinsing, there is a pleasant freshness in the mouth. If you drag a cigarette, the taste becomes very unpleasant. When you do not have time or inclination to make preparations, you can simply rinse your mouth with soda, eat a few mint leaves, chew calamus root, the effect will be almost the same.