How to quit smoking: Explained
Smoking's a drag...
I think it's safe to say that everybody who smokes or has ever smoked (myself included) understands the risks associated with such habit.
- Bad Breath
- Increased chance of cancer
- Premature death
- Impotence
- Decreased fertility
- Heart complications
- The list goes on...
Why then do so many people carry on smoking?
It's addictive... but it's possible to quit.
Cold Turkey
If you don't have the spare cash to pay for aids to help you stop smoking then this is the cheapest way.
BE WARNED however: It requires more than just a little will power.
The theory behind going 'cold turkey' is to just quit. Throw away your cigarettes, bear the brunt and put up with the cravings until your body no longer tells you a cigarette is needed.
Statistics show that this is the most popular way to quit, but by far one of the toughest: Heavily addicted smokers could suffer hot and cold sweats, itching, increased appetite and many more unbearable side effects. However, it still remains the cheapest way to quit.
Self Help Books
When my partner became pregnant with our first child, she decided enough was enough and chose to quit smoking.
She found it difficult, but the most useful tool in helping her quit was not any nicotine replacement patch or gum, but a simple book.
Written by Allen Carr - a man who saw the amount of people who were being killed by smoking, quit the habit and wrote this book - my partner said that this book was the most amazing piece of literature (non-fiction) that she had read.
Unfortunately, Allen Carr (the author, not the camp British comedian) left it far too long before quitting, and died as a result of his ex-habit - but the testimonials written and proclaimed by readers of his book mean he did not die in vain, as it has helped thousands and thousands the whole world over to give up the habit.
This book can be bought new, second hand, hard and paper backed, and prices vary from as little as £6 up to £15 (for you Americans that's about $10-$25) - but whatever you pay for it, think of this: The price you will pay will at the most be the cost of 2-3 packets of cigarettes (depending on your locale). And with any luck, you'll no longer have to fund that expensive habit...
Are Your Feeling Sleepy? Hypnosis...
A much debated method, many people argue that this works and many argue that it doesn't.
Hypnosis is a practice in which a qualified hypnotherapist will conduct one or more sessions of therapy in which your subconscious mind is 'accessed' and certain triggers and switches in there are played about with.
Some people say hypnosis doesn't work, but some people swear blind that it has cured them of all sorts of addictions.
Hypnosis can be expensive however, so you might consider the cheaper alternative: A pre-recorded self-hypnosis session (which can be bought in stores, online or even downloaded). These are generally thought to be less effective, but there are still many success stories out there.
Isn't there another way?
Of course these above methods are not the only ones available... but these are the methods I have had more personal experience with.
Other methods include:
- Nicotine replacement in the form of gum
- Nicotine replacement in the form of a skin patch
- Counselling
- Lacing cigarettes with a foul tasting substance
- Acupuncture
Of course the best advice is to see your medical practitioner - they can usually assess your individual situation and advise the best route to take.
Whatever you do and which ever method you choose... remember the importance of making sure everybody around you understands what you are trying to do, supports you and gives every bit of help they can.
Best Of Luck
