The ways to quit smoking are very different. They have been tried by many people suffering from nicotine addiction. For some, the methods have been successful, others might write a book "10 Ways To Quit Smoking Quickly", but still can't part with a cigarette. Breaking bad habits isn't easy. Here the psychological attitude and the strong desire of the person who smokes to get rid of it are very important. It is worth starting with a psychological attitude.
Psychological motivation
Any effective way to quit smoking will be useless if the person is not motivated enough. Before you start fighting a bad habit, you need to determine for yourself why you want to do it. The reasons may be the following:
- Fear of getting cancer and other diseases
- Wish to have a healthy baby
- Concern for loved ones suffering from secondhand smoke
- An unpleasant smell of tobacco that interferes with communication
- Expenses of money
- Taking care of your beauty
- Public opinion.
The motivation may not be one, but several. It is worth choosing the most effective or arranging these points according to the strength of the impact. For many, the motivation is so strong that it is enough to free themselves from nicotine addiction on their own, without drug treatment and psychotherapy. If that's not enough for you, you can proceed to the next paragraphs. Determine the circumstances in which you are most attracted to smoking. Could be:
- The habit of dragging along in the morning, right after sleep
- Waiting in traffic jams or at a transport stop
- stressful situations
- Breaks at work
- Craving for 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 himself. 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, spend pleasant moments in the shower. It is even easier to cope with waiting in traffic jams, you have to walk more. During the break it is best to go out and take a walk. Try to be less in the company of smokers, do not drink alcohol. You can simply escape to the desert for a week, where there are no cigarettes and temptations. Some psychologists advise delving into the problem. After all, craving for cigarettes can be a sign of depression or internal problems.
Methods of the author
Many psychologists, psychotherapists, and narcologists offer their own effective methods of quitting smoking. The most famous of these is Alan Kara's book The Easy Way to Quit Smoking. Based on the author's experience, it helps people break the vicious circle of psychological addiction. This method is well tested, with his help around 25 million people have 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 did.
Another effective way to quit smoking is offered by a biophysicist. It organizes remote video training courses, uses correspondence and does it completely free of charge. The technique is based on researching the real reason for the patient's addiction to cigarettes. If the cause is found, it is not that difficult to overcome it. Someone can benefit from another specialist's lessons, which are based on a detailed history of the dangers of smoking and the benefits of quitting.
The psychotherapist uses the methods of suggestion, NLP and self-hypnosis in his courses. He believes that the human mind is "programmed" for a bad habit. To get rid of the habit, you need to modify this program. The follower of the professor improved the current methods. She has included soothing music in the psychotherapy sessions, his lessons are aimed at supporting a person's motivation several times.
Medical methods
Medical methods of smoking cessation can be divided into two groups. Some rely on the use of products containing small doses of nicotine. They reduce physical dependence, relieve withdrawal symptoms. The other drugs are substances whose action competes with that of nicotine. Medicines containing nicotine include:
- Plasters.
- Lollipop.
- Chewing gum.
- Inhalers.
- Electronic cigarette.
The patches are glued to the skin and release small doses of nicotine. This allows you to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke or to quit smoking altogether. Approximately the same effect in lollipops and chewing gum. The advantage of inhalers and e-cigarettes is that they are shaped like real ones. Therefore, the smoker experiences not only physical discomfort, but also the psychological stress of quitting. These methods have their fans and opponents. Many argue that this is not 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 courses and doses for the patient. Alternatively, various food supplements, herbal preparations and homeopathic remedies are sometimes used. They too have proven effective as ways to quit smoking. But the fact is that without the removal of psychological addiction, no drug helps. Even after taking them, many people revert to their old habit.
Alternative methods
Many people love oriental 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 ancient healing technique based on the natural reflexes of the human body. There are exit points of nerve endings on the skin, once exposed to them, you can effectively cope with cigarettes and addiction to it. Similar techniques are also used 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 related to philosophy. With the help of impaired breathing, you can tune your brain to the right thoughts and feelings. Some believe this is the most effective way to permanently quit smoking. 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 monks and Hindus, has a similar principle.
Hypnosis is not a completely oriental practice, it has been widely spread in the West in the last century. The method of suggestion is based on the fact that a person enters a trance. This state helps to reveal his secret subconscious problems, inspires certain thoughts and attitudes. Not everyone is susceptible to hypnosis, for this it is necessary to have a certain mentality, susceptibility to someone else's suggestions. The percentage of these people out of the total number is not that great.
Folk methods
It is important to remember that any quick way to quit smoking does not guarantee that you will not start over. The most realistic and reliable method is to set a clear goal for yourself, identify the reasons why you smoke and strictly follow the chosen method. Without motivation and deep introspection, the fight against the cigarette will not be on your side.
There are various popular ways to quit smoking. Most of them are based on the intake of various herbs and decoctions from them. There is also such a popular method as a conspiracy, which removes the evil eye and damage, but it is not for everyone. Let's focus on some recipes for herbal tea, which reduces the desire to smoke and is easy to prepare at home. They are quite simple, they do not take a lot of time.
Oregano tea
This tea includes oregano, marshmallow root, and coltsfoot leaves. Herbs are taken in the following ratios:
- 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 takes a cigarette.
Valerian calming herbs
This tea calms the nerves, irritability, relieves the manifestations of withdrawal symptoms when quitting smoking. 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. It is necessary to drink before going to bed, one glass each. A similar effect has tea of the following composition:
- Chopped valerian root - 5 parts.
- Watch - 2, 5 parts.
- Peppermint - 2 parts.
The tea is prepared in the same way as the previous one, only instead of two tablespoons of the collection they take three. Pour boiling water over it and drink a glass before bedtime.
Mouthwashes
Infusion with yarrow well removes the desire to drag a cigarette. After rinsing the mouth with this collection, the tobacco taste becomes very unpleasant. Tea is made up 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, insisting for 2 hours. It is not necessary to drink such tea, it is intended to rinse the mouth. A similar effect has tea from currant leaves. For its preparation take:
- Black currant leaves - 2 parts.
- Oregano - 4 parts.
- Peppermint - 4 parts.
Three tablespoons of table collection pour 0, 5 liters of boiling water, insist for an hour. After rinsing, a pleasant freshness is felt in the mouth. If you drag a cigarette, the taste becomes very unpleasant. When there is no time or desire to make preparations, you can simply rinse your mouth with soda, eat a couple of mint leaves, chew calamus root, the effect will be almost the same.