Ways to quit smoking are very different. They have been tried by many people who suffer from nicotine addiction. For some, the methods were successful, others were able to write a book, "10 Ways to Quit Smoking Quickly, " but they still can't get rid of cigarettes. Breaking bad habits is not easy. The psychological attitude and the strong desire of the smoker to get rid of it is very important here. 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 have to decide for yourself why you want it. Motivations can be the following:
- Fear of getting cancer and other pathologies
- Desire for a healthy baby
- Concerns for loved ones who suffer from secondhand smoke
- Unpleasant smell of tobacco that interferes with communication
- Spending money
- Take care of your own beauty
- Public opinion.
Motivation may not be one, but several. It is worth choosing the most efficient or arrange these points according to the strength of the impact. For many, the motivation is so strong that it is enough to get rid of nicotine addiction on their own, without medication and psychotherapy. If this is not enough for you, you can move on to the following paragraphs. Determine the circumstances in which you are most attracted to smoking. It can be:
- The habit of stretching in the morning, right after bed
- Waiting in traffic jams or at a stop
- stressful situations
- Breaks at work
- Craving a cigarette in the company of smokers
- Rest with alcohol
- Intensive mental work
- Positive or negative emotions.
Every person who smokes can define these situations on their own. 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 deal with waiting in traffic jams, you need to walk more. It is better to go outside and take a walk during the break. Try to be less in the company of smokers, do not drink alcohol. You can only escape to the wilderness for a week, where there are no cigarettes and temptations. Some psychologists advise taking a deeper look at the problem. After all, cravings for cigarettes can be a sign of depression or internal problems.
Author's methods
Many psychologists, psychotherapists and narcologists offer their effective ways to quit smoking. The most famous of these is Alan Kare's book The Easy Way to Quit Smoking. Based on the author’s own experience, it helps people break the vicious circle of mental addiction. This method has been well tested, with its help about 25 million people have stopped smoking, including many celebrities. The book is easy to find and download online. 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 arranges remote video trainings, uses correspondence and it's completely free. 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. Someone can benefit from lectures by another specialist, which are based on a detailed story about the dangers of smoking and the benefits of smoking cessation.
In his courses, the psychotherapist uses the methods of suggestion, NLP, self-hypnosis. He believes the human mind is "programmed" for a bad habit. To get rid of this habit, you need to change this program. The professor's follower improved the existing methods. He included relaxing music in psychotherapy sessions, his lectures are more focused on supporting a person's motivation.
Medical methods
Medical methods of smoking cessation can be divided into two groups. Some are based on the use of products that contain small doses of nicotine. They reduce physical dependence, alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Other drugs are substances whose action competes with the action of nicotine. Nicotine-containing drugs include:
- Patches.
- Lollipops.
- Chewing gum.
- Inhalers.
- Electronic cigarettes.
The patches stick to the skin and release small doses of nicotine. This allows you to reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke or stop smoking altogether. Approximately the same effect in lollipops and chewing gum. The advantage of inhalers and electronic cigarettes is that they are shaped like real ones. Thus, the smoker experiences not only physical discomfort, but also psychological stress due to smoking cessation. These methods have their fans and opponents. Many claim 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 a bad habit forever.
The second group are relatively new drugs, whose action is based on the pathogenesis of nicotine dependence.
The disadvantage of these drugs is the large number of contraindications and side effects. Only a doctor should prescribe them, choosing the best courses and doses for the patient. As an alternative, various dietary supplements, herbal preparations and homeopathic remedies are sometimes used. And they have proven to be a good way to quit smoking. But the fact is that without eliminating psychological dependence, no drug helps. Even after taking it, many people return to the old habit.
Alternative Methods
Many people like Eastern philosophy, alternative medicine and consider it quite effective. There are ways to stop smoking cigarettes forever, based on the healing methods of the Ancient East. This includes:
- 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, when you are exposed to them, you can effectively deal with cigarettes and addiction to it. Similar techniques are used even in modern neurology, called reflexology. So they have a certain rational grain.
Breathing exercises are a set of exercises practiced by Indian yogis. It is closely connected with philosophy. With the help of altered breathing, you can adjust your brain to the right thoughts and feelings. Some believe that this is the most effective way to quit smoking permanently. But when you use it, the attitude and belief that you can get rid of cigarettes with the help of gymnastics is very important. Meditation, one of the practices of Buddhist monks and Hindus, has a similar principle.
Hypnosis is not exactly an oriental practice, it was widespread in the west in the last century. The method of suggestion is based on the fact that the person enters a trance. This condition helps to reveal his secret subconscious problems, inspires certain thoughts and attitudes. Not everyone is susceptible to hypnosis, for that you have to have a certain way of thinking, susceptibility to other people's suggestions. The percentage of such people in the total number is not so great.
Folk methods
It is important to remember that any quick way to quit smoking is not a guarantee that you will not start over. The most realistic and reliable method is to set a clear goal for yourself, determine the reasons why you smoke and strictly follow the chosen method. Without motivation and deep introspection, the fight against cigarettes will not be on your side.
There are various popular ways to quit smoking. Most of them are based on the intake of various plants and decoctions from them. There is also such a folk method as conspiracy, removal of the evil eye and damage, but it is not for everyone. Let's stop at a few recipes for herbal tea that reduces the desire to smoke and which is easily prepared 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.
Mix everything, take 3 tablespoons of the total mass, pour half a liter of boiling water over it, cook on steam in a thermos for 1-2 hours. They drink three times a day, or when their hand reaches for a cigarette.
Valerian soothing herbs
This tea calms the nerves, irritability, alleviates the manifestations of withdrawal symptoms when quitting cigarettes. 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. It is necessary to drink before going to bed, one glass at a time. Tea of the following composition has a similar effect:
- Chopped valerian root - 5 parts.
- Clock - 2, 5 parts.
- Peppermint - 2 parts.
The tea is prepared in the same way as the previous ones, only three are taken instead of two spoons of the collection. Pour boiling water and drink a glass before bed.
Mouthwash
Yarrow infusion well eliminates the desire for a cigarette. After rinsing your mouth with this collection, the taste of tobacco becomes very unpleasant. Tea consists of the following components:
- Wormwood - 5 parts.
- Licorice root - 2, 5 parts.
- Yarrow - 2, 5 parts.
One tablespoon is poured into a glass of boiling water, insist 2 hours. You do not have to drink such tea, it is intended for rinsing the mouth. Currant leaf tea has a similar effect. To prepare it, take:
- Black currant leaves - 2 parts.
- Oregano - 4 parts.
- Peppermint - 4 parts.
Pour three tablespoons of the table collection with 0. 5 liters of boiling water, insist for an hour. After rinsing, there is a pleasant cold in the mouth. If you smoke a cigarette, the taste becomes very nasty. When you do not have the time or desire to prepare, you can simply rinse your mouth with soda, eat a couple of mint leaves, chew calamus root, the effect will be almost the same.