There’s no shortage of methods to stop smoking. But are any of them for real? Following is an overview of some of the more common ways to quit. Find out for yourself if they can live up to their promises.
Medications
Nicotine patches are a popular method for quitting smoking. This method allows you to gradually taper down the amount of nicotine that goes into your system. This will lessen the withdrawal symptoms when the nicotine is stopped for good.
A hot new pharmaceutical product is Chantix, a quit smoking pill. This drug releases dopamine into your system, which is a chemical that makes you feel better. Your brain gets the sensation that nicotine is doing its thing. Using this form of treatment, withdrawal symptoms are virtually nonexistent.
Keep in mind that pharmaceutical approaches to help you quit smoking aren’t always as successful as you might wish. The reason is that it’s not only the physical addiction that’s the problem. There is also a psychological dependence on smoking that is hard to overcome.
Cold Turkey
Most people will try this method first when they decide it’s time to stop smoking. This is a rather brutal approach that means just stopping; no medications and no slowly tapering down. Even though it’s a favorite technique, it isn’t always the best choice.
It’s all that nicotine that is contained in cigarettes that is so addictive to people who smoke. This is a highly addictive drug, and withdrawal symptoms appear when your body is no longer getting it. Quitting cold turkey heightens the withdrawal effect, and your symptoms will go on for at least two weeks.
The hard part is to learn how to take your mind off these symptoms when they come over you. Many people find this too difficult and eventually give in to their cravings.
Substitution
This technique involves replacing smoking with some other activity or behavior. Many people have found success by sucking on hard candy or chewing gum when the urge to smoke hits. This can help ease your oral craving by keeping your mouth occupied.
Other people substitute exercise for smoking. If they feel they need a smoke, they choose instead to hit the gym or go for a walk.
Anyone who has ever been a smoker knows how difficult it is to kick the habit. Those who have managed to stop smoking will likely agree that it took more than one try before they were able to quit smoking for good. However, it’s important that you don’t give up. After all, your life is on the line.
