The most basic technique that we need to consider for quitting smoking is cold turkey. Most people moan and groan and think that cold turkey is an awful way to quit smoking, because they associate cold turkey quitting with extreme discomfort.
But you are probably underestimating this technique. Cold turkey quitting has some real advantages. Consider that:
1) According to some studies, cold turkey is the most effective method of quitting. There are a lot of different studies out there that support a variety of outcomes, and these studies are usually rigged in order to favor a specific method of quitting. For example, a study for the nicotine patch will generally show short term success results for quitters, because the patch tends to work well while people are wearing it. But long term outcomes with Nicotine replacement therapies (such as the patch) are generally even worse than control groups that use cold turkey when quitting.
2) Cold turkey is free. Do you know how much money people spend on products each year to help them quit smoking? Over a billion dollars each year! Most people who attempt to use prescription medication or a nicotine replacement therapy (such as the patch or the gum) will spend over a hundred dollars on their quit. Of course, continuing to smoke is even more expensive than this, in more ways than one, but cold turkey quitting is still the cheapest (and most sensible) alternative for most people.
3) Cold turkey creates the shortest withdrawal. Using the patch or the gum is torture, in my opinion. Most people who try these products actually say that they still crave a cigarette while they are using them…so really, what’s the use? Quit cold turkey and get it over with. In as little as 5 days, you could be well past the worst of your withdrawal, and already experiencing long periods of time when you don’t even think about smoking. If you go for the patch or the gum, all you’re doing is prolonging the agony of withdrawal, while depriving yourself of cigarettes. Even though you “step down” in nicotine levels, when you finally pull off that last nicotine patch, your body will still be screaming for nicotine. Nicotine is a drug, and you have to eliminate it completely from your body if you want to move on and truly become a non smoker.
You have nothing to lose
Why not try cold turkey? You literally have nothing to lose, as you won’t be out any money for nicotine patches or expensive hypnosis treatments. The end result is going to be the same if you’re successful: a life of freedom, lived without the constant need to self-medicate with cigarettes. And keep in mind that quitting cold turkey is one of the natural ways to quit smoking.
Action items – here is how to make cold turkey quitting work for you:
1) Plan ahead for your quit. Take time off work. Plan for a vacation. Distract yourself. Make sure you have money saved up for these things. Plan ahead!
2) Physical tips – cut your caffeine intake by half. Smoking burns up half the caffeine you drink, so you don’t need as much when you quit. Also, don’t gorge on food. Force yourself to eat slowly, and try to eat healthy during your first week. Fruit juices are especially helpful. Keep eating very small amounts all day long instead of gorging on a feast.
3) Sleep through the worst of it. Stay up all day and all night on the first day that you quit, then on the second day when the withdrawals are getting really nasty, you can crash out and sleep through the worst of them. This might sound like a strange strategy, but it absolutely worked for me (when everything else had failed!).
So there you have it. Cold turkey actually can be a useful quitting technique, and probably deserves a real effort if you’ve failed at quitting with other methods.
But the decision is still in your hands. You have to put your first foot forward and decide to quit for good this time. Imagine not having to smoke. Make a decision to become a non-smoker today!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I have made the choice to quit but i am just soo scared to quit.
I’m quitting cigarettes and alcohol cold turkey! it’s been a day without alcohol and no withdrawal symptoms and it’s been an hour without a cigarette,lol, it’s the boredom that’s the worst!